Asked by: Peter Swallow (Labour - Bracknell)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support families in Bracknell Forest in summer 2026.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
This Government is committed to supporting families. At the Budget, we took £150 off energy bills, froze rail fares and prescription charges, and lifted 450,000 children out of poverty.
With our Great British Summer Savings scheme, we are making bus travel free for 5-15-year-olds in England throughout August and slashing VAT on leisure activities. In Bracknell Forest, Play World Soft Play and venues like South Hill Park will benefit from the reduced rate, helping families enjoy a day out for less.
Asked by: Peter Swallow (Labour - Bracknell)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to implement the recommendation of the Independent Loan Charge Review 2025 on holding promoters of loan charge schemes to account.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
As set out in the Government’s response to the Loan Charge Review, since the Loan Charge was introduced, HMRC’s approach to tackling promoters has become far more robust.
The Government is also introducing new powers in Finance Bill 2025/26 to close in on promoters of marketed tax avoidance and the other professionals who market or enable tax avoidance schemes.
These new powers will go further and include more criminal sanctions. This shows the Government’s clear determination to close in on the few remaining promoters by strengthening deterrents and introducing significant additional consequences for promoters who continue promoting tax avoidance schemes.
The Government will also publish a consultation in early 2026 on further measures for tackling promoters of avoidance.
Asked by: Peter Swallow (Labour - Bracknell)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Post-implementation review of the travel insurance signposting rules for consumers with medical conditions, published by the Financial Conduct Authority on 11 April 2024, what progress the Authority has made on implementation of the next steps.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
The Government is determined that insurers treat customers fairly and they are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules.
Following its post-implementation review of its travel insurance signposting rules, the FCA set out a number of actions it would be taking to continue to improve access to travel insurance for customers with pre-exiting medical conditions.
The FCA, as the independent regulator for financial services, will provide updates on its next steps in due course.
Asked by: Peter Swallow (Labour - Bracknell)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has (a) received representations from and (b) held discussions with campaigners on the loan charge.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
I know that the loan charge is a very important matter for many members and their constituents. Within my first two weeks in office, I had my first meeting with campaigners to discuss the loan charge. The Chancellor and I have been considering this matter since taking office and will provide an update in due course.