Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing public access to free, impartial financial guidance on (a) financial wellbeing and (b) household financial resilience.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recognises the importance of supporting people of all ages to develop the financial skills needed to manage their money effectively, and has taken steps to improve the provision of accessible financial guidance.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is an arm’s length body of Government which supports consumers with free, impartial financial guidance for every stage of their financial lives. Its MoneyHelper services – available online, via webchat and over the phone - offers information on a wide range of financial topics, along with easy-to-use tools and calculators to support people in managing their finances.
MaPS also runs the Money Guiders programme, which is designed to equip frontline staff – such as nurses, social workers, job coaches and community volunteers – with the skills and confidence to have effective conversations about money with the people they support. As set out in the Financial Inclusion Strategy, published on 5th November 2025, MaPS will expand and enhance Money Guiders to deliver quality financial guidance across the UK.
To date, Money Guiders has engaged over 18,000 practitioners and partnered with nearly 300 organisations. Evidence suggests that the programme has a positive impact on practitioner knowledge and understanding relating to money guidance, and their confidence delivering it, making it easier for people to access financial guidance when they need it. MaPS continues to evaluate the reach and impact of its guidance services.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential economic merits of public investment in essential utility infrastructure in remote rural communities.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government’s number one priority is driving economic growth to boost living standards in every part of the country. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy confirmed we will fund at least £725 billion for infrastructure over the next decade. This includes significant investment in essential utility infrastructure. The government is changing the Green Book and how it is used to make sure that every region gets a fair hearing when it comes to investment.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the use of international taxation measures to support global climate adaptation programmes.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on a range of topics
The Government is committed to helping deliver global climate finance, including responding to the wider call on all actors to increase climate finance to developing countries to USD 1.3trn per year and the New Collective Quantified Goal agreed at COP29 of at least $300bn per year to developing countries by 2035
As part of that effort, we are pressing for faster and more ambitious reforms to the global financial system to deliver much more and higher quality climate and development finance. Alongside this, we are supportive of exploring revenue raising mechanisms for climate action.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the potential lessons that could be learned from HMRC’s treatment of professional footballers affected by investment fraud for wider cases mis-selling of tax avoidance schemes.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC works closely with partners across the football sector to deliver educational messages to support players and their agents in getting things right first time.
HMRC recognises the damage caused to the tax system by those that promote tax avoidance schemes. It takes action to prevent that damage, for example by publishing details of schemes and promoters to help customers to steer clear of or otherwise exit such schemes.
The Government is determined to do more to close in on promoters of marketed tax avoidance and recently consulted on a package of measures to strengthen HMRC’s powers to tackle them.
HMRC also recognises that dealing with an enquiry and a tax liability can be stressful. HMRC is committed to supporting taxpayers who need extra support and offer ‘Time to Pay’ instalment arrangements where appropriate.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of account service charges on the operation and sustainability of small community groups which are not registered charities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Community groups make a valuable contribution across the country, and it is important that they can access suitable banking services.
However, decisions about what products are offered, and to whom, remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies, due to differences in legal status, risk, and regulation. This also necessitates that decisions concerning the provision of products, including account charges, are largely commercial decisions for these institutions.
At the Government’s encouragement, UK Finance, working with banks and charity representative groups, have produced the Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, which supports charities and other community groups in accessing banking services. This includes an easy-to-use account finder tool for charities and community groups, and includes information on fees.
It is important that community groups consider a range of providers for their banking needs, as this encourages competition, improves choice, and helps keep prices competitive.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK banks provide accessible banking services for community groups that are not registered charities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Community groups make a valuable contribution across the country, and it is important that they can access suitable banking services.
However, decisions about what products are offered, and to whom, remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies, due to differences in legal status, risk, and regulation. This also necessitates that decisions concerning the provision of products, including account charges, are largely commercial decisions for these institutions.
At the Government’s encouragement, UK Finance, working with banks and charity representative groups, have produced the Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, which supports charities and other community groups in accessing banking services. This includes an easy-to-use account finder tool for charities and community groups, and includes information on fees.
It is important that community groups consider a range of providers for their banking needs, as this encourages competition, improves choice, and helps keep prices competitive.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of account service charges on small local community groups which are not registered charities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Community groups make a valuable contribution across the country, and it is important that they can access suitable banking services.
However, decisions about what products are offered, and to whom, remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies, due to differences in legal status, risk, and regulation. This also necessitates that decisions concerning the provision of products, including account charges, are largely commercial decisions for these institutions.
At the Government’s encouragement, UK Finance, working with banks and charity representative groups, have produced the Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, which supports charities and other community groups in accessing banking services. This includes an easy-to-use account finder tool for charities and community groups, and includes information on fees.
It is important that community groups consider a range of providers for their banking needs, as this encourages competition, improves choice, and helps keep prices competitive.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department provides to banks to encourage fair treatment of non-charitable community groups in relation to service charges and account fees.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Community groups make a valuable contribution across the country, and it is important that they can access suitable banking services.
The provision of bank accounts to organisations, including companies, charities, and partnerships, is a commercial matter and differs fundamentally from the provision of accounts to individuals, due to differences in legal status, risk, and regulation. The Government continues to monitor wider access to bank account provision but recognises that this is largely a commercial matter in which it does not intervene.
At the Government’s encouragement, however, UK Finance, working with banks, and charity representative groups have produced the Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, which supports charities and other community groups in accessing banking services. This includes an account finder tool for charities and community groups, and includes information on fees.
It is important that community groups consider a range of providers for their banking needs, as this encourages competition, improves choice, and helps keep prices competitive.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the guidance it provides to banks on the treatment of small community groups that operate for public benefit but are not registered charities in relation to account service charges.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Community groups make a valuable contribution across the country, and it is important that they can access suitable banking services.
The provision of bank accounts to organisations, including companies, charities, and partnerships, is a commercial matter and differs fundamentally from the provision of accounts to individuals, due to differences in legal status, risk, and regulation. The Government continues to monitor wider access to bank account provision but recognises that this is largely a commercial matter in which it does not intervene.
At the Government’s encouragement, however, UK Finance, working with banks and charity representative groups, have produced the Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, which supports charities and community groups in accessing banking services. This includes an account finder tool for charities and community groups, and includes information on fees.
It is important that community groups consider a range of providers for their banking needs, as this encourages competition, improves choice, and helps keep prices competitive.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with J D Wetherspoon on their policy on accepting Scottish banknotes in their premises in England.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
There is no legal requirement for businesses to accept specific forms of payment. Each business decides which payment methods to accept based on factors including cost and customer needs and preferences. The Government has no plans to compel businesses to accept any particular form of payment. That said, in recognition that millions of people continue to use cash, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 introduced safeguards to protect the public's access to cash.
The UK is unusual in allowing several commercial banks to issue their own banknotes. As well as Bank of England issued notes, authorised banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue banknotes in those jurisdictions. However, it remains the individual retailer’s choice whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card, based on their consideration of factors such as customer preference and cost.
Treasury Ministers meet with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the regular business of government. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel.