Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Treasury is taking to ensure regulatory co-operation with Spain supports UK-based exporters.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government is committed to a deep and enduring partnership with Spain – a partnership which we were pleased to strengthen through agreeing a strategic bilateral framework in September. This Government is also committed to supporting British businesses exporting to Spain and other European markets. During the Chancellor’s recent visit to Madrid, we agreed practical steps with Spain to make it easier for UK services professionals to travel to Spain, which could be worth around £250 million in additional UK services exports over five years.
This Government recognises the strategic imperative for deeper integration between the UK and EU – which shapes much of Spain’s regulatory regime – to strengthen resilience in the economy and stabilise trading conditions for businesses. As the Chancellor set out in her Mais lecture on 17 March, we will pursue an enhanced partnership with the EU to strengthen supply chains and reduce unnecessary frictions for businesses operating in European markets. This will include closer alignment with EU regulation where it is in the UK’s national interest.
The Government is also strengthening engagement with business on EU regulatory issues, and we are exploring how the UK and EU can work together more effectively on shared ambitions to reduce administrative burdens on business, consistent with the UK commitment to cut the administrative burden of regulation by 25% by the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the fiscal implications of joint defence financing arrangements with Finland and the Netherlands.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.
This is still in development with partners and will follow best international practice and relevant HM Government Guidance, including Managing Public Money.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures are in place to ensure value for money in joint defence financing arrangements with Finland and the Netherlands.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.
This is still in development with partners and will follow best international practice and relevant HM Government Guidance, including Managing Public Money.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for registering liability orders with Registry Trust Limited.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.
When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.
Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.
The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in UK-Spain co-operation on levels of inward private sector investment into (i) Milton Keynes and (ii) Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the implications of UK-Spain economic co-operation for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sectors have been identified as priorities for UK–EU alignment under the growth plan.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Alignment will be an iterative process and decisions will be based on the national interest principles set out by the Chancellor on 17 March. This means a decision to align will be made if:
- It promotes higher growth, investment, consumer benefits, and jobs for the long-term
- The future direction of policy is sufficiently stable and compatible, in terms of values and objectives
- The UK’s economic and national security and resilience is preserved or enhanced.
The Government is currently negotiating an agrifood deal that could add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy and increase agricultural exports to the EU by 16 per cent.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in levels of UK-EU alignment on UK labour markets.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Integrated markets tend to be more competitive. Businesses typically respond by becoming more innovative and efficient, workers gain from higher productivity, allowing wages to rise, and consumers gain from lower prices.
Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.
Aligning UK and EU regulations can reduce some of these frictions, enlarging the market for UK firms, supporting growth in trade and the jobs linked to it.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in regulatory alignment with the EU on economic growth in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Integrated markets tend to be more competitive. Businesses typically respond by becoming more innovative and efficient, workers gain from higher productivity, allowing wages to rise, and consumers gain from lower prices.
Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.
Aligning UK and EU regulations can reduce some of these frictions, enlarging the market for UK firms, supporting growth in trade and the jobs linked to it.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what analysis HM Treasury has undertaken on the potential effect of UK–EU alignment measures on levels of UK competitiveness.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Integrated markets tend to be more competitive. Businesses typically respond by becoming more innovative and efficient, workers gain from higher productivity, allowing wages to rise, and consumers gain from lower prices.
Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.
Aligning UK and EU regulations can reduce some of these frictions, enlarging the market for UK firms, supporting growth in trade and the jobs linked to it.