Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason his Department has decided not to uprate the threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge in line with inflation.

The Government knows that families across the UK are worried about the cost of living. This is why the Government has provided support to households for their energy bills through the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme, the £150 Council Tax rebate (for households in Council Tax bands A, B, C and D), and the Energy Price Guarantee. The Energy Price Guarantee will be extended until April 2024, and is expected to save the typical household in Great Britain around £500 in 2023-24.

The Government considers that the HICBC threshold of £50,000 remains appropriate.

Nevertheless, on targeted support, in 2023-24, there will be an additional Cost of Living Payment of £900 for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households, and £150 for individuals on disability benefits.