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Written Question
Energy Bill Discount Scheme
Thursday 10th February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount that a household of two people would receive from the energy bill discount scheme in 2022-23; what estimate he has made of the amount that they would pay in (a) 2022-23 and (b) in each of the next five years in respect of the increase in standing charge in the event that they subsequently split into two households of one person from the financial year 2023-24 onwards.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In recognition of the increase in energy costs and the impact this will have on households, the government is providing significant financial support – up to £350 – to the majority of households. One element of this is the £200 reduction for every electricity customer in Great Britain delivered via their energy bill this autumn.

We expect households will pay this back from 2023 – when energy prices are expected to be lower - through an increase to standing charges on their bills of around £40 per annum over five years.

This approach is fiscally responsible while also helping customers manage the unprecedented increase in energy bills by spreading the increased costs of global prices over time. The policy will provide a significant reduction to bills this year whilst gas prices are at historic highs.

There will be cases where changes in people’s personal circumstances at the time mean they may not directly be the recipient of the reduction, but still see increases in future bills. The government will look at these issues further through a public consultation run by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the spring, but to spread the cost of the reduction as widely as possible, all domestic energy consumers are expected to contribute to future repayments.


Written Question
Council Tax: Rebates
Thursday 10th February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of households that will receive support via the £144 million of discretionary funding for people not automatically eligible for the council tax rebate announced on the 3 February 2022, in total and broken down by those living in (a) council tax band E to H and (b) council tax bands A to D who are exempt from council tax.

Answered by Simon Clarke

The government recognises that local authorities are best placed to determine who requires further support – that is why we are giving them the flexibility to determine how to target support within the £144m of discretionary funding. This is in addition to the 80% of households supported by the Council Tax Energy Rebate for council tax billpayers in bands A-D.


Written Question
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Monday 7th February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much the Exchequer has paid to lenders as a result of defaults in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme; and how much of that figure is a result of fraud.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest information is available at https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/covid-19-emergency-loan-schemes-repayment-data/”.


Written Question
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) the value and (b) proportion of loans made through the Bounce Back Loan scheme that will not be repaid.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates of projected losses in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme are available in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021.


Written Question
Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Fraud
Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the value of fraudulent loans made through the Bounce Back Loan scheme.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates are available in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021.


Written Question
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme: Fraud
Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the value of fraudulent loans made through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates of projected losses for the scheme are available in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021.


Written Question
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme: Repayments
Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) value and (b) proportion of loans made through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme that will not be repaid.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates for projected losses from the scheme are available in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021.


Written Question
Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Fraud
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of the funds the Exchequer has paid out to lenders because of defaults in the bounce back loan scheme is a result of fraud.

Answered by Paul Scully

As of the end of December 2021, the British Business Bank, on behalf of government, has settled claims by lenders under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme of £70m. Of this, £13m or 19% were flagged by lenders as suspected fraud.


Written Question
Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Fraud
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the value of fraudulent loans made through the bounce back loans scheme.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates for fraudulent losses in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme can be found in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021


Written Question
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme: Fraud
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the value of fraudulent loans made through the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme.

Answered by Paul Scully

The latest estimates for losses in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme can be found in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021