Written Question
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Asked by:
Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increases to employer National Insurance contributions on the ability of businesses to create entry level jobs for young people currently not in education, employment or training.
Answered by Lord Livermore
- Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs, which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-secondary-threshold-the-secondary-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-rate-and-the-empl. The TIIN set out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.
The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in November 2025, which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances. The OBR expects that employment levels will rise in every year of the forecast, and that they will be higher in every year compared to March, reaching 35.5m in 2030-31.
The government is committed to supporting young people to earn and learn; that is why we are making more than £1.5 billion available over the Spending Review period for investment in employment and skills support. This includes £820 million for the Youth Guarantee, which features a new Jobs Guarantee that will provide six-month paid work placements for eligible 18- to 21-year-olds, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy, to help support apprenticeships for young people and fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible people under-25. This support will provide an opportunity for young people to gain the essential skills and experience they need and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment.
Written Question
Wednesday 7th January 2026
Asked by:
Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Budget 2025 on the number of businesses starting up in the UK.
Answered by Lord Livermore
- Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK is a great place to start a business, with the third largest venture capital market after the US and China, generous tax reliefs for investors in early-stage companies and the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7. Over the last financial year, 800,000 new businesses incorporated.
In the Budget, the Chancellor built on these strengths by expanding our enterprise tax reliefs to incentivise investment in scaling firms and support them to attract top talent, by targeting British Business Bank investment towards these companies, and by committing to public procurement reforms to make the UK government a better customer to innovative businesses.
HM Treasury will continue to monitor the implementation of Budget measures and analyse their impact on the wider economy to inform future policy development.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Nov 2022
Autumn Statement Resolutions
"I would like to start by talking about wealth. Being a Conservative means that we have a strong and principled belief in equality of opportunity, which does not exclude the need for public money to be spent levelling up the playing field to help those who work just as hard …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Nov 2022
Autumn Statement
"The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, with which I know my right hon. Friend is very familiar, is delaying returning chemotherapy services to the Alex—the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch—even though the pandemic is over. That means really sick cancer patients are having to travel to Kidderminster for their essential therapy. …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 25 Jun 2019
High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill (First sitting)
"On a point of order, Ms Buck. Is it in order to have a second shadow Minister kneeling on the floor during the Committee’s proceedings? I would be grateful for your guidance...."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Apr 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"Does the Chancellor agree that the announcement that small shops will save up to £8,000 in business rates is a fantastic boost for our high streets? Will he please commit to supporting the bid from Redditch for the future high streets fund?..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Apr 2019
Puppy Smuggling
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone.
I care a great deal about this issue, as do many of my constituents. I am a dog lover, and the proud owner of two rescue dogs, Phoebe and Herbie, who give me such joy. I want to speak …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Mar 2019
Section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993
"The hon. Gentleman is referring to a number of figures that he claims show a hit to every taxpayer; but 32 million taxpayers have had their taxes reduced under this Government, so they are keeping more of what they earn and they are better off. How many of those 32 …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Feb 2019
Communities: Charities and Volunteers
"It is a great privilege to follow the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson), who gave a fantastic speech.
I have been volunteering all my life—it is truly in my DNA. I started when I was around seven, taking children from inner-city Birmingham to camps in the …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 07 Feb 2019
Social Media and Screen Use: Young People’s Health
"I thank the Chair of the Science and Technology Committee for coming to the House and making a statement, and other members of the Committee for their work. I welcome this report. It is a fantastic piece of work, and I look forward to researching the issue in more detail. …..."Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech
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