Tag: Lord Rooker

  • Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2015-10-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to move responsibility for flour fortification from millers to food manufacturers.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    In June this year the Government held an informal consultation in order to seek views on possible additions to the exemptions currently allowed under the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 from the requirement to fortify flour with calcium, iron, niacin, and thiamine. The exemptions that were envisaged would allow more efficient and streamlined manufacturing operations for foods produced for export as well as for the home market, without compromising the public health benefits which accrue from fortification. A range of interested parties were consulted including millers, flour users, retailers, fortificant manufacturers and health professionals.

    The options proposed in the consultation would allow millers to produce unfortified flour in England when used as a secondary ingredient which undergoes further processing, or is used in relatively small quantities in products. This approach was welcomed by most consultees and the Government is now considering how to take this forward.

    The Department of Health and Public Health England has considered the proposals and concluded that it is unlikely that an exemption from fortification for flour used in such products will have a nutritionally significant impact on the intakes of calcium, iron, thiamine or niacin.

    The changes proposed would apply to England only since food legislation is a devolved matter. The devolved administrations are aware of these proposals but have not yet made any decisions on whether to introduce similar changes.

    Respondents to the consultation also asked for some additional flexibility around the point at which the fortificants are added to flour. At the moment flour must be fortified at the mill and the four fortificants are added as a premix at the end of the milling process. Many businesses which manufacture foods both for the home market and for export requested the flexibility to be able to add the fortificants at the bakery stage. They highlighted that the requirement for separate storage and handling for, both fortified and unfortified flour (which is used for exported products) was creating significant manufacturing complexities. That resulted in a more restricted product range and is having an adverse effect on their export potential and their ability to diversify into new global markets. The Government is currently considering this.

  • Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2015-11-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the Teratology Society recommendation regarding mandating folic acid fortification in Europe.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    We have not formally reviewed the 2015 Obeid paper but officials are aware of its conclusions which are in line with information already considered by Ministers.

    The recommendation in the Teratology Society in essence repeats current advice on folic acid supplements. There are no plans to review this advice.

  • Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2015-11-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of research published by Obeid et al on preventable spina bifida and anencephaly in Europe for the development of a policy to reduce births affected by neural tube defects.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    We have not formally reviewed the 2015 Obeid paper but officials are aware of its conclusions which are in line with information already considered by Ministers.

    The recommendation in the Teratology Society in essence repeats current advice on folic acid supplements. There are no plans to review this advice.

  • Lord Rooker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Rooker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2016-02-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 July 2014 (HL939), what was the ranking of the UK in the Health at a Glance 2015: OECD Indicators report for (1) infant mortality, (2) numbers of MRI and CT Scanners, (3) low birth weight infants, (4) overweight and obesity amongst adults, (5) overweight and obesity amongst children, (6) mortality from cardiovascular disease, and (7) mortality from cancer; how these rankings compared to those for 2013; and what plans they have to improve the UK rankings.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The United Kingdom’s rankings among OECD member states (as shown by the 2015 and 2013 Health at a Glance reports) are the following:

    Health at a Glance 2013

    Health at a Glance 2015

    Infant mortality

    25th lowest out of 34

    19th lowest out of 34

    Low birth weight infants

    21st lowest out of 34

    21st lowest out of 34

    MRI units

    7th lowest out of 28

    4th lowest out of 32

    CT scanners

    3rd lowest out of 29

    3rd lowest out of 32

    Obesity among adults

    28th lowest out of 34

    27th lowest out of 34

    Overweight and obesity among children (measured)

    18th lowest out of 34

    32th lowest out of 33

    Mortality from cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease)

    19th lowest out of 33

    18th lowest out of 34

    Mortality from cardiovascular disease (cerebrovascular disease)

    22nd lowest out of 33

    14th lowest out of 34

    Mortality from cancer

    25th lowest out of 33

    26th lowest out of 34

    The Government welcomes the OECD reports as an authoritative contribution to the development of health policy in the UK. For the health service in England, we have taken note of the OECD’s findings. The underlying data on health outcomes informs the development of our mandates and other guidance to the health and care system, in particular to NHS England and Public Health England.

  • Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants working in the diet and nutrition fields were transferred from the Food Standards Agency to the Department of Health following the machinery of government changes in July 2010; and how many remain working in the same fields at present.

    Earl Howe

    53 civil servants working in the diet and nutrition fields were transferred from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to the Department in 2010. Of these, seven currently work on diet and nutrition in the Department. There was a second machinery of Government change in April 2013, at which time 23 of those who transferred to the Department from the FSA then transferred to Public Health England.

  • Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Rooker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the diet and nutrition budget in the Department of Health in June 2010; how much that sum increased by incorporating budgets transferred from the Food Standards Agency to the Department of Health following the machinery of government changes in July 2010; and what is the current level.

    Earl Howe

    The Department’s programme budget for diet and nutrition in 2010-11 was £700,000 and the Food Standards Agency budget that transferred to the Department following the machinery of Government changes in 2010 was £10.126 million. The 2014-15 programme budget for diet and nutrition is £70,000 in the Department and £4.8 million in Public Health England. These budgets do not include staffing costs.

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 26 March (WA 122), what are the relevant trigger dates for consideration of any documents they may hold relating to Hilda Murrell.

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    The relevant trigger date for the one file that the HO holds relating to Hilda Murrell is July 2014 when Home Office will make an application to that month’s Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Council to allow this file to be transferred to The National Archives. Providing this application is approved, this file will be available for perusal by members of the public by 31 December 2014.

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have commissioned any studies to assess behavioural change consequent upon income and corporate tax changes since 2010.

    Lord Deighton

    The table below sets out the Corporation Tax rates from 2009-10 to 2014-15.

    Small Profits Rate

    Main Rate

    2009-10

    21%

    28%

    2010-11

    21%

    28%

    2011-12

    20%

    26%

    2012-13

    20%

    24%

    2013-14

    20%

    23%

    2014-15

    20%

    21%

    At Budget 2013 it was announced that from 2015-16 the rates would be unified to a single Corporation Tax rate of 20%.

    The latest year for which full data is available is 2011-12. Total onshore Corporation Tax liabilities fell slightly from £35.6bn in 2010-11 to £35.4bn in 2011-12. HMRC publishes annual National Statistics on Corporation Tax liabilities. Table 11.1B is attached[1].

    The table below sets out the Income Tax rates from 2000-10 to 2014-15.

    Basic Rate

    Higher Rate

    Additional Rate

    2009-10

    20%

    40%

    –

    2010-11

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2011-12

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2012-13

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2013-14

    20%

    40%

    45%

    2014-15

    20%

    40%

    45%

    The Starting Rate of tax for savings is currently 10%. This is applied only to savings income which falls within the starting rate band above the personal allowance.

    In 2014-15 the personal allowance is £10,000 and the starting rate band is £2,880. At Budget 2014 the Government announced that from 2015-16 that band would be increased to £5000 and the rate set to 0%.

    The latest available income tax liability statistics held by HMRC relate to the tax year 2011-12. These statistics are attached[2].

    Other more timely published information is available in tax receipts statistics which are published on a monthly basis and could be considered as a leading indicator of liabilities. These statistics are also attached[3].

    To estimate the exchequer impact of policy changes it is necessary to estimate the change in tax liabilities after taking into account the behavioural response. At each fiscal event where the tax rates have been changed these estimates have been made and certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These estimates are published in table 2.1of the corresponding Budget and Autumn Statement reports.

    There are significant behavioural responses associated with changes in the top marginal rate of income tax. The HMRC report ‘The Exchequer effect of the 50 per cent additional rate of income tax'[4] outlines these behavioural responses.

    HM Treasury and HMRC jointly published the report ‘Analysis of the dynamic effects of corporation tax reductions’ at Autumn Statement 2013[5].

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256886/table11-1b.pdf

    [2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277459/Table_2.6.pdf

    [3]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294267/20140312_Feb_v0.2.pdf

    [4]http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf

    [5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-the-dynamic-effects-of-corporation-tax-reductions

    “

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any evidence that income tax and corporate tax revenues have increased as the rates of income and corporate taxes have decreased since 2010.

    Lord Deighton

    The table below sets out the Corporation Tax rates from 2009-10 to 2014-15.

    Small Profits Rate

    Main Rate

    2009-10

    21%

    28%

    2010-11

    21%

    28%

    2011-12

    20%

    26%

    2012-13

    20%

    24%

    2013-14

    20%

    23%

    2014-15

    20%

    21%

    At Budget 2013 it was announced that from 2015-16 the rates would be unified to a single Corporation Tax rate of 20%.

    The latest year for which full data is available is 2011-12. Total onshore Corporation Tax liabilities fell slightly from £35.6bn in 2010-11 to £35.4bn in 2011-12. HMRC publishes annual National Statistics on Corporation Tax liabilities. Table 11.1B is attached[1].

    The table below sets out the Income Tax rates from 2000-10 to 2014-15.

    Basic Rate

    Higher Rate

    Additional Rate

    2009-10

    20%

    40%

    –

    2010-11

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2011-12

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2012-13

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2013-14

    20%

    40%

    45%

    2014-15

    20%

    40%

    45%

    The Starting Rate of tax for savings is currently 10%. This is applied only to savings income which falls within the starting rate band above the personal allowance.

    In 2014-15 the personal allowance is £10,000 and the starting rate band is £2,880. At Budget 2014 the Government announced that from 2015-16 that band would be increased to £5000 and the rate set to 0%.

    The latest available income tax liability statistics held by HMRC relate to the tax year 2011-12. These statistics are attached[2].

    Other more timely published information is available in tax receipts statistics which are published on a monthly basis and could be considered as a leading indicator of liabilities. These statistics are also attached[3].

    To estimate the exchequer impact of policy changes it is necessary to estimate the change in tax liabilities after taking into account the behavioural response. At each fiscal event where the tax rates have been changed these estimates have been made and certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These estimates are published in table 2.1of the corresponding Budget and Autumn Statement reports.

    There are significant behavioural responses associated with changes in the top marginal rate of income tax. The HMRC report ‘The Exchequer effect of the 50 per cent additional rate of income tax'[4] outlines these behavioural responses.

    HM Treasury and HMRC jointly published the report ‘Analysis of the dynamic effects of corporation tax reductions’ at Autumn Statement 2013[5].

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256886/table11-1b.pdf

    [2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277459/Table_2.6.pdf

    [3]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294267/20140312_Feb_v0.2.pdf

    [4]http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf

    [5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-the-dynamic-effects-of-corporation-tax-reductions

    “

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-06-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any department, executive agency or non-departmental public body has a banking arrangement with the Co-operative Bank.

    Lord Deighton

    Treasury policy is to hold Exchequer funds safe and secure at the Bank of England and to minimise balances held with commercial banks. The Treasury has been working with departments in recent years to minimise balances held in commercial accounts.

    Government Departments and most public bodies bank with the Government Banking Service, which is a directorate within HM Revenue and Customs. GBS is a shared service which manages contracts and supports banking services to Government departments using cost-efficient and modern commercial banking platforms. The balances held by the Government Banking Service are utilised to reduce the Government’s daily borrowing requirement and in turn its financing costs.

    In the rare circumstance where banking is required outside of the contract then the Department concerned must seek Treasury approval to open separate commercial accounts. This will normally be when third party-funds are being managed or the banking service requirement is complex. The Treasury provides an annual update to the Public Accounts Committee on monies held outside the Exchequer / Government Banking Service. The most recent update was published on 13th January 2014 and can be found at

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270747/36048_Cm_8774.pdf

    From the information provided by departments we can confirm that the Forestry Commission and National Forest Company have a banking relationship with the Co-operative Bank.

    “