Blog

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential economic costs and benefits of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership for the North East of England.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership could deliver a substantial economic boost for people living in the North East. For example the chemicals sector, which has a large presence in the region, could particularly benefit. Based on independent economic analysis, the Government estimates that the North East’s share of increased exports could be up to £1.05 billion.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had on how the Government will consult the public about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government regularly discusses the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with representatives from business, trade union, consumer and civil society groups. We will continue to seek to engage with all interested parties and provide information about the progress of discussions.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had on improving access to advanced stereotactic radiotherapy for patients in the North East of England.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England regularly to discuss a wide range of issues, including access to cancer treatment.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had about extending the remit of the Cancer Drugs Fund to include access to other cancer treatments such as advanced stereotactic radiotherapy.

    George Freeman

    We announced a £160 million boost to the Cancer Drugs Fund at the end of August 2014.

    NHS England announced on 12 January 2015 that it plans to increase the level of investment for drugs in the Cancer Drugs Fund from £280 million in 2014-15 to an expected £340 million in 2015-16.

    NHS England has also announced the extension of its Commissioning through the Evaluation programme to include stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). This will enable the number of cancer patients eligible to access SABR treatment to rise significantly, by 750 new patients a year and widen the number of cancers being treated.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received on the PAYE status of (a) divers and (b) diving supervisors working in the offshore energy industry.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Chancellor receives a large variety of representations from a wide range of people.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how often he reviews the cost effectiveness of corporate welfare schemes; and what the criteria are for such schemes to be continued.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government does not support any corporate welfare schemes.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief to businesses since 2010.

    Mr David Gauke

    Tax reliefs are administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the tax system. HMRC publishes estimated costs of the principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs. The latest estimates are published on the HMRC website:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-expenditures-and-ready-reckoners

    There are some tax reliefs which businesses can claim where estimates are not yet included in the published estimates above. These reliefs include:

    Patent Box: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2013 documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221895/budget2013_policy_costings.pdf

    Theatre Productions Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2014 documentation:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295067/PU1638_policy_costings_bud_2014_with_correction_slip.pdf

    Children’s TV Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Autumn Statement documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/384071/AS2014_policy_costings_final.pdf

    Oil and Gas Field allowances: The ring fence tax regime for oil and gas does include a number of field allowances, which reduce the tax burden on specific challenging field types, ensuring otherwise economic developments are not uncommercial. Companies continue to pay Ring Fence Corporation Tax (which is higher than the main CT rate) even where income is covered by the field allowance

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of government financial support to business through grants and tax forgone.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government offers a wide range of financial support to business through different grants and tax reliefs. For example the Regional Growth Fund has so far committed £2.6 billion of support to over 400 awards which are expected to deliver £16 billion of private sector investment and 573,000 jobs.

    Overall Government grants and reliefs serve to support UK businesses to invest and grow, generating jobs and economic growth. Business investment has grown 26% since early 2010, there are more people in work now than ever before, and the IMF have forecast the UK as having the fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2014.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total funds provided by Government for (a) corporate welfare grants and support schemes and (b) tax forgone.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government offers a wide range of financial support to business through different grants and tax reliefs. For example the Regional Growth Fund has so far committed £2.6 billion of support to over 400 awards which are expected to deliver £16 billion of private sector investment and 573,000 jobs.

    Overall Government grants and reliefs serve to support UK businesses to invest and grow, generating jobs and economic growth. Business investment has grown 26% since early 2010, there are more people in work now than ever before, and the IMF have forecast the UK as having the fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2014.

  • James Arbuthnot – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    James Arbuthnot – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Arbuthnot on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether Ordnance Survey is conducting aerial photography of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

    Matthew Hancock

    Ordnance Survey captures aerial photography every year and uses this imagery to update the OS MasterMap® of Great Britain in order to fulfil its obligations under its Public Task. In addition, Ordnance Survey makes the aerial photography available as a product for its customers’ use in the Government, Business and Consumer markets; this is called OS MasterMap® Imagery Layer.

    Ordnance Survey has been acquiring aerial imagery since the 1930s and established its own Flying Unit in 1966.

    Ordnance Survey captures imagery in order to meet its commitments to maintain the currency of its mapping data as laid before Parliament in its annual Agency Performance Monitors.