Tag: Lord Campbell-Savours

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2016-01-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to carry out an inquiry into VAT fraud in the London souvenir and gift trade.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are committed to tackling tax avoidance, evasion and fraud at all levels to ensure everyone pays the right tax at the right time.

HMRC introduced a series of taskforces in 2011 to target specific high risk sectors in certain locations. There are currently no plans for a taskforce dedicated to the London souvenir and gift trade, although that does not mean that HMRC takes no action against fraud in this sector.

Other, existing taskforces – for example those focusing on London retail, indoor and outdoor markets, and VAT repayments – will have an impact on the sector. Additionally, the sector will be impacted through HMRC’s normal intelligence- and data-led way of identifying and addressing tax risks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-11-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 28 October (HL2728), whether they will set out the broad circumstances in which a housing association or Community Land Trust could exercise discretion in deciding whether to sell a property to a tenant.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The Government is currently engaging with the National Housing Federation and the housing association sector on implementing the Right to Buy Agreement. Further details will be announced in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-11-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis the accumulation of evidence obtained during the polygraph test of a given sex offender meets the threshold test of the repeat of criminal actions warranting the furtherance of a custodial sentence.

Lord Faulks

The purpose of the polygraph is to check the compliance of high risk sexual offenders with their licence conditions and to monitor the risk they present to the public. It is also used to improve the way in which the offender is managed during release on licence.

An offender may be recalled if they fail to comply with the polygraph examination, attempt to ‘trick’ the test or if they disclose that they have failed to comply with their licence conditions.

The legislation for imposing the polygraph test on sexual offenders is enshrined in the Offender Management Act 2007. Section 30 of the Act specifically prohibits evidence of any matter mentioned in the polygraph being used in any proceedings against a released person for an offence in a criminal court.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-11-25.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the proportion of the concession on tax credits announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 which is offset by the migration to Universal Credit.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

Universal Credit is a different benefit to Tax Credits. It brings six benefits together as one and therefore comparisons between the two are extremely difficult to make.

Summer Budget 2015 and the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 provide the fiscal impacts of changes to Tax Credits and Universal Credit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-11-25.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to announce the detail of their proposals for £12 billion in savings on the welfare budget; and what benefits are under consideration for further reduction.

Lord Freud

The Government’s commitment to save £12bn from welfare spending was set out at the Summer Budget and the recent Autumn Statement. Details of these measures can be found at pages 72-73 of the Summer Budget Report (July 2015) and page 113 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015. These are published on gov.uk.

Any future changes to benefits following the Spending Review announcement will follow the usual policy development process and be announced at a future fiscal event.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-12-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, before 13 November, the B1 planning class remained a requirement for offices that also qualified for a residential planning designation.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

We announced on 12 October that the permitted development right for the change of use from office to residential will be made permanent. We further announced that the rights will in future provide for an office to be demolished and replaced on a like-for-like basis as residential. The details of the rights including any requirements about the use, eligibility criteria and any matters for prior approval, including in relation to demolition and replacement, will be provided in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-12-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, where an office property that qualified for a residential planning designation is demolished, whether any restrictions are placed on the building of a new property on that land according to the former office property’s footprint.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

We announced on 12 October that the permitted development right for the change of use from office to residential will be made permanent. We further announced that the rights will in future provide for an office to be demolished and replaced on a like-for-like basis as residential. The details of the rights including any requirements about the use, eligibility criteria and any matters for prior approval, including in relation to demolition and replacement, will be provided in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2016-01-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received evidence of VAT fraud in the London souvenir and gift trade, and if so, what action they have taken to combat it.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receive a variety of data and intelligence from numerous sources. Everything from bulk data from third parties to information provided by individuals through the Tax and Customs Evasion Hotlines.

Clamping down on those who try to cheat the system through evading taxes and over claiming benefits is a key priority for HMRC, and they are committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently. All the information HMRC receive is risk-assessed and a decision made on the most appropriate course of action.

Data and intelligence received could include information relating to the London souvenir and gift trade. However, there is strict law of confidentiality covering all the work for which HMRC are responsible. The relevant law is Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue & Customs Act 2005, which strictly limits the circumstances under which they disclose information they hold and any action taken. This prohibits HMRC from giving specific details of any information received regarding any sector.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons imprisoned for sexual offences have been returned to prison after failing lie detector tests by polygraph; and how many were referred for polygraph tests in the last period for which statistics are available.

Lord Faulks

Polygraph tests for certain sexual offenders on licensed supervision in the community first became available in August 2014. As of October 2015, 681 sexual offenders had been made subject to polygraph testing as a license condition and had been referred for testing to the National Offender Management Service. As of the same date, 22 sexual offenders were recalled as a result of disclosures which they had made in connection with their polygraph test, whilst one was recalled for failing to attend a test which had been arranged.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment has been made of whether denying a member of the House of Lords who is a Special Adviser the right to speak is in breach of the letters patent, which refer to seat” and “voice”.”

Baroness Stowell of Beeston

A member of the House of Lords who is eligible to take part in the work of the House, and who is also a serving special adviser, is not denied the right to speak. It has, however, been an accepted practice under successive administrations that members in that position vote but refrain from speaking.