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1244322

registered interest
date	19/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the financial services sector on the effectiveness of the (a) Financial Conduct Authority, (b) Financial Services Compensation Scheme and (c) Financial Ombudsman Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	105494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2020 answer text <p>The government engages with the financial services sector on a regular basis to discuss matters related to the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and Financial Ombudsman Service, and will continue to do so.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/10/2020 08:12:23 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1244378

registered interest
date	19/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Average Earnings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the levels of pay in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	105390
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>According to the Office for National Statistics, total average weekly earnings (AWE) increased from £476 to £550 between January 2015 and August 2020. Nominal pay increased by 2.3% in the year to 2016 Q1, 2.2% in the year to 2017 Q1, 2.9% in the year to 2018 Q1, 3.2% in the year to 2019 Q1, and 2.3% in the year to 2020 Q1. Both the public and private sector have experienced increases in AWE since January 2015.</p><p> </p><p>The introduction of the National Living Wage has delivered the fastest pay rise for the lowest earners in 20 years – the latest increase saw a full-time worker’s annual pay up over £3,680 since its introduction in April 2016. In April 2020 the National Living Wage was increased to £8.72 – the biggest cash increase ever – giving a full-time worker an annual pay rise of £930 this year.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 22/10/2020 10:33:17 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1244510

registered interest
date	19/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with mortgage lenders on support for workers in industries that remain closed due to public health restrictions following the outbreak of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	105372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>Following the Coronavirus outbreak, the Government worked quickly with lenders and financial regulators to give people access to payment holidays on their mortgages. This gives customers a much-needed respite period, where no repayments on these products are due. It was necessary to bring this temporary measure in, in order to give customers time to smooth out their finances that may have taken a hit by the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA published guidance on mortgage payment holidays on 14 September setting out that firms should continue to provide support through tailored forbearance options for those borrowers that are facing ongoing financial difficulties. This could include granting new mortgage payment holidays. The FCA guidance also notes that lenders should take into consideration borrowers’ circumstances regarding local lockdown restrictions including not proceeding with repossessions where borrowers are in areas of lockdown or self-isolating.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA and I are in frequent discussions with mortgage lenders regarding the ongoing support to mortgage consumers during this difficult time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 22/10/2020 09:51:34 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1244687

registered interest
date	19/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Debts Written Off: Developing Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make representations to his overseas counterparts at the G20 Finance Ministers Meetings on the cancellation of developing countries' debts to the IMF and World Bank to help those countries tackle the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	105566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the crisis on the debt situation in developing countries, including through our membership of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Paris Club. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is placing extraordinary pressures on the finances of low and middle income countries. Recognising this, the G20 has taken action to support these countries, agreeing the landmark DSSI (Debt Service Suspension Initiative).The DSSI provides a suspension of debt repayments to eligible countries so they can focus resources on their coronavirus response.</p><p>On the 14<sup>th</sup> October, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) met. They agreed to extend the DSSI for a further six months and, importantly, reached an in principle agreement on a Common Framework on future debt treatments beyond the DSSI to facilitate timely and orderly debt treatment for DSSI-eligible countries where this is required.A further G20 FMCBG meeting is to take place in early November and the UK is asking all G20 countries to fulfil the necessary internal approvals to endorse and publish the Common Framework in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/10/2020 08:19:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1244689

registered interest
date	19/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Liverpool City Region
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the economic effect of the tier-3 local covid restrictions on (a) the Liverpool City Region and (b) the six individual boroughs in that combined authority, in the event that those restrictions last (i) 28, (ii) 56, (iii) 112 and (iv) 224 days.
tabling member constituency	St Helens North
tabling member printed	Conor McGinn
uin	105434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK, along with many other countries around the world, has experienced a severe recession caused by coronavirus, and no major economy has avoided a dramatic fall in GDP. In response to those restrictions, the government took action to protect jobs and livelihoods and support businesses through the deepest global recession in decades.</p><p> </p><p>Since they were classed as Very High Alert, the government has also recently provided local authorities in Liverpool City Region with £44m to support businesses and public health. The government had already provided businesses in the Liverpool City Region with £1.3bn in direct support through grants and loans, and local authorities with £136m of additional support to address Covid-related pressures.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 22/10/2020 09:56:02 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4458 label Biography information for Conor McGinn

1244165

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a banking service standard to prohibit the closure of the last bank branch in a community.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	104718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>The decision to maintain a presence on the high street is a commercial one for the management team of a bank and Government does not intervene in those decisions.</p><p> </p><p>The retail financial landscape is changing, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. Banking service providers need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government also firmly believes that the impact of branch closures should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking services if they wish to use them. That’s why the Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published guidance setting out their expectation of firms when they are deciding whether and how to reduce their physical branches or the number of free to use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and other relevant branch services and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This will ensure the implementation of closure decisions is done in a way that treats customers fairly.</p><p> </p><p>Further to this, the FCA recently consulted on guidance for firms’ on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, including those who are digitally excluded or have low digital skills. This consultation closed on 30 September and the FCA are currently considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key priority for the FCA. While many firms have made significant progress in how they treat vulnerable consumers, HM Treasury and the FCA want to see the fair treatment of vulnerable consumers being taken seriously by all firms so that such customers receive consistently fair treatment. HM Treasury continues to work with firms and the FCA to ensure that the needs of vulnerable customers are met.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 104719 question first answered 21/10/2020 07:34:01 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1244172

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to protect community access to banking facilities for vulnerable people unable to use online banking.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	104719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>The decision to maintain a presence on the high street is a commercial one for the management team of a bank and Government does not intervene in those decisions.</p><p> </p><p>The retail financial landscape is changing, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. Banking service providers need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government also firmly believes that the impact of branch closures should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking services if they wish to use them. That’s why the Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published guidance setting out their expectation of firms when they are deciding whether and how to reduce their physical branches or the number of free to use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and other relevant branch services and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This will ensure the implementation of closure decisions is done in a way that treats customers fairly.</p><p> </p><p>Further to this, the FCA recently consulted on guidance for firms’ on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, including those who are digitally excluded or have low digital skills. This consultation closed on 30 September and the FCA are currently considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key priority for the FCA. While many firms have made significant progress in how they treat vulnerable consumers, HM Treasury and the FCA want to see the fair treatment of vulnerable consumers being taken seriously by all firms so that such customers receive consistently fair treatment. HM Treasury continues to work with firms and the FCA to ensure that the needs of vulnerable customers are met.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 104718 question first answered 21/10/2020 07:34:02 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1244175

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Help to Save Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Help to Save accounts (a) have been opened and (b) have no deposits; and what steps he is taking to encourage account holders to actively utilise those accounts.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	104701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published statistics on Help to Save accounts up to July 2020. These statistics show the total number of accounts opened now stands at 222,000 and there are 60,500 accounts that are yet to receive a deposit. The latest publication is available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-save-statistics.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has recently issued regional press releases to highlight the advantage of the Help to Save scheme and bonuses available.</p><p> </p><p>All Help to Save customers receive a welcome pack that gives them information on how to maximise the bonus available. They also receive annual statements that update them on their account status. HMRC regularly contacts customers with no deposits to remind them that their account is open and how this affects their future bonus payments.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 21/10/2020 07:36:05 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1244208

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Employee Ownership and Save as You Earn
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received income tax relief as a result of their participation in (a) Save As You Earn and (b) Share Incentive Plan schemes in the 12 months year for which such data is available, by (i) basic rate income tax payers, (ii) higher income tax payers, (iii) additional rate of income tax payers and (iv) people who fell beneath the income tax threshold.
tabling member constituency	Shipley
tabling member printed	Philip Davies
uin	104708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2020 answer text <p>The Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme and Share Incentive Plans (SIPs) are tax-advantaged employee share schemes offered by the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Information on employees’ income tax band is not collected as part of SAYE or SIP returns. This information is therefore not readily available and could only be provided with disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC publishes annual statistics on participation in employee share schemes which are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employee-share-schemes-statistics#national-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employee-share-schemes-statistics#national-statistics</a></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/10/2020 08:36:39 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1243952

registered interest
date	15/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Debts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to protect people who have accrued debt as a result of the covid-19 outbreak from losing their homes.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	104140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>For mortgage payers, the Government has worked with mortgage lenders and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure the financial sector provides access to mortgage payment holidays. In addition, support for Mortgage Interest provides qualifying borrowers who cannot afford their mortgage interest with financial help, enabling them to stay in their homes.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support for tenants. This includes providing nearly £1 billion of additional support for private renters claiming Universal Credit or Housing Benefit by increasing the Local Housing Allowance rate in 2020-21. The Government paused possession proceedings over the summer and now, to ensure that renters served notice can stay in their homes over winter, has extended notice periods to six months in all but the most egregious cases. And there will be no enforcement of evictions in areas of local lockdown, where access to premises is restricted, or over the Christmas period in England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>To help people in problem debt get their finances back on track, the budget for free debt advice in England has been increased to over £100 million this financial year. And from May 2021 the Breathing Space scheme will offer people in problem debt a pause of up to 60 days on most enforcement action, interest, fees and charges.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 20/10/2020 09:20:40 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts