Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will appoint an independent commission to investigate the role of PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte in designing, selling and implementing tax avoidance schemes.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government is committed to countering tax avoidance to ensure all taxpayers pay their fair share. At Budget 2016, the Chancellor announced a comprehensive package of measures to tackle tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning, and tax evasion by individuals and businesses. Overall, this will raise £12 billion by 2020-21.

    We keep our policy on countering tax avoidance under continuous review to respond to emerging risks.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has received representations from Virgin Trains or Stagecoach since 1 April 2015 on potential variations to the current Intercity East Coast franchise agreement.

    Claire Perry

    As with all Franchise Agreements, negotiations take place between the Franchise Operator and the Department, and since 1 April 2015 we regularly meet with Virgin Trains East Coast to discuss progress and potential changes to the Franchise Agreement.

  • Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she still plans to introduce compulsory resit tests in (a) English reading and (b) mathematics for year 7 pupils who do not reach the required standard at the end of key stage 2.

    Nick Gibb

    The Secretary of State has already announced the Government’s plans to introduce resits in Year 7. This announcement can found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nicky-morgan-no-tolerance-of-areas-where-majority-of-pupils-fail.

    We have been clear that the resits will not be implemented in the next academic year and that we will engage with the education sector to make sure the tests are introduced in a way that works for schools. Further information will be provided in due course.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has made an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of negotiations for leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Davis

    The new Department for Exiting the European Union is equipping itself to oversee negotiations to leave the EU and establish the future relationship between the UK and EU. The overall size and scope of the new department, including staffing and budget, are under consideration.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data is held by her Department on levels of parental debt owed to schools.

    Edward Timpson

    The department does not hold data from which to supply the information requested.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the traffic commissioners in enforcing bus service reliability and punctuality.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department for Transport has regular discussions with the Senior Traffic Commissioner and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (who provide evidence to the Traffic Commissioners on bus punctuality) on bus punctuality enforcement issues. I am pleased to note that in England 83% of non-frequent bus services ran on time in 2014/15 compared to 80% in 2009/10.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the position of cyber crime in the published lists of priorities of Police and Crime Commissioners.

    Mike Penning

    Decisions about setting police priorities are rightly a matter for individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), tailored to the needs of the local community, and for Chief Constables to determine the most appropriate response in their areas.

    PCCs set the strategic direction and objectives of the force through the Police and Crime Plan which must have regard to the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) set by the Home Secretary.

    The SPR, published in March 2015, sets out the national threats and the appropriate national policing capabilities required to counter those threats. It quotes cyber crime as a National Security Strategy Tier One risk. Section 5 of the SPR, on capability, sets out what the police will need to be doing in order to achieve various outcomes. It specifically states the capabilities needed to conduct complex investigations, including cyber crime, that require specialist resources, including the capability to do so across boundaries.

    Cyber Security, including combating cyber crime, is a top priority threat to national security. That is why, through the National Cyber Security Programme, we have invested over £90 million over the last five years to bolster the law enforcement response. As the Chancellor announced on 17 November, we plan to almost double investment in cyber security, including cyber crime, to £1.9 billion over the next five years.

  • Nusrat Ghani – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Nusrat Ghani – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2016-01-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of people aged (a) 21 to 64 and (b) 65 and over who pay income tax pay tax at the higher rate.

    Mr David Gauke

    The information is not held in the form requested.

    Information on the number of taxpayers liable at the higher and additional rates of tax is set out in HM Revenue and Customs’ National Statistics table 2.1. This is available at the following internet address:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/429111/Table_2.1.pdf

    This data covers the number of taxpayers aged under 65 years old as well as those aged 65 and over.

  • John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-02-22.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the revenue the Government received from VAT on hotel stays and restaurant meals in each of the last five years.

    Mr David Gauke

    This level of detail is not requested on VAT returns and therefore data is not available on how much VAT was raised on hotel stays and restaurant meals in each of the last five years.

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies have applied for the lower rate of corporation tax under Patent Box.

    Mr David Gauke

    Due to companies being able to make a Patent Box election up to two years after the relevant accounting period, we will not be able to get full figures for the first year of the Patent Box until April 2016. The following figures are therefore projections.

    The estimated amounts of Patent Box relief can be found at the link below;

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487119/Dec15_expenditure_reliefs_Final.xlsx.pdf

    About 480 companies made Patent Box relief elections for the first year 2013-14 alone.