Every parliamentary written question tabled by Wendy Morton this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 111 · Treasury
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (i) UK Emissions Trading Scheme, (ii) Carbon Price Support mechanism, (iii) Renewable Obligation, (iv) Zero Emission Vehicle mandate and (v) wider Net Zero regulatory framework on (a) industrial electricity prices, (b) domestic energy bills, (c) manufacturing output and (d) the international competitiveness of UK industry; and whether she has considered (A) repealing and (B) amending those measures.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment she has made of the potential combined impact of the proposed increase in fuel duty and the recent rise in global oil prices on the price of petrol and diesel in the next 12 months.
The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre.The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-duty-rates-for-2026-to-2027/fuel-duty-rates-2026-to-2027The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme provides a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.As the Chancellor has set out, a rapid de-escalation in the Middle East remains the best way to keep prices affordable at the pump. As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what the forecast rate of UK economic growth is expected to be in each year of the forecast period; what the principal risks are to those forecasts; and what policy measures she intends to pursue to improve long-term productivity and economic growth.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) on the 3rd March 2026. The OBR forecasts that the UK economy will grow by 1.1% in 2026, and will then grow at an average rate of 1.6% per year from 2027 to 2030. The OBR set out in their EFO what they see as the key risks to the forecasts. In their press conference, the OBR emphasised that while the central forecast does not assume a renewed energy shock, the conflict represents the key downside risk. The government’s economic strategy is focused on delivering long-term reform, ensuring the UK is better placed to withstand external shocks. This includes targeted investment to boost growth, support innovation, and strengthen trading relationships, alongside action to improve our labour market participation and skills. These interventions form part of a broader plan to raise productivity, expand economic capacity and support living standards across the UK, while strengthening our economic resilience in an age of global insecurity shaped by geopolitical tensions, including those involving Iran.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what the projected levels of total public expenditure are expected to be in (a) 2026-2027, (b) 2027-2028, (c) 2028-2029, (d) 2029-2030 and (d) 2030-2031 financial years; which areas of public spending are expected to see the largest increases over the forecast period; and what steps her Department intends to take to manage spending pressures within departmental budgets.
The OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook – published on the OBR’s website - sets out in detail the projected levels of total public expenditure over the next five years. The government's public spending approach is fair, disciplined and controlled, helping to reduce borrowing and keep public finances on a sustainable path.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to the average UK motorist as a result of the planned staged increases in fuel duty between September 2026 and March 2027; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those increases on household finances.
The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre.The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-duty-rates-for-2026-to-2027/fuel-duty-rates-2026-to-2027The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme provides a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.As the Chancellor has set out, a rapid de-escalation in the Middle East remains the best way to keep prices affordable at the pump. As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what fiscal headroom the Government is forecast to have against its fiscal rules in each year of the forecast period; what sensitivity analysis has been undertaken by the Office for Budget Responsibility regarding changes in growth, interest rates or inflation; and what assessment she has made of the level of risks to the Government’s ability to meet its fiscal targets.
In line with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)'s mandate, the OBR did not provide a formal assessment of performance against the fiscal rules at the Spring forecast on 3 March. The fiscal rules will be formally assessed alongside the Budget. As the Chancellor said in her speech to the House, the forecast shows headroom against the stability rule has increased since the Budget from £21.7bn at the Budget to £23.6bn in 2029-30, which is the target year, meaning greater resilience against shocks and stability in the economy. Headroom against the investment rule is also higher at £27.1bn in 2029-30. As an independent body, the OBR has full discretion over its forecast methodology and the judgements underpinning its forecasts. As is standard, the March 2026 Economic and Fiscal Outlooks included sensitivity analysis around key economic variables and highlighted upside and downside risks to its central forecast
In reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned fuel duty increases on households in rural and car-dependent areas; and what modelling the Treasury has undertaken on the additional commuting costs faced by motorists in those areas during a period of rising global fuel prices.
The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre.The Government has published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2026/27 fuel duty rates, which can be found at GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-duty-rates-for-2026-to-2027/fuel-duty-rates-2026-to-2027The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme provides a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.As the Chancellor has set out, a rapid de-escalation in the Middle East remains the best way to keep prices affordable at the pump. As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty under review.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what estimate she has made of the forecast increase in welfare spending over the forecast period; what the projected level of welfare expenditure will be in each financial year to 2030-31; what proportion of that spending is forecast to be allocated to working-age benefits, disability benefits and pensioner benefits; and whether she is taking steps to control projected growth in welfare spending.
Forecasts for welfare spending are the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, what the forecast level of public sector net debt as a proportion of GDP will be in each year of the forecast period; what the reasons are for the projected increase in debt; and what steps she is taking to reduce public debt.
This data is available at Table A.9: Fiscal aggregates in the March 2026 Economic and Fiscal Outlook published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The government’s fiscal plan brings down borrowing and debt, keeps the public finances on a sustainable path and supports the Bank of England to bring down inflation.
With reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2026, how much additional revenue would be raised from a one-penny increase in fuel duty per litre; and how much additional revenue will be raised from planned increases in fuel duty in each financial year from 2026-27.
The Government is taking action to ensure that fuel at the pump remains affordable. At Budget 2025, the Government extended the 5p-per-litre cut for a further five months, until the end of August this year. The Government has also cancelled the increase in line with inflation for 2026/27; instead, rates will only gradually return to early 2022 levels by March 2027. The government has set out the expected impacts, including Exchequer impacts, from fuel duty and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document. This document can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf HMRC publishes a ready reckoner which estimates the direct impact on HMRC tax revenues of simple changes to tax rates. For fuel duty specifically, the most recent publication estimates a 1% (approximately 0.6p) increase in fuel duty would result in £240m additional revenue in 26/27. This ready reckoner can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/direct-effects-of-illustrative-tax-changes
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Venezuelan-origin money laundering on UK financial institutions; and what steps are being taken to help tackle it.
The Government keeps its assessment of money laundering risks, including those linked to high‑risk jurisdictions, under regular review. The most recent UK National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing was published in 2025. The UK operates a robust, risk‑based anti‑money laundering regime, underpinned by the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, which applies to all illicit funds regardless of country of origin. These Regulations ensure that those sectors most at risk of being abused for money laundering have appropriate risk-based controls in place. The Financial Action Taskforce has added Venezuela to the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring which means the UK treats Venezuela‑linked activity as higher risk. UK firms are expected to factor this into the way they conduct their compliance activity in line with these obligations.
What assessment she has made of the UK’s international tax competitiveness relative to comparable OECD economies; and what consideration she is giving to measures that would encourage investment and business growth.
The UK has an internationally competitive, territorial corporate tax regime, which is an essential component of growth and industrial policy in the UK. The Government published its Corporate Tax Roadmap at Autumn Budget 2024, which included a commitment to ensuring a competitive and sustainable main rate of corporation tax by capping it at 25 per cent for the duration of this parliament. The current rate of corporation tax is the lowest in the G7, and this is supplemented by generous business investment tax reliefs which directly support investment, including Capital Allowances, R&D tax reliefs, and the Patent Box regime. The Corporate Tax Roadmap provides businesses with the stability and certainty they need to make long-term investment decisions in the UK.
How much was spent on her visit to Wales and Scotland in early December 2025, including staffing, accommodation, expenses and security.
As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ domestic travel. As a police protected minister, we do not comment on the specific arrangements in place for the Chancellor for security reasons.
What assessment she has made of potential efficiency savings in public services that could reduce pressure on public spending while maintaining service quality.
This government is relentlessly targeting waste and driving efficiencies to make sure we are getting the best possible value for taxpayer money.
How much the treasury spends on external videography services annually.
In 24/25 HMT spent £16,831 on external videography services. In 25/26, HMT have spent £11,160 as at 30 November 2025 on external videography services. These figures are inclusive of the use of external videography services to make training videos for the organisation.
What plans she has to bring forward supply-side reforms aimed at improving productivity in key growth sectors of the economy.
Economic growth is the first mission of this government, driving up prosperity and living standards across the UK. We are prioritising long-term productivity growth.For example, the Government is committed to reducing the administrative costs of regulation on firms by 25% by the end of the Parliament and has set out reforms to achieve this.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of the salary sacrifice pension scheme changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2025 on the value of occupational pension funds.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook that they do not expect a material impact on savings behaviour as a result of Budget 2025 tax changes. The government supports all individuals to save into pensions through a generous system of income tax and NICs reliefs worth over £70 billion a year.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising taxes on property income on the private rented sector, including supply and rent levels.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility does not expect that the reform to property income tax will have a significant impact on rental prices.
What estimate she has made of the (a) number of savers who will exceed the new reduced annual ISA limit and (b) additional revenue from that measure.
The overall annual ISA limit has not changed and remains at £20,000. Individuals under 65s and subscribing £12,000 in a Cash ISA can still invest the remaining £8,000 in Stocks & Shares and/or Innovative Finance ISAs and up to £4,000 in a Lifetime ISA. HMRC estimate that 1.3 million individuals aged under 65 subscribed over £12,000 into Cash ISAs based on the latest available data. The exchequer impact for this measure, combined with other savings measures, has been published (Page 79) in the AB25 Budget policy costing document: Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the level of taxation set out in the Budget on savings, dividends and property income on small investors, retired people relying on investment income, and small business owners.
The Government is taking action to ensure income from assets are taxed more fairly. That is why we have increased taxes on property, dividend and savings income to narrow the gap between tax paid on work and tax paid on income from assets. The majority of taxpayers, and the majority of pensioners, have no taxable savings, dividend or property income and will pay no more tax as a result of these changes. Those with small amounts of income from assets will continue to be protected by tax-free allowances, and all income from savings and investments held in ISAs will continue to be entirely tax-free.