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Written Question
Economic Situation: Weather
Monday 15th April 2024

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.


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Monday 15th April 2024

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.


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Monday 15th April 2024

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 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.


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the impact of ending tax-free shopping for international visitors on tax revenues since 2020.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The OBR published a review of the original 2020 costing of the withdrawal of tax-free shopping in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook on 6 March, with a follow up supplementary document published on 11 March, which is available here: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/VAT-RES-costing-review.pdf

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.

The government welcomes further submissions in response to the OBR’s findings.


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Monday 15th April 2024

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 has had recent discussions with airports in Scotland on the potential merits of reinstating tax-free shopping for international visitors.

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.


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Monday 15th April 2024

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 has had recent discussions with airports on the potential merits of reinstating tax-free shopping for international visitors.

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.


Written Question
Tax Avoidance: Bankruptcy
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will become bankrupt as a result of the (a) loan charge and (b) associated activity.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) only ever considers insolvency as a last resort. Anyone who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should contact HMRC, who may be able to agree an instalment arrangement based on the individual’s financial circumstances. There is no maximum length for these arrangements.

Where people are facing insolvency, HMRC is not always the only creditor. Some individuals are declared bankrupt as a result of a non-HMRC debt and some individuals may choose to enter insolvency themselves based on their overall financial position. To date, HMRC has not initiated insolvency proceedings against any taxpayer solely for a Loan Charge debt.

As set out in the answer to PQ 17136, since 2022, HMRC has issued around 2,700 decisions under s.684(7A)(b) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 to disguised remuneration scheme users.


Written Question
Tax Avoidance: Bankruptcy
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been issued section 684 notices by HMRC in relation to disguised remuneration schemes in the last 12 months.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) only ever considers insolvency as a last resort. Anyone who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should contact HMRC, who may be able to agree an instalment arrangement based on the individual’s financial circumstances. There is no maximum length for these arrangements.

Where people are facing insolvency, HMRC is not always the only creditor. Some individuals are declared bankrupt as a result of a non-HMRC debt and some individuals may choose to enter insolvency themselves based on their overall financial position. To date, HMRC has not initiated insolvency proceedings against any taxpayer solely for a Loan Charge debt.

As set out in the answer to PQ 17136, since 2022, HMRC has issued around 2,700 decisions under s.684(7A)(b) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 to disguised remuneration scheme users.


Written Question
Climate Change: Investment
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19040 on Climate Change: Investment, what steps he is taking to help support the national coordination of funding for climate adaptation.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has set out the steps it is taking to respond to climate risks and opportunities in the Third National Adaptation Programme, which has taken an integrated approach through governance, engagement and coordinated policymaking. These steps, including those relating to the 2023 Green Finance Strategy, will inform future collective investment prioritisation through the usual government planning processes, including Spending Reviews.
Written Question
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Vaccination
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on a respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Ministers and officials across government meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues, including routine and new vaccination programmes. If any RSV programmes are agreed to, they will be announced to the public and health professionals in due course.