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  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector (a) at the start of a new tenancy and (b) when a tenancy is renewed.

    Kris Hopkins

    My Department has not made its own estimate of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector but has taken note of the figures reported by independent organisations, such as the Office of Fair Trading, Shelter and Which.

    The Government is currently legislating through the Consumer Rights Bill to ensure there is full transparency on fees charged by all letting agencies, ending hidden fees.

    By contrast, I would observe that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented that the policy proposals of HM Opposition on fees would harm tenants, as it would lead to: “increases in rents to cover the additional costs visited upon landlords” and a “reduction in supply” (RICS, Letting agent fees for tenants: a tale of two amendments, 15 May 2014).

  • Stuart Andrew – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Stuart Andrew – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart Andrew on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance he gives local authorities on assessing the infrastructure required for sites which are included in their site allocations process; and what steps he takes if local authorities do not adhere to that guidance.

    Nick Boles

    The National Planning Policy Framework and our planning guidance make clear that Local Plans should be supported by evidence to establish what level of infrastructure is needed to enable the development proposed for the area and how it will be delivered.

    At examination, local authorities should justify their plan policies, including their deliverability over the plan period. Where an inspector concludes that there are fundamental issues regarding the soundness of the Plan, they will identify any conflicts between a draft local plan and national policy and regulatory process. They are able to recommend modifications to overcome these issues if they are asked to do so by the council itself.

  • Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Gibb on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what contracts (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies holds with the Educational Testing Service or its subsidiaries.

    Brandon Lewis

    None.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, how many people are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage enforcement team based in Belfast.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government takes the enforcement of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

    The National Minimum Wage team in Northern Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff with all using Belfast as a base location.

    However, as I explained in my previous response, HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 6.10 of Delivering Tax-free childcare: the Government’s response to the consultation on design and operation published in March 2014, what clear guidance and communications tools his Department plans to provide to help parents make informed decisions on which scheme is best for their circumstances.

    Nicky Morgan

    The Government’s response to the consultation on design and operation of Tax-Free Childcare set out in paragraph 6.11 that the Government will provide detailed online information and consider other communications channels that can be used to raise awareness and understanding of Tax-Free Childcare.

    The Government will work with stakeholders, including parents, to develop guidance to help parents understand the scheme, including the interactions between Tax-Free Childcare and other Government support.

  • Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 395W, on Revenue and Customs, which personnel attended discussions between HM Revenue and Customs, Mapeley and Network Rail regarding the sale of land on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site.

    Mr David Gauke

    16th June 2014, Official Report, column 395W does not relate to discussions between HM Revenue and Customs, Mapeley and Network Rail. Representatives from HMRC Estates and Support Services Team and from local HMRC business attended initial discussions with Mapeley and Network Rail on proposals for the construction of a multi storey car park on land adjacent to Priory Court Dover. Previous replies have explained that further discussions, on the sale of land on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site, have been between Mapeley as the freehold owner of Priory Court and Network Rail.

  • Sammy Wilson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Sammy Wilson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sammy Wilson on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has accrued to the Exchequer in VAT receipts from the sale of sanitary products in each of the last five years; and if he will review the applicability of such a tax with existing equality legislation.

    Mr David Gauke

    VAT receipts from the sale of sanitary products, subject to the reduced rate of VAT, are estimated to have been approximately £15m in each of the last five years.

    VAT rules apply the standard rate of 20 per cent to most goods and services. While there are exceptions to this standard rate, these are strictly limited under EU VAT law.

    One such exception is that female sanitary products can be subject to a reduced rate of VAT. Since 2001, the UK has therefore applied a 5 per cent reduced rate of VAT, the lowest permissible under EU law, to the supply of sanitary products.

    The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to member states in this regard, is governed by EU law. It means, for example that the Government cannot apply a zero rate tofemale sanitary products. That would require a change to EU VAT legislation, which would require a proposal from the European Commission and the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, whether HM Revenue and Customs’ national minimum wage enforcement team have any staff located in Northern Ireland outside the city of Belfast.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government takes the enforcement of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

    The National Minimum Wage team in Northern Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff with all using Belfast as a base location.

    However, as I explained in my previous response, HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.

  • Mark Durkan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Mark Durkan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of cutting the rate of tourism VAT on the tourism balance of payments.

    Mr David Gauke

    No such assessment has been made. There is no single rate of tourism VAT. The VAT rate paid on goods and services bought by tourists in the UK is exactly the same as that which applies to UK residents. This means for example, that tourists can benefit from the UK’s zero rates of VAT on certain foods, children’s clothing and certain transport. But it also means they are charged VAT on things like catering services (the supply of meals, alcohol, snacks and drinks) sold by restaurants, pubs, cafes and canteens.

  • Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Gibb on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department’s executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Since January 2011, central government departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award (www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/). In addition, departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000.

    HM Treasury and its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies do not hold any current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries.