The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-04-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning the reported armed ambush and killing of Yusef a-Shawamreh in the West Bank in March.
Baroness Warsi
The Government has not had any discussions with the Israeli authorities over this specific case. We have, however, raised our concerns over the increasing number of deaths of Palestinians by the Israel Defence Forces.
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 Baroness Stern on 2014-04-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to respond to the recommendation by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in his recent report on HMP Belmarsh that not all cells in the High Security Unit and Special Security Unit were equipped with furniture and furnishings in line with the Prison Service’s operating standards for such units.
Lord Newby
1. The prisoner regime includes a programme to allow access to the library once a week for those not attending education. The implementation of New Ways of Working, which includes the introduction of a new Core Day, will increase the opportunity for prisoners to access the library.
2. All in use cells on the High Security Unit / Special Secure Unit are appropriately furnished in compliance with national guidelines, which are also included as part of the unit’s operating standards. The cells are also equipped to the specification required for accommodating Category A prisoners. The accommodation on the unit is inspected monthly, to ensure compliance and to maintain decency; this system is audited.
3. The Governor has a programme of visits throughout the establishment; this includes visits to the HSU / SSU. The requirement for a weekly visit is completed by the Governor or the Deputy Governor, and the visits will ensure that all prisoners and staff are frequently seen and any emerging issues are heard and noted. These visits are now recorded for audit and inspection purposes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many electronic workstations were made available in each public library per thousand population in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The detail requested is not held centrally by this Department. However the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collect, annually, from the individual library authorities comprehensive information relating to library service provision in the United Kingdom, which includes data relating to the questions raised. Copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any evidence that income tax and corporate tax revenues have increased as the rates of income and corporate taxes have decreased since 2010.
Lord Deighton
The table below sets out the Corporation Tax rates from 2009-10 to 2014-15.
|
Small Profits Rate |
Main Rate |
|
|
2009-10 |
21% |
28% |
|
2010-11 |
21% |
28% |
|
2011-12 |
20% |
26% |
|
2012-13 |
20% |
24% |
|
2013-14 |
20% |
23% |
|
2014-15 |
20% |
21% |
At Budget 2013 it was announced that from 2015-16 the rates would be unified to a single Corporation Tax rate of 20%.
The latest year for which full data is available is 2011-12. Total onshore Corporation Tax liabilities fell slightly from £35.6bn in 2010-11 to £35.4bn in 2011-12. HMRC publishes annual National Statistics on Corporation Tax liabilities. Table 11.1B is attached[1].
The table below sets out the Income Tax rates from 2000-10 to 2014-15.
|
Basic Rate |
Higher Rate |
Additional Rate |
|
|
2009-10 |
20% |
40% |
– |
|
2010-11 |
20% |
40% |
50% |
|
2011-12 |
20% |
40% |
50% |
|
2012-13 |
20% |
40% |
50% |
|
2013-14 |
20% |
40% |
45% |
|
2014-15 |
20% |
40% |
45% |
The Starting Rate of tax for savings is currently 10%. This is applied only to savings income which falls within the starting rate band above the personal allowance.
In 2014-15 the personal allowance is £10,000 and the starting rate band is £2,880. At Budget 2014 the Government announced that from 2015-16 that band would be increased to £5000 and the rate set to 0%.
The latest available income tax liability statistics held by HMRC relate to the tax year 2011-12. These statistics are attached[2].
Other more timely published information is available in tax receipts statistics which are published on a monthly basis and could be considered as a leading indicator of liabilities. These statistics are also attached[3].
To estimate the exchequer impact of policy changes it is necessary to estimate the change in tax liabilities after taking into account the behavioural response. At each fiscal event where the tax rates have been changed these estimates have been made and certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These estimates are published in table 2.1of the corresponding Budget and Autumn Statement reports.
There are significant behavioural responses associated with changes in the top marginal rate of income tax. The HMRC report ‘The Exchequer effect of the 50 per cent additional rate of income tax'[4] outlines these behavioural responses.
HM Treasury and HMRC jointly published the report ‘Analysis of the dynamic effects of corporation tax reductions’ at Autumn Statement 2013[5].
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256886/table11-1b.pdf
[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277459/Table_2.6.pdf
[4]http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the value of purchasing AM-aluminium matting for landing pads for the JSF 35B.
Mr Philip Dunne
High Temperature Resistant Concrete was considered as the most appropriate surface for the UK Joint Strike Fighter landing pads. AM-aluminium matting was considered but does not have the same durability for repeated use and would also result in a higher maintenance burden.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2014, Official Report, columns 595-6W, on public sector: food, whether the Manufacturing Advisory Service is unable to give grant aid to the farming industry due to state aid restrictions relating to existing Common Agricultural Policy payments.
Michael Fallon
The criteria for support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) do not include any reference to state aid restrictions related to Common Agricultural Policy payments. MAS delivers support to manufacturers, and is able to support land based enterprises such as farmers, which have formally diversified their agricultural business from their product manufacturing activities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department owns any of the Filton Airfield site; and whether his Department will be entitled to any share of the site’s sale.
Dr Andrew Murrison
The Department does not own any of the Filton Airfield site and is not entitled to any share in the site’s sale.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Brady on 2014-04-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many appeals made to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme (a) have been decided and (b) are awaiting resolution.
Sajid Javid
Out of the over 800,000 payments that have been made, a total of 495 cases have been submitted to the Independent Review Panel to date. 477 have been resolved and 18 are in the process of being resolved.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Walley on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to complete the loan guarantee arrangement for the proposed nuclear power station investments.
Nicky Morgan
Completion of the loan guarantee arrangements for the proposed nuclear power station for Hinkley Point C will coincide with the European Commission’s closing decision on the government’s state aid notification in relation to the project. This is expected by the end of 2014.
If a guarantee is signed it will be reported to Parliament as required by the legislation, Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Act 2012, underpinning the scheme.