Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation 61

61 Accepted

BFI responsibilities expanded without commensurate long-term grant-in-aid support increase.

Conclusion
Too often the BFI’s responsibilities have been expanded by the Government without a commensurate, long-term increase in the grant-in-aid support available to it. That has put the UK’s reputation with inward investors at risk and could undermine the growth of the vital sectors under its remit. (Conclusion, Paragraph 216)
Government Response Summary
The government has provided a £1 million increase in the BFI’s Grant-in-Aid for 2024/25 and 2025/26, committing to continue this funding into the next Spending Review period (2026–2029) to provide stability for the Certification Unit.
Government Response Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The BFI’s Certification Unit is essential in underpinning the effective delivery of the UK’s tax credits. We have been responsive to increasing demands on the Unit, returning turnaround times back to best practice levels through a £1 million increase in the BFI’s Grant-in-Aid for 2024/25 and 2025/26. This funding will continue into the next Spending Review period (2026–2029) to provide stability and certainty for the Unit. We will continue to keep the resourcing of the Unit under review.