Oral Answers to Questions

John Lamont Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd June 2026 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)]

1. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department’s policies on household budgets.

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

14. What steps she has taken to help support households with the cost of living.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves)]

The Government recognise that energy costs, inflation and global pressures continue to squeeze household budgets. That is why we have taken careful, targeted action through the great British summer savings package which launches on Thursday, cutting VAT on summer activities so that adventure parks, soft play centres, cinemas and theatres will be cheaper, alongside the work we are doing to maintain the triple lock and to lift children out of poverty.

[John Lamont]

The Chancellor has overseen huge tax rises for those who work hard and do the right thing. Now they have been hit by soaring energy bills—a situation that is even more acute for many of my constituents who rely on heating oil. How does the Chancellor think that squares with the Government’s pledge to cut energy bills?

[Rachel Reeves]

The measures I took in my Budget last year took £150 off energy bills by getting rid of some levies altogether and moving others to general taxation. If we look at the most recent inflation numbers, inflation in the UK was 2.8% last month, which compares to 3.2% in the eurozone and 4% in the US. Food inflation was at its lowest rate for 17 months.