Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in G7 countries on (a) strengthening and (b) extending the eligibility criteria for the Common Framework to assist debt restructuring for (i) Tonga, (ii) small island developing states and (iii) other climate vulnerable countries.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Progress in implementing the Common Framework has been a regular feature in the Chancellor’s discussions in the G7 and G20. Recognising the need to advance existing requests for the Common Framework, in its October 2021 communique the G20 committed to step up its efforts to implement it in a timely, orderly and coordinated manner.
73 of the world’s poorest countries, including Tonga and a number of other small island states and climate vulnerable countries, are currently eligible for the G20 and Paris Club’s Common Framework. The UK is open to options to strengthen and extend the Common Framework noting that any decisions would require agreement of the full G20.
Countries that are ineligible for the Common Framework may still apply for a debt treatment from the Paris Club. The UK is a longstanding member of the Paris Club and has a strong record of working with international partners to assist countries on their road to longer-term debt sustainability.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial assistance to hospital and GP practices to cover the increased gas and electric costs once the Ofgem energy cap rises in April 2022.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Energy Price Cap is set by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and only applies to consumer bills rather than businesses and public services.
There is existing Government funding in place to support public services.
The Government spent around £3.6bn in 2020-21 in early education entitlements and the government continues to support families with their childcare costs. At Spending Review 2021, the Chancellor announced an uplift of £170 million by 2024-25 to increase the hourly rate paid by providers to deliver the government’s free hours offers. This builds on the £44 million increase at SR20.
Eligible nurseries may also qualify for nurseries discount as part of the governments Business Rates Relief, if the business is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and the premises is wholly or mainly used to provide the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. Further detail on this can be found here: Business rates relief: Nurseries discount - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Overall, core schools funding is increasing by £4 billion in 2022-23 – a 5% increase in real terms per pupil from 2021-22.
The NHS is the Government's key spending priority and that is why it has committed to a historic settlement that provides a cash increase of £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24. This takes the NHS budget from £114.6 billion in 2018-19 to over £160 billion in 2024-25. The Government has made significant additional investments in the health and care system to respond to COVID-19. For 2021-22 the Government has so far approved £34 billion for frontline health services, including £15 billion of day-to-day funding for the NHS.
The Government provided an unprecedented multi-billion-pound package of support for Britain's charities during the pandemic, including £750 million of dedicated funding that has helped more than 15,000 organisations across the country respond to the impact of Covid-19.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial assistance to charitable organisations, registered with the Charity Commission, to cover the increased gas and electric costs when the Ofgem energy cap is due to increase from April 2022.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Energy Price Cap is set by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and only applies to consumer bills rather than businesses and public services.
There is existing Government funding in place to support public services.
The Government spent around £3.6bn in 2020-21 in early education entitlements and the government continues to support families with their childcare costs. At Spending Review 2021, the Chancellor announced an uplift of £170 million by 2024-25 to increase the hourly rate paid by providers to deliver the government’s free hours offers. This builds on the £44 million increase at SR20.
Eligible nurseries may also qualify for nurseries discount as part of the governments Business Rates Relief, if the business is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and the premises is wholly or mainly used to provide the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. Further detail on this can be found here: Business rates relief: Nurseries discount - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Overall, core schools funding is increasing by £4 billion in 2022-23 – a 5% increase in real terms per pupil from 2021-22.
The NHS is the Government's key spending priority and that is why it has committed to a historic settlement that provides a cash increase of £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24. This takes the NHS budget from £114.6 billion in 2018-19 to over £160 billion in 2024-25. The Government has made significant additional investments in the health and care system to respond to COVID-19. For 2021-22 the Government has so far approved £34 billion for frontline health services, including £15 billion of day-to-day funding for the NHS.
The Government provided an unprecedented multi-billion-pound package of support for Britain's charities during the pandemic, including £750 million of dedicated funding that has helped more than 15,000 organisations across the country respond to the impact of Covid-19.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial assistance to nurseries and early years education centres to cover the increased gas and electric costs when the Ofgem energy cap is due to increase in April 2022.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Energy Price Cap is set by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and only applies to consumer bills rather than businesses and public services.
There is existing Government funding in place to support public services.
The Government spent around £3.6bn in 2020-21 in early education entitlements and the government continues to support families with their childcare costs. At Spending Review 2021, the Chancellor announced an uplift of £170 million by 2024-25 to increase the hourly rate paid by providers to deliver the government’s free hours offers. This builds on the £44 million increase at SR20.
Eligible nurseries may also qualify for nurseries discount as part of the governments Business Rates Relief, if the business is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and the premises is wholly or mainly used to provide the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. Further detail on this can be found here: Business rates relief: Nurseries discount - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Overall, core schools funding is increasing by £4 billion in 2022-23 – a 5% increase in real terms per pupil from 2021-22.
The NHS is the Government's key spending priority and that is why it has committed to a historic settlement that provides a cash increase of £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24. This takes the NHS budget from £114.6 billion in 2018-19 to over £160 billion in 2024-25. The Government has made significant additional investments in the health and care system to respond to COVID-19. For 2021-22 the Government has so far approved £34 billion for frontline health services, including £15 billion of day-to-day funding for the NHS.
The Government provided an unprecedented multi-billion-pound package of support for Britain's charities during the pandemic, including £750 million of dedicated funding that has helped more than 15,000 organisations across the country respond to the impact of Covid-19.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial assistance to primary and secondary schools to cover increased gas and electric costs once the Ofgem energy cap rises in April 2022.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Energy Price Cap is set by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and only applies to consumer bills rather than businesses and public services.
There is existing Government funding in place to support public services.
The Government spent around £3.6bn in 2020-21 in early education entitlements and the government continues to support families with their childcare costs. At Spending Review 2021, the Chancellor announced an uplift of £170 million by 2024-25 to increase the hourly rate paid by providers to deliver the government’s free hours offers. This builds on the £44 million increase at SR20.
Eligible nurseries may also qualify for nurseries discount as part of the governments Business Rates Relief, if the business is on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and the premises is wholly or mainly used to provide the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. Further detail on this can be found here: Business rates relief: Nurseries discount - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Overall, core schools funding is increasing by £4 billion in 2022-23 – a 5% increase in real terms per pupil from 2021-22.
The NHS is the Government's key spending priority and that is why it has committed to a historic settlement that provides a cash increase of £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24. This takes the NHS budget from £114.6 billion in 2018-19 to over £160 billion in 2024-25. The Government has made significant additional investments in the health and care system to respond to COVID-19. For 2021-22 the Government has so far approved £34 billion for frontline health services, including £15 billion of day-to-day funding for the NHS.
The Government provided an unprecedented multi-billion-pound package of support for Britain's charities during the pandemic, including £750 million of dedicated funding that has helped more than 15,000 organisations across the country respond to the impact of Covid-19.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide separate additional funding to (a) households with children under the age of 18, (b) households with expectant mothers and (c) pensioners to help with the increase in gas and electric costs, in response to Ofgem's energy cap increase.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government recognises many households will need support to help deal with the rising cost of energy prices. Therefore, we are providing support worth £9.1bn in 2022-23 composed of:
A £200 discount for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, paid back automatically over the next 5 years, spreading the increased costs of global prices over time in a way that is more manageable for households.
A £150 non-repayable cash rebate to 80% of households to help with rising costs now, delivered as a payment from government to Local Authorities, for implementation from this April via a payment to all households in Council Tax Bands A-D.
£144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction.
There is also our £500m Household Support Fund which will help vulnerable households, including pensioners, with the costs of essentials this winter – local authorities will ensure it reaches those who need it most, and 50% of the funding is ringfenced for households with children.
This is on top of wider support available for vulnerable households, elderly and low-income people this winter. These schemes include the Warm Home Discount, which is being expanded to 3m people and increased to £150, up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment for all households with at least one member above State Pension age and a £25 per week Cold Weather Payment. These measures will help ensure those most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the winter.
In addition to these measures, we’re also providing £3bn over this Parliament to help more than half a million lower income homes become more energy efficient, saving them £290 per year on average.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the VAT exemption to the hire of swimming pools and associated facilities hired by swimming teachers.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The hiring of swimming pools and swimming lessons qualify for an exemption from VAT when certain conditions are met, as outlined in VAT Notice 742 Paragraph 5. The Government has no plans to change this.
Extending the current exemption would impose additional pressure on the public finances, to which VAT makes a significant contribution. VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019-20, and helps to fund key spending priorities, including on health, education, and defense.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to abolish VAT on the hire of swimming pools and associated facilities.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The hiring of swimming pools and swimming lessons qualify for an exemption from VAT when certain conditions are met, as outlined in VAT Notice 742 Paragraph 5. The Government has no plans to change this.
Extending the current exemption would impose additional pressure on the public finances, to which VAT makes a significant contribution. VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019-20, and helps to fund key spending priorities, including on health, education, and defense.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on reducing the level of VAT payable on swimming lessons for children; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The hiring of swimming pools and swimming lessons qualify for an exemption from VAT when certain conditions are met, as outlined in VAT Notice 742 Paragraph 5. The Government has no plans to change this.
Extending the current exemption would impose additional pressure on the public finances, to which VAT makes a significant contribution. VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019-20, and helps to fund key spending priorities, including on health, education, and defense.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to increase the £450,000 property cost limit for Lifetime ISAs in line with house price inflation.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Lifetime ISA is intended to support younger people saving for their first home or for later life by offering a generous government bonus of 25% on up to £4,000 of savings each year. These funds, including the government bonus, can be used to purchase a first home up to the value of £450,000.
The Government considers that the £450,000 price cap is suitable to support the majority of first-time buyers across the UK (who typically purchase less expensive properties than other buyers), while ensuring sustainable public finances.
The most recent Office for Budget Responsibility forecast stated that bonus payments will have an exchequer cost of £3.7 billion between 2021 and 2027. The price cap ensures that this significant investment of public money is more precisely targeted towards households that may find it more difficult to get onto the property ladder.
First-time buyers who can purchase a home valued over £450,000 are likely to have an income significantly above that of the average household in the UK and are therefore more likely to be able to purchase a first home without the support of this scheme.
The Government continues to keep all aspects of savings policy under review.