John Glen: My right hon. Friend is absolutely right; it is critical that we maintain capital investment, use that money efficiently, focus on outputs and outcomes, and ensure that we set the conditions for growth in the economy.
John Glen: The Government are committed to ensuring that local authorities are able to deliver vital public services. At the spending review last year, we provided councils with the largest annual increases in core funding in over a decade, and the Chancellor will set out further information on the Government’s fiscal approach at the autumn statement on Thursday.
John Glen: First, I would like to thank my hon. Friend for the four-page letter that he sent to the Secretary of State, which I have studied carefully. He makes some sensible suggestions and recognises the dynamics of different pots being used effectively within local government, and as a local authority leader himself, he is obviously on the frontline addressing these budgets. In last year’s spending...
John Glen: Absolutely, I will. Of course, it is not just about the cash settlement; it is about the interaction with other pots of money that are being spent, particularly in the health service, which is at the top of my mind and the Chancellor’s mind as we concentrate on what to do on Thursday.
John Glen: The Government are completely committed to levelling up. As the hon. Gentleman knows, there is a second round of bids for the levelling-up fund. The results will be announced in due course, but he has made a very effective representation on behalf of his constituents and local authority.
John Glen: I am aware of my hon. Friend’s outstanding bid, and I would be happy to visit him to discuss the needs of his community and all the work he has done over the last couple of years to stand up for his constituents and secure investment in his community.
John Glen: I am aware of the outstanding bid from my hon. Friend’s constituency. I cannot reveal the outcome of the deliberations on that competitive process, but I will be looking carefully at her bid and liaising with other Ministers on the outcome of that round.
John Glen: I spoke about such matters with Jon Swinney, in my second conversation with him since appointment three weeks ago, last evening. We discussed a range of matters, and I will always try to be as constructive as I can to find ways forward when the whole of the United Kingdom faces the inflationary scourge everywhere.
John Glen: The Cabinet Office’s Government Debt Management Function sets the Government Debt Strategy and the Debt Functional Standard for how debt is managed. These are underpinned by Fairness Principles that provide guidelines for managing debt and supporting people in financial difficulty. The Government has also published a Vulnerability Toolkit that provides front line staff with best-practice...
John Glen: Earlier this year, the UK provided £1bn in additional support to enhance and sustain Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion. This new funding came from contributions from UK government departments and the devolved administrations’ existing budgets. All ministerial departments contributed capital from their 2022-23 budgets towards military aid for Ukraine. I refer the rt...
John Glen: The Treasury does not publish forecasts of the economy or the public finances; the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the UK’s official forecaster. In their March 2022 forecast, the OBR projected that Public Sector Net Borrowing (PSNB) for 2022-23 would be £99.1 billion or 3.9% of GDP. Latest outturn data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows by the end of September,...
John Glen: The Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the rising cost of food. That is why the Government has announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. This includes support for over 8 million lower income households through a one-off Cost of Living Payment of £650, with extra support for pensioners and those claiming disability...
John Glen: In July 2021 the former Chancellor set out the fiscal circumstances under which the UK will make the return to spending 0.7% of its GNI on ODA. This is set out in detail in a written ministerial statement, here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statement s/detail/2021-07-12/hcws172. Each year, the Government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely and will review...
John Glen: On 17 October, the Chancellor announced a reversal of almost all of the tax measures set out in the Growth Plan that have not been legislated for in parliament. The Prime Minister and Chancellor have agreed the Autumn Statement will be delivered on 17 November. It will contain the UK’s medium term fiscal plan to put public spending on a sustainable footing, get debt falling and restore...
John Glen: The Treasury does not publish forecasts of the economy or the public finances; the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the UK’s official forecaster. In their March 2022 forecast, the OBR projected that Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) for 2022-23 will be £2.4 trillion or 95.5% of GDP. Latest outturn data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows by the end of September, PSND...
John Glen: The Government recognises that the rising cost of living has presented additional financial challenges to many people, and especially to the most vulnerable members of society, such as blind or partially sighted people. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way. People who are blind or...
John Glen: The Government recognises that the rising cost of living has presented additional financial challenges to many people, and especially to the most vulnerable members of society, such as blind or partially sighted people. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way. People who are blind or...
John Glen: The Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living; that is why we announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have taken decisive action to support millions of households and business with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. We are continuing to keep...
John Glen: The timing of the Local Government Finance Settlement is a matter for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The Government recognises the pressures that local authorities are facing and continues to work with the sector to understand the impacts on service delivery and budgets. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will confirm the approach to...
John Glen: The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) is available for investment in plant and machinery. In the 23 September Growth Plan, the government announced that it would permanently set the AIA at £1 million. Unlike capital expenditure, workplace training is tax-deductible for companies and so expanding the AIA to cover workplace training is not something the government is considering. The...