The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in VAT-based contributions the UK paid to the EU in each of the last 10 years; and if he will estimate the amount of such contributions in each of the next five years.
Mr David Gauke
The European Commission’s annual Financial Report provides calendar year historical contributions figures.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the effect of changes in the participation rate on economic productivity; and if he will make a statement.
Greg Hands
Government action to reward work and reform benefits has delivered a strong labour market which has seen the employment rate grow more than any other G7 country since early 2010 (Q1), and in the three months to January it stood at 74.1 per cent – the highest since records began.
The government believes it is possible to maintain a strong labour market and improve productivity performance, and this why it has set out a comprehensive programme of structural reform in the productivity plan – “Fixing the Foundations” – with further measures included in Budget 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the change in the debt to gross domestic product ratio in 2014-15 and 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.
Greg Hands
Public sector net debt is forecast to fall from 2016-17 to the end of the Parliament, reaching 77.2% of GDP by the end of 2019-20. The OBR’s latest forecast is that the level of cash debt at the end of 2015-16 will be £1591 billion, down from £1599 billion in its November forecast. Debt as a share of GDP is forecast to rise from 83.3% in 2014-15 to 83.7% of GDP at the end of 2015-16 because the economy is smaller in nominal terms in 2015-16 than forecast in November, largely due to lower inflation. The government has also delayed the sale of the remaining shares in Lloyds Banking Group as a result of market conditions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual amount saved in ISA accounts in each income group; and if he will make a statement.
Harriett Baldwin
ISA statistics for the latest available tax year (2012-13) are published on the GOV.UK website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects discussions to begin with partners in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal.
Greg Hands
The Budget formally announced the opening of discussions with local partners and the Scottish Government towards a City Deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland. No deadline has been set for their conclusion or for implementation of a Deal, but we will work with all parties to ensure that discussions proceed at an appropriate pace for delivering the best Deal to drive economic growth in Edinburgh and South East Scotland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-03-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 69 of the Budget 2016, when his Department plans to start the science and innovation audit in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Joseph Johnson
The first wave of Science and Innovation Audits, including the Edinburgh and the Lothians audit, were announced at Budget on 16th March. Consortia going through Wave 1 have been selected to represent a cross section of approaches, geographical areas, and capacity to engage actively in developing the methodology. Initial planning meetings will commence shortly and we expect the project to be delivered by the Autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has set a deadline for implementation of a city deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland.
Greg Hands
The Budget formally announced the opening of discussions with local partners and the Scottish Government towards a City Deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland. No deadline has been set for their conclusion or for implementation of a Deal, but we will work with all parties to ensure that discussions proceed at an appropriate pace for delivering the best Deal to drive economic growth in Edinburgh and South East Scotland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Holly Lynch on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 64 of the Budget 2016, how much of the £150 million announced for flood defence schemes he plans will be spent in (a) Leeds, (b) Cumbria, (c) Calderdale and (d) York; and when he expects that funding to be delivered.
Greg Hands
The Budget announced that over £150m will be invested in flood defence schemes in Leeds, York, Calder Valley, Carlisle and wider Cumbria. Funding will be allocated accordingly: Leeds (£35m), Cumbria (excluding Carlisle) (£33m), Carlisle (up to £25m), Calder Valley (£35m), and York (£45m). This funding will be delivered over the period 2016-17 to 2020-21.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.215 of the Budget 2016, whether he plans to make additional resources available to HM Revenue and Customs to implement the comprehensive package of measures to tackle tax avoidance and evasion.
Mr David Gauke
The Government will ensure that HM Revenue and Customs has the resources it requires to implement the package of measures announced at Budget 2016 to tackle avoidance and evasion.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.248 of the Budget 2016, to which Department bids to help develop the next generation of small modular reactors will be submitted.
Greg Hands
Following the announcement made at the Budget, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched the first phase of a competition to identify the best value small modular reactor for the UK on the 17th March. This development builds on a previous announcement, made at Autumn Statement 2015, that DECC would conduct this competition to help pave the way towards building one of the world’s first small modular reactors in the UK.
The relevant documentation for the competition is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/small-modular-reactors