Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since 5 July 2024, the Department has spent £9.7k on media training for members of the Ministerial team. No costs on voice training for Ministers have been incurred since the 5^th July 2024.

Scotland and Wales have abolished business rates for nurseries, so we think England should follow suit.

An interest rate cap should be introduced to ensure that people - especially young people at the start of a career - are not trapped in debt and can afford to thrive, not just survive.

Instead of means testing the winter fuel payment for pensioners, we think all over 60s, those with cancer or long term sick patients should be entitled to £100 per month for each of gas and electricity from Oct to Jan paid directly to the energy company, or £200 per month for all electric homes.

We would like there to be a review of the employer NI changes that were announced in the Budget. We believe they could significantly jeopardise the viability of small businesses.

We believe that this would help to protect UK jobs and our economy.

Reverse the increases made in the Budget to Air Passenger Duty (APD) on regional air routes which are essential to connectivity in the UK, whilst also considering a reform which will safeguard these routes for future generations with lower APD offered on a case-by-case basis.

I believe that businesses in the hospitality sector could be helped by reducing VAT to a lower rate. I think it would allow the survival of more hospitality businesses and others that might be struggling due to current rates of VAT.

In light of the recent Inheritance Tax changes, we call on the government to establish a commission to investigate the feasibility & implementation of a Land Value Tax (LVT) as a replacement for property taxes. We believe this could reduce the tax burden on people's work on their property.

We call on the Government to introduce a tax refund for commuting expenses, including costs for fuel, public transport, or vehicle maintenance. We believe this would provide financial relief to workers who commute and ensure fairness for those incurring unavoidable travel expenses.

Reduce National Insurance contributions for any employers and employees required to make such contributions, for approved apprenticeships.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if will make an assessment of the potential merits of conducting a review into the funding of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

There is currently no planned review of the funding of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA is funded predominately by charging fees to industry, for the services it delivers, with additional funding being provided by the Department. The fees are set to recover the full cost of delivering the respective services. This follows the HM Treasury guidance, Managing Public Money. This cost-recovery approach means that the regulated bear the cost of regulation, rather than the taxpayer and, by extension, patients.

Departmental funding to the MHRA is set in advance through collaborative spending review processes, which consider the MHRA’s needs in detail.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of job cuts on the efficiency and output of the Civil Service.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This government is committed to ensuring departments consider overall value for money in resourcing decisions.

To this end, it has introduced a 2% target for reduction to administration budgets in financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26 and a stop to all non-essential spending on consultancy, with an aim to halve spending in future years.

As set out in the Budget, the government has committed to developing a long-term strategic plan for a more efficient and effective Civil Service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services.

Decisions relating to the size and cost of the Civil Service workforce will be considered as part of the Spending Review process. HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office will work closely with departments to develop plans that achieve the government’s reform objectives for the Civil Service.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17553 on Housing: Ownership, if she will make an estimate of the number of replacement affordable housing units in each of the next five years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As detailed in the review of the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012 published on 30 October 2024 alongside the Budget, during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2021 the replacement target was 62,485 but only 47,864 replacements were delivered, which means there were 14,621 fewer replacements than the target.

The changes this government has made to the Right to Buy, including reducing maximum cash discount levels, allowing local authorities to retain the share of receipts formerly paid to HM Treasury, and increasing the flexibilities on how councils can use their receipts, will improve the ratio of replacements to sales.

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