Tag: Rob Marris

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2015-12-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many full-time equivalent members of staff were employed by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 2005.

Mr David Gauke

The number of full-time equivalent members of staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 2005 is shown in the following table.

Year	Full-time equivalent staff in post
April 2005	97,073.36
April 2006	92,888.45
April 2007	88,935.55
April 2008	83,827.84
April 2009	81,159.89
April 2010	70,699.64
April 2011	66,880.89
April 2012	66,466.00
April 2013	64,476.36
April 2014	61,370.12
April 2015	57,138.24

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority schools have been found to have made irregular payments to third party suppliers without the necessary contracts in each of the last three years.

Edward Timpson

Local authorities are responsible for the oversight of the schools they maintain and carry out their own programmes of financial monitoring.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-05-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax avoidance cases the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel considered in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date.

Mr David Gauke

The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) was introduced in July 2013, and only applies to abusive tax arrangements entered into from this date.

This means that it will first apply to income tax returns for the tax year ending 5 April 2014, which must have been filed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by 31 January 2015.

For cases to be tackled by the GAAR, HMRC must first enquire into tax returns once they are received, and gather all relevant facts. It is therefore still early in the process of litigation action for cases to be tackled by the GAAR.

The GAAR Advisory Panel is an external body separate to HMRC. Their independent role means that they do not report the number of meetings held to HMRC.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that public-facing staff at sports venues have disability equality awareness training.

Tracey Crouch

Our Sports Strategy recognises the need for everyone to be able to access live sport and to benefit from the experience. It makes clear that sports venues need to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes all spectators.

We want sport to be at the forefront of equality and want to see all sports venues proactively consider and put into practice ways of engaging with and attracting a wider range of spectators, including disabled fans, ensuring the offer and the environment are inclusive and accessible to all.

We expect all sports and all clubs to take the necessary action to fulfil their legal obligation under the Equality Act of 2010 to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage when accessing sports venues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-01-06.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government will publish its response to the discussion document on Intermediaries Legislation (IR35).

Mr David Gauke

The discussion period closed on 30 September and the Government will announce next steps in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools have been found to have failed to keep records of eligibility for free school meals in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Gyimah

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) undertakes academy trust funding audit visits as part of its assurance regime, which includes free school meals. It has found the following instances where full records have not been kept:

Assurance plan year	Total trusts where instances of pupil ineligibility were identified
1 July 2015 – present	Currently underway, therefore no information
1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015	0
1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014	9

In addition we have received one instance where we have confirmed ineligibility of funding and are taking swift action to resolve issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-05-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax avoidance cases have been submitted by HM Revenue and Customs to the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date.

Mr David Gauke

The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) was introduced in July 2013, and only applies to abusive tax arrangements entered into from this date.

This means that it will first apply to income tax returns for the tax year ending 5 April 2014, which must have been filed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by 31 January 2015.

For cases to be tackled by the GAAR, HMRC must first enquire into tax returns once they are received, and gather all relevant facts. It is therefore still early in the process of litigation action for cases to be tackled by the GAAR.

The GAAR Advisory Panel is an external body separate to HMRC. Their independent role means that they do not report the number of meetings held to HMRC.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage GPs to undertake collaborative work with Muscular Dystrophy UK to increase their knowledge of care and management of people with neuromuscular conditions.

David Mowat

NHS England is working on Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Bridging the Gap project to develop local neuromuscular services – creating expert forums to help share best practice and advice and provide extra support to clinicians.

In addition to this, the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs) has developed a learning module with Muscular Dystrophy UK to help GPs have a better understanding of their role in the management of neuromuscular conditions. It will also help them recognise the key moments when a patient needs to be referred to a specialist neuromuscular service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West of 28 October 2015 on the dispersal of refugees.

James Brokenshire

I replied to the member for Wolverhampton South West on 18 January 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 on costs to the NHS in the year ending May 2017.

Jane Ellison

The Department assesses the impact of all proposed measures before making legislation using standard government methodology. These assessments are set out in Impact Assessments which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee before publication alongside the Statutory Instrument.

An assessment of the impact of the provisions introduced by the Tobacco Products Directive will be published alongside the implementing Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 in spring this year. Expected health benefits from improved smoking quit rates have been estimated at around £13 billion.