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1671265

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Inflation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain consistency in the recent downward trajectory of inflation.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>Although recent data shows inflation has halved since it’s peak in October 2022, it remains the biggest challenge to the economy. There are three key things the government is doing to further reduce inflation:</p><ul><li>Remaining steadfast in our support for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England as it takes action to return inflation sustainably to the 2% target.</li><li>Taking difficult, but responsible fiscal decisions by resisting calls for reckless spending that would make inflation worse, reducing borrowing and introducing ambitious measures to support growth. This includes ambitious measures to help people get back into work, investing in clean, home-grown energy, and encouraging banks to pass on higher savings rates.</li><li>Boosting labour supply, as labour market conditions are a key problem affecting UK businesses’ growth, as well as a significant driver of domestic inflation. Together, the packages at Autumn Statement and Spring Budget 2023 were the two largest increases to labour supply and potential GDP resulting from policy the OBR has ever scored.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The IMF said in May that, in response to last year’s inflation shock, the government took “decisive and responsible” action to prioritise restoring price stability and achieve the right balance of fiscal and monetary response, while also focusing on growing the economy. The government remain committed to seeking the right balance between fiscal and monetary policy as the UK continues to navigate challenging circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The OBR confirms policies at the Autumn Statement do not materially impact inflation or demand as we continue to support the MPC to return inflation to the 2% target.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 30/11/2023 15:30:44 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1671324

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Sector: Productivity
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 raise public sector productivity.
tabling member constituency	Wokingham
tabling member printed	John Redwood
uin	2441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2023 answer text <p>Efficiency and productivity are important priorities for this government.</p><p> </p><p>In June, the Chancellor announced the Public Sector Productivity Programme, as a means of assessing how productivity can be improved. An update on the programme was provided in the Autumn Statement, which includes the finding that frontline workers can spend up to 8 hours a week on administrative tasks. The programme is exploring ways to reduce this number so they can continue doing what they do best, keeping us safe and treating us when we are sick. I will continue leading on boosting productivity in the public sector, with work continuing through to the next Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 28/11/2023 16:06:08 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	14 label Biography information for Sir John Redwood

1671354

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Sanctions: Russia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 694 on Russia: Defence Equipment, how many (a) allegations have been received, (b) investigations have taken place and (c) penalties have been issued in relation to UK sanctions against Russia since February 2022.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	2486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>HMRC has been enforcing sanctions against Russia since 2014. Since increased sanctions were announced on 24 February 2022, HMRC has implemented a number of measures which aim to prevent the exportation and importation of restricted goods and respond to breaches of those sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>This includes increased border checks in collaboration with Border Force, trader awareness products and where appropriate the criminal investigation of any breaches, with a view to achieving an enforcement outcome such as a fine or prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is conducting multiple ongoing investigations into credible reports of sanctions and export control offences, including controls on the supply of defence equipment to Russia and other countries. These investigations can take a year or more to conclude. The department does not comment on individual investigations.</p><p> </p><p>Since February 2022, HMRC has fined five UK companies through the Compound Settlement scheme for breaches of the UK’s trade sanctions on Russia. Three of these fines have been published in the Notice To Exporters and the other two will be published soon: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fnotices-to-exporters%23notices-to-exporters-2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmohammad.rahman3%40hmrc.gov.uk%7Ca27f9063eac542f83ed708dbec23a6fe%7Cac52f73cfd1a4a9a8e7a4a248f3139e1%7C0%7C0%7C638363410250403765%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=t3jqc9AjYXHSTjMc25oQH%2BjNchpnQSgo2o3FcWtuwZE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notices-to-exporters#notices-to-exporters-2023</a>.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 27/11/2023 15:27:18 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1671364

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: British Overseas Territories
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 his counterparts in the British Overseas Territories on increasing transparency in their financial services sectors.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	2525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2023 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives of the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories, and of overseas jurisdictions, to discuss issues of mutual importance.</p><p> </p><p>Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 28/11/2023 11:39:34 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1671411

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Local Housing Allowance: Uprating
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of ending the freeze on local housing allowance.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
tabling member printed	Tahir Ali
uin	2634
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2023 answer text <p>At the Autumn Statement, the government announced that Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will be increased from April 2024 to cover the lower 30% of local rents. This will make 1.6 million low-income households in Great Britain better off, with an average gain of £800 in 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>This measure will support household incomes and help tackle child poverty, reaffirming government’s commitment to those in the most challenging financial position.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 28/11/2023 15:42:16 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4747 label Biography information for Tahir Ali

1671438

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-assessment: Fines
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) cancelling and (b) refunding penalties issued for late tax returns in cases where there is no tax due.
tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
uin	2651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to the Honourable Member for St Ives on 11 September 2023 to PQ UIN 198150.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 27/11/2023 15:20:45 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1671451

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to alcohol duty implemented in August 2023 on tax receipts.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
uin	2663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government publishes tax information and impact notes for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts in the alcohol market and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Gareth Davies question first answered 28/11/2023 14:53:49 answering member 4850 label Biography information for Gareth Davies
tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1671580

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Mid Bedfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the impact of increases in the cost of living on the numbers of (a) businesses at risk of insolvency and (b) people in debt in Mid Bedfordshire constituency; and what fiscal steps he is taking to support those (i) businesses and (ii) people.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
uin	2721
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government announced at Autumn Statement 2023 a business rates support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 5 years to support small businesses and the high street. The small multiplier will be frozen and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief will be extended, which will ensure that the most vulnerable businesses continue to be supported.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also announced further support to protect families: this brings total support over 2022/23 to 2024/25 to help households with the high cost of living to £104 billion – an average of £3,700 per UK household.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to maintain record levels of funding for the Money and Pensions Service to provide debt advice in England, bringing their debt advice budget to £92.7 million in 2023/24. Data from 2021 on debt advice in Mid Bedfordshire is published by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). This can be found here:</p><p> </p><p>https://moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/2021/09/30/need-for-debt-advice-2021-estimates-for-uk-constituencies-and-local-authorities/</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 23/11/2023 16:40:42 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern

1671581

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in mortgage interest rates on levels of household disposable income in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency, (b) Bedfordshire and (c) England.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
uin	2722
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, we recognise this is a concerning time for mortgage borrowers.</p><p> </p><p>The path to lower interest rates is through low inflation. The independent Monetary Policy Committee continues to have the Government’s full support as it takes action to return inflation to target. The Government’s Mortgage Charter - in addition to the significant safeguards already in place - is providing support to vulnerable households; and mortgage arrears and repossessions remain low.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last two years, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable by providing one of the largest support packages in Europe. Taken together, support to households to help with the high cost of living is worth £104 billion over 2022-25 - or £3,700 per UK household on average.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 23/11/2023 17:30:34 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern

1671582

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services: Mid Bedfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department is taking steps to help secure free access to (a) cash withdrawals and (b) deposit facilities in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
uin	2723
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups.</p><p> </p><p>The government legislated through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 to establish a new legislative framework to protect access to cash. This establishes the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as the lead regulator for access to cash and provides it with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. Importantly, in relation to personal current accounts the FCA is required to seek to ensure reasonable provision of free cash access services<em>.</em></p><p> </p><p>Following this, the government published a Cash Access Policy Statement, which sets out the government’s policies on access to cash, including free cash access services. The FCA is required by law to have regard to these policies when determining its regulatory approach. The FCA will publicly consult on its regulatory approach in due course. The government’s policy statement is available on gov.uk: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cash-access-policy-statement/cash-access-policy-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cash-access-policy-statement/cash-access-policy-statement</a></p><p> </p><p>In the context of the government’s legislation, the financial services sector is working together to develop and provide shared cash services, such as Banking Hubs and cash deposit services. To date, industry has committed to deliver new shared cash services in over 170 communities.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 23/11/2023 17:28:45 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern