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Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will confirm that any funding received as a result of the application for EU Solidarity Fund Assistance will be distributed to those communities affected by recent flooding.

James Wharton

We are determined to do all we can to support flood-affected areas, which is why we have already paid out over £250 million to ensure that communities and businesses can get back on their feet as soon as possible. Once our application to the EU Solidarity Fund has been finalised, and approved by the Commission, we will consider how any additional funding should be used.

01/01/2023
Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to work with local authorities whose areas experienced flooding over winter 2015-16 in order to support their local high street economy.

James Wharton

DCLG launched a funding package in December worth £100 million to directly support flooded householders and businesses by:
- launching the Bellwin Fund so that local authorities incurring costs over the threshold can apply;
- making a grant of up to £500 for each household available through local authorities to help with recovery costs;
- exempting households from paying council tax for the entire time they are out of their home;
- making a grant equivalent to £2,500 per business available through local authorities to help businesses to recover from loss of trade;
- and giving business rates relief to those that have had their trading disrupted.
Our Recovery Package also supports homes and businesses to protect their properties against future floods through the Property Level Resilience Scheme.

In addition to this bespoke recovery package, we’re taking action to help high streets thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists. At the Budget, we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates in England – worth £6.7 billion over the next five years and cutting business rates for all ratepayers, meaning 600,000 of the smallest businesses won’t have to pay business rates again.
01/01/2023
Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on meeting the health and social care needs of older people who need affordable and accessible homes where they can live independently but with support when needed.

Brandon Lewis

Decisions on how to meet the health and social care needs of older people who need affordable and accessible homes and monitoring the supply of such accommodation are best made by local authorities. Government believes that local planning authorities remain best placed to determine the extent to which provision of more accessible housing is necessary and appropriate in their local area, and have appropriate powers to introduce development plan policies to meet these needs, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Guidance and other relevant matters.

The National Planning Policy Framework & Planning Guidance requires local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups, including elderly people, in their area.

01/01/2023
Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what monitoring his Department has undertaken of the adequacy of supply of suitable and affordable accommodation for older people who want to live independently but with some support on-site.

Brandon Lewis

Decisions on how to meet the health and social care needs of older people who need affordable and accessible homes and monitoring the supply of such accommodation are best made by local authorities. Government believes that local planning authorities remain best placed to determine the extent to which provision of more accessible housing is necessary and appropriate in their local area, and have appropriate powers to introduce development plan policies to meet these needs, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Guidance and other relevant matters.

The National Planning Policy Framework & Planning Guidance requires local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups, including elderly people, in their area.

01/01/2023
Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-05-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will request that HM Revenue and Customs investigate the legality of the operations of those British Offshore entities registered with the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama whose identity was made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on 9 May 2016.

Mr David Gauke

On April 10, The Prime Minister announced a new taskforce to obtain, analyse and take action on the information contained in the Panama Papers.

It is being jointly led by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and draws on investigators, compliance specialists and analysts from HMRC, the NCA, the Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority. The four organisations are working in close partnership to take rapid action on evidence of tax evasion and avoidance, economic crime, regulatory breaches and misconduct identified within the material.

The Prime Minister has committed to provide resources to ensure that the material is fully investigated, including initial new funding of up to £10 million to support the taskforce’s work.

01/01/2023
Rachel Reeves – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2016-05-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of reductions in capital gains tax rates announced in the Budget 2016 on (a) the prevalence of converting income into capital gains and (b) income tax receipts.

Mr David Gauke

Budget 2016 announced reductions in the basic rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 10% and the main rate to 20%, excluding gains on residential property and carried interest. The purpose of these changes is to encourage individuals to invest in companies, helping them to access the capital they need to expand and create jobs.

The estimated cost of this measure was published at Budget 2016 and provided in the table below:

Table 1: Total estimated Exchequer impact of Budget 2016 CGT basic and main rate reductions

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

£m

-105

-630

-605

-670

-735

The costing in Table 1 includes an estimate of the impacts on CGT, Income Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts. The total estimated Exchequer cost accounts for behavioural responses, including greater realisation of gains, and increased incentive to take capital gains relative to income. This can include a wide range of behavioural changes. The impact on Income Tax is only one aspect of this costing.

No separate estimate was made of the impact on CGT receipts of converting income into capital gains. Finance Bill 2016 contains provisions to strengthen anti-avoidance rules to prevent opportunities for people to shift income to capital in order to gain a tax advantage, through making changes to the Transactions in Securities Rules and introducing a new Targeted Anti Avoidance Rule.

01/01/2023
Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) potential effect on the triple lock pension policy and (b) the value of state pensions for people who retired before 6 April 2016 of a potential reduction in economic growth in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU.

Mr David Gauke

The Treasury has published its analysis of the impact that leaving the EU would have on GDP, CPI inflation and on average real wages in HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU.

01/01/2023
Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of hotel bookings his Department made for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin

Information on hotel spend for Ministers is publically available on gov.uk as part of the Transparency agenda. The information is published quarterly and is up to date for quarter 3 of financial year 2015-16 and can be found at the following web link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

“

01/01/2023
Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of hotel bookings his Department made for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock

Details of Ministerial overseas travel, and senior officials’ business expenses are published on a quarterly basis. The remaining information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

01/01/2023
Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Civil Contingencies Unit has made of levels of radioactive contamination in upland areas across the UK from radioactive fallout in May 1986 as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Mr Oliver Letwin

The Civil Contingencies Secretariat does not make assessments of the current levels of radioactive contamination existing in upland areas across the UK. However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) coordinates a report on radiological monitoring across the UK on behalf of Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Natural Resource Wales and Northern Ireland Environment Agency. This is reported annually in the report on Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE). The most recent report can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/rife-20.pdf

Between 1986 and 2012, the Food Standards Agency and its predecessors managed controls and routine monitoring of sheep in certain upland areas of the UK in order to protect food safety. Following a review of the evidence (which included an assessment of the levels of radio caesium in sheep within the restricted areas) and a 12-week public consultation, the Board of the Food Standards Agency agreed the lifting of the last of these controls with effect on 1 June 2012.
See: http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/radiologicalresearch/radiosurv/chernobyl

01/01/2023

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
£m	-105	-630	-605	-670	-735