Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Impact of Autumn Statement

Wednesday 6 December 2023 · 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

  • The UK Government plans to grow the economy and incentivise work, including a national insurance tax change from January that will put 324 back into the pockets of 1.2 million workers across Wales.
  • The UK Government announced 160 million investment zone across Wrexham in Flintshire, marked by a visit from the Chancellor.
  • The UK Government has spent 96 billion on measures to help the least well off across the United Kingdom throughout the difficult times brought about by the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Atherton
Economy Wales
Context

The question arises in the context of evaluating recent fiscal policy decisions and their economic implications for Wales.

Question

What assessment he has made of the impact of the autumn statement on the Welsh economy. The UK Government's plans aim to grow the economy and incentivise work, including a national insurance tax change from January that will put £324 back into the pockets of 1.2 million workers across Wales.

Answer from David Davies

The autumn statement set out the UK Government's plans to grow the economy and incentivise work so that economic growth can be felt throughout the United Kingdom. That will include a national insurance tax change from January, which will put £324 back into the pockets of 1.2 million workers across Wales.

Answered
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Q2 Sarah Atherton
Wales
Context

The question arises due to a long history of economic disparity between North and South Wales, with the context of recent funding allocations by the Conservative Government.

Question

North Wales has always been the poor relative to south Wales, where the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff fund their voter bases. However, thanks to the foresight of this Conservative Government, money is now flowing from Whitehall to Wrexham—£13 million from the levelling-up fund, £20 million from the towns fund, £24 million from the shared prosperity fund and the prospect of a £160 million investment zone. We are working on a civil service hub. Does the Secretary of State agree that, after 20 years of neglect from the Welsh Labour Government, this Conservative Government have put Wrexham firmly on the map?

Answer from David Davies

I am absolutely delighted to agree with my hon. Friend: the UK Government are putting Wrexham on the map. I was, of course, delighted with the £160 million investment zone across Wrexham in Flintshire, which was marked by a visit from the Chancellor to the area. The £20 million towns fund for Wrexham will ensure long-term certainty and investment for the area and for the growth deal.

Answered
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Q3 Richard Thomson
Economy Wales Children & Families
Context

Recent research highlights that nearly one in four Welsh children are worried about being cold and almost one in eight are worried about being hungry, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current government policies.

Question

According to research from the Bevan Foundation, nearly one in four Welsh children have reported having recently been worried about being cold, and around one in eight have worried about being hungry. What are the Government going to do about that?

Answer from David Davies

The UK Government have spent £96 billion on measures to help the least well off across the United Kingdom throughout the difficult times brought about by the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine. On top of that, in the autumn statement we were able to announce a cut in national insurance, which will put more money into people's pockets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific actions to address child poverty

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Q4 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Economy Taxation Wales
Context

The question is prompted by the MP's recognition of a political figure and criticism of recent government actions affecting housing affordability in Wales, with an additional concern over internal divisions within the ruling party.

Question

May I join others in paying tribute to Glenys Kinnock, who was much loved by us all? Earlier this year, the Secretary of State told my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jo Stevens) that his Government would prioritise helping the most vulnerable, yet Welsh households still face the consequences of 13 years of his Government's economic failures, with a historically high tax burden and his own constituents paying on average £240 more each month on their mortgages. Can he explain, then, why his Conservative colleagues in the Senedd are calling for the Welsh Government to withdraw their £40 million mortgage support scheme for those at risk of repossession?

Answer from David Davies

The UK Government have already brought forward a mortgage charter to support anyone getting into difficulties. I hope that the hon. Lady agrees that the fact that the Government have delivered on their pledge to halve inflation over the past year will mean that everyone in Wales is better off; that the cut to national insurance will mean that everyone in Wales is better off; and that the increase in the living wage as well the Government's commitment to ensuring that pensions and benefits are uprated in line with inflation will mean that everyone on low salaries is better off.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific explanation regarding internal party divisions and mortgage support scheme withdrawal request

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