Tag: Gareth Thomas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which agreed EU directives have not yet been transposed directly into UK law; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.

There are no EU directives relating to policy areas for which the Department for Education has lead responsibility that are awaiting transposition into UK law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many letters his Department received from the Mayor of London between May 2010 and April 2016; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

The Department is not able to confirm the total number of letters received by the Department from the Mayor of London since 2010 as this would incur disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities can access cross-border, transnational and inter-regional co-operation funds from EU cohesion funding after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Percy

The Chancellor’s statement of 3 October 2016 set out guarantees for local authorities’ funding for cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation projects subject to certain conditions. The Treasury will guarantee funding for those projects which are signed after the Autumn Statement, but before the UK leaves the EU, provided that they provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. This guarantee will apply even where those projects continue after the UK has left the EU. The Chancellor’s statement has provided certainty for local authorities and other UK participants in European Territorial Cooperation programmes.

Leaving the EU means that we can decide how to deliver the policy priorities currently delivered by EU funding programmes. We will consult closely with stakeholders, including local authorities, to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any on-going funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to increase the number of housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis

The Government continues to demonstrate its support for the community-led housing sector and we have encouraged community-led groups, including housing co-operatives, to apply for funding from the current Affordable Homes Programme. We also strongly encourage local authorities and larger providers to identify new community-based partnership members who may be able to bring additional capacity to a bid.

The Homes and Communities Agency is operating a process of continuous market engagement which offers all providers ongoing access to bid for grant. This should specifically help smaller community-led organisations such as housing co-operatives to prepare good bids and access funding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next plans to review the limit on the number of civilian flights allowed from RAF Northolt; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 October 2015 in response to Question 10882 and the answer I gave him on 5 September 2013 in response to Question 167738. There are no plans to review further the limit on the number of commercial civilian movements at RAF Northolt, which remains 12,000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy not to impose a tax on insurance premiums on health cash plans; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin

All insurance premiums, including health cash plans, are exempt from VAT.

Long term insurance products, including critical illness cover, life insurance and income protection insurance are exempt from IPT.

Insurance Premium Tax is currently paid by insurers on all general insurance premiums. This includes health cash plans and other forms of medical insurance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional funding she plans to commit to tackling illegal immigration; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

The Chancellor the Exchequer announced the 2015 Spending Review to Parliament on 25th November 2015. Home Office ministers are in the process of allocating budgets for the next financial year to ensure that the department supports its key objectives of preventing terrorism, cutting crime and controlling immigration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-04-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on Taiwan’s proposed application to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

The UK and Taiwan enjoy a constructive relationship in a range of multilateral organisations for which statehood is not a requirement, such as the WTO and European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. A decision on whether to apply to be a member of the AIIB is a matter for Taiwanese authorities. Should an application be made the UK will, as for other countries or territories, consider at the time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-05-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) meetings he has had with external organisations and (b) steps he has taken to encourage the take up of employee share ownership schemes in small and medium-sized businesses in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

Tax-advantaged employee share schemes are greatly valued by both companies and employers, and the government wants to make sure that the rules surrounding these schemes are as simple and clear as possible. Budget 2016 made a number of changes to the rules for employment-related securities and options which will make these schemes fairer and easier for taxpayers to understand, and therefore encourage businesses to use them.

An HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) commissioned report conducted by Oxera considered the effect of the tax-advantaged employee share schemes on productivity. The report is available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110203095056/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/tax-advantaged-report2.pdf.

The government’s most recent assessment of the cost of the tax-advantaged employee share schemes to the Exchequer is provided in the table below.

	Forecast cost of Income Tax relief (2015-16)	Forecast cost of National Insurance relief (2015-16)
Share Incentive Plan	£220 million	£165 million
Save As You Earn	£180 million	£140 million
Enterprise Management Incentives	£70 million	£40 million
Company Share Option Plan	£70 million	£40 million

HMRC has not withdrawn the valuation checking service for the tax-advantaged employee share schemes. However, HMRC has withdrawn other checks for non-tax advantaged schemes as, in the majority of cases, acceptable valuations were submitted. Therefore, the valuation service added no value and is seen as unnecessary.

The government keeps all areas of the tax system under review and as part of that in always interested in understanding the views of all interested parties.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of flights identified as high-risk where Border Force officials have not attended in the last 12 months; when the automated system for airports to check the civil aviation tracking system will be introduced; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

To release the information requested on flights identified as high-risk, which is operationally sensitive, would be contrary to the interests of national security. Border Force examines incoming general aviation flights in comparison with the Civil Aviation Tracking System. Border Force has considered options for improving the methods by which this is achieved and will develop this further in the coming year.