The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-03-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the abolition of higher-rate tax relief on pension contributions for higher-rate taxpayers.
Mr David Gauke
The Government held a consultation last year on the future of pensions tax relief. As the Chancellor announced at Autumn Statement, the Government will respond to this consultation at Budget.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-03-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to simplify the taxation regime.
Mr David Gauke
The Government is committed to simplifying the tax system, and so is taking forward legislation to put the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) on a permanent, statutory footing, with an expanded role and capacity.
The OTS has recently published reviews on small company taxation and the closer alignment of income tax and National Insurance contributions. The Government will consider the OTS’s recommendations carefully.
The topics of future OTS reviews will be announced in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to require all oil products sold in the UK to carry a Certificate of Origin to ensure that they do not come from Daesh-controlled areas.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
There is no evidence of oil products originating from Daesh-controlled areas reaching the UK market. The majority of Daesh’s oil is refined and sold within the territory it controls with the rest being sold in other parts of Syria and Iraq, including to the Asad regime, and smaller amounts being smuggled onto the regional black market. By halting and reversing Daesh’s territorial advance, Global Coalition military action has squeezed Daesh’s revenue sources. Our targeting of Daesh’s oil facilities has reduced its production capability by 25%, which equates to approximately 10% of their total income.
In parallel to this military assault on Daesh’s oil facilities, the UK has led efforts to create and enforce an international sanctions regime to cut Daesh off from trading with international markets, including in oil products. This regime is underpinned by UN Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2199, 1267 and 2253. We work closely with our regional partners to ensure these sanctions are fully implemented. We also work closely with the oil industry in the UK, and further afield, to prevent Daesh procuring the equipment and fuel additives it needs to keep its oil production going.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-03-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on financial institutions’ plans to offer negative or zero rates of interest to savers.
Harriett Baldwin
HM Treasury has not received any representations on financial institutions’ plans to offer negative or zero rates of interest to savers.
The levels of interest being paid to savers and their disclosure was explored as part of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Cash Savings Market Study report, which was published in January 2015. The report found that competition in the cash savings market was not working well for many consumers and, in response, the FCA has consulted on and will subsequently be introducing new rules from 1 December 2016 designed to both improve competition and the information savers receive. As part of these new rules, firms will need to make it clear to consumers what interest rate they are getting for their account.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-03-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress he is making on his plans to begin to reduce public sector net debt as a share of gross domestic product in 2016-17.
Harriett Baldwin
The latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecast published in November 2015 shows that the government is on track to reduce public sector net debt as a share of GDP in 2016-17. The government remains committed to continuing the job of returning the public finances to a more sustainable position. In a low inflationary environment, taking account for economic shocks, the most reliable way to bring debt down as a share of GDP is to run a surplus and maintain it in normal times.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many women have died (a) in pregnancy and (b) during childbirth in (i) St Helens, (ii) St Helens North constituency, (iii) Merseyside and (iv) the North West in each year since 2010.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many children in (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England and Wales died from asthma in each year since 2010.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps are being taken to encourage youth engagement in (a) national and (b) local elections.
John Penrose
The Government is committed to maximising electoral registration to help ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote in polls is able to do so. The introduction of online voter registration has made it easier, simpler and faster to register to vote. Since its launch in June 2014, 3.6 million people aged 16-24 have applied to register to vote, with 2.6 million applications online.
The Government has worked with youth organisations such NUS and UK Youth to deliver activities to engage people in the democratic process.
In addition, The Government has previously funded the British Youth Council to deliver Youth Voice activities including the UK Youth Parliament and the associated ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot.
The ballot led to nearly a million young people, aged 11 to 18, voting in this UK wide ballot; a record turnout. This decided the issues debated at UK Youth Parliament, including mental health, a living wage and tackling religious discrimination.
The Government has committed to support the Youth Parliament and associated activities for the remainder of the Parliament until 2020.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the employment rate was for adults in Southampton with (a) mental health, (b) physical health and (c) no declared health conditions in each year since 2010.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps are being taken to increase voter engagement with the upcoming European referendum.
John Penrose
The Government is committed to helping ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote in polls is able to do so. The introduction of online registration makes it easier, simpler and faster for people to register to vote. The Government is working with organisations, including Operation Black Vote and Citizens UK, which represent under registered groups to develop solutions to ensure that as many people as possible are able to have their say at the ballot box.
Voter engagement is also influenced by factors such as whether electors feel the poll offers a clear choice on an issue which matters greatly to them and on the energy and effectiveness of the political campaigns behind each side of the debate. These are not under Government’s direct control, but we hope that the decision to hold the referendum in the first place, as promised in our election manifesto, will nonetheless help.