Written Question
Monday 17th October 2022
Asked by:
Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will order an independent review into the Loan Charge.
Answered by Richard Fuller
- Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The 2019 Independent Loan Charge Review drew upon all the available evidence and expert advice to consider the appropriateness of the Loan Charge policy, and its impact on individuals, reflecting the main concerns that had been raised by MPs and campaigners. The Government accepted all but one of the twenty recommendations in the review.
While there are no plans for a further independent review, the Government continues to look carefully at this issue to ensure that we provide taxpayers with all the support they need.
Written Question
Tuesday 11th October 2022
Asked by:
Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress the Government has made on fiscal framework negotiations with the Scottish Government.
Answered by Chris Philp
- Shadow Home Secretary
In June 2022, the UK Government and Scottish Government finalised arrangements for the independent report on tax and welfare Block Grant Adjustments, which was launched on the same day. The call for stakeholder evidence has recently closed, and the report is expected to conclude in October.
The two governments have also discussed the scope for the Fiscal Framework review while the independent report has been underway.
Written Question
Friday 23rd September 2022
Asked by:
Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effect of the increase in the rate of inflation on (a) NHS Scotland pensions and (b) the annual pension allowance limits.
Answered by Andrew Griffith
- Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The NHS pension scheme protects pensions in payment by increasing them by CPI and revalues accrued career average pension benefits by CPI+1.5% each year.
The Government is committed to ensuring that hard-working NHS staff do not find themselves reducing their work commitments due to the interaction between their pay, their pension, and the relevant tax regime. On 22 September, the Government announced it will change elements of the NHS Pension Scheme to help retain doctors, nurses and other senior NHS staff, to increase capacity. These changes include:
- Changing pension rules regarding inflation
- Encouraging NHS Trusts to explore local solutions for senior clinicians affected by pension tax charges, such as pension recycling
- Implementing permanent retirement flexibilities and extend existing temporary measures to allow our most experienced staff to return to service or stay in service longer.
It should be noted that NHS workforce planning in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Written Question
Friday 23rd September 2022
Asked by:
Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of annual pension allowance limits on levels of recruitment and retention of NHS staff.
Answered by Andrew Griffith
- Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The NHS pension scheme protects pensions in payment by increasing them by CPI and revalues accrued career average pension benefits by CPI+1.5% each year.
The Government is committed to ensuring that hard-working NHS staff do not find themselves reducing their work commitments due to the interaction between their pay, their pension, and the relevant tax regime. On 22 September, the Government announced it will change elements of the NHS Pension Scheme to help retain doctors, nurses and other senior NHS staff, to increase capacity. These changes include:
- Changing pension rules regarding inflation
- Encouraging NHS Trusts to explore local solutions for senior clinicians affected by pension tax charges, such as pension recycling
- Implementing permanent retirement flexibilities and extend existing temporary measures to allow our most experienced staff to return to service or stay in service longer.
It should be noted that NHS workforce planning in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"I am pleased that we are debating this important topic and I thank the SNP for bringing it to the Chamber again. Opposition parties have held a number of debates on the cost of living, which is critical for every part of the country.
The cost of living crisis really …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"My hon. Friend raises a critical point and we have to keep dragging the Government back to their responsibilities as a result of being in power. Much of the crisis in our public services, including the NHS and social care, also predates covid but the Government keep telling us that …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"Those are some of the consequences that we start to see when the chickens come home to roost.
When the Minister responds, perhaps he can also clarify the Government’s policy on VAT on energy bills, because VAT is one of the most regressive taxes. By removing VAT on energy bills, …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"It certainly is. To correct the Minister—I hope it is not the third time already; I am on only the second page of my speech—she assumed that the SNP motion backed a windfall tax on oil and gas, but it is actually the opposite. The motion is not to back …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"We do not want to see council tax bills rising anywhere across the country, but my own council, the City of Edinburgh Council, has had £1 billion ripped out of its budget over the last 10 years by decisions to take Conversative austerity, times it by four and pass it …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases
"Yes, if we increase the additional rate on the oil and gas sector from 40% to 50%—10 percentage points extra—that will generate the money towards our fully costed plan for raising energy prices, but very well done for defending the Scottish National party, and both the Conservatives and the SNP …..."Ian Murray - View Speech
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