To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that support offered by Growth Hubs is not only used in places of concentrated wealth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that support offered by Growth Hubs is not only used in places of concentrated wealth.

As I have already said, there is no reliable data to back up the noble Lord’s claims. The reliable data will be available in January 2027, when the self-assessment returns are made. The data does not exist to make the noble Lord’s claims. The UK is a great place to start a business, but our companies are not scaling at the same rate as their US peers. We are taking action to ensure that they do, that the business environment in this country remains competitive and that we have a competitive tax regime.

As I have already said, there is no reliable data to back up the noble Lord’s claims. The reliable data will be available in January 2027, when the self-assessment returns are made. The data does not exist to make the noble Lord’s claims. The UK is a great place to start a business, but our companies are not scaling at the same rate as their US peers. We are taking action to ensure that they do, that the business environment in this country remains competitive and that we have a competitive tax regime.

My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware of the hard data provided by Patriotic Millionaires, which shows that the strong majority are proud to live in this country, believe that it is patriotic to pay their fair share of tax and, in fact, are prepared to pay a little more, particularly to help young people?

My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware of the hard data provided by Patriotic Millionaires, which shows that the strong majority are proud to live in this country, believe that it is patriotic to pay their fair share of tax and, in fact, are prepared to pay a little more, particularly to help young people?

I am aware of the points that my noble friend makes and agree with much of what she says. As I say, successful businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs here and wealth in the UK are the engine of economic growth and we need to support them to succeed. As my noble friend says, we must also ensure that the wealthiest pay their fair share towards the public finances.

I am aware of the points that my noble friend makes and agree with much of what she says. As I say, successful businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs here and wealth in the UK are the engine of economic growth and we need to support them to succeed. As my noble friend says, we must also ensure that the wealthiest pay their fair share towards the public finances.

My Lords, we should encourage rich people to reside and stay in the UK, as, for example, the top 1% of those paying income tax contribute 29% of receipts. Unfortunately, government policies not only on non-doms but on inheritance tax and other taxes have encouraged them to leave in large numbers—young as well as old people. Since this is against the national interest, will the Government adjust their policies to reverse this unfortunate trend and study the detail further?

My Lords, we should encourage rich people to reside and stay in the UK, as, for example, the top 1% of those paying income tax contribute 29% of receipts. Unfortunately, government policies not only on non-doms but on inheritance tax and other taxes have encouraged them to leave in large numbers—young as well as old people. Since this is against the national interest, will the Government adjust their policies to reverse this unfortunate trend and study the detail further?

No, and I do not think the noble Baroness can make those claims based on the data that is available, as I have already said. The previous Government’s reforms assumed that there would be migration of non-doms. This Government’s reforms assume that there will be migration of non-doms, and the OBR has said that there is no evidence to change the estimated impact of the reforms on migration. Reforms to the tax treatment of non-doms have been designed specifically to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The noble Baroness mentioned other tax reforms; in the round, the Government’s reforms to the non-dom regime and to capital gains tax keep the UK an attractive place in which to live and invest, while ensuring that everyone who is a long-term resident pays their taxes here, helping to fairly fund our public services.

No, and I do not think the noble Baroness can make those claims based on the data that is available, as I have already said. The previous Government’s reforms assumed that there would be migration of non-doms. This Government’s reforms assume that there will be migration of non-doms, and the OBR has said that there is no evidence to change the estimated impact of the reforms on migration. Reforms to the tax treatment of non-doms have been designed specifically to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The noble Baroness mentioned other tax reforms; in the round, the Government’s reforms to the non-dom regime and to capital gains tax keep the UK an attractive place in which to live and invest, while ensuring that everyone who is a long-term resident pays their taxes here, helping to fairly fund our public services.

My Lords, does the Minister remember the argument, at the time of the Brexit referendum, that the divide in Britain was between the intellectual elite, who were people from anywhere, and the real people of Britain, who were people from somewhere? Are we not hearing an argument that it is the rich who are the people from anywhere, who

do not have any particular loyalty to Britain and who might move, and that the rest of us are much more patriotic? Could we not hope to hear an argument from the Conservative Party and Reform that the rich should also be patriotic and committed to this country?

My Lords, does the Minister remember the argument, at the time of the Brexit referendum, that the divide in Britain was between the intellectual elite, who were people from anywhere, and the real people of Britain, who were people from somewhere? Are we not hearing an argument that it is the rich who are the people from anywhere, who

do not have any particular loyalty to Britain and who might move, and that the rest of us are much more patriotic? Could we not hope to hear an argument from the Conservative Party and Reform that the rich should also be patriotic and committed to this country?

I absolutely understand the points that the noble Lord is making but am not sure that it is for me to speak on behalf of any other party. I just point to my noble friend’s remarks about Patriotic Millionaires: the vast majority of people in this country feel patriotic about their country and want to pay their taxes here.

I absolutely understand the points that the noble Lord is making but am not sure that it is for me to speak on behalf of any other party. I just point to my noble friend’s remarks about Patriotic Millionaires: the vast majority of people in this country feel patriotic about their country and want to pay their taxes here.

My Lords, for the avoidance of doubt—as the lawyers are fond of saying—it would be interesting to know from the Minister whether someone earning more than £100,000 a year and paying their taxes can still be classified as a working person.

My Lords, for the avoidance of doubt—as the lawyers are fond of saying—it would be interesting to know from the Minister whether someone earning more than £100,000 a year and paying their taxes can still be classified as a working person.

A working person is someone who goes out to work.

A working person is someone who goes out to work.

My Lords, will the legislation in relation to Members of this House envisaged in the King’s Speech deal with those who are refusing to pay their fair share of tax?

My Lords, will the legislation in relation to Members of this House envisaged in the King’s Speech deal with those who are refusing to pay their fair share of tax?

I am happy to say that that is probably not a matter for me.

I am happy to say that that is probably not a matter for me.

My Lords, is not the problem that the people who are fairly paying their tax feel that they unfairly have to support a vast number—maybe just as many—who are living on welfare and benefits, and that the people who work hard have to support those who do not? I sense a growing feeling of unfairness.

My Lords, is not the problem that the people who are fairly paying their tax feel that they unfairly have to support a vast number—maybe just as many—who are living on welfare and benefits, and that the people who work hard have to support those who do not? I sense a growing feeling of unfairness.

I would just point out to the noble Baroness that the vast majority of people on benefits, as she puts it, are also in work—working hard every day to provide for their families. It is quite right that the state should help them to do so.

I would just point out to the noble Baroness that the vast majority of people on benefits, as she puts it, are also in work—working hard every day to provide for their families. It is quite right that the state should help them to do so.

My Lords, the point is that £100,000 is not a huge amount of money. I am glad that the Labour Peers want to pay, but it is very important to encourage people to stay here to keep their money in the country. If they are taxed beyond belief, they will leave. That is not just any old Conservative Peer but people throughout the streets. The Minister must know that, but does he agree?

My Lords, the point is that £100,000 is not a huge amount of money. I am glad that the Labour Peers want to pay, but it is very important to encourage people to stay here to keep their money in the country. If they are taxed beyond belief, they will leave. That is not just any old Conservative Peer but people throughout the streets. The Minister must know that, but does he agree?

The noble Lord says that £100,000 is not very much money. He may like to know that average earnings are around £33,000, which is well below the higher-rate threshold, and around 80% of taxpayers pay only the basic rate.

The noble Lord says that £100,000 is not very much money. He may like to know that average earnings are around £33,000, which is well below the higher-rate threshold, and around 80% of taxpayers pay only the basic rate.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals earning more than £100,000 per annum who left the country in 2025.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals earning more than £100,000 per annum who left the country in 2025.

My Lords, not all taxpayers are required to notify HMRC when they leave the country. As such, the Government do not hold comprehensive data on the number of individuals leaving the UK by income level. The Government are committed to ensuring that the UK remains a competitive and attractive location for internationally mobile talent and investment. We continue to support growth through a competitive tax framework and a world-leading business environment.

My Lords, not all taxpayers are required to notify HMRC when they leave the country. As such, the Government do not hold comprehensive data on the number of individuals leaving the UK by income level. The Government are committed to ensuring that the UK remains a competitive and attractive location for internationally mobile talent and investment. We continue to support growth through a competitive tax framework and a world-leading business environment.