Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the continued acceptance of personal cheques by banks.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Cheques remain an important part of the UK’s payments landscape. While there has been a decline in overall cheque volumes, they continue to be used by many individuals, businesses, charities and other voluntary organisations. Cheques can be deposited through a range of different channels, including at local bank branches, shared Banking Hubs and the Post Office.

To secure the future of cheque usage in the UK, HM Treasury introduced legislative measures in 2015 to allow banks and building societies to introduce ‘cheque imaging’. Cheque imaging allows a digital image of a cheque to be sent for clearing, rather than the paper cheque itself, and has also enabled people to pay in cheques via their smartphone or tablet.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value for money of existing tax-payer funded energy efficiency schemes.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government regularly assesses the value for money of its energy efficiency schemes through published impact assessments.

For example, the government has published an Impact Assessment (which is attached) for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) from 2022/23 to 2024/25 which projected a net present social value of £310m demonstrating strong economic and social benefits. Similar assessments are undertaken for other schemes, to ensure effective use of public funds.

These evaluations consider costs, benefits, and delivery performance to maximise outcomes for households and taxpayers.