Oral QuestionDepartment of Health and Social Care

“Whether she plans to take legislative steps with Cabinet colleagues to ban people domiciled in the UK from entering into international surrogacy arrangements.”

Tabled: 14 October 2026Answered: 20 October 2026

Asked by

Tracy Gilbert

Labour — Edinburgh North and Leith

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Answer from Hansard

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality and leisure properties from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties—those with a rateable value of £500,000 or above—from 2026-27. The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill, introduced last month, will enable the Government to deliver these changes, and it will come into effect in April 2026.