Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living

Wednesday 6 March 2024 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister discussed recent inflation reduction efforts and UK Government support for households worth 104 billion.
  • Minister disagreed with SNP's approach to tax and highlighted benefits of national insurance cuts for workers in Scotland.
  • Minister criticized Scottish Government's rail fare increases, suggesting they might discourage train travel during cost of living crisis.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Economy Scotland
Context

Discussions about cost of living pressures and government support for households.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on the cost of living in Scotland?

Answer from John Lamont

We prioritised bringing inflation down, which is key to reducing cost of living pressures. We delivered on the Prime Minister's promise by more than halving it. The UK Government supported households with a package worth £104 billion—or, on average, £3,700 per household across the United Kingdom, including in Scotland.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Economy Taxation
Context

Criticism of joint tax burden by UK Government and Scottish Government.

Question

Families in my homeland are reeling from the cost of living crisis, as both the Tory UK Government and the SNP Scottish Government have jointly loaded them with the highest tax burden in 70 years. Does the Minister agree that it is time both Governments stopped going round in circles, left the dance and cleared the floor for Labour Governments to sort out their sorry mess?

Answer from John Lamont

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's conclusions. Thanks to this Government, 2.4 million workers in Scotland benefited from £340 back in their pockets thanks to the national insurance cuts in January. However, I do agree with him in not agreeing with the SNP Government's approach to tax.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about ending the dance and clearing the floor for Labour was not addressed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Economy Transport
Context

Concern over Scottish rail fare increases during a cost of living crisis.

Question

Scottish rail fares are set to rise by 8.7% next month. This eye-watering fare hike will hit Scots hard during a cost of living crisis and push Scotland's rail service into a spiral of decline. Does the Minister agree that we need affordable fares to help people through the cost of living crisis and encourage more people to travel by train?

Answer from John Lamont

I certainly agree that we should do all we can to encourage people to travel by train. The Scottish Government's approach to ScotRail might discourage that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to any specific actions on affordable fares or addressing the fare hike issue directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Recent findings from the Trussell Trust about universal credit claimants falling into debt due to essential bills.

Question

Recent findings from the Trussell Trust have revealed that 32% of people claiming universal credit in Scotland have fallen into debt because they could not pay essential bills. Does the Minister agree that the people of Scotland and the people of Britain should not be made to pay for SNP and Tory failures?

Answer from John Lamont

In 2021-22, there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs than there were in 2009-10, including 400,000 fewer children. This Government are certainly taking lots of action to address poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly address the question about people paying for SNP and Tory failures or acknowledge Trussell Trust findings directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 John Stevenson Con
Taxation Scotland
Context

Concern about tax rises in Scotland under the SNP and its impact on people's decisions to live south of the border.

Question

Does the Minister agree that putting up taxes as the SNP is doing at present will do nothing to help with the cost of living? Does he further agree that if it continues on that trajectory, more and more Scots will want to leave and come to places such as Carlisle, where of course they will be very welcome?

Answer from John Lamont

Due to the SNP's tax rises in Scotland, anyone earning more than £28,867 will pay more income tax than those living in England. I see increasing evidence of people choosing to live south of the border rather than in the high-tax Scottish jurisdiction.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the question about cost of living or welcoming Scots moving to places like Carlisle directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Taxation
Context

Discussion of the highest tax-raising Parliament in history and its impact on working people.

Question

Regardless of what the Chancellor announces today, we are in the highest tax-raising Parliament in history. Does the Minister agree with the Institute for Fiscal Studies that even after today's Budget the overall tax burden on working people will still reach record levels?

Answer from John Lamont

Clearly, I will not speculate on what the Chancellor will announce shortly. I remind the hon. Gentleman that 2.4 million workers in Scotland have benefited from £340 going back into their pockets thanks to the changes to national insurance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the question about reaching record tax levels or acknowledge IFS findings

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Taxation Scotland
Context

Discussion of SNP's tax policies, particularly the tax rise for those earning over £29,000 in Scotland.

Question

Regardless of what the Chancellor says today, working people will still be paying a much higher tax burden at the end of this Parliament. Shockingly, the tax burden in Scotland is even higher. Anyone in Scotland earning more than £29,000 a year will pay more income tax after the SNP voted for yet another tax rise on working people.

Answer from John Lamont

As I said, I will not speculate on the contents of the Budget. When the election comes, Scotland's voters will have a clear choice: a party who will stand up for Scotland's place in a strong United Kingdom, or the Scottish National party.

Not addressed: Did not address specific tax burdens or SNP's policies directly, changed topic to election choices

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)