Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the value attributed to a prevented fatality in his Department's Green Book.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government uses a common value for the Value of a Prevented Fatality (VPF). The monetary valuation of VPF can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tag-data-book.
It is uprated annually in line with inflation and real income growth. It is reviewed by HM Treasury on an ongoing basis and updated when new evidence becomes available.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planned cessation of the Household Support Fund on the financial status of councils.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
No decisions have been taken on the Household Support Fund (HSF)
The Government has provided £842m to Local Authorities in England to deliver the HSF in England over 2023-24, and provided over £2 billion for the HSF since October 2021. This is additional funding given to Local Authorities which has been ringfenced to support households in need with the cost of essentials, such as food or energy and water bills.
The Government continues to keep all of its existing programmes under review in the usual way.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend social investment tax relief beyond 31 March 2023.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
As the Chancellor announced in his Spring Budget, the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) will be allowed to expire in April 2023. New investments made on or after 6 April 2023 will no longer qualify for income and capital gains tax relief.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people claim the Blind Person’s Allowance as of 7 November 2022.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Latest published projections estimate that there were 36,900 claimants of Blind Person’s Allowance in 2021-22.
For more information, please refer to the annual ‘Estimated cost of non-structural tax reliefs’ publication, last published in December 2021. The most relevant information has been extracted into the table below.
These estimates are based on the 2018-19 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s October 2021 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
Name | Tax Type | Description | 2021-22 cost | 2021-22 no. of claimants |
Blind Person’s Allowance | Income tax | For income tax purposes, people certified blind and on a local authority register of blind persons (where different rules apply for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) can claim an additional personal allowance. | £20 million | 36,900 |
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure individuals with dyslexia and other disabilities are not disqualified from obtaining insurance.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It is a priority for the Government that everyone has access to suitable and affordable financial products and services.
Insurers must abide by the Equality Act 2010 and are also required by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to treat customers fairly. The FCA is responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, including insurers.
In addition, from April 2021, the FCA requires all firms offering retail travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their serious pre-existing medical condition.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rising inflation on people who are unable to access large supermarkets and shops based in towns.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We understand the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, and that a range of factors mean individuals may experience cost rises differently, such as those who are unable to access large supermarkets and shops. We are providing support worth over £20 billion across this financial year and next that will help families with the cost of living. This includes the £9.1 billion package announced in February 2022 to help households with rising energy bills.