Tag: Seema Malhotra

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-03-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.228 of Budget 2016, when he expects the new money guidance body to be established.

Harriett Baldwin

At Budget 2016, the government published its response to the Public Financial Guidance Review and launched a consultation seeking views on the government’s plans to restructure the statutory financial guidance providers – the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. This paper, which closes on 8 June 2016, sets out a new delivery model for public financial guidance and seeks views on how, within this model, the proposed services could best be offered. The new delivery model is designed to better complement the financial guidance provided by the third sector and the industry and provide more targeted support for consumers.

The government will consider the responses to this consultation over the summer, and in parallel, work closely with the affected organisations to finalise the delivery structure. A detailed timetable will be set out with the final response, which will be published in the autumn. The government has been clear that the three affected organisations will continue to provide guidance to consumers until at least 2018.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-10-30.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish his Department’s Business Tax Roadmap.

Mr David Gauke

The Government will publish a Business Tax Roadmap by April 2016, setting out plans for business taxes over the rest of the parliament. This will give businesses the certainty they need to plan long-term investment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of increasing the provision of export finance in productivity.

Greg Hands

Trade increases UK productivity by allowing firms to specialise in sectors in which the UK has a comparative advantage, and through exposure to new ideas and international competition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK businesses that do not have access to broadband with speeds above 24Mbps.

Mr Edward Vaizey

According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report 2015, published on 1 December 2015, superfast broadband coverageis now available to 68% of small and medium businesses (SMEs) – up from 56% last year– a very substantial increase.

In addition, the £40 million government-funded Broadband Connection Voucher Schemehas benefitted well over 50,000 SMEs,who employ up to 1 million people across the UK; and we are on track to hit 95% superfast broadband coverage across the UK by 2017. In addition, the PM recently announced the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps, no matter where in the country they live.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings he has had on his Department’s proposed review of business rates.

Mr David Gauke

The Government has held a range meetings with stakeholders and received a large number of submissions in response to the business rates review. The review will be fiscally neutral and will report at Budget 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to address the forecast rise in household debt as defined by the Office for Budget Responsibility on page 69 of its November 2015 report, the Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Harriett Baldwin

To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past we have created the independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) within the Bank of England to ensure emerging risks and vulnerabilities across the financial system as a whole are identified, monitored and effectively addressed. The FPC has taken action on loan-to-income ratios and mortgage affordability to ensure against a significant rise in the number of highly indebted households.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-01.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many prosecutions have arisen from investigations undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs Large Business Service in each of the last three years; and what the (a) category of taxes involved in and (b) result was of each such prosecution.

Mr David Gauke

Criminal investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is part of a number of compliance interventions. Criminal investigation and prosecution act as a deterrent and support wider and more cost effective compliance interventions.

HMRC takes cases to court when litigation is necessary. Since April 2013, HMRC has won 80%. Over £1.37 billion tax was protected by litigation against large business avoidance in that period.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-03-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.228 of Budget 2016, when he expects the new pensions guidance body to be established.

Harriett Baldwin

At Budget 2016, the government published its response to the Public Financial Guidance Review and launched a consultation seeking views on the government’s plans to restructure the statutory financial guidance providers – the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. This paper, which closes on 8 June 2016, sets out a new delivery model for public financial guidance and seeks views on how, within this model, the proposed services could best be offered. The new delivery model is designed to better complement the financial guidance provided by the third sector and the industry and provide more targeted support for consumers.

The government will consider the responses to this consultation over the summer, and in parallel, work closely with the affected organisations to finalise the delivery structure. A detailed timetable will be set out with the final response, which will be published in the autumn. The government has been clear that the three affected organisations will continue to provide guidance to consumers until at least 2018.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-10-30.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish an update on the delivery of the National Infrastructure Plan.

Greg Hands

The Government continues to track the status of nationally significant infrastructure projects and programmes in the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which underpins the National Infrastructure Plan. In July 2015, the Government published a refresh of the National Infrastructure Pipeline containing details on the status of UK infrastructure projects.

Over 2,650 projects were completed in the last Parliament and a number of priority projects have been completed since the last National Infrastructure Plan was published, including Manchester Victoria station and Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the British Business Bank will support UK productivity.

Greg Hands

The British Business Bank aims to make finance markets work better for smaller businesses. The Bank’s work improves productivity by encouraging investment and promoting a dynamic economy.