Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government departments: communications and consultations, if he will publish the £449 million spending from Government Communications Service data, including any departmental breakdown, that provided the estimates for the £85 million of savings at Autumn Budget 2024.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Rt Hon member to the answer given to PQ25685 on 30 January 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government departments: communications and consultations, if he will list each of the programmes that have been cancelled or reduced to deliver £85 million of savings from the £449 million baseline.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Rt Hon member to the answer given to PQ25685 on 30 January 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has a theory of economic growth it uses when formulating (a) fiscal and (b) economic policy.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government’s growth mission is its central mission. Its plan for growth is built around the three essential elements of stability, investment, and reform. The work of the growth mission can be structured into seven pillars, as set out in the Autumn Budget document. This approach is informed by economic analysis and will deliver a decade of national renewal by fixing the foundations of the economy and rebuilding Britain, making every part of the country better off.

The Government's fiscal policy objective is to support sustainable economic growth and provision high-quality public services and investment across the UK, by effectively managing public finances and ensuring taxes and borrowing are sustainable.

Economic and fiscal stability are prerequisites for the economy to grow, as they give UK businesses and households the confidence to make decisions on future investments and consumption. This encourages innovation and growth over the long term.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22013 on Economic Situation, whether bond yields will be included in the other metrics of financial market indicators in relation to economic stability.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

As the Prime Minister set out in the Plan for Change document, the Government’s milestones for change can only be delivered on the foundations of a stable economy, secure borders, and national security. Economic stability requires concerted action to ensure macroeconomic stability, financial stability, fiscal stability, and long-term policy stability.

The commitment to our tough fiscal rules is non-negotiable, and we will meet the fiscal rules at all times.

HM Treasury considers a wide range of information to assess financial conditions, including a range of financial market indicators, and works with the financial sector regulators to monitor markets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on when the Financial Conduct Authority plans to respond to its consultation entitled Proposed amendments to Guidance on the treatment of politically exposed persons, published on 18 July 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has been working closely with the FCA to follow up on the findings of its review into the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) by financial institutions and to ensure firms improve their practices where necessary. The FCA expects that the revised guidance will be published and brought into effect in the first half of 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024, to Question 12389 on Civil Servants and Ministers: Workplace Pensions, whether the automatic lump sum death benefits under the Civil Service Classic scheme is subject to inheritance tax.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

Some lump some death benefits from pension schemes are already within scope of Inheritance Tax. As with other registered schemes, lump sum death benefits under the Civil Service Classic scheme will be subject to Inheritance Tax from 6 April 2027.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22929 on Treasury: Employers' Contributions, which Strategic Suppliers to the Department have contractual terms and conditions that require a pricing review as a consequence of the higher National Insurance contributions to employers.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

No such terms and conditions are included in HM Treasury’s contracts with strategic suppliers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21692 on Public Expenditure, over which financial years the (a) efficiencies and (b) savings target by 2029 relates to; whether the 5% target is for each year or over the whole spending review two period; and how the target interacts with the spending reductions announced at the (i) Fixing the Foundations statement in July 2024, (ii) Autumn Budget 2024 and (iii) phase one of the Spending Review.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

To help drive out waste and ensure all funding is focused on the Government’s priorities, all departments are expected to find at least 5% savings and efficiencies from within existing budgets by the end of this SR period (2028/2029).

Any spending reduction announced at the (i) Fixing the Foundations statement in July 2024, (ii) Autumn Budget 2024 and (iii) phase one of the Spending Review that apply to the year 2025/2026 will be captured within the savings and efficiency target of 2% set across all government departments as part of phase one of the Spending Review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 27 November 2024 to Question 14255 on Civil Service and (b) 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government departments: communications and consultations, what the financial reduction in consultancy spending is in absolute terms required to deliver the policy of having spending on consultancy; and what the estimated baseline spending on government consultancy was in 2024-25 prior to the planned reduction of £550 million for 2024-25 and £680 million in 2025-26.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The baseline aggregate annual cash figure for the 24-25 savings target is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity.

The baseline for the £680 million 25-26 saving is based on a 50% cut to the average figure that HMG spent on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database.

The government’s policy is to reduce consultancy spending by £550m in 2024-25 and to halve spending in 2025-26 against a baseline of average HMG spend on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. This financial reduction in spending will deliver cash savings of £680m.

The estimated baseline spending on consultancy in 2024-25 prior to the planned reduction of £550m is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government Departments: Communication and Consultants, what the baseline aggregate annual cash figure of government spending on consultancy was on which the estimated reductions in spending of (a) £550 million in 2024-25 and (b) £680 million in 2025-26 are based.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The baseline aggregate annual cash figure for the 24-25 savings target is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity.

The baseline for the £680 million 25-26 saving is based on a 50% cut to the average figure that HMG spent on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database.

The government’s policy is to reduce consultancy spending by £550m in 2024-25 and to halve spending in 2025-26 against a baseline of average HMG spend on consultancy across the six financial years 2017/18 to 2022/23. This figure was calculated using HM Treasury estimates from spending figures published via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. This financial reduction in spending will deliver cash savings of £680m.

The estimated baseline spending on consultancy in 2024-25 prior to the planned reduction of £550m is based on an in-year monthly forecast outturn figure from the government’s cross central financial management system. In-year forecast outturn figures at this level of detail are not released publicly due to their security classification and sensitivity.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14946 on Government Departments: Communication and Consultants, whether her Department holds data on the (a) Department and (b) programme reductions to consultancy spending that is expected to reduce spending by (i) £550 million in 2024-25 and (ii) £680 million in 2025-26.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Consultancy spending data for the current 24-25 financial year is held centrally on the cross-government financial system. In-year monthly forecast outturn data at this level of detail is not shared publicly due to its security classification and sensitivity.

Final outturn figures for consultancy spending are published annually via Department’s audited Annual Reports and Accounts (ARAs) and via the annual release of data from the Online System for Central Accounting and Reporting (OSCAR) database. Individual departments control their budgets for consultancy spending and determine the ways they will reduce it in line with the aggregate savings target. HM Treasury and Cabinet Office are holding them to account for these reductions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the new Chair of the Office for Value for Money has formally met with (a) the Chancellor and (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

David Goldstone CBE was appointed as the independent Chair of the Office of Value for Money on 30 October 2024. His published terms of reference state that he will have monthly regular check-ins with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and that he will provide a regular update to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Since his appointment, the Chair has provided regular updates to the Chancellor and me on his progress. As part of this, the Chair has had three meetings with me; and one meeting with the Chancellor.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Spending Review Phase 2 is zero-based.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Phase 2 of the Spending Review launched on the 10^th December 2024. At launch, I asked every department to conduct a zero-based review of government spending to assess whether it is a priority for this government and represents value for money. This is the first time that a line-by-line review of government spending has taken place in 17 years, offering the opportunity to undertake a more thorough review of spending.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29436 on Manufacturing Industries, whether food and drink manufacturing is a key advanced manufacturing sector.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Industrial Strategy will focus on the sectors which offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business, including Advanced Manufacturing. The Government will prioritise subsectors within the broad sectors that meet our objectives and where there is evidence that policy can address barriers to growth.

The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review. These Sector Plans will set out the specific sub-sectors of focus, identify key barriers to growth, and describe how government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth for the sector.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29436 on Manufacturing Industries, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including food and drink manufacturing in the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Growth is the number one mission of the government. The UK's food and drink manufacturing sector plays a significant role in the UK economy, contributing £35.1bn to GVA in 2022. The UK presents many opportunities for investment right across the food and drink supply chain stages of product development.

The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review. These Sector Plans will set out the specific sub-sectors of focus, identify key barriers to growth, and describe how government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth for the sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the UK Government Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021, whether it remains her Department's policy that funding should not be provided for the development of green technologies in the defence industry.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The principles of the Green Financing Programme are set out in the Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021. The Framework explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance green expenditures to help tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental challenges, while creating green jobs across the UK. It also includes guidelines on the types of expenditures that can be included in the Programme.

The previous Government decided to exclude financing weapons in its Green Financing Framework, alongside other named exclusions. The international convention is to exclude weapons for green bond frameworks. In line with other sovereign green bond issuers and international best practices, the UK Government Green Financing Framework was designed to align with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.

Green gilts and Green Savings Bonds finance public expenditures that can demonstrate a direct and positive environmental impact. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed settlements in the Spending Review and assessed on the basis of their contribution to the Government’s climate and environmental objectives.

The Green Financing Framework does not underpin how Government expenditure decisions are made. As the PM has announced to Parliament on Tuesday 25 February, we will reach 2.5% of GDP expenditure on defence in 27-28.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role management consultants will play in determining efficiency savings for phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

There is no formal role for management consultants in determining efficiency savings.

In developing their plans for the forthcoming Spending Review departments will need to find 5% savings and efficiencies against their current budgets, to help drive out waste and ensure all funding is focused on the Government’s priorities.

The Government will set out its spending plans in the multi-year Spending Review in June 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16601 on Employer’s Contributions: Public Sector, what her planned timetable is to update Parliament on allocations by department.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Allocations of support for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs by department will be published alongside spending estimates at Main Estimate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23883, on Public Finance: Brexit, if she will make a comparative estimate of the net difference between the two invoices from the European Union relating to the Financial Settlement under the Withdrawal Agreement and the annual payments when the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

It is not possible to meaningfully compare the net payments under the Financial Settlement and the UK's financial contributions during its time as a Member State poses substantial analytical issues. The former relates to historic liabilities of and receipts due to the UK, while payments to the EU budget cover participation in the EU’s ongoing activities.

The UK’s contributions and receipts to and from the EU as a Member State, as well as those made under the Financial Settlement are detailed in the annual European Union Finances Statement (available in the library of the House and on Gov.uk).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings representatives from Shein have had with her Department since the 4 July 2024; on what dates these meetings took place; and what was discussed.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

All meetings held by departments senior civil servants and Ministers are published to Gov.uk in line with Cabinet Office reporting and timetable guidance. Please follow the link below for visibility of HMT’s publications:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions Ministers in her Department had on government business at Labour Party Conference; whether such meetings and engagement will be recorded in government transparency returns; and whether these discussions were reported back to civil servants.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

All Ministers' meetings in an official capacity are recorded and published on gov.uk as part of the department’s quarterly transparency return.

The guidance acknowledges that meetings with external organisations at party conferences will generally be in a political capacity. As a result, they do not expect these meetings to be declared, unless a senior media figure was also present.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of the 2024-25 Civil Service pay award broken down by (a) gross pay and (b) employer pension contributions.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Pay Remit Guidance is a framework within which all organisations under its scope set pay. The 2024/2025 Pay Remit Guidance was published in July 2024 and departments are able to make average pay awards up to 5%.

Under pay delegation, individual departments set their own wage scales and are responsible for publishing their own figures on pay and employer pension contributions as part of either their annual accounts, and / or the monthly workforce management information transparency figures.

Found: Q5 John Glen: Can I try to zone in on the possible differences?

Found: Q5 John Glen: Can I try to zone in on the possible differences?