Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the International Monetary Fund on the impact of the rising cost of bond yields.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government does not comment on specific market moves.

As the Governor of the Bank of England recently noted, the underlying driver of recent moves in yield curves is global. This means it is more important than ever to have fiscal rules that provide stability.

Sound public finances are essential to economic and financial stability, and delivering economic growth. That is why at the Budget we will continue to meet this government’s non-negotiable fiscal rules, building on the decisions we took at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025.

This is the responsible choice – to live within our means, reduce our levels of borrowing in the years ahead and support the Bank of England to get inflation down, so we can deliver on the priorities of working people and spend less on servicing debt.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of borrowing costs on mortgages.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Government borrowing costs are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary, especially in the context of wider movements in global financial markets.

The pricing of mortgages, which is influenced by a number of factors, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.

Headline average mortgage rates are materially lower than the recent peaks seen in Summer 2023 and Autumn 2022.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the trends in the cost of debt on Departmental Budgets.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. The Chancellor will provide further updates at Autumn Budget 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of UK borrowing costs on government spending.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. The Chancellor will provide further updates at Autumn Budget 2025.

Conduct of Lord Mandelson

Diversity, equality and inclusion in public sector internships and graduate schemes

Found: Speaking to the new clause on Dame Karen’s behalf, Saqib Bhatti (Conservative MP for Meriden and Solihull