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923934

registered interest
date	14/06/2018
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Debts: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what specific plans he has to tackle the rise of debt for young people which take account of the relatively higher level of debt than in previous generations.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	153853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2018 answer text <p>The number of under 25s holding a financial liability has fallen since 2010, from 26% to 22%. Despite this, the government is taking a proactive approach to ensure that young people with debt are supported.</p><p> </p><p>To protect those who choose to take on debt, we fundamentally reformed consumer credit regulation in 2014, giving the Financial Conduct Authority robust regulatory powers to protect consumers. The government is also setting up a new Single Financial Guidance Body, which will provide consumers with a single point of contact for help with all financial matters, and commission high-quality, free to user debt advice.</p><p> </p><p>However, we recognise that, despite these measures, some people can fall into problem debt. That is why the government-commissioned Money Advice Service is spending over £56m to provide debt advice to at least 530,000 people this year. The government is also introducing a six week breathing space alongside a statutory debt repayment plan. Together, they will provide over-indebted people with protection from creditor action so they can seek debt advice and enter into a sustainable debt solution.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 19/06/2018 14:14:58 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

923935

registered interest
date	14/06/2018
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what specific plans he has to tackle the rise of mortgage debt for young people which take account of the relatively higher level of such debt than in previous generations.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	153854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2018 answer text <p>The share of households, including young people, with mortgage debt-servicing-ratios above 40% of income – the level often associated with a higher risk of repayment difficulties – remains low at 1.5%, and well below the levels seen before the financial crisis. Secured debt as a proportion of income was 104% in Q4 2017, down from a peak of 120% in Q1 2008.</p><p> </p><p>The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee’s (FPC) 2014 owner-occupier mortgage market recommendations guard against the risk of a marked loosening in underwriting standards and a significant increase in the number of highly indebted households, including among younger households. These include a limit on lending at high loan-to-income ratios, and the requirement that all new mortgage loans are stress-tested against the effect of a rise in interest rates.</p><p> </p><p>The FPC will continue to monitor risks to UK financial stability from UK household indebtedness and regularly reviews the calibration of its macroprudential tools.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 22/06/2018 10:52:45 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

810694

registered interest
date	21/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed closure of Royal Bank of Scotland branches on the ability of local business to deposit and collect funds.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	121039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network. In December 2018, the Government announced an additional £370 million of funding for the period 2018-2021.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay grouped question UIN 121048 question first answered 08/01/2018 17:01:07 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

810703

registered interest
date	21/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Royal Bank of Scotland branch closures on (a) elderly, (b) disabled and (c) vulnerable people who are unable to use online banking services.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	121048
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network. In December 2018, the Government announced an additional £370 million of funding for the period 2018-2021.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay grouped question UIN 121039 question first answered 08/01/2018 17:01:07 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

810704

registered interest
date	21/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department was first made aware of plans by the Royal Bank of Scotland to close 259 of its branches.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	121049
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2018 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including RBS, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel</p><p>The decision to open or close branches is a commercial matter, in which the Government does not intervene.</p><p>RBS Group retains its own board which is responsible for commercial and operational decisions, including in relation to its branch network. The Government’s shareholding in RBS Group is managed at arm's length and on a commercial basis through UK Financial Investments Ltd, a company which is wholly owned by the Government.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 12/01/2018 12:44:21 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

805275

registered interest
date	12/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Bank Services: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to introduce legislative proposals to establish a guaranteed minimum level of service by high-street banks in rural areas.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	118947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2017 answer text <p>I discussed RBS Group’s recent branch closure announcement with the Scottish Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy on 4 December.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving access to financial services. While the decision to close a branch remains a commercial judgement for banks, the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs. Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay grouped question UIN 118949 118952 119030 119033 question first answered 18/12/2017 17:36:13 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

805277

registered interest
date	12/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Banks: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on local communities of the bank branch closures in Scotland recently announced by Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	118949
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2017 answer text <p>I discussed RBS Group’s recent branch closure announcement with the Scottish Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy on 4 December.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving access to financial services. While the decision to close a branch remains a commercial judgement for banks, the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs. Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay grouped question UIN 118947 118952 119030 119033 question first answered 18/12/2017 17:36:14 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

805280

registered interest
date	12/12/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Banks: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last had discussions with the Scottish Government on the effect on local communities of the bank branch closures in Scotland recently announced by Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	118952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2017 answer text <p>I discussed RBS Group’s recent branch closure announcement with the Scottish Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy on 4 December.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving access to financial services. While the decision to close a branch remains a commercial judgement for banks, the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs. Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay grouped question UIN 118947 118949 119030 119033 question first answered 18/12/2017 17:36:14 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

773087

registered interest
date	18/10/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Fiscal Policy: Monetary Policy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the inter-relationship between monetary and fiscal policy.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	108558
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2017 answer text <p>The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is an important feature of the UK’s macroeconomic framework. Monetary policy is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England, whereas the Treasury has responsibility for fiscal policy. The MPC has the primary objective, set out in law, of maintaining price stability, currently defined as an inflation target of 2 per cent, as measured by the 12 month increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay question first answered 26/10/2017 10:43:42 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

773170

registered interest
date	18/10/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Monetary Policy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effects of the Bank of England's Quantitive easing programme.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	108556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2017 answer text <p>The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998 gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Decisions on the use of monetary policy tools, including quantitative easing, are for the judgement of the MPC.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay question first answered 26/10/2017 13:07:58 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford