Addressing inequalities is an important consideration for this Government, and steps have already been taken to ensure those with the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden. That is why we have introduced reforms to dividend taxation and capital gains tax, and ended permanent non-domicile status – to ensure the rich pay their fair share. This has led to the top 1% of income taxpayers paying 29% of income tax – a record high.

This Government is also committed to ensuring opportunities are shared in every part of the country. People across all regions are benefitting from investments the Government is making. For example, since 2015, £12bn from the Local Growth Fund has been provided to local enterprise partnerships for projects that benefit the local area and economy. In addition to this, our new £3.6 billion Towns Fund will level up opportunity and create places across the UK where people want to live and thrive – supporting an initial 100 towns.

By supporting all places to reach their potential, we can drive growth at a national level and readily share the benefits of a more prosperous United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn to the answer I gave on 16 July 2019 to Question 276259.

The right hon. Gentleman talks about income inequality and fairness. As I say, income inequality is down since 2010. The lowest paid have seen their wages grow the fastest since 2015. The top 1% are contributing more income tax than at any point under the last Labour Government, and thanks to the Conservatives, millions of the lowest paid are no longer paying any income tax at all. That is Conservatives delivering for everyone.

The Nobel prize-winning economist Sir Angus Deaton said that the UK risks having extreme inequality levels of pay, wealth and health. Of the G7 countries, only the United States is more unequal than the UK. Is that something the Prime Minister is proud of?

Contrary to the out-of-touch outlook presented by the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), Eurostat figures show regional inequality in the UK, measured in output per hour, to be the worst in Europe. There is a massive disparity across England, with households in the south-east, the richest area of the UK, having more than double the wealth of those in the

north-east, where my constituency is. When will the Treasury finally act to meaningfully tackle this ongoing injustice?

The hon. Lady focuses rightly on output per hour. The problem is a productivity gap between the regions of the UK and the most prosperous areas of London. We have to close that productivity gap. That is in the interest of not only those individual regions, but our overall national economy. We will do so by investing in public infrastructure and in skills, and by ensuring that the conditions are right for business investment, both domestic and foreign.

The Tier 1 (Investor) immigration route is for high value non-EEA migrants seeking to make a substantial financial investment into the UK. Before 6 November 2014, the minimum required investment for entry to the route was £1 million per applicant, and since that date it has been £2 million per applicant. The Home Office does not record the information requested in a form which can be collated. Statistics on the number of individuals granted under the Tier 1 (Investor) route are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics.

The Home Office has a duty to treat applicants’ information in confidence, and does not publish the names of successful applicants under any visa category. The Tier 1 (Investor) category is no different.

As the Home Secretary said at the Home Affairs Select Committee on the 28th March 2018, we intend to review the Tier 1 (Investor) route to see that it is working as it should. This may include looking at some of those currently already in the route.

The causes of health inequalities are multi-faceted and highly complex. The Department’s aim is to take action to promote and support people to have healthier lifestyles and to tackle differences in access to, and outcomes from, our health and public health services.

Our commitment and approach to tackling health inequalities – and social injustice – is underpinned by the legal duty enshrined in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, which is to work to reduce inequalities.

We have introduced transparent high level measures to reduce health inequalities in the Public Health Outcomes Framework and NHS Outcomes Framework. In March 2015, we published an additional list of selected NHS Outcomes Framework indicators for which health inequalities data has been made available. We have also recently published the NHS Mandate for 2018/19 and the Public Health England (PHE) Remit letter for 2018/19 which clearly set out those organisations’ responsibilities and work on reducing inequalities in health.

Tackling health inequalities is a core part of PHE’s Strategic Vision for 2020. Statistics, evidence and tools are being developed to support action by local authorities and the wider public health system to take effective action on health equity.

There is more to do to systematically address inequalities and NHS England aims to improve and measure the impact of their programmes and also better support local commissioners and providers in their work. The NHS England Board discussed health inequalities and life expectancy at a meeting in March 2018, and plans are being developed to take work forward. The board paper – Item 9 - on health inequalities is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-board-meeting-papers-29-march-2018/