Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the value of the pound since the UK left the EU on the UK economy.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. The value of sterling is determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors. The Bank of England assesses the impact of financial market movements on the economy in its quarterly Monetary Policy Report - the latest can be found here.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has undertaken research into the potential impact of VAT reductions on (a) the re-use of goods, (b) minimum warranty periods and (c) other circular economic practices in industry.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

One of the key considerations when assessing a new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

The Government keeps all taxes under review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the destruction of (a) textiles and (b) footwear.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to support us in developing proposals to transition to a Circular Economy. As we develop those proposals, we will assess what further interventions may be needed across the textiles sector, including any interventions on environmental impact labelling and banning the destruction of textiles and footwear.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing environmental impact labelling for all textile goods in the UK.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to support us in developing proposals to transition to a Circular Economy. As we develop those proposals, we will assess what further interventions may be needed across the textiles sector, including any interventions on environmental impact labelling and banning the destruction of textiles and footwear.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of 30 hours free childcare on (a) Job Centre operations and (b) levels of returns to employment.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Education 30 hours free childcare is one of several government childcare offers, including the Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare.

DWP has not made an assessment of the impact of the Department for Education’s 30 hours free childcare on job centre operations or returns to employment. In March 2023, when the government announced the extension of 30 hours of free childcare for working age parents of nine-month to two-year-olds, the OBR assessed as a result they would expect around 60,000 parents of young children to enter employment by 2027/28.

Economic and fiscal outlook - March 2023

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the early release of prisoners on Job Centre operations.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

To date, Jobcentres have been supporting customers through the early release schemes. We will continue to monitor, liaising closely with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice.

The Department deploys specialist resources to support individuals both in custody and upon release into employment. This includes around 200 Prison Work Coaches based in prisons, as well as additional specialist Work Coaches located in Jobcentres.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Future of the BBC

Family Business Week 2025

Taxi accessibility for disabled people

Found: Catherine McKinnell (Labour; Newcastle upon Tyne North) Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat; Richmond Park) Tristan Osborne

Found: Catherine McKinnell (Labour; Newcastle upon Tyne North) Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat; Richmond Park) Tristan Osborne

Found: Members present: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Chair); Mr Clive Betts; Anna Dixon; Rachel Gilmour; Tristan Osborne