Guidance

Guidance for submitting your Budget representation

Updated 15 January 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-representations-guidance/guidance-for-submitting-your-budget-or-autumn-statement-representation

1. What is a Budget representation?

A Budget representation is a written representation from an interest group, individual or representative body to HM Treasury with the aim of commenting on government policy and suggesting new policy ideas for inclusion in the next Budget. HM Treasury welcomes representations as part of the policy-making process.

Where possible please submit your representation online as we are unable to respond promptly to letters sent in the post at the moment. If you cannot submit your representation online you can send it by post to:

The Correspondence and Enquiry Unit
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ

If you have a question or comment that is not a Budget representation, please contact the Correspondence & Enquiries Unit using the following email address: public.enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk

2. What to include in your representation

In order to inform policy development for the Budget, your representation should contain policy suggestions for the upcoming fiscal event and explain the policy rationale, costs, benefits and deliverability of proposals. It should also be evidence based, providing clear arguments on how it contributes to the aims of the Budget.

You may wish to consider:

  • likely effectiveness and value for money
  • revenue implications for the Exchequer
  • wider macroeconomic implications (for economic stability and growth)
  • sectoral impacts
  • distributional impacts
  • administrative and compliance costs and issues
  • legislative and operational requirements
  • environmental impact

HM Treasury will not consider representations which are not practicable and/or that violate HM Treasury’s legal obligations, including but not limited to State aid, human rights and diversity.

HM Treasury will delete representations which are inappropriate or offensive.

3. How to submit your Budget representation

The Budget 2021 representations portal can now be accessed. HM Treasury will accept representations until 5pm on 14 January, at which point the portal will close. This deadline allows time for representations to be processed and ensures that the relevant officials are able to consider them in time as part of policy-making.

4. What happens once you have submitted the form

If you are submitting your representation by filling out our short survey, when successfully submitted you should see a “thank you” page, which confirms we have received your representation.

If you are submitting your representation by email, when successfully submitted you should receive an auto-reply as confirmation that we have received your representation.

It should be noted that representations will not receive a bespoke written reply.

5. Data Protection and Freedom of Information

Information on how we process your personal data

6. Freedom of Information contact

Any Freedom of Information Act queries should be directed to:

Information Rights Unit
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ

Email: FOIRequests@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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