Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the (a) Government’s policy on charging VAT on audiobooks and (b) provisions of the Equality Act 2010 on people (i) with dyslexia, (ii) with sight loss or impairment and (iii) who are unable to hold books.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to supporting those with disabilities who may struggle to access physical books and therefore rely more heavily on audiobooks. In line with its statutory obligations under the Equality Act, the Government carefully considers the impact of VAT policy on those with disabilities
However, there is never any guarantee that any VAT cut is passed onto consumers. It is therefore not clear that cutting the VAT on audiobooks would benefit consumers, including those with disabilities.
The government does not currently have any plans to change the VAT treatment of audiobooks.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department received in Emissions Trading Scheme fees from (a) Belfast International, (b) Belfast City and (c) Londonderry airport in the financial year 2022/23.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Belfast International, Belfast City and Londonderry airports are not covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and therefore do not contribute to Emission Trading Scheme revenue.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any oil being imported to the UK has been (a) rejected and (b) turned away on the basis that it originated in Russia.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government announced measures against the import of oil of Russian origin or originating in Russia on 21 July 2022. Since that date, HMRC has implemented border controls so that if such consignments were declared onto the Customs Declaration Service, then HMRC would take appropriate enforcement action.
HMRC has a range of enforcement options available such as education, warning letters, issuing compound settlements, seizures / disruptions and in the most serious of cases, referral to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration for prosecution.
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the return on investment criteria are for prioritising proposals in the next Spending Review.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Treasury will put in place a robust and comprehensive strategy for improving public sector productivity at the next Spending Review, putting these improvements at the heart of departmental settlements.
As the Chancellor set out, building on work to date and the £4.2 billion of funding announced at the Budget, relevant departments will develop detailed productivity plans over the coming months ahead of the next Spending Review.
Further decisions will be taken at the Spending Review.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on compensation for infected blood scandal victims in the last 12 months.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This was an appalling tragedy, and my thoughts remain with all those affected. The Government has accepted the moral case for compensation and justice must be delivered for the victims.
As such, the Government intends to respond in full to Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations for wider compensation following the publication of the Inquiry’s final report in May 2024.
Asked by: Liz Kendall (Labour - Leicester West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2024 to Question 17582 on National Insurance Contributions: State Retirement Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of abolishing, rather than reducing, national insurance contributions on state pension entitlements.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Cutting NICs rates does not affect anyone’s entitlement to the State Pension or contributory benefits.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's advice on the cost effectiveness of a respiratory syncytial virus immunisation programme.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) plays a vital role in advising the government on vaccination programmes. DHSC are responsible for considering their recommendations.
Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answers of 23 October 2006, Official Report, column 1679WA and 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 227W, and pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 16860 on Housing: Valuation, whether the Valuation Office Agency uses locality adjustment factors to calibrate the automated valuation model for multiple regression analysis; and how many localities the Valuation Office Agency has created for the model.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency’s Automated Valuation Model (AVM) methodology for Wales has been updated substantially since the cancelled 2007 English revaluation. The new AVM uses spatial modelling techniques of which location is a key element. The spatial model estimates a continuous field of location factors (which are influenced by various aspects such as transport links, crime rates, quality of nearby schools) rather than the discrete localities.
I would observe that this is a policy proposed by the Welsh Government, and does not represent the policy position of the UK Government in England.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) short and (b) long term impact of (i) extreme weather and (ii) storms on the economy.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) was published in July 2023. It set out policies and actions to respond to the 61 climate risks and opportunities identified in the independent Third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3), including risks arising from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events. As part of CCRA3, the Climate Change Committee produced an analysis of the monetary valuation of risks and opportunities, as well as an analysis of the indicative costs and benefits of adaptation.
The Treasury continues to work to determine what additional research and analysis, including economic analysis, is required to ensure robust adaptation.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he had discussions with airports in Scotland on the potential merits of reinstating tax-free shopping for international visitors before the Spring Budget 2024.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
The government published its next steps on tax-free shopping in the Spring Budget 2024 which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2024/spring-budget-2024-html.