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Written Question
Cost of Living: Chronic Illnesses
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the rising cost of living on people with chronic conditions, such as sickle cell disease.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.

People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the extra costs disabled people are facing. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments.

The Government is also providing a £650 Cost of Living Payment to recipients of means-tested benefits, to support people with low incomes with the rising cost of living. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are therefore eligible for this support.

Those living with a long-term health condition, such as sickle cell disease, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills.

Firstly via the recently announced Energy Price Guarantee, a typical UK household will have to pay energy bills equivalent to no more than £2500 a year this winter. The Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas and will supersede the existing energy price cap. Beyond April 2023, a Treasury-led review will consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.

Secondly via the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which will provide £400 to help with domestic energy bills. All households in Council Tax bands A-D will also receive the Government-funded £150 Council Tax Rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities.

Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund.


Written Question
Companies: Coronavirus
Tuesday 5th May 2020

Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of current COVID-19 support schemes for single person companies where the worker draws dividends in lieu of a salary from the company.

Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton

Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages, and is not eligible for support. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity. Expanding the scope would require HMRC to collect and verify new information. This would take longer to deliver and put at risk the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible.

Individuals who are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme may be able to access other support Government is providing, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available on GOV.UK.


Written Question
Soft Drinks: Taxation
Wednesday 13th December 2017

Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use any of the revenue from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to fund preventative oral health programmes.

Answered by Lord Bates

The government has already confirmed that, in England, we will invest the revenue during this parliament on giving school-aged children a better and healthier future, including programmes to reduce obesity and encourage physical activity and balanced diets.

Improving children’s oral health is a priority for this government. Public Health England is leading a wide ranging multi-agency programme focused on improving children’s oral health, and NHS England’s Starting Well programme will run in thirteen high needs areas to improve access to dental services for children known to be at greater risk of dental disease and who are not currently being seen by a dentist.

The Department of Health and NHS England are also testing a new NHS dental contract which supports the longer term aim for all care to have a preventative focus.