Asked by: Jon Pearce (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help support people on lower incomes in High Peak constituency.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is focused on improving living standards across the country, which is why economic growth remains a top priority. If Real Household Disposable Income per capita had grown at the same rate between 2010 and 2023 as it did from 1997 to 2010, it would be over £4,000 higher today.
We are committed to ensuring economic stability, by keeping inflation and energy bills as low as possible. To do this, we need to fix the foundations and rebuild Britain, so we can make every part of our country better off. That is why we will soon outline plans to improve energy efficiency across the UK’s housing stock, helping to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and household bills. Further details will be outlined in the upcoming Spending Review.
A new Ministerial Taskforce has been established to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce child poverty. We have updated the remit of the Low Pay Commission to take to account of the cost of living when making recommendations on the National Living Wage.
We will collaborate with Claire Ward, the East Midlands Mayor, and the Combined County Authority, to develop an ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plan for the area, including High Peak and Derbyshire. This plan will address local strengths and barriers to growth in the East Midlands, aiming to drive economic growth, narrow inequalities, and support delivery of the national industrial strategy.
Asked by: Jon Pearce (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many high street businesses in (a) Wellingborough constituency, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England have closed in each of the last five years; and whether she plans to make changes to the level of business rates in the next five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data is not collected by the government on high street closures.
The government is committed to a fairer business rates system. The retail sector accounts for approximately 21% of Rateable Value but only contributes 5% to Gross Value Added (GVA). In our manifesto, we pledged to level the playing field between the high street and online giants, as well as to take steps to incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship.
Asked by: Jon Pearce (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data her Department holds on the number of people in High Peak constituency who (a) paid national insurance contributions and (b) earned below £25,000 per year in financial year 2022-23.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The information for the tax year 2022 to 2023 is not yet available.
Table 3.15 of HMRC’s Personal Incomes Statistics contains the latest constituency-level income estimates for the tax year 2021 to 2022.
Asked by: Jon Pearce (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the number of bank branches that have closed in (a) High Peak constituency and (b) Derbyshire in each year since 2010.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government does not hold bank branch closure data from 2010.
Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.
Alternative options to access everyday banking services can include telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via one of the UK’s 11,500 Post Office branches.
The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets. The Government has therefore committed to work closely with banks to roll out at least 350 banking hubs, which provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services.
Asked by: Jon Pearce (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of bank closures on access to (a) cash and (b) in-person services in High Peak constituency.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government does not hold bank branch closure data from 2010.
Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.
Alternative options to access everyday banking services can include telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via one of the UK’s 11,500 Post Office branches.
The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets. The Government has therefore committed to work closely with banks to roll out at least 350 banking hubs, which provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services.