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Written question asked by Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 June 2025 (named day). It was answered by Emma Reynolds (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2025 on behalf of the Treasury.


Basic Income

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of universal basic income on (a) income distribution and (b) wealth inequality.

Answer

HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy. These forecasts, including any assessment of the macroeconomic impact of policy decisions, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The OBR publish their forecast in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The OBR’s latest EFO can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – March 2025 - Office for Budget Responsibility. This includes the OBR’s assessment of government policy announced at Spring Statement 2025.

Universal Basic Income is not a government policy and therefore no assessment has been made of its economic or distributional impacts.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
62230
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Equality Personal income Wealth Basic income
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk