Blog

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to include non-prescription incontinence pads, maternity pads and breast pads used by breastfeeding mothers in the definition of sanitary products for the purposes of zero rating under VAT.

    Mr David Gauke

    The zero rate of VAT will apply to any sanitary protection product that is designed and marketed solely for the absorption of collection of menstrual flow or lochia, including:

    • Sanitary towels
    • Sanitary pads
    • Tampons
    • Keepers
    • Maternity pads

    Eligible incontinence products, for sale to disabled people, are already zero rated.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the budgetary implications of lower-than-predicted growth rates for government departments other than the Department for International Development.

    Greg Hands

    Departmental budgets were set at Spending Review 2015.

    Budget 2016 announced an adjustment to Official Development Assistance spend to account for the lower growth forecast.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training is provided to HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage inspectors on identification and investigation of cases of human trafficking.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has developed a specific training package targeting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking which is mandatory for all visiting officers. This training advises officers on the indicators to look for and the responses to take where exploitation is suspected.

    HMRC participates in multi-agency investigations into cases of Modern Slavery where there are potential tax or National Minimum Wage (NMW) offences. Since February 2015, HMRC has opened 73 tax investigations in cases where Modern Slavery is suspected. HMRC does not collate specific data on any NMW arrears identified in cases involving Modern Slavery.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.205 of the Budget 2016, if he will publish the calculations referred to in footnote 143 on the potential costs to consumers of the rise in the standard rate of insurance premium tax.

    Harriett Baldwin

    We do not usually publish such calculations.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraphs 1.140 and 1.142 of the Budget 2016, whether it is his policy that apprentices over the age of 25 will be subject to the national living wage or the apprentice rate of the national minimum wage.

    Nick Boles

    Apprentices under the age of 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage apprentice rate – currently set at £3.30 per hour.

    All other apprentices are entitled to at least the minimum wage rate appropriate for their age, which for over-25s is the National Living Wage rate of £7.20 per hour.

  • Mike Freer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Mike Freer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many properties valued at or over £1 million were sold in October to December (a) 2014 and (b) 2015; and how much was raised in stamp duty land tax in each of those periods.

    Mr David Gauke

    The table below summarises estimates for the number of and yield from property transactions between October and December 2014 and 2015. The estimates for 2014 include transactions in Scotland whereas estimates for 2015 do not because SDLT ceased to be applicable to Scottish transactions from 1 April 2015. The figures for the 2015-16 financial year are provisional.

    October to December 2014

    October to December 2015

    Residential Transactions at or over £1m (Number)

    4,800

    5,300

    Residential Transactions at or over £1m (Stamp Duty Land Tax)

    £577 million

    £674 million

    Non-Residential Transactions at or over £1m (Number)

    3,800

    3,600

    Non-Residential Transactions at or over £1m (Stamp Duty Land Tax)

    £708 million

    £731 million

    Total Stamp Duty Land Tax

    £2.87 billion

    £2.91 billion
  • Geoffrey Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Geoffrey Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Geoffrey Cox on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a reduction in VAT for small businesses in the tourism sector.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government has reviewed the economic case for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector.

    In our view there is insufficient evidence to justify a reduction in VAT.

    Reducing VAT on all tourism related activities would have a potential cost in excess of £10 billion in the first year alone.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many badges of honour have been awarded by (a) Gibraltar, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) the Cayman Islands and (d) Bermuda in each year since 2010.

    James Duddridge

    Since 2010 badges of honour have been awarded as follows;

    Gibraltar: 2010 – 5; 2011 – 6; 2012 – 6; 2013 – 6; 2014 – 6; 2015 – 6

    Falkland Islands: 2010 – 3; 2011 – 2; 2012 – 1; 2013 – 0; 2014 – 0; 2015 – 2

    Cayman Islands: 2010 – 4; 2011 – 8; 2012 – 2; 2013 – 6; 2014 – 2; 2015 – 1

    Bermuda: 2010 – 14; 2011 – 7; 2012 – 13; 2013 – 5; 2014 – 6; 2015 – 2

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the mortality rate for people aged between 40 and 50 was in (a) England and Wales, (b) Newcastle, (c) Sheffield and (d) Newham in each of the last five years.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of deaths in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland resulted from (i) traffic offences and (ii) other offences in the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.