Topical Questions 2025-05-20

2025-05-20

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Rosie Duffield Ind
Canterbury
Context
The food bank in Canterbury distributed enough food to make 13,545 meals last month, a 47% rise compared to the same period last year.
Westminster is once again buzzing with the latest U-turns, speculation and briefings over the Chancellor’s policies on the winter fuel allowance and the two-child benefit cap. There is less of a buzz for the visitors to Canterbury food bank, however, which last month distributed enough food to make 13,545 meals, in a 47% rise on the same period last year. Will the Chancellor end the serious anxiety of those experiencing fuel and food poverty now and reverse those policies?
The only reason that we have been able to grow the economy and get those cuts in interest rates, which help working families in Canterbury and right across our country, is because we have returned stability to our economy. That means never making a policy commitment without being able to say where the money comes from, which is what got our country into a mess under the previous Government. We have set out the policies that we needed to put investment into the NHS and secure our public finances.
Assessment & feedback
Reversing specific policies on winter fuel allowance and two-child benefit cap
Returning Stability Setting Out Future Policies
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Daisy Cooper LD
St Albans
Context
The Chancellor acknowledged concerns about the winter fuel payment removal.
Yesterday the Chancellor said that she understands the concerns that some people have about the limit at which the winter fuel payment is removed. Does she therefore now agree that restricting the eligibility so tightly was a mistake?
As the hon. Lady knows, when I became Chancellor last year, we inherited a £22 billion black hole in the public finances—not in some year in the future, but in the financial year that we were already three or four months into. This meant that we had to make difficult and urgent decisions to put our public finances back on a firm footing—because, unlike the Conservatives, I will never play fast and loose with the public finances.
Assessment & feedback
Acknowledging mistake in limiting eligibility for winter fuel payment
Legacy Of Financial Problems
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Lisa Smart LD
Hazel Grove
Context
A constituent, Gail from Romiley, faced an HMRC overcharge and only received a rebate after extensive casework support. This highlights concerns about HMRC's ability to handle such cases efficiently.
My Hazel Grove constituents are content to pay their fair share of tax, but they are understandably disappointed when His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs overcharges and then ghosts them. Gail from Romiley is a foster carer who was owed a tax repayment. She repeatedly contacted HMRC over a nine-month period, but it was only when my superstar casework team got involved that she got a £1,200 rebate. What assurance can Ministers give my constituents that HMRC is adequately resourced to give them the support they need to pay their fair share of tax?
To reassure her and her constituent, one of my priorities as chair of the HMRC board is to improve HMRC’s day-to-day performance. We have seen the percentage of telephony adviser attempts handled go from 59% last March to 80% this March. It will remain a priority for me to modernise and digitise the service.
Assessment & feedback
Under Review Working On
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Graham Stringer Lab
Blackley and Middleton South
Context
The UK is assessing the impact of joining the European emissions trading scheme, which has a carbon price higher than the UK's.
The European emissions trading scheme has a carbon price that is 50% higher than the UK’s. What assessment has the Chancellor made of the impact of joining the scheme on inflation in this country?
As my hon. Friend knows, sometimes the UK carbon price has been higher, but sometimes it has been lower than in the EU. This deal will ensure a bigger market that, on average, brings prices down. We are confident that the deal secured yesterday will bring more good jobs and bring down bills for consumers.
Assessment & feedback
Confident Will Bring
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Luke Myer Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Context
A local disability charity faced increased bank charges and the Minister committed to work with the Member on the issue.
Last week I raised with the Minister for Social Security and Disability the case of a local disability charity being hit by increased bank charges, and the Minister committed to work with me on the issue. Will Treasury Ministers do the same so that we can take these banks to task and support fantastic local organisations?
I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that issue.
Assessment & feedback
Happy To Meet
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
The Chancellor secured the Mansion House accord, which will channel billions into the economy.
I congratulate the Chancellor of the Exchequer on securing the Mansion House accord, which will channel billions into the economy and make a real difference to my constituents. One of the reasons that pension funds agreed to join the accord was because of the strong pipeline of investable projects that the Government are creating. Does the Minister agree that the Government’s infrastructure plans and planning reforms, opposed by the Conservatives, will unlock growth?
My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Raising investment in the UK is about boosting not just the supply of capital, but the demand for it—the investment pipeline. We are approving infrastructure projects, from wind farms to reservoirs, that the Conservatives blocked for years. By reforming the planning system, we are doing something really radical: building homes.
Assessment & feedback
Correct Radical
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Chris Webb Lab
Blackpool South
Context
A recent report shows that 98% of Blackpool’s population is living in high-need neighbourhoods, highlighting the need for investment and economic growth.
The recent report by the independent commission on neighbourhoods shows that 98% of Blackpool’s population is living in high-need neighbourhoods. With 34 mission-critical neighbourhoods in my constituency, Blackpool is desperate for investment and economic growth. Will the Chancellor outline what the Government are doing to improve growth in our forgotten coastal towns?
Yesterday we announced £360 million of investment in coastal and fishing communities. That will be vital to ensure that those communities continue to thrive.
Assessment & feedback
Vital Thrive
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Vikki Slade LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Context
Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service has faced real-terms funding cuts, impacting public and firefighter safety.
Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service has suffered a real-terms funding cut, partly because the majority of firefighters are on call so the employer national insurance contributions were not sufficiently compensated. Will Ministers commit to reviewing the funding formula to fit the needs of communities, and to undertaking a local impact assessment on the effect of the funding cuts on public and firefighter safety?
The Government have already increased NHS spending by £22.6 billion, police funding by £1.1 billion, and fire and rescue authority funding by £65.5 million. Further spending will be set out in the June spending review, but this is another example of a Labour Government delivering on the promise of change.
Assessment & feedback
Promises Delivering
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Brian Leishman Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Context
MP Brian Leishman highlights the need to address poverty by proposing a wealth tax on multimillionaires, suggesting it could raise approximately £24 billion annually.
To alleviate grinding penury for millions of people, the Chancellor could introduce an annual wealth tax on multimillionaires, which would raise approximately £24 billion per annum, yet she refuses to entertain the idea and considers cuts to welfare acceptable. Why do “tough political choices” always seem to impact the most vulnerable?
At the Budget last year, we increased the rate of tax on non-doms, we increased capital gains tax, we increased the carried interest on bonuses and we introduced VAT on private schools. This Government are ensuring that the wealthiest pay their fair share, because that is a basic Labour principle.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific proposal of an annual wealth tax was not addressed.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy