Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce inflation.

Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Responsible decisions to support the Bank mean the UK has now turned a corner on inflation, but the government remains committed to ensuring inflation returns sustainably to its 2% target. There are four key things the government is doing to further reduce inflation whilst supporting growth:

• Remaining steadfast in our support for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England as it acts to return inflation sustainably to the 2% target.
• Boosting labour supply. Labour market conditions are a key problem affecting UK businesses’ growth, as well as a significant driver of domestic inflation. Across Spring Budget 2023, Autumn Statement 2023 and Spring Budget 2024 tax and labour market measures increase total hours worked by the equivalent of more than 300,000 full-time workers by 2028-29.
• Introducing ambitious supply-side measures to support non-inflationary growth, including delivering full expensing to boost investment. The OBR estimate the impact of government policy, including tax and labour market measures, announced at the past three fiscal events mean the economy will be 0.7% bigger by the end of the forecast.
• Since Autumn Statement 2023, borrowing has been lower than the OBR forecast. Borrowing is forecast to fall in every year to 2028-29. This would be the lowest level of borrowing as a share of GDP since 2001-02.

The OBR has concluded that measures in the Spring Budget – primarily freezes to fuel and alcohol duty – will reduce CPI inflation by 0.2% in 2024-25.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to his Sri Lankan counterpart on water pollution around the Channakan power plant in the north of Sri Lanka.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality, particularly by communities in the Northern Province. The British High Commission Colombo regularly meets a range of stakeholders in the Northern Province to hear their experiences and issues. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, have conducted tests into the water quality, after concerns were raised by local communities. The UK Government supports the International Water Management Institute, an international water management research organisation, to provide solutions to increasing water scarcity in Puttalam and Kilinochchi.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make it his policy to change the travel advisory guidance on Israel so that areas not directly affected by the Gaza conflict are no longer classified as essential travel only.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Travel advice is constantly under review and regularly updated. How the FCDO determines travel advice can be found at the dedicated gov.uk site:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/about-foreign-commonwealth-development-office-travel-advice#how-we-compile-travel-advice

Specific advice for travelling to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories can be found at the dedicated Gov.uk site: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel

Found: Sri Lanka: Alleged War Crimes 18 Jul 2023 | 736 cc749 -750 Asked by: Theresa Villiers If he will

Found: Johnson supported by Sir David Evennett , Mr Louie French , Dean Russell , Sir Robert Goodwill , Theresa