Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review the criteria used to ascertain which communities require a banking hub.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 230 are already open.
Banking hub locations are independently recommended by LINK, the operator of UK’s largest ATM network. When a bank branch closes, there is a material change to a cash service, or a community request is received, LINK conducts an access to cash assessment under the access to cash regime set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023. In its assessments, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including population demographics and public transport links. Any decisions on changes to LINK's assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime.
The Government keeps the effectiveness of current access to cash and banking arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in defence spending on Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The increased defence budget will help both grow our economy and our thriving defence sector in Wales.
I was pleased to welcome the Defence Secretary to Cardiff Castle with the First Minister to sign our landmark £50m Wales Defence Growth Deal.
Focused on autonomous defence technology, the deal will help make defence an engine for growth, boosting innovation, SME support and high-skilled jobs in Wales.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will (a) review and (b) update the Overseas Scale Rates during 2026.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Overseas Scale Rates are an administrative easement that employers can use to pay or reimburse accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred by employees who have to travel outside the UK without the need to check receipts. Where the rates do not cover the expense incurred employers can check employee receipts to reimburse these costs.
The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has plans to align the commencement of measures in the Warm Homes Plan with the cessation of ECO4 funding.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan represents the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades. At the Autumn Budget on 26th November, the Chancellor announced an additional £1.5 billion of funding for the Warm Homes Plan, bringing total capital investment to almost £15 billion. This exceeds our manifesto commitment of £13.2 billion and is a major step forward in the government’s plans to upgrade up to 5 million homes over this Parliament and cut energy bills for good.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what measures will be included in the Warm Homes Plan to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government has made clear that it is committed to reform of the consumer protection system and, through the Warm Homes Plan, we will outline our offer for households to confidently and safely take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, home batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether transitional support will be provided to energy efficiency installation and associated businesses.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government consulted on an extension to ECO4 earlier this year. DESNZ Ministers have now agreed to a 9-month extension to end December 2026; however, this is subject to cross-government and Parliamentary approval.
An extension would support the remediation process and allow for completion of any outstanding obligations. However, it would not be supported by funding or increased targets.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure continuity between ECO4 funding and Warm Homes Plan measures in the case of ongoing works over the transition period.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government consulted on an extension to ECO4 earlier this year. DESNZ Ministers have now agreed to a 9-month extension to end December 2026; however, this is subject to cross-government and Parliamentary approval.
An extension would support the remediation process and allow for completion of any outstanding obligations. However, it would not be supported by funding or increased targets.
The extra £1.5 billion allocated to the Warm Homes Plan through the budget will be spent on low income households. Details on allocation will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will provide energy efficiency measures to vulnerable households previously provided under the ECO4 scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The extra £1.5 billion allocated to the Warm Homes Plan through the budget will be spent on low income households. Details on allocation will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to publish the Warm Homes Plan in full.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working across departments on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan to cut energy bills, strengthen energy security and reduce emissions. The Plan will accelerate the installation of efficient technologies such as heat pumps, heat networks, solar, home batteries and insulation, upgrading millions of homes this Parliament. We have committed almost £15 billion of investment to deliver this ambition. Further details, including funding allocations and delivery pathways, will be published soon.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that households impacted by measures in the ECO4 scheme will be impacted by the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will ensure that lessons learned from the current ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme are taken forward through delivery of the Warm Homes Plan.