Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson)]

I totally agree with my hon. Friend that GDP per capita is what matters. It has grown by 2% so far since the election. It was revised up at the Budget after falling in the last Parliament. My hon. Friend is also right to raise the need for Government to look closely at the design of our tax and benefit system. We announced at the Budget the removal of the carer’s allowance cliff-edge, and I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will keep further simplification and reform options under review.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

T2. Hayling Island and Emsworth both need banking hubs funded by our high street banks. Is it not the case that the Government’s increase in the bank tax is a disincentive and a missed opportunity at a time when more banking hubs are needed?

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Lucy Rigby)]

As the hon. Member knows, we have a commitment already to 350 banking hubs. We are working with industry to deliver those 350 hubs over the course of this Parliament. We also have the access to banking review being done by Richard Lloyd. The end result will be more banking hubs across the country.