Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of value added tax (VAT) thresholds on competition in the removals and storage industry; and whether they plan to lower the threshold to align with European economies and tackle VAT avoidance in the sector.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Consideration of changes to the VAT threshold would have to carefully balance the potential benefits to businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances. The Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that “structural and investment funds projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave”, whether they intend to publish the number and value of contracts signed for each funding stream approved between the Chancellor’s announcement and the Autumn Statement.
Answered by Lord O'Neill of Gatley
The Treasury does not hold information about individual EU funded projects, so the detailed information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information about EU funded projects in the UK is in the public domain, e.g. a list of European Structural and Investment Funds beneficiaries is available on Gov.uk.
In line with the Chief Secretary’s letter of 12th August, a copy of which has been deposited in the Libraries of the House, further details will be provided ahead of the Autumn Statement.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that “structural and investment funds projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave”, what steps they are taking to ensure that there will be adequate staff resources in government departments to handle EU funding applications promptly in the months up to that Statement.
Answered by Lord O'Neill of Gatley
Departments will continue to have the resource available to sign all projects in the ordinary course of business prior to the Autumn Statement, as detailed by the Chief Secretary in his letter of 12th August 2016. A of copy this letter is available in the Library of the House.