Treasury written question – answered at on 4 November 2025.
Mike Wood
Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer, with reference to her Department's Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments: Use of Special Severance Payments, updated on 28 July 2025, for what reason the guidance no longer requires all special severance payments to be approved by her Department.
James Murray
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Departments are fully accountable for ensuring that exit payments are appropriate and proportionate. HMT scrutiny will now focus on the largest and most contentious payments.
This change supports greater departmental autonomy while maintaining strong standards of financial control.
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The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
