Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Witherden Excerpts
Tuesday 10th March 2026

(1 day, 10 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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In April, people will get £150 off their energy bills and prescription charges in England will be frozen as will rail fares. At the same time, we are getting rid of the two-child benefit cap, which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, but the most important thing we can do for the price of petrol, diesel and heating oil is de-escalate the conflict in the middle east and get vessels moving again through the strait of Hormuz. That is why this Government are putting such efforts into de-escalating this crisis.

Steve Witherden Portrait Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr) (Lab)
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The level of poverty that 14 million people in the UK face is not inevitable; it is the result of political choices, and it damages our economy, costing around £75 billion each year. Will my right hon. Friend consider equalising capital gains tax with income tax and introducing a 2% wealth tax on assets over £10 million to lift people out of poverty and strengthen public finances?