Tag: Julian Knight

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will take steps to prevent insurance companies increasing premiums for owners of Volkswagen vehicles affected by the emissions scandal.

Andrew Jones

Motor insurers base their decision on whether to insure drivers and their vehicles, along with what premium to charge, by making an assessment of the risk involved. However, vehicle emissions are not regarded by insurers as a material factor they would normally take into consideration when setting a premium.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures are in place to ensure that child support awarded by tribunals under the pre-2012 Child Support Agency system are upheld under the post-2012 system.

Priti Patel

Tribunals do not award Child Maintenance, they direct on individual decisions.

If an individual chooses to apply to the new 2012 scheme after their case on one of the legacy schemes is closed, the rules of the 2012 scheme will apply. Clients are able to provide evidence of prior Tribunal decisions when requesting, or contesting, a new decision which will be taken into consideration where appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-04-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s consultation on enforcing guarantor loans, GC16/2, published in February 2016, whether his Department has received representations from the (a) Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and (b) any other organisation on the consistency of the FCA’s proposed interpretation of the word enforce in section 87(1)(e) of the Consumer Credit Act.

Harriett Baldwin

These are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and relate to FCA Guidance Consultation (GC16/2) issued on the interpretation of provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974, regarding whether a default notice should be given to a guarantor before payment is taken from them when a borrower defaults. The FCA is currently considering responses to the consultation and will publish a response after considering the complex issues raised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-06-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any of the successor organisations to the Money Advice Service will have a specific remit to promote financial education amongst young people.

Harriett Baldwin

The government is committed to improving financial capability among the public and recognises that increased financial capability for consumers will lead to better outcomes for both individuals and the wider economy. Helping hard-working people achieve their aspirations at every stage of their lives is at the heart of our long term plan. That is why we launched the Public Financial Guidance consultation in Budget 2016 to seek input on what role the government should play in promoting financial capability, and how the public provision of free-to-client, impartial financial guidance should be structured to give consumers the information they need to make financial decisions. The consultation closed on 8 June. The government is currently considering the responses and will respond in the Autumn. The government recognises the importance of giving young people the skills they need to make financial decisions, which is why financial education has been on the national secondary school curriculum in England since September 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government plans to introduce a cap on care bills for the elderly.

David Mowat

The Government is committed to ensuring that those in old age can access care that is both affordable and dignified. The position on the care cost cap has not changed. The 2015 Spending Review reaffirmed our commitment to implementing these reforms in April 2020, making funding available in 2019/20 to help local authorities prepare for implementation.

Until then, financial support remains available on the basis of the current means test to help people pay for care to meet their eligible needs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-01-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Government’s tax reliefs on (a) the film and (b) other creative industries.

Mr David Gauke

Creative sector tax reliefs play an important role in stimulating investment in an industry that employs 1.8 million people and provides world-class cultural experiences to many more.

HM Revenue and Customs published official statistics in December 2015 showing that a record 220 films claimed the film tax credit in 2014-15, with the relief supporting over £1bn worth of UK expenditure in the sector.

Since the reliefs came into force in 2013-14, the high-end TV tax relief has supported almost £600m of expenditure in the industry and the animation tax relief has supported £68 million. Official statistics for the creative sector tax reliefs can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/creative-industries-statistics-december-2015

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many legacy continuing health care cases are more than two years old and have payments outstanding (a) in England, (b) in the West Midlands and (c) at Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group.

Alistair Burt

At the end of March 2013, the National Health Service had received approximately 59,000 requests to assess previously unassessed periods of care for NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility.

NHS England collects information on the number of these cases which are awaiting a decision on eligibility.

As at 31 January 2016:

(a) There were 15,716 requests to assess previously unassessed periods of care in England;

(b) there were 848 requests to assess previously unassessed periods of care in the West Midlands; and

(c) there were 260 requests to assess previously unassessed periods of care in Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group.

It is not possible to assess how many of these individuals may be entitled to redress payments until a full assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is undertaken, in line with the principles and processes set out in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care (November 2012) (revised).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on auto enrolment of the roll-out of the lifetime ISA.

Justin Tomlinson

Automatic enrolment is the cornerstone of this Government’s private pension reforms, normalising pension saving and reversing the decade long decline in pension savings prior to introduction in 2012. It has been a great success to date with over 6 million people enrolled and opt-outs low at around 10 per cent.

The Lifetime ISA is not a part of the pension system but an additional flexible savings product that can complement pension saving but not replace it. Increasing the choice of savings products available, it aims to support the Government’s ambition to encourage a regular savings habit amongst young people and to create a culture of medium and long term saving at different points in people’s lives.

The Budget 2016 Lifetime ISA costing, certified by the OBR, did not anticipate any revenue impact from individuals opting-out of their workplace pensions in order to save into Lifetime ISAs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-06-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any successor organisations to the Money Advice Service will have a remit to promote financial capability amongst the public.

Harriett Baldwin

The government is committed to improving financial capability among the public and recognises that increased financial capability for consumers will lead to better outcomes for both individuals and the wider economy. Helping hard-working people achieve their aspirations at every stage of their lives is at the heart of our long term plan. That is why we launched the Public Financial Guidance consultation in Budget 2016 to seek input on what role the government should play in promoting financial capability, and how the public provision of free-to-client, impartial financial guidance should be structured to give consumers the information they need to make financial decisions. The consultation closed on 8 June. The government is currently considering the responses and will respond in the Autumn. The government recognises the importance of giving young people the skills they need to make financial decisions, which is why financial education has been on the national secondary school curriculum in England since September 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to assist people who are locked into inappropriate and poorly-paying annuity contracts.

Simon Kirby

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) thematic review of non-advised annuity sales practices looked at past sales practices, and found failings in a small number of firms, particularly in respect of the information they provide to customers about enhanced annuities (where customers may be entitled to an enhanced rate because of a health condition or lifestyle factor).

The FCA have announced their next steps, including investigation by the FCA’s Enforcement Division to determine whether further action is necessary. These firms are now being asked by the FCA to review all non-advised sales from July 2008 and, where appropriate, provide redress.