Topical Questions 2021-03-09
2021-03-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor's Budget was recently presented, covering support for the British people and public finances.
I am concerned about the lack of details on the crucial EU negotiations on financial services. How are these progressing and why were they not included in the overall deal?
I cannot comment on ongoing negotiations; we remain committed to a constructive dialogue with our European partners regarding the memorandum of understanding, and I can confirm that those discussions are under way. With regard to financial services, I hope that the right hon. Gentleman saw the announcement of our listings review. I thank Jonathan Hill for his excellent work. We will take forward those reforms together with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that the UK remains one of the most attractive places anywhere in the world for companies to raise the finance they need to empower their future growth.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about specific progress and exclusion from the deal, but only received a general commitment without details on status or reason for exclusion.
Cannot Comment On Ongoing Negotiations
We Remain Committed
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Food and drink wholesalers are facing challenges, but some have received additional support through local authority discretion.
The food and drink wholesalers that the hospitality industry relies on are still excluded from business rates relief. Can a directive be issued to ensure more consistent grant distribution?
My right hon. Friend has raised this industry with me multiple times, and he is right to do so. Although some food and drink wholesalers have been significantly impacted, others—for example, those that predominately serve the public sector—have not been, so I do not think it would be fair to provide blanket support. He talked about a postcode lottery. The other side of that coin is empowering local government and local decision making, and I believe that is the right approach. We have announced £425 million of additional discretionary support to local authorities, but I am sure that his raising the issue in the House in this way will give his local council and others the steer they need to direct support to this important industry.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a directive to ensure consistency, but only received general commitment without specific plans or timelines.
Empowering Local Government
Local Decision Making
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor was previously asked about Labour's proposed increase in corporation tax, whether it would impact international investors.
In 2017, the Chancellor was asked if Labour's proposed increase in corporation tax would make UK less attractive to international investors. What is his stance now?
I am delighted that the hon. Lady is raising the topic of corporation tax at this Budget. I feel that we have had various different versions of the Labour party policy on this topic over the past couple of weeks. What I can say is that we are honest with the British people about the challenges facing our public finances, and we have set out a fair and honest way to address those challenges. This will remain one of the most internationally competitive places anywhere in the world to invest, to grow a business and to create jobs, and this Government will always deliver on that promise.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a stance on corporation tax increase, but only received general commitment without specifics or analysis of impact.
We Are Honest With The British People
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor previously mentioned leveling with the public on financial matters. The NHS head confirmed budgeting for a 2.1% pay rise for nurses.
The NHS head confirmed budgeting for a 2.1% pay rise for nurses, expected since before the pandemic. Why do the Conservatives believe that our nurses are worth less now?
I pay tribute to all those working on the frontline of our NHS and other public services. They are doing a fantastic job, and that is why this Government have supported the NHS with tens of billions of pounds of extra funding through this pandemic and will continue to do so. With regard to public sector pay, we set out a policy in November, but, given the situation, we were taking a more targeted approach to public sector pay to balance fairness and to protect as many jobs as possible. The hon. Lady will know that the NHS was exempted from that policy and NHS workers will receive a pay rise next year.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about current value compared to pre-pandemic levels, but only received general commitment without specifics on the pay decision rationale.
Given The Situation
More Targeted Approach
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Local businesses need long-term reforms for the business rates system to support economic recovery.
Many local businesses still seek long-term reforms of the business rates system. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on consultation outcomes and aspirations for business rates reform?
My hon. Friend is right to raise this important issue, as he has done with me several times on behalf of his local businesses. He is right that we are reviewing business rates. We are in the midst of that process. The next stage will be to publish all the consultation responses that we have received, which will happen shortly, and we will take forward the policy process over the course of this year. We outlined many options for potential reforms in the paper. I look forward to receiving from him some ideas on what the reforms might be. In the short term, we are providing a £6 billion tax cut in business rates, delivering a 75% discount on business rates for the vast majority of small and medium-sized businesses as they emerge from this pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about policy process this year but received general commitment without specific timelines or reforms details.
Reviewing Business Rates
Policy Process Over The Course Of This Year
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Every year's delay in integrated rail improvements means a missed £5 billion boost for the economy, with an additional 150,000 jobs.
The Chancellor promised to deliver the long-awaited integrated rail plan within three months. Will he confirm this is the maximum timeline and meet me and regional businesses to hear more about our exciting plans?
This Government are committed to record amounts of investment in infrastructure, both road and rail, as we heard from my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary earlier. The Budget announced upgrades for several stations in and around the midlands after representations that we heard from the fantastic Mayor, Andy Street, about the needs of his area. We remain committed to publishing the integrated rail plan in due course.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a specific meeting with regional businesses but received only general commitment without specific timelines or actions.
Remain Committed
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Red Book includes assumptions about the impact of increased corporation tax. The questioner seeks details on dynamic scoring and its publication.
My right hon. Friend has rightly been open with the House and the public about the scale of the challenge to the public finances, but on a point of detail, further to the assumptions in the Red Book, does his Department plan to undertake dynamic scoring of the changes to corporation akin to the previous detailed CGE—computable general equilibrium —modelling since 2010, and will this be published in full?
What a fantastically niche question from my hon. Friend, and how delighted I am to be able to answer it. He will know that scoring is a matter for the OBR. As the Budget policy costings in the Budget 2021 document set out, the costing for corporation tax has been adjusted to reflect behavioural responses to an increase in the rate of corporation tax. It is important to be clear that dynamic scoring can include a number of potential behavioural responses, such as adjustments to reflect the impact on the incentive to incorporate, on profit shifting, and on investment. If he is so minded, he can find further detail on page 196 of the OBR's “Economic and fiscal outlook”.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify if dynamic scoring akin to CGE modelling will be undertaken or published in full.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland have provided substantial student support. England's support is much lower at £36 per student.
As some students return to campus this week, those studying in Northern Ireland will each receive £500 support. The Welsh Government have provided hardship funding equivalent to £300 per student. In Scotland, it is £80. For those studying in England, hardship funds equate to just £36, so does the Chancellor not accept the case for equal support across the UK? Students have lost vital income from part-time jobs, paid rent on unused accommodation and faced other costs, so will he meet the all-party parliamentary group for students to discuss our recommendations for hardship support and funding to make up for missed learning opportunities?
I am always happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and discuss that matter in more detail. As he will recognise, one of the features of the Budget was the number of UK-wide measures, but at the same time he is quite right to point to the additional £2.4 billion of Barnett consequential funding that was allocated to the devolved Administrations, which has enabled them to apply further support as a result of the fiscal strength that is offered by the UK Treasury. I am of course happy to discuss the specific point with him in more detail.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm or deny meeting the APPG for students.
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor previously said legislation would be brought forward to reduce the annual target of spending 0.7% of GNI on aid.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor said the day after the comprehensive spending review that the Government were looking at when they will bring forward legislation on the 0.7% of gross national income target. Can he update us? What is the Government's timescale for bringing forward the legislative proposals to reduce the annual target of spending 0.7% of GNI on aid to 0.5%?
The Foreign Secretary is continuing to look very carefully at the legislative requirements and will set out further detail in due course on how the Government intend to proceed.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timescale.
Response accuracy
Q10
Direct Answer
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Context
Local independent shops and city centre businesses are struggling to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
If every working adult in Wolverhampton spent £5 a week extra with local businesses such as Mode Menswear and Tony's Deli, it would boost the local economy by around £780,000 a week. What is the Chancellor doing to ensure that local independent shops and city centre businesses can bounce back from covid-19 in Wolverhampton?
The Government are supporting these businesses through new restart grants—a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000 per business premises for non-essential retailers in England—and up to £18,000 for hospitality and leisure businesses. They will also benefit from a five-month extension of the coronavirus job retention scheme, a further 12 months' relief from business rates and a new UK-wide recovery loan scheme. Tony's Deli, which my hon. Friend mentioned, and other businesses serving hot food can also enjoy a 12-month VAT cut at 5% until the end of September, and at 12.5% until the end of March.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The Health Secretary justified a 1% pay offer to nurses by contrasting it with a public sector pay freeze.
Earlier this week, there was an attempt by the Health Secretary to justify the incredibly insulting 1% pay offer to our nurses by contrasting it with the Government-imposed pay freeze on our heroic essential key workers. That is a pay freeze on 2.5 million public servants. Can the Chancellor confirm when he will recognise their worth, do the right thing and announce the lifting of the pay freeze?
A majority of those working in the public sector will see an increase in their pay this forthcoming year as a result of our pay policy. Importantly, those earning less than the median UK salary will receive a £250 increase in their pay, because we want to protect those on the lowest incomes. Even at a difficult time, that is what this Government are committed to doing.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm when or if they would lift the pay freeze.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The Budget announced support for further education and skills, but it is unclear if this applies to institutions like the Open University.
Treasury Ministers are no doubt aware of my support for a brand-new university for Milton Keynes, focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and digital skills, so vital for our future economy. I wonder, though, whether they are aware that we are already home to the Open University, which is a pioneer of modular learning and is upskilling and reskilling—important for our future economy. The Budget last week announced support for further education and skills. Will that apply to institutions like the Open University?
We are committed to improving skills in the economy and levelling up productivity across England. That will be achieved through our lifetime skills guarantee and further reforms, which will create jobs and opportunity across the country, supporting us to build back better from the coronavirus pandemic. We will provide further detail and a full conclusion to the review of post-18 education and funding at the next comprehensive spending review. I thank my hon. Friend and the Open University for their engagement on this so far.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm if support applies to institutions like the Open University.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows a series of reports highlighting the disparity between NHS funding and staff wages. There are concerns about the impact of inflation on real earnings for NHS workers.
I am concerned that the 1% pay rise for NHS workers is actually a pay cut when inflation is factored in. The Government has no problem finding £37 billion for private test and trace systems or extra billions for military budgets, yet they deny staff a proper increase despite their real earnings falling by over 10% in a decade. Will the Chancellor heed trade union calls and give NHS staff a 15% pay rise to compensate?
The hon. Lady is incorrect about the facts; under Agenda for Change, this year's average increase was 2.5%. The Government have asked the Pay Review Body to consider various factors and set out what is affordable within their budgets.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific commitment on a 15% pay rise or any other figure as requested
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government have recently announced the first eight sites awarded freeport status, sparking questions about opportunities missed by other areas.
My constituency of Blyth Valley has a deep-water port with investments in offshore wind and Britishvolt's gigaplant. Despite these assets, it did not win freeport status this time around. Will the Government consider another round of bidding for sites like mine that were unsuccessful?
Freeports will regenerate communities across the UK with international trade and innovation hubs. The Government conducted a fair, open process to select successful locations in England; however, there are no plans to designate other freeports as it was a competitive process.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific request for another bidding round
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
Doncaster missed out on its freeport bid, prompting questions about alternative incentives for businesses to relocate there.
With Doncaster not securing freeport status, what other financial or policy incentives does the Government believe will attract businesses to the town?
The Government supports Doncaster's economic growth through £23 million funding for Goldthorpe's town deal and assessments of towns fund bids, including those from Doncaster and Stainforth.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on incentives beyond general support statements
Response accuracy