Asked by: Anum Qaisar (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a strategy on debt relief in low-income countries.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK plays a leadership role in international discussions on developing country debt. The government will continue to work with its international partners in the Paris Club and the G20 to urgently address debt vulnerabilities in low-income countries. The government will be responding to the International Development Committee’s recent inquiry into debt-relief in low-income countries in due course.
Asked by: Anum Qaisar (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to address the impact of the cost of living on single households.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why the government has announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year, which includes £1,200 of support through the £400 EBSS for the most vulnerable households, £150 Council Tax rebate and one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment for those on means-tested benefits, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.
In addition, the Government has also taken decisive action to support households and business with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The Energy Price Guarantee limits the energy bill of an average household to £2,500 a year, saving them at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides support for businesses through a discount which is calculated by comparing the estimated wholesale portion of the unit price to a baseline ‘government supported price’ that is lower than currently expected winter wholesale prices. For all non-domestic energy users in Great Britain this government supported price has been set at £211 per megawatt hour (MWh) for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas.
We are continuing to keep the situation under review and focus support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Asked by: Anum Qaisar (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the potential effect of ending his Department’s schemes to support people affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers speak regularly with the Secretary of State for Scotland on a wide range of matters.
We have put in place an economic package of support totalling £352 billion to support both individuals and businesses throughout the pandemic, with the devolved administrations having received an additional £28.1 billion in funding through the Barnett formula to support their recovery through 2020-22.