Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economic Inequality

Tuesday 2 November 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liz Twist raised concerns about the Chancellor's Budget impacting women negatively by an additional 48 billion over six years.
  • Liz Twist inquired about the viability of shared banking hubs to increase cash accessibility, noting the decline in cash access points.
  • Saqib Bhatti asked the Minister to consider doubling council tax on second-home properties to address economic disparity in rural areas.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Economy Taxation Women & Equalities
Context

Analysis shows tax, welfare, and spending decisions have benefited the poorest households but also indicates that women will be affected negatively by an additional £48 billion over six years.

Question

I am concerned about analysis showing the Chancellor's Budget and tax and spending plans for the next six years cost women an additional £48 billion. That is in contrast to planned tax cuts for banks. Is it because the Government have failed to produce an equality impact assessment for this Budget as required?

Answer from John Glen

The hon. Lady must have missed measures in the Chancellor's Budget last week which invested significantly in supporting families through the household recovery fund and aiding women returning to work, alongside other interventions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Failure to produce an equality impact assessment as required

How: The Hon. Lady Must Have Missed Measures

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Q2 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Housing Environment
Context

There is a significant lack of access to cash services in the north part of Saqib Bhatti's constituency, an issue exacerbated by declining retail banking networks.

Question

Concerned about the decline in cash access points due to reduced bank branches, I am pleased with the opening of Kingshurst post office but worry that it does not solve the broader problem. Are shared banking hubs a viable solution and what work is being done to increase cash accessibility?

Answer from John Glen

Banking hubs will be part of the solution, alongside other interventions. The Government have committed to legislating on this issue and hope industry will come forward with proposals for dealing with declining cash use.

Answered
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Q3 Saqib Bhatti Con Meriden and Solihull East
Housing Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There is a housing crisis in certain rural areas where local homes have turned into second homes or holiday lets, leading to the depopulation of these areas.

Question

The economic disparity and loss of local populations in rural areas due to the conversion of local houses into second homes or holiday lets is a serious concern. Will the Minister look at doubling council tax on second-home properties as proposed by the Welsh Assembly Government?

Answer from John Glen

The Government are looking at tightening rules around second homes and council tax. We would be very happy to engage with the hon. Gentleman on this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to doubling council tax

How: We Would Be Very Happy To Engage

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Q4 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The government's distributional analysis shows that tax, welfare, and spending decisions since the last spending round have benefited poorer households but also indicate a negative impact on women.

Question

What recent steps have been taken to reduce economic inequality?

Answer from John Glen

Distributional analysis published at the Budget and spending review shows that tax, welfare and spending decisions since two years ago will benefit poorest households most as a percentage of income. The government is investing £6 billion in labour market support over three years.

Answered
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