Category: Speeches

Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-05-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many large businesses were recorded on HM Revenue and Customs’ database in each year since 2009-10; how many full-time equivalent staff were on the payrolls of such businesses; and how much in each business tax was paid by such businesses in each of those years.

Mr David Gauke

Until 31 March 2014, HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Large Business Service dealt with the tax affairs of around 800 of the largest businesses in the UK. From 1 April 2014 HMRC’s Large Business directorate deals with the tax affairs of around 2,000 large businesses.

HMRC does not centrally hold large business receipts data for every tax heading, the information for every tax heading could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The number of large businesses and the tax receipts data held centrally for large businesses is:

HMRC’s Large Business directorate:

Number of Businesses	Corporation Tax	Income Tax, National Insurance	VAT	Hydrocarbon Oils	Alcohol & Tobacco
2014-15	2,145	£20bn	£85bn	£52bn	£27bn	£14bn

HMRC’s Large Business Service:

Number of Businesses	Corporation Tax	Income Tax, National Insurance	VAT	Hydrocarbon Oils	Alcohol & Tobacco
2013-14	818	£17bn	£68bn	£41bn	£26bn	£13bn
2012-13	803	£17bn	£64bn	£41bn	£26bn	£13bn
2011-12	783	£21bn	£65bn	£40bn	£26bn	£13bn
2010-11	778	£21bn	£62bn	£34bn	£26bn	£10bn
2009-10	760	£20bn	£58bn	£30bn	£24bn	£11bn

The number of full-time equivalent staff on the payrolls of businesses is not required for tax purposes and HMRC does not hold it.

January 1, 2023

Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department considers that the use of cluster munitions is always unlawful under international humanitarian law because of their indiscriminate nature.

Penny Mordaunt

Since becoming a signatory to the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions it is now unlawful for the UK to use cluster munitions under any circumstances.

For those states not currently a signatory to the Oslo Convention then the use of cluster munitions may be legitimate provided that they are used within the clearly defined limitations of International Humanitarian Law.

January 1, 2023
Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Robinson on 2016-09-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce any hardship associated with the target of 42 days to resolve appeals on child tax credit claims.

Jane Ellison

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a 42-day target to resolve Mandatory Reconsiderations, where customers challenge their tax credits award calculation. The average time taken to work Mandatory Reconsiderations can vary depending upon the complexity of the request, individual circumstances and the level of supporting evidence provided.

When a customer requests a Mandatory Reconsideration HMRC suspends the recovery of any previous overpayment that is being collected from their current award, to minimise customer hardship during the reconsideration.

January 1, 2023
Julian Knight – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to assist people who are locked into inappropriate and poorly-paying annuity contracts.

Simon Kirby

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) thematic review of non-advised annuity sales practices looked at past sales practices, and found failings in a small number of firms, particularly in respect of the information they provide to customers about enhanced annuities (where customers may be entitled to an enhanced rate because of a health condition or lifestyle factor).

The FCA have announced their next steps, including investigation by the FCA’s Enforcement Division to determine whether further action is necessary. These firms are now being asked by the FCA to review all non-advised sales from July 2008 and, where appropriate, provide redress.

January 1, 2023
Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent from the public purse on the payment of social security benefits to non-UK citizens in each non-European Economic Area country for each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

Priti Patel

The full information requested is not held centrally.

The Department for Work and Pensions checks the nationality and immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud. While this information is used, it is not recorded as part of the benefit payment administrative systems.

Benefit Expenditure and Caseload tables are published on Gov.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474453/expenditure-by-country-and-region-2014-15.xlsx

Please note that these figures include a breakdown for UK regions and a combined figure for expenditure abroad or where the region is unknown. Expenditure is not broken down by nationality.

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January 1, 2023
Fiona Mactaggart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Mactaggart on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish her Department’s report on tied visas for domestic servants.

James Brokenshire

James Ewins’s report on visas for overseas domestic workers has been submitted to the Home Office and will be published shortly.

January 1, 2023
Lord Whitty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Whitty on 2016-01-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they removed the £1 billion funding of carbon capture and storage, as announced to the London Stock Exchange on 25 November 2015; and how they plan to ensure the advance of that technology in the future.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The Government believes Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has the potential to play an important role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK.

The Department’s Annual Report & Accounts for 2015-16 will be published in June 2016 and will review the work of the Department, including the Office of Carbon Capture and Storage in 2015-16. The Budget for the Office of Carbon Capture and Storage for 2015-16 is £41.3 million.

January 1, 2023

Andrew Murrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Murrison on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) rural and (b) urban public libraries have closed in (i) Wiltshire and (ii) England in each year since 2000.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Department does not commission information relating to the closure of rural and urban libraries. Data relating to public libraries is collected and published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. My Rt Hon Friend will note that the number of library service points in the Wilshire Library Authority has increased from 34 in 2000, to 36 in 2015. Meanwhile, in Labour-run Wales, the number of library service points in the same period dropped from 321 to 274.

31 March	Total service points open ten hours or more per week, including mobile libraries, in England	Total service points open ten hours or more per week, including mobile libraries, in Wiltshire Library Authority
2000	3,501	34
2001	3,497	34
2002	3,504	34
2003	3,510	35
2004	3,524	35
2005	3,474	35
2006	3,500	36
2007	3,494	36
2008	3,469	37
2009	3,451	37
2010	3,428	37
2011	3,393	37
2012	3,243	37
2013	3,181	36
2014	3,142	36
2015	3,076	36

January 1, 2023

Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2016-03-01.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many years’ worth in sentences have been handed out to offenders brought back to the UK under a European Arrest Warrant.

Lord Faulks

This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The National Crime Agency publishes statistics on the operation of the European Arrest Warrant. These can be found on their website.

January 1, 2023
Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-04-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects his Department’s review of airside VAT-free shopping to be published.

Mr David Gauke

On 31 December 2015, the Chancellor announced a review of the tax treatment of airside retail sales, with a view to identifying options for passengers to receive more of the direct benefits. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has completed its initial fact finding.

The Government is keen to identify options that provide overall best value for travellers. This means fully understanding the potential impacts of possible changes on travellers, retailers and airports, and I have asked HMRC to explore these thoroughly. Once this work has been completed, decisions on the best way forward will be made in the autumn.

January 1, 2023