Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the regional spread of household debt in each of the last three years.

The Government fully recognises the profound challenges that debt and financial difficulties have on families and individuals across the country. We are deeply committed to addressing these concerns and improving living standards across the country.

That is why economic growth remains a top priority. If Real Household Disposable Income per capita had grown at the same rate between 2010 and 2023 as it did from 1997 to 2010, it would be over £4,000 higher today.

According to recent data from the Money and Pensions Service, the highest levels of need for debt advice are in constituencies within large cities including London, Bradford and Birmingham. However, there are pockets of high debt advice need in local authority areas in smaller towns and cities.