Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Saqib Bhatti Excerpts
Tuesday 17th May 2022

(2 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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Of course the Government recognise that energy bills are the single biggest challenge households face. That is why we have provided £9 billion-worth of support, including £150 for English households in the most recent month, with £200 more in support to come later this year.

Saqib Bhatti Portrait Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con)
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I believe the Conservatives are and ought to be the party of hard-working families. According to a report released yesterday by the Centre for Policy Studies, reducing the cost of childcare can increase GDP by 10% and increase access to opportunities for women in the workforce. Does my right hon. Friend the Chancellor agree that helping hard-working families with childcare costs is good for the economy and that it is the Conservative thing to do?

Helen Whately Portrait The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Helen Whately)
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I completely agree with my hon. Friend. In fact, we do support families with the cost of childcare. One thing we do is to provide families with access to tax-free childcare, which means they can get a 20% reduction on the cost of childcare, up to a cap of £2,000 a year.