Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of investment‑market volatility on retirees using income drawdown arrangements; and if she will conduct a review of (a) pension provider fee structures, particularly charging full management fees during periods of negative fund performance and (b) the adequacy of safeguards for retirees who are reliant on drawdown income.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Individuals do face both investment and longevity risk in today’s Defined Contribution pension landscape, That can include investment risk during retirement. The government is acting to help savers manage these risk, including via the introduction of default pensions through the Pension Schemes Bill. This will ensure that savers in workplace defined contribution schemes have a default solution in place for retirement, helping secure a sustainable income in later life. Trustees and providers will need to consider how the solution they put in place help protect individuals from investment and longevity risks.
FCA rules already require drawdown providers to provide annual statements to consumers which contain enough information for them to review their position. This ensures that consumers can make choices regarding their drawdown arrangements on an informed basis.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK remains internationally competitive in (i) sustainable finance and (ii) transition finance.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy set out the government’s vision for the UK’s sustainable finance regulatory framework, which prioritises championing the UK’s world leading sustainable finance sector to innovate and adapt to upcoming developments.
The government published the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards for voluntary use on 25 February. These aim to support long-term, sustainable decision-making by the business and investment community by providing high-quality and comparable information about the sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face. These standards are closely aligned with the standards from the International Sustainability Standards Board and will support both companies and investors working across jurisdictional boundaries. The Financial Conduct Authority has also consulted on potential updates to its rules for listed companies.
The UK is also taking decisive action to ensure its financial services sector in supporting the global transition and is well placed to capture the opportunity of transition finance. The government has been working closely with the Transition Finance Council, which the Chancellor co-launched with the City of London Corporation in February 2025. It has also consulted on potential implementation options to take forward transition planning in a way that supports the market’s need for credible and decision-useful information, while encouraging action in line with the UK’s climate commitments and supporting economic growth. The government will publish its response in due course.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential for greater regulatory interoperability between the UK and Japan to reduce barriers to financial services exports.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the value of deepening relationships with international partners, such as Japan, to support global financial stability, a cohesive regulatory landscape, and growth and investment in the UK.
Financial regulatory dialogues, including the Japan-UK Financial Regulatory Forum (FRF), are important in supporting cross-border trade in financial services and form a core part of the government’s approach to strengthening international partnerships, as set out in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy published in July.
The most recent Japan-UK FRF was on 18 March 2026 in Tokyo, alongside joint sessions with the seventh meeting of the Financial Dialogue. The Forum provided an opportunity for a deep and meaningful exchange across a broad set of economic, fiscal and financial regulatory issues, including alignment on international sustainability reporting standards, digital finance and international banking. Further details of the discussions can be found in the Joint Statement.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to align the UK’s regulatory framework for (i) digital assets and (ii) stablecoins with key international partners to support global market access for UK firms.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is maintaining close engagement with the UK’s international partners on digital asset and stablecoin market access opportunities.
The government is committed to making the UK a leading global destination for digital assets.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has paid for followers on social media platforms it uses.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury does not pay for followers on any social media platforms.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she intends to publish an answer to Question 113817, tabled on 20 February 2026, on Public Houses: Business Rates.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN113817 on 1 April 2026.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102817 on Public Houses: Business Rates, if he will provide a hyperlink to the requested information cross-referenced by each individual billing authority in England.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN102817 on 13 January 2026 which provides a link to the published data available.Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the inclusion in the UK Government Green Financing Framework, November 2025, paragraph 2.12, of the new exclusion of "Facilities intended for the production of weapons grade nuclear material or for other primarily military uses" on levels of divestment in the Defence nuclear industry, including Trident renewal contracts and sub-contracts.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Green Financing Framework, updated in 2025, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that deliver a direct and positive environmental impact.
The Defence Nuclear Enterprise is critically important but does not primarily exist to support those objectives and so is not eligible to be financed under the Framework. This exclusion is in line with international norms for green bond frameworks.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will sit within her Department.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.
Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, what the cost is of creating the new finance mechanism.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.
Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.