Written questions by Stephenson.

If she will make an estimate of the proportion of Winter Fuel Payments that were spent through (a) direct and (b) indirect taxation in 2023-24.

The department does not hold information on how Winter Fuel Payments were spent in 2023–24.

Whether she has provided funding from the public purse to offset the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on public sector arms-length bodies.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way, which is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.The Government plans to publish allocations for departments alongside departmental budgets for 2025/26 as part of Mains estimates.

What estimate she has made of the marginal propensity to consume of (a) all pensioners, (b) pensioners under the threshold for Pension Credit and (c) pensioners over the threshold for Pension Credit.

HM Treasury does not hold this information. The average award of Pension Credit is worth more than £4,200 a year, providing a safety net for pensioners on the lowest incomes. The UK Government is focused on maximising Pension Credit take-up to ensure those entitled to it are getting the support they need. Over 12 million pensioners will benefit from our commitment to protect the Triple Lock on the new and basic State Pensions. Based on OBR Autumn 2024 forecasts, over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1900.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments on consumer spending.

It is not possible to attribute changes in consumer spending or economic growth to any changes to Winter Fuel Payments. It is not possible to disentangle these from other much larger factors that could affect economic growth or consumption.

If she will make an estimate of the impact of her policies on employers’ National Insurance contributions on economic growth.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets 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. In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the increase in employer NICs will reduce the level of potential output by 0.1% at the forecast horizon, by reducing labour supply by around 50,000 average hours equivalent. Overall, once the impact of all Budget measures are taken into consideration, the OBR expect the employment level to increase from 33.1 million in 2024 to 34.3 million in 2029. The Economic and Fiscal Outlook also sets out the costing for the employer NICs increase, including behavioural impacts, in table 3.2.https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf

Whether her Department has produced modelling on the potential behavioural impact of increases to employers’ National Insurance.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets 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. In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the increase in employer NICs will reduce the level of potential output by 0.1% at the forecast horizon, by reducing labour supply by around 50,000 average hours equivalent. Overall, once the impact of all Budget measures are taken into consideration, the OBR expect the employment level to increase from 33.1 million in 2024 to 34.3 million in 2029. The Economic and Fiscal Outlook also sets out the costing for the employer NICs increase, including behavioural impacts, in table 3.2.https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf

Whether funding has been provided from the public purse to offset the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on the East-West Rail Company.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government set aside funding for public sector employers for additional NIC costs. This is in line with the government’s usual approach to supporting the public sector, as was the case with the previous government’s Health and Social Care Levy. 2025-26 allocations will be published as part of the Main Supply Estimates in the Spring.

What estimate her Department made of job losses when calculating the contribution to the public purse of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets 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. In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the increase in employer NICs will reduce the level of potential output by 0.1% at the forecast horizon, by reducing labour supply by around 50,000 average hours equivalent. Overall, once the impact of all Budget measures are taken into consideration, the OBR expect the employment level to increase from 33.1 million in 2024 to 34.3 million in 2029. The Economic and Fiscal Outlook also sets out the costing for the employer NICs increase, including behavioural impacts, in table 3.2.https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf

Whether she discussed bank branch closures with the Chief Executive Officer of Lloyds during their meeting on 28 January 2025.

Ministers and treasury officials regularly meet with the retail banks to discuss a wide variety of topics. Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. FCA guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all. This is why the Government continues to work with banks, including Lloyds Banking Group, to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Currently over 200 banking hubs have been recommended and over 100 are already open.

If he will make an estimate of the potential impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on employment in the construction industry.

More than half of employers, including small businesses in the construction sector will see no change or gain overall. The Government has protected small businesses and charities from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, and 865,000 employers will pay no NICs next year. Eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.Meeting the Government’s commitments to build the infrastructure we need, and deliver 1.5m homes over this Parliament, will need an increased workforce. We are committed to working with industry to do that.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contribution on the plan to build 1.5 million houses in this Parliament.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 21627 on 17 January 2025.

How much funding will be allocated for (a) Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and (b) Milton Keynes Hospital through the New Hospital Programme.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care set out a credible and deliverable plan for the new hospital schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) on 20 January 2025, following the conclusion of the review of the NHP. The Plan for Implementation was laid in the House Library and published on the GOV.UK website, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcomeAs confirmed by the publication, the estimated cost for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital scheme and the Milton Keynes Hospital scheme is £500 million or less for each scheme. However, these are estimates and the exact funding for the schemes is determined through the review and through the agreement of the individual hospital scheme business cases, as is usual for large infrastructure projects.

What steps her Department plans to take to help tackle financial fraud.

This Government is committed to working with law enforcement, industry and international partners to tackle financial fraud. This includes blocking fraud at its source, disrupting it before it reaches the public, and providing preventative advice and support such as our “Stop! Think Fraud” campaign.Further industry action includes potential legislative action to ban “SIM farms”, technical devices that allow criminals to send scam texts to thousands of people at the same time, and the Online Safety Act codes of practice which will come into effect in March.We are working closely with partners to develop a new expanded Strategy as set out in our manifesto. Further details on our approach will be set out in due course.

What steps her Department took to help tackle (a) illicit finance and (b) economic crime between 4 July 2024 and 14 January 2025.

The Government is committed to tackling illicit finance and economic crime. We have appointed an Anti-Corruption Champion Baroness Hodge to support the government's agenda in tackling corruption at home and overseas. HM Treasury has been working with partners across the public and private sector to update our National Risk Assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing; and to deliver Economic Crime Plan 2, our public-private strategy to combat economic crime and strengthen the UK system. This includes work on HM Treasury owned actions to reform our Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing supervisory regime, and to improve the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations. HM Treasury has also continued its work to tackle international illicit finance flows and strengthen the global system, representing the UK at the Financial Action Task Force; and conducting regular engagement with governments around the world on how to improve their anti-money laundering systems.

Whether his Department plans to allow bids for the New Hospital Programme from hospitals which did not bid previously.

At this stage, the Government does not have plans to add additional schemes into the New Hospital Programme (NHP) but is committed to tackling the crumbling estate through the full breadth of capital investment, of which the NHP is only one element.The purpose of the review into the NHP was to put the programme onto a realistic and sustainable footing through a new costed and prioritised timetable for the delivery of the schemes already in the NHP. The NHP’s Plan for Implementation sets out the outcome of the review, is published on the GOV.UK website, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcomeThe Department has a £13.6 billion capital settlement for 2025/26, from which the Department has allocated £4 billion to integrated care boards in annual operational capital allocations. These allocations are managed locally, with funds allocated towards local priorities. In addition, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, also committed over £1 billion to make inroads into the backlog of critical maintenance and to tackle dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. £1.35 billion will be allocated to systems to support their progress towards achieving constitutional standards, with a focus on improving the efficiency and productivity of existing workforces as well as capacity. Capital funding levels for future years will be determined through the current Spending Review which concludes in June 2025. This combined investment will be felt in all parts of the National Health Service estate in England.

Whether railway stations on East-West Rail will be owned by the (a) public and (b) private sector.

The exact operating model for East West Rail will be decided in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how she plans to reform the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local authorities; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of additional powers for town and parish councils.

The English Devolution White Paper was clear that we know people value the role of governance at the community scale. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.Local authorities act independently of central government. Town and parish councils can work with other tiers of local government to determine how they can best serve their communities in their area.

What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ringfencing funding for the entirety of the East West rail project.

£1.3bn has been provided towards the delivery of Connection Stage 1 of East-West Rail and the Budget on 30th October 2024 set out the Government’s support for the remaining stages of East West Rail, confirming funding to accelerate the delivery of works for Connection Stage 2 to provide services between Oxford-Bedford from 2030.

Whether her Department is taking steps to seek private capital investment for East-West Rail.

The Department works with the East West Rail Company and other Government departments to explore opportunities for the delivery of enhancements through using third party funding and financing options. The Department has been clear with East West Rail Company that securing third party funding is an essential element of delivering the scheme to ensure that the burden on the taxpayer is reduced as far as possible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, which new measures within the framework have implications for sustainable urban drainage systems.

The government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change.The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published on 12 December 2024 amended an existing paragraph regarding incorporating sustainable drainage systems in new development to make clear that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts. These systems should be appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposed development.We will consider whether further changes are required to manage sustainable drainage systems provision through the planning system when we consult on further reform.