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1523833

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services: Urban Areas
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 number of designated high street areas without a bank branch.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	65889
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text The way people bank in the UK continues to develop at pace, with more consumers and businesses than ever enjoying the convenience, security, and speed of digital banking. In 2021, 86% of UK adults used a form of remote banking, such as an app, online or on the phone. Banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.<p> </p><p>The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking services. However, decisions on opening and closing branches are a commercial issue for banks and building societies. The Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of these branch networks.</p><p /><p>Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on the everyday banking and cash access needs of their customers (including charities) and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This ensures that the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.  The FCA expects firms to exercise particular care with vulnerable customers, such as those who are elderly, disabled or have low financial capability, and the guidance has recently been strengthened to enhance protections for consumers that rely on branch services.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options for access can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers (including charities) to deposit cheques, check their balance and withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches in the UK. New shared bank hubs are also being piloted, providing basic banking services and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022, the Government has introduced legislation to protect access to cash. The Bill protects access to cash by establishing the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator and providing it with appropriate powers to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. These powers will allow the FCA to take account of factors it considers appropriate for seeking to ensure there is reasonable provision of cash access services, this could include factors such as the appropriateness of facilities for people in vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith grouped question UIN 65890 65891 65892 65893 question first answered 25/10/2022 13:40:48 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1523834

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
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, what estimate he has made of the number of bank branches which closed in (a) London and (b) England in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	65890
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text The way people bank in the UK continues to develop at pace, with more consumers and businesses than ever enjoying the convenience, security, and speed of digital banking. In 2021, 86% of UK adults used a form of remote banking, such as an app, online or on the phone. Banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.<p> </p><p>The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking services. However, decisions on opening and closing branches are a commercial issue for banks and building societies. The Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of these branch networks.</p><p /><p>Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on the everyday banking and cash access needs of their customers (including charities) and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This ensures that the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.  The FCA expects firms to exercise particular care with vulnerable customers, such as those who are elderly, disabled or have low financial capability, and the guidance has recently been strengthened to enhance protections for consumers that rely on branch services.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options for access can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers (including charities) to deposit cheques, check their balance and withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches in the UK. New shared bank hubs are also being piloted, providing basic banking services and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022, the Government has introduced legislation to protect access to cash. The Bill protects access to cash by establishing the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator and providing it with appropriate powers to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. These powers will allow the FCA to take account of factors it considers appropriate for seeking to ensure there is reasonable provision of cash access services, this could include factors such as the appropriateness of facilities for people in vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith grouped question UIN 65889 65891 65892 65893 question first answered 25/10/2022 13:40:48 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1523835

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services and Money: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of access to (a) cash and (b) banking services for elderly people.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	65891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text The way people bank in the UK continues to develop at pace, with more consumers and businesses than ever enjoying the convenience, security, and speed of digital banking. In 2021, 86% of UK adults used a form of remote banking, such as an app, online or on the phone. Banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.<p> </p><p>The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking services. However, decisions on opening and closing branches are a commercial issue for banks and building societies. The Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of these branch networks.</p><p /><p>Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on the everyday banking and cash access needs of their customers (including charities) and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This ensures that the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.  The FCA expects firms to exercise particular care with vulnerable customers, such as those who are elderly, disabled or have low financial capability, and the guidance has recently been strengthened to enhance protections for consumers that rely on branch services.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options for access can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers (including charities) to deposit cheques, check their balance and withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches in the UK. New shared bank hubs are also being piloted, providing basic banking services and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022, the Government has introduced legislation to protect access to cash. The Bill protects access to cash by establishing the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator and providing it with appropriate powers to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. These powers will allow the FCA to take account of factors it considers appropriate for seeking to ensure there is reasonable provision of cash access services, this could include factors such as the appropriateness of facilities for people in vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith grouped question UIN 65889 65890 65892 65893 question first answered 25/10/2022 13:40:48 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1523836

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services and Money: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of access to (a) cash and (b) banking services for disabled people.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	65892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text The way people bank in the UK continues to develop at pace, with more consumers and businesses than ever enjoying the convenience, security, and speed of digital banking. In 2021, 86% of UK adults used a form of remote banking, such as an app, online or on the phone. Banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.<p> </p><p>The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking services. However, decisions on opening and closing branches are a commercial issue for banks and building societies. The Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of these branch networks.</p><p /><p>Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on the everyday banking and cash access needs of their customers (including charities) and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This ensures that the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.  The FCA expects firms to exercise particular care with vulnerable customers, such as those who are elderly, disabled or have low financial capability, and the guidance has recently been strengthened to enhance protections for consumers that rely on branch services.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options for access can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers (including charities) to deposit cheques, check their balance and withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches in the UK. New shared bank hubs are also being piloted, providing basic banking services and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022, the Government has introduced legislation to protect access to cash. The Bill protects access to cash by establishing the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator and providing it with appropriate powers to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. These powers will allow the FCA to take account of factors it considers appropriate for seeking to ensure there is reasonable provision of cash access services, this could include factors such as the appropriateness of facilities for people in vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith grouped question UIN 65889 65890 65891 65893 question first answered 25/10/2022 13:40:48 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1523837

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services: Charities
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 bank branch closures on charity collections and revenue.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	65893
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text The way people bank in the UK continues to develop at pace, with more consumers and businesses than ever enjoying the convenience, security, and speed of digital banking. In 2021, 86% of UK adults used a form of remote banking, such as an app, online or on the phone. Banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.<p> </p><p>The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking services. However, decisions on opening and closing branches are a commercial issue for banks and building societies. The Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of these branch networks.</p><p /><p>Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on the everyday banking and cash access needs of their customers (including charities) and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This ensures that the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.  The FCA expects firms to exercise particular care with vulnerable customers, such as those who are elderly, disabled or have low financial capability, and the guidance has recently been strengthened to enhance protections for consumers that rely on branch services.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options for access can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers (including charities) to deposit cheques, check their balance and withdraw and deposit cash at 11,500 Post Office branches in the UK. New shared bank hubs are also being piloted, providing basic banking services and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022, the Government has introduced legislation to protect access to cash. The Bill protects access to cash by establishing the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator and providing it with appropriate powers to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. These powers will allow the FCA to take account of factors it considers appropriate for seeking to ensure there is reasonable provision of cash access services, this could include factors such as the appropriateness of facilities for people in vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith grouped question UIN 65889 65890 65891 65892 question first answered 25/10/2022 13:40:48 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1487425

registered interest
date	07/07/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) forecast and (b) actual expenditure was for the tax free childcare scheme in 2021-22.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	32591
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting families with their childcare costs through Tax-Free Childcare and we are continuing to encourage eligible families to sign up for it. Take-up of Tax-Free Childcare is on a steady upward trajectory and has continued to increase despite the covid-19 pandemic. At the end of March 2022 (the most recent data) an estimated 384,000 families used Tax-Free Childcare for 458,000 children, compared to 328,000 families for 384,000 children in December 2021. The Government spent £43 million on Tax-Free Childcare top-up for families in March 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Actual spend on Tax-Free Childcare in financial year 2021/22 was above forecast. At the Spring 2021 Budget, the forecast expenditure for Tax-Free Childcare in 2021/22 was £0.39bn. Tax-Free Childcare expenditure in 2021/22 was £0.41bn.</p><p> </p><p>Government spending on Tax-Free Childcare was below forecast for the financial years 2017/18 to 2020/21. When many childcare settings were closed in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Government brought easements into Tax-Free Childcare, 30 hours and Working Tax Credit childcare support offers, allowing parents to remain eligible for these offers despite potential changes to their circumstances due to covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also driving a renewed campaign – via the Childcare Choices website - so parents can access the support they are entitled to. This will also encourage providers to take the necessary steps to offer the full range of childcare support to parents.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke grouped question UIN 32592 question first answered 12/07/2022 16:44:48 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1487426

registered interest
date	07/07/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
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 how underspend on tax free childcare has been used in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	32592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting families with their childcare costs through Tax-Free Childcare and we are continuing to encourage eligible families to sign up for it. Take-up of Tax-Free Childcare is on a steady upward trajectory and has continued to increase despite the covid-19 pandemic. At the end of March 2022 (the most recent data) an estimated 384,000 families used Tax-Free Childcare for 458,000 children, compared to 328,000 families for 384,000 children in December 2021. The Government spent £43 million on Tax-Free Childcare top-up for families in March 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Actual spend on Tax-Free Childcare in financial year 2021/22 was above forecast. At the Spring 2021 Budget, the forecast expenditure for Tax-Free Childcare in 2021/22 was £0.39bn. Tax-Free Childcare expenditure in 2021/22 was £0.41bn.</p><p> </p><p>Government spending on Tax-Free Childcare was below forecast for the financial years 2017/18 to 2020/21. When many childcare settings were closed in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Government brought easements into Tax-Free Childcare, 30 hours and Working Tax Credit childcare support offers, allowing parents to remain eligible for these offers despite potential changes to their circumstances due to covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also driving a renewed campaign – via the Childcare Choices website - so parents can access the support they are entitled to. This will also encourage providers to take the necessary steps to offer the full range of childcare support to parents.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke grouped question UIN 32591 question first answered 12/07/2022 16:44:48 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1378023

registered interest
date	12/11/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Industry: Carbon Emissions
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 tax reliefs offered to carbon intensive industries, including those companies drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	73921
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2021 answer text <p>HMRC have an annual tax reliefs statistics publication which is available to the public. The latest version of this was published in October 2020 and includes outturn cost estimates for tax reliefs for a five-year period up to and including 2019-20. This includes reliefs offered to carbon-intensive industries, including those companies drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.</p><p>The Government keeps all taxes under review.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 22/11/2021 14:29:59 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1367075

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business Rates: Valuation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate has he made of the number of businesses at each stage of the business rates appeal process in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate has he made of the average waiting time for a business rates appeal to be decided.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	71413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2021 answer text <p>The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) published official statistics on non-domestic rating challenges and changes, including Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) figures on 28 October 2021:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-2017-and-2010-rating-lists-september-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-2017-and-2010-rating-lists-september-2021</a></p><p> </p><p>Table 1.1 shows there were 7,200 Checks and that 63,780 Challenges were outstanding as of 30 September 2021 in England.</p><p> </p><p>These figures represent the number of cases, not the number of businesses. Each Check or Challenge could involve more than one business, and a business could have more than one case.</p><p> </p><p>The vast majority of outstanding Challenge cases are related to COVID-19 and are on hold pending legislation. The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill sets out, with retrospective effect, that matters attributable to COVID-19 are not to be taken into account in respect of determinations to alter 2017 rating lists in England. Once this comes into effect, these cases will be closed.</p><p> </p><p>The average timeliness of resolving Check and Challenge cases between 1 April 2017 and 30 September 2021 in England, was around two months for Checks, and nine months for Challenges. This figure excludes those COVID-19 related Challenges which are on hold.</p><p> </p><p>Clearance of outstanding Challenge cases remains a priority for the VOA. The VOA are prioritising hardship cases and non-COVID Challenge cases approaching 18 months old.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 19/11/2021 12:09:08 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1363480

registered interest
date	26/10/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Fossil Fuels: Carbon Emissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to recoup the costs of net zero from fossil-fuel intensive corporations.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	63790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2021 answer text <p>The Government is already committed to maintaining an ambitious carbon price to ensure that polluters continue to pay for their emissions. The UK has two main carbon pricing policies - the Carbon Price Support (CPS) and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Revenues from carbon pricing support government priorities including meeting our net zero targets.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS rate is a tax on fossil fuels used in electricity generation. CPS ensures that a strong decarbonisation signal is maintained to ensure a downwards trajectory in power sector emissions as we push to fully drive out coal.</p><p> </p><p>The ETS applies a carbon price to businesses in power generation, heavy industry and aviation. The ETS will be the world’s first net zero cap and trade market, delivering a robust carbon price signal and promoting cost-effective decarbonisation by allowing businesses to cut carbon where it is cheapest to do so.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking the opportunity to develop a scheme with greater ambition; for example, by reducing the cap on emissions allowances by 5% from the UK’s expected share of the EU ETS cap. We will also be consulting on setting a net zero consistent cap trajectory. The UK has also committed to exploring expanding the UK ETS to other sectors.</p><p> </p><p>At the same time as using carbon pricing to ensure firms face a cost for the carbon they emit, we are also supporting firms and households; with £1.8 billion to support tens of thousands of low-income households to make the transition to net zero while reducing their energy bills.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 02/11/2021 17:51:05 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes