The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the estimated annual annual cost to the public purse is of the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Ben Gummer
The costs related to the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be accounted for in the usual way in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the Financial Reporting Council’s ability to work with other financial regulators in the UK to address the systematic financial risk of climate change.
Margot James
Although the Financial Reporting Council’s remit does not extend to the systemic financial risks of climate change, I am confident of its ability to collaborate effectively with any financial regulators, as required, within whose remit such risks fall.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Cartlidge on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total estimated net present value was of all outstanding equity loan advances in UK residential property held by government departments on the latest date for which information is available.
Gavin Barwell
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) operates and administers a number of current and past equity loan and equity share schemes for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The estimated fair value for all outstanding equity loans with HCA at end March 2016 is:
Help to Buy: Equity Loan £3,629,294,000
Other legacy home equity schemes £461,301,000
Total £4,090,595,000
The other legacy home equity schemes are: FirstBuy, HomeBuy Direct and First-Time Buyers’ Initiative.
This information is set out in the HCA Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015-16 (Note 21) with further information about ‘fair value’ in Notes 1 and 31.
The Ministry of Defence operated a scheme: Affordable Homes Ownership scheme (AFHOS) until March 2014. There are presently 259 live AFHOS loans with an initial value of £15.073 million. The net present value for this book is not estimated so this figure is the value of the equity at purchase.
The Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive also operate equity loan and shared schemes for home ownership, on which they can provide information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Cartlidge on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total value was of all reclaimed equity loans in UK residential property where the holder was a government department in each of the last five years.
Gavin Barwell
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) operates and administers a number of current and past equity loan and equity share schemes for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The HCA has received the following funds in redemption of equity loans in each of the last five years:
2011-12 £4.020 million
2012-13 £12.141 million
2013-14 £34.731 million
2014-15 £70.952 million
2015-16 £182.916 million
They include loans from several schemes: Help to Buy: Equity Loan, FirstBuy, HomeBuy Direct and First-Time Buyers’ Initiative.
The Ministry of Defence operated a scheme: Affordable Homes Ownership scheme (AFHOS) until March 2014. AFHOS receipts to date are:
Receipts during period 2011-15: £1.457 million
Receipts during financial year 2015-16: £1.896 million
The Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive also operate equity loan and equity share schemes for home ownership, on which they can provide information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of tax credit cases awaiting consideration by Concentrix.
Jane Ellison
As at 12 October 2016, 181,054 cases have been passed to HM Revenue and Customs by Concentrix of which 149,211 have been resolved. Of the cases remaining with Concentrix, there are currently 4,385 outstanding cases for consideration. These are the cases that are yet to be worked and/or receive a decision around entitlement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix; and how many such claims were subsequently reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold the data broken down specifically by constituency areas. HMRC are able to obtain data by geographical areas but this would only be available at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to the economy of reducing both fuel duty and VAT on all fuels.
Jane Ellison
Fuel duty was frozen for its sixth successive year at Budget 2016, saving the average driver £75 every year compared to the pre-2010 fuel duty escalator plans. Like all taxes, the government keeps fuel duty under review, with all options considered and announcements made at fiscal events. Under the current legal framework there is no scope to apply a reduced rate of VAT to all fuels.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that taxes are displayed on fuel purchase receipts.
Jane Ellison
There is no legislative framework for purchase receipts, which are simply an acknowledgment of payment. There is VAT legislation on when an invoice must be provided. This states that VAT-registered businesses are only obliged to provide invoices to other VAT-registered businesses. Expanding the information that must be provided on VAT invoices to cover other taxes and duties, or requiring invoices to be provided to private motorists as well as businesses, would increase administrative burdens for retailers. The Government therefore has no plans to implement this proposal.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Urgent Question of 14 September 2016, on Concentrix, what processes and procedures he plans to put in place to learn lessons from that contract; and if he will make a statement.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) critically reviews the performance of all contracts, appropriately evaluating the quality of performance, business benefits and value for money derived in order to inform HMRC strategy and procurement requirements going forward. As such, an appropriate evaluation of the contract with Concentrix will be conducted to inform HMRC strategic thinking for the future. In addition, such consideration will be informed by Parliamentary scrutiny resulting from select committee hearings.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which companies tendered for the error and fraud tax credit contract with HM Revenue and Customs.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs, under appropriate procurement transparency mandates, publishes details of all suppliers who are awarded contracts with the Department. Whilst information on all bidding companies (and their bids) is retained, the list of such companies is commercially sensitive and cannot, in this instance, be disclosed.