To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision not to uprate Local Housing Allowance on poverty (a) before and (b) after housing costs, particularly for households in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision not to uprate Local Housing Allowance on poverty (a) before and (b) after housing costs, particularly for households in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the levels of homelessness among Universal Credit claimants since Local Housing Allowance was last uprated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the levels of homelessness among Universal Credit claimants since Local Housing Allowance was last uprated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration has he given to broadening the scope of countries where the UK state pension receives an annual increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration has he given to broadening the scope of countries where the UK state pension receives an annual increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial impact of not uprating the State Pension for recipients living in countries without a reciprocal social security agreement on pensioners in those countries; and whether he plans to review this...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial impact of not uprating the State Pension for recipients living in countries without a reciprocal social security agreement on pensioners in those countries; and whether he plans to review this...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the equity of applying different State Pension uprating rules to pensioners based on country of residence for identical levels of National Insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the equity of applying different State Pension uprating rules to pensioners based on country of residence for identical levels of National Insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what methodology is used in the annual uprating assessment of Bereavement Support Payment; and whether CPI inflation is explicitly incorporated into decisions on maintaining its real-terms value.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what methodology is used in the annual uprating assessment of Bereavement Support Payment; and whether CPI inflation is explicitly incorporated into decisions on maintaining its real-terms value.

Second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The conflict in the middle east has left British families and businesses exposed to volatile gas prices, which has made things more expensive for those who drive for work, including care workers. Even though much of the country’s...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The conflict in the middle east has left British families and businesses exposed to volatile gas prices, which has made things more expensive for those who drive for work, including care workers. Even though much of the country’s...

My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. This is fantastic news for my constituents, my farmers and my businesses. Does she welcome the statement from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, which said that increasing the rates of approved mileage allowance payments is absolutely the right thing to do right...

My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. This is fantastic news for my constituents, my farmers and my businesses. Does she welcome the statement from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, which said that increasing the rates of approved mileage allowance payments is absolutely the right thing to do right...

I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughtful intervention. I absolutely agree that this will make a real difference to those workers who drive for their work. This is a long overdue measure, and I am very happy to put the Bill forward today.

The proposals represent the largest ever increase...

I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughtful intervention. I absolutely agree that this will make a real difference to those workers who drive for their work. This is a long overdue measure, and I am very happy to put the Bill forward today.

The proposals represent the largest ever increase...

I know that this legislation is fast-tracked, but the Minister did rattle through very rapidly. I will seek to follow her lead as best I can.

It is a pleasure to debate the Bill on Second Reading and its measures on increasing the electricity generator levy, increasing the mileage allowance and...

I know that this legislation is fast-tracked, but the Minister did rattle through very rapidly. I will seek to follow her lead as best I can.

It is a pleasure to debate the Bill on Second Reading and its measures on increasing the electricity generator levy, increasing the mileage allowance and...

The shadow Minister speaks of the need for ambition, but does he not agree that there is little that is more ambitious than breaking the link between the cost of gas and electricity, which so many of our constituents have called on us to do in recent months?

The shadow Minister speaks of the need for ambition, but does he not agree that there is little that is more ambitious than breaking the link between the cost of gas and electricity, which so many of our constituents have called on us to do in recent months?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman on that point, which I will come to shortly. I just note that when the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero had the opportunity to really break that link, he backed away from doing so. This measure does so in a...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman on that point, which I will come to shortly. I just note that when the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero had the opportunity to really break that link, he backed away from doing so. This measure does so in a...

We Liberal Democrats support all three measures in the Bill. We recognise that the electricity generator levy is intended to encourage legacy renewable generators to move away from volatile wholesale electricity prices and on to contracts for difference.

As the only party to put in its manifesto a commitment to decoupling...

We Liberal Democrats support all three measures in the Bill. We recognise that the electricity generator levy is intended to encourage legacy renewable generators to move away from volatile wholesale electricity prices and on to contracts for difference.

As the only party to put in its manifesto a commitment to decoupling...

Today’s debate is progressing rapidly—so rapidly, in fact, that I am yet to turn to the speech in my folder. It is a privilege to close this rapid debate on behalf of the Government, and I thank Members for their contributions, as well as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury...

Today’s debate is progressing rapidly—so rapidly, in fact, that I am yet to turn to the speech in my folder. It is a privilege to close this rapid debate on behalf of the Government, and I thank Members for their contributions, as well as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury...

Given that the levy kicks in from today and the Minister said that the consultation will be published before the end of the year, six months henceforth, and then legislation will have to go through, are the Government considering any backdating provision? If a company generator wanted to go into...

Given that the levy kicks in from today and the Minister said that the consultation will be published before the end of the year, six months henceforth, and then legislation will have to go through, are the Government considering any backdating provision? If a company generator wanted to go into...

No. If prices are slightly above the threshold set in the electricity generator levy, as they are at the moment, I believe, those taxes will be due now, from 1 July, whether or not businesses make decisions down the line after the consultation, after engagement and after the detail of...

No. If prices are slightly above the threshold set in the electricity generator levy, as they are at the moment, I believe, those taxes will be due now, from 1 July, whether or not businesses make decisions down the line after the consultation, after engagement and after the detail of...

I think the Minister might be coming to a conclusion, and I would not want him to miss the opportunity to refer to the House of Lords Constitution Committee and the presumption that fast-tracked legislation should include sunset clauses. Could he explain why the Government have chosen not to follow...

I think the Minister might be coming to a conclusion, and I would not want him to miss the opportunity to refer to the House of Lords Constitution Committee and the presumption that fast-tracked legislation should include sunset clauses. Could he explain why the Government have chosen not to follow...

There is a very sensible policy rationale when it comes to the electricity generator levy, which I think is the clause the hon. Member is referring to. We want to ensure that the ending of the EGL and the future decisions made on it are made in the light of...

There is a very sensible policy rationale when it comes to the electricity generator levy, which I think is the clause the hon. Member is referring to. We want to ensure that the ending of the EGL and the future decisions made on it are made in the light of...

Committee stage. Clause 1 considered with clauses 2 to 4. Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to. New clause 2 negatived on division (80 to 281). New clause 4 negatived on division (173 to 282). New clause 5 negatived on division (177 to 308). Bill reported without amendment. Third reading. Agreed to on question. Bill passed.

Committee stage. Clause 1 considered with clauses 2 to 4. Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to. New clause 2 negatived on division (80 to 281). New clause 4 negatived on division (173 to 282). New clause 5 negatived on division (177 to 308). Bill reported without amendment. Third reading. Agreed...