Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96307 on Emigration, if her Department will make an assessment of of the potential impact of the emigration of people aged (a) 18-25, (b) 26-35, (c) 36-49, and (d) 50+ years old on (i) the levels of revenue raised through taxation and (ii) the sustainability of the public finances.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) assesses the fiscal implications of migration as part of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook and long-term fiscal projections.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of potential efficiency savings in public services that could reduce pressure on public spending while maintaining service quality.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This government is relentlessly targeting waste and driving efficiencies to make sure we are getting the best possible value for taxpayer money.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to bring forward supply-side reforms aimed at improving productivity in key growth sectors of the economy.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Economic growth is the first mission of this government, driving up prosperity and living standards across the UK. We are prioritising long-term productivity growth.
For example, the Government is committed to reducing the administrative costs of regulation on firms by 25% by the end of the Parliament and has set out reforms to achieve this.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which budget line is funding the contributions agreed to rejoin Erasmus Plus in the Spending Review period.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As usual, any changes to Departmental Expenditure Limits will be included in a future OBR fiscal forecast.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a windfall tax on current Rolling Stock companies (ROSCOs).
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs) play an important role in the transport industry, bringing benefits to both taxpayers and passengers.
Great British Railways will work with ROSCOs and manufacturers in an effective and streamlined way. The government will also develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock, which will support manufacturing and ensure a stable pipeline of work.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Council of Nations and Regions’ programme of work will consider fiscal devolution.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is her policy to introduce longer-term fiscal devolution.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.
Asked by: Richard Quigley (Labour - Isle of Wight West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how often HM Treasury reviews (a) the level of the Sovereign Grant, and (b) what criteria are used in that review.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The requirements for reviewing the Sovereign Grant have been set by Parliament in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011, sections 6 and 7.
The Government has also committed to bring forward legislation to reset the Grant to a lower level from 2027-28 once Buckingham Palace Reservicing works are completed.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to introduce a pay per mile levy on hybrid and EV drivers on their future choice of vehicle.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. The taxation of motoring is a critical source of funding for public services and investment in infrastructure
PHEVs have the capacity to drive in either electric or petrol mode and will continue to pay fuel duty on miles driven in petrol mode. In recognition of this, they will be subject to a reduced eVED rate of 1.5 pence per mile upon its introduction in April 2028 – half the rate that will apply to fully electric cars
Alongside the introduction of eVED, the Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs
New electric car sales are still forecast to more than triple from nearly 0.5 million sales in 2025/26 to around 1.6 million by 2030/31.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability, affordability and terms of insurance for people (a) diagnosed with sickle cell disease and (b) carrying the sickle cell trait.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has not made a specific assessment regarding insurance for individuals with sickle cell disease. However, the government recognises the important role of insurance products in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. The government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy seeks to close gaps in protection and ensure that the insurance sector is well-placed to support the financial wellbeing of households and vulnerable customers.
The Equality Act 2010 generally prohibits discrimination based on certain personal characteristics. However, the law accepts that some exceptions, relating to age and disability, apply for insurance. The Act stipulates an insurance provider cannot refuse to cover potential consumers or charge more for insurance as a result of these characteristics, unless they base their risk assessment on relevant information from a reliable source and (in the case of the disability exception) it is reasonable for the insurer to refuse cover or charge more.
However, the Financial Conduct Authority, as the independent regulator, requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value. The FCA has been clear that it will be monitoring firms, and, where necessary, it will take action.
Since 2021, the FCA has required firms providing travel insurance to signpost consumers with pre-existing medical conditions to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on a pre-existing medical condition.