The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to to tackle the problem of employees being paid below the minimum wage in Northern Ireland.
Mr David Gauke
I refer the hon. Member to my answer provided previously to his question of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 725W
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 625W, on coinage, whether he has fixed the dates for the public consultation on the impact of the introduction of a new one pound coin.
Nicky Morgan
The Budget announced that the existing £1 coin will be replaced with a more modern and secure design. After thirty years in circulation, the current coin has become vulnerable to counterfeiting.
There will be a public consultation this summer that will focus on how to manage impacts on industry and other affected parties. The government remains committed to this timetable, and to working with industry to minimise costs and disruption.
The precise dates of the consultation period will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of childcare in the UK for a child aged (a) two and under, (b) three to four and (c) five and over in each year since 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
I refer the honourable member to the answer given by the Hon. Edward Timpson MP on 17 June 2014 c538W. This points the honourable member to, amongst other sources, the Family and Childcare Trust Annual Cost Survey for 2014 and sets out the action the Government is taking to support families.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited was entered into.
Mr David Gauke
The Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited was entered into on the 2nd April 2001.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John McDonnell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects Network Rail to be officially re-classified as a public sector company.
Danny Alexander
On 17 December 2013, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that Network Rail will be classified as a central government body in the public sector. This is an independent statistical decision taken by the Office for National Statistics in light of the European System of National Accounts 2010 (ESA10) manual from Eurostat. The reclassification will be effective from 1 September 2014 when ESA10 comes into force across the European Union.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings he has had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.
Andrea Leadsom
As was the case under previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) National Savings and Investments staff will be employed administering tax-free childcare in (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17, (iii) 2017-18 and (iv) 2018-19.
Nicky Morgan
On the 23 May the Government published a further consultation on the delivery of childcare accounts within Tax-Free Childcare. The consultation will be open until 27 June and the Government will consider the responses alongside those to the first consultation before it makes its decision on the provision of childcare accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what performance indicators he has agreed with National Savings and Investments (NS&I) on the delivery of tax-free childcare; how often NS&I will be benchmarked against such indicators; how often the results of this benchmarking will be made available; what penalties have been agreed for poor performance against these indicators; and if he will make a statement.
Nicky Morgan
On the 23 May the Government published a further consultation on the delivery of childcare accounts within Tax-Free Childcare. The consultation will be open until 27 June and the Government will consider the responses alongside those to the first consultation before it makes its decision on the provision of childcare accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost was of the report entitled, Evaluating alternative market models for Tax-Free Childcare vouchers, prepared by Economic Insight for his Department; what assessment he made of this report’s findings and recommendations; and whether these recommendations informed the operation and design of his Department’s policy on tax-free childcare.
Nicky Morgan
Economic Insight were asked to consider whether there are any reasons why a private sector competitive market for childcare accounts might not function well. It compared it to a closed model in which there is competition to select a limited number of private sector childcare account providers. It concluded that there were no reasons why a competitive market could not function effectively as parents would be able to assess the differences between the offers and choose accordingly.
On the 23 May the Government published a further consultation on the delivery of childcare accounts within Tax-Free Childcare. The consultation will be open until 27 June and the Government will consider the responses alongside those to the first consultation before it makes its decision on the provision of childcare accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department will give childcare provides on the introduction of tax-free childcare.
Nicky Morgan
The Government’s response to the consultation on design and operation of Tax-Free Childcare, published on 18th March 2014, sets out that the Government will work with stakeholders to develop guidance and communications to support childcare providers to understand the scheme.