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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 20 Nov 2024
Oral Answers to Questions

Speech Link

View all Ben Lake (PC - Ceredigion Preseli) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Division Vote (Commons)
19 Nov 2024 - Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Lake (PC) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 350 Noes - 108
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 14 Nov 2024
National Insurance Contributions: Healthcare

Speech Link

View all Ben Lake (PC - Ceredigion Preseli) contributions to the debate on: National Insurance Contributions: Healthcare

Written Question
Employers' Contributions: Public Sector
Thursday 14th November 2024

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the value of increased national insurance contributions from public sector organisations included within the StatsWales definition of public sector but omitted from the definition used by the Office of National Statistics.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Treasury routinely uses the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November.


Written Question
Employers' Contributions: Public Sector
Thursday 14th November 2024

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using the StatsWales definition of public sector workers for determining exemptions.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Treasury routinely uses the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November.


Written Question
Employers' Contributions: Wales
Thursday 14th November 2024

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11940 on Employers' Contributions: Wales, whether the referenced support will be provided annually; and over what duration that support will be provided.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contribution costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way. Given the impacts of this policy change need to be worked through in further detail, this additional support has not yet been included in departmental or devolved government settlements for 2025-26. However, the Government will make these allocations as soon as possible to inform planning for 2025-26.

The overall outcome of the Barnett formula is that devolved governments all receive at least 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.


Written Question
Employers' Contributions
Thursday 14th November 2024

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the value of increased national insurance contributions from (a) GP surgeries, (b) higher education institutions and (c) care facilities (i) in Wales and (ii) nationally.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November.


Division Vote (Commons)
12 Nov 2024 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Lake (PC) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Plaid Cymru No votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 98 Noes - 375
Division Vote (Commons)
12 Nov 2024 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Lake (PC) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 41 Noes - 378
Division Vote (Commons)
12 Nov 2024 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Lake (PC) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Plaid Cymru No votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 98 Noes - 376