Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse has been of (a) subsidies and (b) reductions in tax for North Sea oil and gas companies in the last three years
Answered by Robert Jenrick
There are no subsidies available to North Sea oil and gas companies.
Estimates of the reduction in taxes paid by North Sea companies due to changes to the tax regime are available from the policy costings documents published alongside each fiscal event on the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of (a) wage growth and (b)inflation.
Answered by John Glen
In their March Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility expected CPI inflation to fall to 2.0% by 2018 Q4. The latest data show CPI inflation was 2.5% in July.
The OBR expect nominal wage growth to increase in each year of their forecast, with growth over 3.5% by 2021. They expect these increases to occur alongside CPI falling back towards 2%, with real wages growing from 2018.
Nonetheless, the Government recognises the strain on household budgets from the recent period of elevated inflation. The Government has helped with the cost of living by increasing the National Living Wage, raising the personal allowance, freezing duty on fuel and alcohol and tackling housing costs.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on changes in the level of funding for local government since 2010.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Local Government funding in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government. It is for the Scottish Government to determine the allocation of funds from within its own budgets.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. The Government will consult on the local government finance settlement for 2019/20 in due course. The level of funding for local government in later years will be considered as part of the Spending Review next year.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on changes in the level of public funding for children’s services since 2010.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Children’s Services is a devolved responsibility. The Scottish Government are funded through the block grant to provide children’s services in Scotland and it is their responsibility to allocate their resources as they see fit.
The Chancellor has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. Over £200 billion is available to English councils for local services, including children’s services, up to 2019-20. There will be a real-terms increase in resources available to local government over the next two years. Spending on the most vulnerable children in England has increased by around £1 billion since 2010.