Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks associated with the expansion of buy-now-pay-later lending through digital wallets and online marketplaces; and how the new regulatory framework will ensure effective affordability checks and consumer protection.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is aware that Buy‑Now, Pay‑Later (BNPL) products have become a standard feature of digital wallets and online marketplaces, allowing consumers to defer payment at the point of sale. While these products can be a convenient way to help spread the cost of purchases, the lack of regulation has left some consumers exposed to harm, particularly through unaffordable borrowing.
To address this, in July 2025 Parliament passed legislation to bring BNPL products within Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation. The new rules will take effect this July, with the FCA having confirmed the final regulatory requirements in February.
Under the new regulatory regime, BNPL firms will be required to carry out proportionate but robust affordability assessments before lending, informed by appropriate checks on consumers’ financial circumstances and existing borrowing commitments. Firms will also be required to provide clear, timely and prominent information on repayment terms, the consequences of missed payments, and what rights consumers have, enabling them to make informed decisions. In addition, consumers will gain access to established protections for credit users, including the Financial Ombudsman Service and section 75 rights under the Consumer Credit Act. Together, these measures will support the continued use of BNPL products while ensuring appropriate consumer safeguards are in place.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Livermore on 9 December 2025 (HL12629) and 27 January (HL13469), whether any special advisers briefed Budget 2025 policy announcements to the media (1) prior to formal ministerial statements made to Parliaments, and (2) without an accompanying official government announcement.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Treasury, its Ministers and Special Advisers place the utmost importance on Budget information security. As set out in the Budget Information Security Review, Ministers, officials and Special Advisers act in line with the Macpherson Principles, the Civil Service Code and the Special Advisers’ Code.
Consistent with these principles, there are occasions where the Government will trail and/or announce policy ahead of a Budget to provide context and help the public understand major fiscal events.
Any such communications are tightly controlled, respect Parliament, and protect market-sensitive information.
For Budget 2025, Special Advisers acted in accordance with these rules and principles.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMT ministerial private offices hire an average 6.5 FTE per office. Staff are appointed at grades: AO, EO, HEO, SEO, G7, G6 and Deputy Director. Contracted working hours for these staff members are 37 hours per week.
Staff salaries for the appointed grades are typically between £26,200 - £117,800. Designated posts may also benefit from Private Office Allowance.
The average staff turnover over the last 3 years was between 20-30%, which can include staff on loans to HMT returning to their home departments, or individuals leaving to other government departments, including on promotion.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what domestic conferences the Valuation Office Agency has made presentations since July 2024.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Staff members are supported to speak at, learn from and contribute to various conferences and meetings of valuation professionals here in the UK. We do not keep a central log of all these domestic activities.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on additional funding for extending the UK Supercharger Scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chancellor has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on a range of topics.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of industrial energy prices on economic growth.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
We know high energy costs are one of the greatest challenges facing industry and is a key barrier to growth in the UK.
In the Modern Industrial Strategy, we announced the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, which will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh up to 2030 and support thousands of businesses.
This forms part of a wider package of support to industry.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what the projected levels of total public expenditure are expected to be in (a) 2026-2027, (b) 2027-2028, (c) 2028-2029, (d) 2029-2030 and (d) 2030-2031 financial years; which areas of public spending are expected to see the largest increases over the forecast period; and what steps her Department intends to take to manage spending pressures within departmental budgets.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook – published on the OBR’s website - sets out in detail the projected levels of total public expenditure over the next five years.
The government's public spending approach is fair, disciplined and controlled, helping to reduce borrowing and keep public finances on a sustainable path.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of support available to households using heating oil, in the context of rising global oil prices linked to the conflict in Iran.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has acted quickly to provide £53m in timely, targeted support to vulnerable households, struggling with the rising price of heating oil, predominantly in rural communities.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Barnett consequentials will be generated for the Scottish government by (a) grants awarded to local authorities in England to address SEND deficits announced in the written statement entitled Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29, published on 9 February 2026, HCWS1315, and (b) additional funding for SEND announced in the Spring Statement.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Spring Forecast 2026 it was confirmed that the Scottish Government will receive £533 million Barnett consequentials in 2026-27, through the application of the Barnett formula to the grants for Local Authorities to address SEND deficits in England.
The Barnett formula applies mechanically to new funding for the Department for Education in 2028-29, to support reforms of the SEND system. This results in an additional £362 million for the Scottish Government in 2028-29.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Barnett consequentials will be generated for Scotland by (a) the awarding of grants to local authorities in England to address SEND deficits, as set out in UIN HCWS1315 and (a) the funding for SEND announced in the Spring Statement 2026.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Spring Forecast 2026 it was confirmed that the Scottish Government will receive £533 million Barnett consequentials in 2026-27, through the application of the Barnett formula to the grants for Local Authorities to address SEND deficits in England.
The Barnett formula applies mechanically to new funding for the Department for Education in 2028-29, to support reforms of the SEND system. This results in an additional £362 million for the Scottish Government in 2028-29.