The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the EU Action Plan on VAT.
Mr David Gauke
At the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in May 2016 Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on the EU VAT Action Plan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to bring forward VAT proposals to comply with the European Court of Justice judgement of 2015 on green products.
Mr David Gauke
The UK has applied a VAT reduced rate of 5% on 11 different types of energy saving materials since 2001. That existing reduced rate remains in place and is unchanged.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HM Revenue and Customs staff are currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims.
Mr David Gauke
In response to the significant increase in demand for employment histories in recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has looked at a range of options for improving the Record Retrieval Service; this has included introducing measures such as prioritising requests relating to serious and life-threatening conditions (when specifically identified).
However, the key constraint to reducing turnaround times is the existing machinery used to manually access the microfilm records – as these machines are no longer manufactured. Therefore, the deployment of additional staff would have negligible impact on service levels. It is not possible to provide a figure for the number of HMRC staff currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims, as requesters of this information are not required to specify the reason for their employment history request. However, around 200 full time equivalent staff are allocated to the department’s Record Retrieval Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the additional staffing and resources required to deal with the backlog of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims requested from HM Revenue and Customs.
Mr David Gauke
In response to the significant increase in demand for employment histories in recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has looked at a range of options for improving the Record Retrieval Service; this has included introducing measures such as prioritising requests relating to serious and life-threatening conditions (when specifically identified).
However, the key constraint to reducing turnaround times is the existing machinery used to manually access the microfilm records – as these machines are no longer manufactured. Therefore, the deployment of additional staff would have negligible impact on service levels. It is not possible to provide a figure for the number of HMRC staff currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims, as requesters of this information are not required to specify the reason for their employment history request. However, around 200 full time equivalent staff are allocated to the department’s Record Retrieval Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the rate of VAT levied on over-the-counter medicines; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
VAT is a broad based tax on consumption, with the twenty per cent standard rate applying to most goods and services.
A zero rate of VAT is applied to drugs provided on prescription and dispensed by a dispensing chemist.
The Chancellor keeps all tax policy under review but has no plans to change the VAT treatment of medicines.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many cases referred to the Housing Ombudsman since 2015 have (a) not yet been concluded and (b) been awaiting consideration for more than 12 months.
Brandon Lewis
There are no cases which have awaited consideration for more than 12 months. Six cases over 12 months old have not yet been determined but are under active consideration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures are in place to apply restrictions to houses in multiple occupation that are located in areas associated with the night-time economy.
Brandon Lewis
Where Houses in Multiple Occupation are having a detrimental effect on a locality’s night time economy, local authorities have a range of powers to manage their proliferation and poor management. Whilst all large Houses in Multiple Occupation are subject to mandatory licensing, local authorities have a discretionary power to license small Houses in Multiple Occupation in a designated area. Local authorities also have planning powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation within their locality. Where there is sufficient evidence of the need to do so, a local planning authority may withdraw a permitted development right in a specific area using an article 4 direction, after consultation with the local community.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what national targets for housebuilding are expected to be reflected in Local Plans.
Brandon Lewis
This Government does not set national housing targets. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that Local Plans should meet the full, objectively assessed needs for housing in the housing market area, as far as is consistent with the policies set out in the Framework. As part of this, local authorities should identify, and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years of housing against their housing requirements. Local authorities also have a duty to cooperate on strategic planning priorities such as providing the homes that are needed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department maintains central records on the number of council tenants who are evicted from their tenancies and the reason for those evictions.
Brandon Lewis
The Department collects and publishes statistics on local authority tenant evictions and reasons for eviction. The information is published in the annual Local Authority Housing Statistics tables on rents, lettings and tenancies, which are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-housing-data
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what EU directives related to his Department’s responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.
Mr Mark Francois
The following Directives are awaiting transposition by DCLG into UK law: