Middle East: Economic Update

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Wendy Chamberlain

Tuesday 24th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. From next month, families with children will benefit from the abolition of the two-child cap in the universal credit system. We have also doubled the number of recipients of the warm home discount and put £14 billion into upgrading people’s homes through the warm homes plan. Of course, as we look at targeted support, we will consider vulnerabilities within that.

[Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)]

The Chancellor has mentioned several times that households will benefit from £150 off their energy bills, but I had a constituent on the phone this morning who has been told that his energy bills are still rising and will not see the savings that the Chancellor is talking about. What conversations is she having with energy companies to make sure that people do actually benefit from the fall in bills that she is so keen to talk about?

[Rachel Reeves]

I would be very happy to see the particular details of that constituent, because energy companies—through both fixed and variable tariffs—are passing on that £150 reduction that I introduced in the Budget by getting rid of the energy company obligation levy entirely and by moving other levies from bills on to general taxation. I am happy to look at the particular circumstances of that individual, but people should be getting, on average, a £117 cut in their energy bills from 1 April.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Wendy Chamberlain

Tuesday 9th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

The Government are currently consulting on a landfill tax. It is a consultation, and it is open for comments from right across industry, but this Government are investing in infrastructure. Compared with the plans that we inherited, which would have seen capital investment fall as a share of GDP, we are instead putting an additional £120 billion in, as well as £70 billion through the National Wealth Fund. Crucially, that is leveraging in private sector investment in transport infrastructure, including roads, railways and airports, and digital infrastructure. We are growing the economy—a far cry from what the Conservatives did in their 14 wasted years.

[Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)]

3. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer national insurance contributions on economic growth.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Wendy Chamberlain

Tuesday 29th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I recognise the importance of being able to pass on to the next generation the assets people have built up, and we will be setting out more details on all of our tax policies in the Budget tomorrow.

[Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)]

Shared prosperity funding has been used by local authorities such as Fife council to drive economic growth, particularly through support for small businesses. That funding is due to end in April 2025. Can we get a commitment from the Government that funding for these kinds of schemes will continue?

[Rachel Reeves]

We will set out more details in the Budget tomorrow, including the consequentials that will go to the Scottish Government.

Public Spending: Inheritance

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Wendy Chamberlain

Monday 29th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I think every single Member of the House will have faced often very difficult constituency casework about young people who are not getting a diagnosis on time and not getting the support they need at school. We will set out all our spending plans and priorities at the spending review later this year.

[Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)]

I welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer and her team to their place. I am concerned that I have not seen anything in the Chancellor’s statement or the accompanying report on the 1950s women who suffered maladministration of their pensions. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which we all utilise when doing constituency casework, was clear that maladministration was suffered. Could the Chancellor confirm whether she is considering the report and will she provide a statement before the Budget on 30 October, or is the message to WASPI women today that she will not do it?

[Rachel Reeves]

My right hon. Friend the Work and Pensions Secretary is considering that report as we speak.