Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support adults with debt difficulties in Surrey Heath constituency.
Through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), the Government funds a range of national and community-based services to support individuals and families across England. People in Surrey Heath are able to access this support through MaPS and its network of local delivery partners. MaPS is continuing to expand access by strengthening its digital capabilities and working in partnership with local organisations to ensure support is available to those most in need. To expand access to debt advice, the Government has allocated over £100 million from a levy on industry to MaPS for 2025-26, an increase of over 10%.
The Government also continues to support the Breathing Space scheme, which provides borrowers with legal protections from most enforcement action, interest, and charges for 60 days while they engage with professional debt advice.
In addition, the Government has recently published its Financial Inclusion Strategy, which sets out the broader range of measures and initiatives being taken to improve access to financial services and support. This includes a dedicated chapter on ‘Tackling Problem Debt’, outlining the actions the Government is taking forward to address problem debt across all constituencies. The Strategy is available on GOV.UK.