Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether was she informed by the Office for Budget Responsibility in advance of the (a) Autumn Budget 2024 and (b) Spring Statement 2025 that it was likely to conduct a review of productivity forecasts at a forthcoming fiscal event.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The OBR regularly reviews its forecast assumptions. As set out in its latest annual Forecast Evaluation Report, published in July 2025, the OBR noted that they are "currently conducting our regular summer supply stocktake, which involves research into our potential output forecast and its components."
As the Government’s independent official forecaster, the OBR has full discretion over the judgements underpinning its forecasts.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she was first informed by officials in her Department that the Office for Budget Responsibility was likely to conduct a review of their productivity forecasts.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The OBR regularly reviews its forecast assumptions. As set out in its latest annual Forecast Evaluation Report, published in July 2025, the OBR noted that they are "currently conducting our regular summer supply stocktake, which involves research into our potential output forecast and its components."
As the Government’s independent official forecaster, the OBR has full discretion over the judgements underpinning its forecasts.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when was she first informed by the Office for Budget Responsibility that they planned to review the Government's productivity forecasts.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The OBR regularly reviews its forecast assumptions. As set out in its latest annual Forecast Evaluation Report, published in July 2025, the OBR noted that they are "currently conducting our regular summer supply stocktake, which involves research into our potential output forecast and its components."
As the Government’s independent official forecaster, the OBR has full discretion over the judgements underpinning its forecasts.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the HM Treasury press release entitled Chancellor pledges to unlock growth in Cornwall, published on 29 July 2025, whether the Government expects to provide additional public funding to support the reopening of the South Crofty Tin mine.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Wealth Fund made a £28.6 million equity investment in the South Crofty tin mine to help de-risk the project and enable it to secure additional financing to operationalise the mine. The investment supports the continued growth and sustainability of Cornwall’s mining sector. The National Wealth Fund will continue to explore opportunities to support the South Crofty tin mine alongside private sector investment.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, what discussions her Department has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of its capacity to process an increase in recovery permit applications before the proposed 2027 Landfill Tax exemption removal.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
HM Treasury is working with Defra and the Environment Agency on the proposals set out in the consultation.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor pledges to unlock growth in Cornwall, published on 29 July 2025, what proportion of the jobs created by the reopening of the South Crofty Tin Mine will be directly employed by Cornish Metals; and on what evidential basis her Department calculated the indirect employment figures referenced in that press release.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Cornish Metals expect over 300 direct jobs to be created at South Crofty mine, with up to a further 1,000 indirect jobs being created to support the mining operation. The employment figures referenced in the HM Treasury press release were provided by Cornish Metals in their Preliminary Economic Assessment of the South Crofty project. This can be found on Cornish Metals’ website: https://cornishmetals.com/projects/uk/south-crofty/.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government press release entitled Sizewell C gets green light with final investment decision, published on 22 July 2025, for what reason the Government's funding for Sizewell C will be made through the National Wealth Fund.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Wealth Fund is the provider of the Government’s loan for Sizewell C. This enables the project to benefit from the NWF’s operationally independent infrastructure finance expertise. Sizewell C is also a strong fit with the NWF’s mandate, as one of the UK’s top clean energy priorities, and will bring significant regional economic growth benefits.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor pledges to unlock growth in Cornwall, published on 29 July 2025, whether the £28.6 million investment into Cornish Metals by the National Wealth Fund had previously been committed to by the UK Infrastructure Bank before 4 July 2024.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The commitment to invest £28.6 million into Cornish Metals was made by the National Wealth Fund and announced on 28th January 2025. The investment is separate to the £24 million equity investment into Cornish Lithium announced on 23rd August 2023 by the UKIB
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, whether she plans to conduct an Infrastructure and Projects Authority review prior to a removal of the exemption for filling quarries from the Landfill Tax.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
As part of the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.
We will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, whether she has considered the potential long-term inflationary impact of the proposed Landfill Tax changes on public infrastructure procurement.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government consulted on proposals for reform of landfill tax on 28 April following a call for evidence in 2021. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the government is currently considering responses.
As part of the consultation on Reform of Landfill Tax, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the construction sector. Reducing the amount of waste material sent to landfill remains a key environmental objective, supporting the transition to a circular economy. The government recently published a 10-year infrastructure strategy that set out the government’s long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth.
We will continue to work across government and engage with stakeholders, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure projects. This approach will ensure that infrastructure delivery is supported while advancing circular economy objectives.
The government will respond to the consultation in due course.