Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the OBR's fiscal forecasts included the costs of the Erasmus scheme.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As usual, any changes since the last forecasts will be included in a future forecast.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how will the cost of the Erasmus Scheme in 2027/28 be funded.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

We have agreed terms with the European Commission that represent a fair balance between the UK’s contribution and the benefits the programme offers, which paved the way for UK participation.

We have agreed a 30% discount compared to the default terms in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as a review of the UK’s participation in the programme ten months after our association, including data concerning demand for funding in the UK. Going forward, any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027.

Erasmus costs will be funded above the department’s spending review settlement and scored in the usual way at the next fiscal event.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the outstanding value is of student loan debt owed by EU students; and how much of that debt is being actively repaid.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An EU borrower is a borrower who was originally domiciled in an EU country prior to entering higher education in England. Tuition fee funding for new EU students in England without 'settled' or 'pre-settled status' ceased in the 2021/22 academic year. However, those continuing a course remain eligible for financial support for the duration of their course, in addition to those covered by the Withdrawal Agreements, subject to meeting other residency and course requirements.

The outstanding value of student loan debt owed by EU borrowers was £5.8 billion at 31 March 2025. Of EU borrowers liable to repay, 38.8% are actively repaying, have fully repaid or had their loan cancelled or written off. This data is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loans-in-england-2024-to-2025/student-loans-in-england-financial-year-2024-25.

A loan becomes liable for repayment when the borrower has passed their statutory repayment due date. This is the normally the April after graduating or otherwise leaving their course, provided they are earning above the relevant income threshold.

Definitions of repayment terms can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loans-in-england-2024-to-2025/definitions-england.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Item 13 of Table 4.1 in the Budget Document, published 26 November 2025, if she will provide a breakdown of the fiscal impacts in each financial year for each of the operational changes included in the costing.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of estates subject to paying Inheritance Tax in (a) the most recent year for which data is available and (b) each year up to 2030-31.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The statistics for the number of estates subject to paying inheritance tax (IHT) are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics.

The statistics for the number of estates forecast to pay inheritance tax are available at https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1766066728.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Chancellor's written statement of 5 January 2026, UIN HCWS1219, whether she plans to respond to the OBR's Spring forecast in an oral statement.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As set out in a written statement to Parliament last week, the Chancellor has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast for publication on 3 March 2026. The Chancellor will deliver an oral statement to the House in response.

Found: Lord Lamont of Lerwick: The shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, is making a speech today about the OBR, in

Found: Lord Lamont of Lerwick: The shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, is making a speech today about the OBR, in

Found: general Members contributing to the debate focused on other measures, though the Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride

Found: Clip Rachell Reves MSP (Chancellor) Clip Mel Stride MP (Shadow Chancellor