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
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.
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 - Minister of State (Home Office)
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.
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 - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
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:
It should be noted that NHS workforce planning in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
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 - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
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:
It should be noted that NHS workforce planning in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.