Topical Questions

Answer from Rachel Reeves

In the autumn Budget and phase 1 of the spending review, more than £1 billion was made available to local government, including £600 million for social care. The allocation of that money will be set out in the normal way over the next few weeks.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

At the Budget in October, we had to fix a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. Some of that black hole comes from the fact that we are the only G7 economy in which employment is lower than it was before the pandemic.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

We took decisions in this Budget in order to wipe the slate clean after the mismanagement, decline and chaos of the previous Government. That required us to make difficult decisions, but we were right to make them.

Answer from Darren Jones

In the Budget, we invested £1.6 billion to maintain and renew the nation's local roads. That includes a £500 million increase in 2025-26 alone.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The tax rises in the Budget were used to provide a £22.6 billion uplift in the Department of Health and Social Care budget to ensure that our NHS is properly funded.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

We are supporting local leaders and communities through integrated settlements, are investing in the trans-Pennine route upgrade, East West Rail and High Speed 2, and are reshaping public services.

Answer from James Murray

Primary care providers have yearly negotiations with the Department on what services they provide and what money they are entitled to. More broadly, the reason why we are, in the Budget, taking difficult decisions about national insurance and other matters is precisely to fund the NHS.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

In the past four weeks since the Leader of the Opposition was elected, the Conservatives have made £7 billion of commitments to cut taxes, but with no idea of how they would cut public services to afford them. I do not know how they will vote on national insurance, but we can see pretty quickly how they ended up leaving us a £22 billion black hole.

Answer from James Murray

If we look at the OBR forecasts for this Parliament, employment will increase from 33.1 million to 34.3 million. The right hon. Gentleman talks about youth employment. I suggest that he read our “Get Britain Working” White Paper, which sets out in detail what we will do to help get young people and those suffering from ill health back into work.

Answer from James Murray

As my hon. Friend set out, the Government confirmed the introduction of a vaping products duty to ensure that young people and non-smokers do not take up vaping. Registration for the duty will open on the digital platform from 1 April 2026, and the duty will take effect from 1 October that year.

Answer from Darren Jones

The Government have no overall estimate of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU, but the OBR has projected a 4% drop in productivity in the long term. That is why we are starting negotiations with the EU to improve trade in our mutual interest.

Answer from Darren Jones

The Government recognise that ports are an important route to growth, which is why the national wealth fund will deploy at least £5.8 billion into five priority manifesto sectors, including ports. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that specific constituency issue in due course.

Answer from Tulip Siddiq

The FCA is held to account by the Government and Parliament, but Treasury Ministers cannot comment on individual cases. The Treasury has no stake in the operational issues of the FCA.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

We have launched a revamped fair payment code, under which signatories commit to paying their suppliers on time. We also introduced the disability finance code for entrepreneurship. That comes on top of reforms announced at the Budget to protect small businesses, such as doubling the employment allowance to £10,500.

Answer from James Murray

We are taking an approach that balances significant tax relief for family farms with the need to fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible. The hon. Gentleman will have seen the data from HMRC, which shows how few farms will actually be affected by these measures.

Answer from Darren Jones

The Government will support local authorities to deliver road enhancements for economic growth. The Norwich western link road is currently under a planning application.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The Government are addressing the £22 billion inherited from the previous government. We are growing the economy through reforms in national wealth fund, planning, pensions, and public services.

Answer from Tulip Siddiq

The debate on financial vs real economy growth is ongoing and there's no consensus. The UK's financial services sector is seen as a key part of future success, mobilised towards achieving broader goals.

Answer from James Murray

We announced a 3.2% increase in local government funding next year, with extra funds for early years providers to deliver Government-funded childcare places.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The Government launched a disability finance code for entrepreneurship to help people from all backgrounds start their own businesses.

Answer from Darren Jones

The Government are committed to increasing investment in all parts of the UK, working with the Northern Ireland Executive for local benefit.