Speech in General Committees - Mon 24 Jun 2019
The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
"Given that the Prime Minister and others, including the Conservative leadership candidates, say that we are going to leave the EU on 31 October, why is the Minister rushing to comply rather than ignoring this and waiting until then?..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
Speech in General Committees - Mon 24 Jun 2019
The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
"I understand the build-up—it always takes this long—but given that Britain may leave the EU in only a few months, why does the Minister feel it necessary to do this now?..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
Speech in General Committees - Mon 24 Jun 2019
The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
"May I help the right hon. Gentleman with his difficulty? The reason the European Commission behaves like that towards the British is because the British civil service rolls over to it. Were our civil service prepared to be as robust as the French are in response, there could be a …..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 07 May 2019
Wild Animals in Circuses (No. 2) Bill
"This has been a pretty sorry story of delay, but I welcome the fact that the Bill is now here, given the lack of legislative business. Will the Minister say when the Government will bring forward legislation on increasing the penalties available to the courts for those guilty of animal …..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Wild Animals in Circuses (No. 2) Bill
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Apr 2019
Puppy Smuggling
"I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way; he rightly identifies the large sums of money that can be made either by individuals or by organised crime gangs. These criminals appear to make a very fine cost-benefit calculation, which reinforces the need, expressed by a number of animal charities, to …..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Puppy Smuggling
Speech in General Committees - Tue 26 Mar 2019
Draft Food and Farming (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
"I seek a bit of clarity from the Minister; I was just looking through the documentation. Will we just carry on with the EU-directed regime, which is based not on science, but on hysteria against genetically modified organisms—particularly genetically modified crops? Alternatively, will we be able to use Brexit to …..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Draft Food and Farming (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Speech in General Committees - Tue 26 Mar 2019
Draft Food and Farming (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
"There is a world of difference between watering down regulations that are clearly of proven scientific benefit to consumers, animals and the environment, and policies that are based purely on campaigns with a heavy degree of hysteria—particularly those against genetically modified crops, which have no proven negative impact on the …..."Lord Spellar - View Speech
View all Lord Spellar (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Draft Food and Farming (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Written Question
Monday 25th March 2019
Asked by:
Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which stakeholders and other Government Departments he consulted with prior to his announcement of a ban on gas boilers in new dwellings from 2025.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
- Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
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, and the Future Homes Standard went through the usual approvals process for Spring Statement measures. 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
Written Question
Thursday 21st March 2019
Asked by:
Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to prevent VAT evasion by overseas companies using internet platforms with fake VAT numbers.
Answered by Mel Stride
- Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government has led the way in tackling this complex and international problem. A package of measures were announced at Budget 2016 to disrupt and deter abuse by some overseas businesses selling goods to UK customers through online marketplaces. This included holding online marketplaces jointly liable for the future unpaid VAT of non-compliant overseas businesses, including where the overseas business uses a fake VAT number. These rules were extended in 2018 to require an online marketplace to display a valid VAT number for businesses on its platform if provided with one. Up to 31 December 2018, HMRC has issued 4,800 notices to online marketplaces notifying them of these non-compliant businesses resulting in their removal from those platforms.
Written Question
Wednesday 20th March 2019
Asked by:
Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the interest rate charged by HMRC is on back taxes incurred through reassessment of loan charge schemes.
Answered by Mel Stride
- Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration, with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.
For both employers and individuals, late payment interest will be applied in the normal way, and is payable at the rates which are published by HMRC, currently 3.25%. However, where people settle with HMRC, and have taken reasonable care, they will not pay any penalties for inaccuracies on their tax returns.
The charge on DR loans is expected to raise £3.2bn for the exchequer. The majority, 75%, is expected to come from employers rather than individuals. The best option for those individuals who are worried about the introduction of the charge on Disguised Remuneration loans is to come forward and speak to HMRC as soon as possible. They will work with all individuals to reach a manageable and sustainable payment plan wherever possible.
HMRC has put special arrangements in place so that they are able to agree a payment plan of up to five years automatically for those with income below £50,000 and seven years for those with income below £30,000 where those scheme users are no longer engaging in tax avoidance. HMRC may be able to offer a longer payment plan for those that need more than five or seven years, or with income over £50,000, where further information is provided.