Topical Questions 2024-12-03
2024-12-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
According to the Local Government Association, local government spending on public services is down 42% since 2010. Greenwich faces a £3 million to £5 million gap in commissioned social care costs.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that local authorities need more assistance to bridge such gaps in the December local government finance statement?
In the autumn Budget and phase 1 of the spending review, more than £1 billion was made available to local government, including £600 million for social care. The allocation of that money will be set out in the normal way over the next few weeks.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
When she recently pledged to the CBI that she would not raise taxes again, did she mean it?
At the Budget in October, we had to fix a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. Some of that black hole comes from the fact that we are the only G7 economy in which employment is lower than it was before the pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
No. 10 has stated that it is not prepared to stand by the Chancellor's commitment on tax. Is that because No. 10 changed its mind, or because the right hon. Lady spoke without thinking?
We took decisions in this Budget in order to wipe the slate clean after the mismanagement, decline and chaos of the previous Government. That required us to make difficult decisions, but we were right to make them.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
What investment is the Department making to improve our roads and infrastructure?
In the Budget, we invested £1.6 billion to maintain and renew the nation's local roads. That includes a £500 million increase in 2025-26 alone.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance alone will need to find another £70,000 just to pay the national insurance rises.
Will she exempt these vital charities, so that they can continue their vital, life-saving work?
The tax rises in the Budget were used to provide a £22.6 billion uplift in the Department of Health and Social Care budget to ensure that our NHS is properly funded.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
How she will make the most of growth opportunities for our region?
We are supporting local leaders and communities through integrated settlements, are investing in the trans-Pennine route upgrade, East West Rail and High Speed 2, and are reshaping public services.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Not Addressed
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
A pharmacy owner in Horton, Epsom raised concerns about increased employer national insurance contributions affecting community pharmacies' viability.
The owner of Horton pharmacy in Epsom has raised concerns about the financial burden that increased employer national insurance contributions will place on community pharmacies. Pharmacies provide frontline care, and without support, their viability and the accessible healthcare they offer could be at risk. That will add pressure to an already strained NHS.
Primary care providers have yearly negotiations with the Department on what services they provide and what money they are entitled to. More broadly, the reason why we are, in the Budget, taking difficult decisions about national insurance and other matters is precisely to fund the NHS.
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Assessment & feedback
Reconsidering and exempting community pharmacies from the increase
Broad Statement
No Specifics On Exemption
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The Conservative Party has made £7 billion of tax cuts commitments since the Leader of the Opposition was elected.
Crawley's public services, not least its schools and NHS, are set to benefit significantly from Budget measures. Does the Minister agree that Opposition parties cannot have it both ways, claiming to support investment in local public services while rejecting necessary funding measures?
In the past four weeks since the Leader of the Opposition was elected, the Conservatives have made £7 billion of commitments to cut taxes, but with no idea of how they would cut public services to afford them. I do not know how they will vote on national insurance, but we can see pretty quickly how they ended up leaving us a £22 billion black hole.
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Assessment & feedback
Agreement about supporting investment in local public services while rejecting necessary funding measures
Criticising The Opposition
Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
OBR forecasts suggest employment will increase from 33.1 million to 34.3 million during this Parliament.
The single most important factor in raising living standards, driving income equality and improving children's life chances is having a job. Why is the Chancellor disregarding that fundamental truth with tax policies that will harm employment, particularly youth employment?
If we look at the OBR forecasts for this Parliament, employment will increase from 33.1 million to 34.3 million. The right hon. Gentleman talks about youth employment. I suggest that he read our “Get Britain Working” White Paper, which sets out in detail what we will do to help get young people and those suffering from ill health back into work.
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Assessment & feedback
Reasons for disregarding the principle of having a job as key to improving life chances
Broad Statement
Redirecting To White Paper
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government are committed to implementing the vaping products duty, which complements the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Last week, the House passed the Second Reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Will the Minister confirm whether the Government are considering using a digital platform tax for that duty?
As my hon. Friend set out, the Government confirmed the introduction of a vaping products duty to ensure that young people and non-smokers do not take up vaping. Registration for the duty will open on the digital platform from 1 April 2026, and the duty will take effect from 1 October that year.
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Assessment & feedback
Considering using a digital platform tax
Broad Statement
No Specifics On Digital Platform Tax
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government have no overall estimate of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU.
On economic black holes, the Labour Mayor of London thinks that Brexit punched a £40 billion black hole in the public finances. Is leaving the EU a net positive or negative for the public finances?
The Government have no overall estimate of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU, but the OBR has projected a 4% drop in productivity in the long term. That is why we are starting negotiations with the EU to improve trade in our mutual interest.
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Assessment & feedback
Net positive or negative for public finances
Broad Statement
No Specifics On Net Impact
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The previous Government left a mess of £22 billion for us to clean up.
Will the Chancellor work with me to find the £3 million of long-term investment in the port of Rosyth that is required to bring back a ferry between Rosyth and Dunkirk? That would bring 51,000 passengers a year to Scotland and take 8.1 million km of freight traffic off the road.
The Government recognise that ports are an important route to growth, which is why the national wealth fund will deploy at least £5.8 billion into five priority manifesto sectors, including ports. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that specific constituency issue in due course.
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Assessment & feedback
Finding the required investment
Broad Statement
No Specifics On £3 Million
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
WealthTek was placed into administration by the Financial Conduct Authority after losing £80 million of its clients' money.
What is the Treasury doing to safeguard the £85,000 compensation limit for victims of WealthTek?
The FCA is held to account by the Government and Parliament, but Treasury Ministers cannot comment on individual cases. The Treasury has no stake in the operational issues of the FCA.
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Assessment & feedback
Safeguarding the compensation limit
Referring To Fca'S Independence
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor has launched a revamped fair payment code and disability finance code for entrepreneurship.
What measures are the Government taking to support small independent retail businesses in town centres such as mine in Mansfield?
We have launched a revamped fair payment code, under which signatories commit to paying their suppliers on time. We also introduced the disability finance code for entrepreneurship. That comes on top of reforms announced at the Budget to protect small businesses, such as doubling the employment allowance to £10,500.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures supporting small retail businesses in Mansfield town centre
Broad Statement
No Specifics On Mansfield
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
Farmers in the constituency are concerned about the financial impact of recent changes to agricultural property relief.
The owners of a 380-acre farm have calculated they would need 40 years to pay back borrowed money due to changes to agricultural property relief. When will the Chancellor start listening to farmers instead of hiding behind Treasury figures?
We are taking an approach that balances significant tax relief for family farms with the need to fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible. The hon. Gentleman will have seen the data from HMRC, which shows how few farms will actually be affected by these measures.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific concerns about 40-year repayment period not addressed
Hiding Behind Treasury Figures
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The Norwich western link road is a local development that has incurred significant daily costs without producing tangible results.
Conservative-run Norfolk county council's Norwich western link road is costing taxpayers £27,000 per day. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Norfolk Tories give us Liz Truss not just in Whitehall, but in county hall?
The Government will support local authorities to deliver road enhancements for economic growth. The Norwich western link road is currently under a planning application.
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Assessment & feedback
Cost and alignment with Conservative policy not addressed
Changing Subject To Planning Application
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
There is growing evidence that the financial sector growth has a negative impact on the economy, particularly in terms of employment.
The Chancellor's central planning agenda is making for depressing listening. There are serious matters such as people's employment to consider. With a £22 billion black hole and an impending economic downturn next year, will the Chancellor accept she has made a mess?
The Government are addressing the £22 billion inherited from the previous government. We are growing the economy through reforms in national wealth fund, planning, pensions, and public services.
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Assessment & feedback
Impending economic downturn not acknowledged
Addressing Inheritance Issue But Not Current Policies
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
The financial sector's overgrowth has been shown to negatively impact the real economy, costing it £4.5 trillion over a decade.
Given evidence that financial sector growth beyond a certain size harms the productive economy and costs billions, how will the Chancellor ensure this does not affect the Government's wider missions?
The debate on financial vs real economy growth is ongoing and there's no consensus. The UK's financial services sector is seen as a key part of future success, mobilised towards achieving broader goals.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific harm to productivity not addressed
Acknowledging Debate But Not Specifics
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
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Context
Achieving for Children, an arm's length body of Richmond council, faces a £588,000 bill due to the rise in employer's national insurance.
Richmond Council's children's services provider faces a £588,000 bill because employees are not directly employed by Richmond. Will the Chancellor reimburse councils or exempt arm's length bodies for this cost?
We announced a 3.2% increase in local government funding next year, with extra funds for early years providers to deliver Government-funded childcare places.
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Assessment & feedback
Cost reimbursement and exemptions not addressed
Changing Subject To Funding Increases
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a significant disability employment gap of nearly 30% and a disability pay gap of almost 14%. These inequalities need addressing.
Today marks International Day for Persons with Disabilities. With gaps of 29.8% in employment and 14% in pay, how is the Chancellor helping to address these inequalities?
The Government launched a disability finance code for entrepreneurship to help people from all backgrounds start their own businesses.
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Assessment & feedback
Employment gap not directly addressed
Launching Initiative Unrelated To Employment Gaps
Response accuracy
Q21
Partial Answer
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Context
The Irish Sea border presents a barrier for the movement of raw materials, affecting investment in Northern Ireland.
When the Windsor framework was introduced, it promised increased investment. Invest NI reports no upturn; is this due to the Irish sea border hindering material transport from Great Britain?
The Government are committed to increasing investment in all parts of the UK, working with the Northern Ireland Executive for local benefit.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific barrier not addressed
Changing Subject To Investment Commitments
Response accuracy