Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc on the economies of surrounding settlements.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Chancellor has recently announced the government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it, building on the proposed route of East West Rail, as part of the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.
The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to world leading universities and globally renowned science and technology firms. But the region's true potential is being held back by several constraints, including poor transport connections and unaffordable housing and we need to go further to address the key barriers to growth across this region to deliver benefits for the whole country. This region already accounts for over 7% of total UK GDP, contributing over £40 billion to the UK economy, and fully realising its potential could add a further £78 billion by 2035 according to industry experts.
More broadly, the government has extended the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for a further year, providing £900 million for local authorities to invest in local priorities right across the UK. This includes almost £1.9 million for Wiltshire in 2025-26.
Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has mechanisms to claw back covid-19 support funding from organisations with links to activities that are deemed not compatible with British values.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
This Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support, to the economy during this financial year and last, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in the UK. Financial support during the pandemic included job and income support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, as well as business grants and loans.
The eligibility requirements for these schemes do not include a specific test around the activities of an organisation, nor do they prevent access by organisations that have been censured by the Charity Commission provided they meet the requirements of the schemes.
Across the schemes, the Government has consistently taken steps to protect public money against error, fraud and abuse. Where the recipients of payments or loans are found not to have been entitled to the money they have received, the Government has made provision for relevant powers and mechanisms to allow the money to be recovered and, where appropriate, penalties issued. These mechanisms have already been used to make recoveries and further compliance work across the schemes is ongoing.
Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria his Department used to screen potential recipients of covid-19 support funding for links to (a) activities not conducive to the public good and (b) activities censured by the Charities Commission.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
This Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support, to the economy during this financial year and last, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in the UK. Financial support during the pandemic included job and income support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, as well as business grants and loans.
The eligibility requirements for these schemes do not include a specific test around the activities of an organisation, nor do they prevent access by organisations that have been censured by the Charity Commission provided they meet the requirements of the schemes.
Across the schemes, the Government has consistently taken steps to protect public money against error, fraud and abuse. Where the recipients of payments or loans are found not to have been entitled to the money they have received, the Government has made provision for relevant powers and mechanisms to allow the money to be recovered and, where appropriate, penalties issued. These mechanisms have already been used to make recoveries and further compliance work across the schemes is ongoing.
Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to audit covid-19 support funding provided to the Islamic Centre of England.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
This Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support to the economy during this financial year and last, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK. In doing so, the Government has struck a balance between making sure that support is available to those who need it most, while also protecting public money against error, fraud and abuse.
HM Treasury does not comment on the commercial or financial matters of private firms.