Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 4 March 2025 · 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 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mel Stride (Con) questioned the Chancellor about job losses due to a "jobs tax," to which the Chancellor responded with positive OBR forecasts on employment and income.
  • Sin Berry (Green) inquired about the economic benefits of expanding UK airports, challenging the case for expansion given business travel trends and tourist numbers. The Chancellor replied that the Government supports growth and will assess specific projects as they are proposed.
  • Michelle Scrogham (Lab) asked about measures to improve community resilience against flooding and coastal erosion, a result of previous government mismanagement. The Chancellor stated that 2.65 billion has been committed to flood defenses and a taskforce is working on resilience strategies.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mel Stride Con Central Devon
Taxation Employment
Context

The OBR forecasted that there would be a reduction in jobs as a result of the NICs increase.

Question

How many jobs will the right hon. Lady destroy as a result of her jobs tax?

Answer from The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves)

I know that the right hon. Gentleman will have looked at the OBR forecast from the Budget last year, which forecasted that employment will rise in this Parliament, unemployment will fall and real household disposable income will increase. That is a far cry from the last Parliament, which was the worst on record for living standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Chancellor did not confirm willingness to come to the House with a clear plan around welfare savings

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Q2 Siân Berry Green Brighton Pavilion
Economy Transport
Context

Airport expansion has been proposed, but there is debate about its economic benefits. The question refers to the imbalance between outbound and inbound tourist flights from the UK.

Question

Why does expanding UK airports have a shaky case for economic benefits when business air travel use isn't increasing, and three times as many tourists leave by plane compared to those arriving? Will the Chancellor urgently publish her evidence of any net benefits to the economy from airport expansion so it can be carefully examined?

Answer from Darren Jones

To decide whether we are for growth or against growth, this Government are for growth. Further details of any particular project will be set out when developers come forward with their plans for the Government to consider.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Publication of evidence on economic benefits of airport expansion was not addressed directly; focus shifted to general support for growth policies and waiting for developer proposals.

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Q3 Michelle Scrogham Lab Barrow and Furness
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Previous government's mismanagement has left flood defences in Barrow unfit for purpose, impacting local communities.

Question

The previous Government’s mismanagement has left our flood defences unfit for purpose. Will the Chancellor set out what the Government are doing to increase community resilience against flooding and coastal erosion?

Answer from Darren Jones

To protect from devastating impacts of flooding, we have committed £2.65 billion over 2024-25 to 2025-26 for improving flood defences and established a flood resilience taskforce which will report in due course.

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Q4 Ashley Fox Con Bridgwater
Economy Taxation Business & Trade
Context

Pubs in Bridgwater, including Crossways Inn, are facing high business rates despite being at the heart of local communities.

Question

Bridgwater’s 77 pubs overpay £500 million in business rates relative to turnover. Will the Chancellor commit to a British Beer and Pub Association’s call for a 20p cut in the small business multiplier and 15p off the standard multiplier, securing the future of British pubs?

Answer from The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)

We have frozen the small business rates multiplier this year and will introduce lower multipliers for retail hospitality and leisure premises from April 2026. Additionally, pubs benefit from increased duty relief on draft products.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific rate reductions proposed by pub association were not directly addressed; focus was on broader measures to support the sector.

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Q5 Luke Taylor Lib Dem Sutton and Cheam
NHS
Context

St Raph’s hospice faces a £140,000 increase in staff costs due to national insurance hikes.

Question

Does the Chancellor think again about providing an exemption for healthcare providers from the national insurance rise given that it will lead to further cuts in staff services?

Answer from James Murray

The Chancellor set out the Budget, changes apply differently to public sector organizations which are reimbursed. Changes do not apply to hospices as they are largely charities or non-public sectors; £100 million extra investment in improving hospices was announced.

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Q6 Allison Gardner Lab Stoke-on-Trent South
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Investment in the fifty500 midlands growth corridor is seen as an opportunity for growth and economic development.

Question

Does the Minister agree that investment in the fifty500 midlands growth corridor will provide an excellent opportunity to deliver this Labour Government’s mission for growth and opportunity for all?

Answer from Darren Jones

We join my hon. Friend in celebrating investment in her region; our growth mission benefits each part of the country, and we look forward to working further with her.

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Q7 Luke Murphy Lab Basingstoke
NHS
Context

The Government announced a £100 million investment in hospices, including St Michael’s hospice in Basingstoke. The question addresses the need for ongoing support beyond this initial investment.

Question

Given the vital role that hospices play in all our communities, will the Treasury continue to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure the sector’s long-term financial stability?

Answer from James Murray

As my hon. Friend rightly points out, £100 million is being made available for hospices—£25 million in 2024-25 and £75 million from April 2025. That capital funding is intended to help charitable hospices in his constituency and elsewhere across the country to improve and modernise their facilities and physical estate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: long-term financial stability

How: Referenced Existing Investment Without Committing To Future Support

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