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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 24 Mar 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"Many low-paid workers are self-employed. When I raised this matter with the Leader of the House yesterday, he said:

“The Government are inevitably conscious that when we close places by order and that has an effect on people’s livelihoods, there is a societal responsibility.”—[Official Report, 23 March …..."

Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 24 Mar 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"A couple of times in the context of the self-employed, the Chancellor has mentioned wealthy people whose incomes are increasing. That is not who we are talking about. We are talking about people who have lost their entire income overnight. Will he please provide some more reassurance that it is …..."
Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 19 Mar 2020
Coronavirus: Employment Support

"The Minister is a decent man, but there is a feeling across the Chamber that Treasury Ministers, and the Chancellor in particular, find it difficult to empathise with the situation that people find themselves in and do not speak human very well. I appeal to Ministers to show a bit …..."
Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Coronavirus: Employment Support

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 17 Mar 2020
Economic Update

"The Chancellor needs to be more than a desiccated calculating machine. When he answers questions, we need to hear talk about people, not just packages. Will he look at early-day motion 302, which I tabled and which advocates a universal basic income—particularly for freelancers and the self-employed—as a temporary measure …..."
Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Economic Update

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Feb 2020
Apprenticeship Levy

"I well remember that debate in 2010, not least because it had to be postponed because the Minister did not turn up on time, and so was held later. However, as the Minister with responsibility for apprenticeships immediately prior to the 2010 election, I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman would …..."
Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Apprenticeship Levy

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Feb 2020
Apprenticeship Levy

"I left that bit out...."
Lord Brennan of Canton - View Speech

View all Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Apprenticeship Levy

Written Question
Enterprise Investment Scheme
Monday 10th February 2020

Asked by: Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the support offered by the Enterprise Investment Scheme to the independent film industry.

Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Enterprise Investment Scheme is intended to incentivise investment in early-stage, entrepreneurial businesses seeking growth finance. The EIS is designed to apply equally across all qualifying businesses to prevent market distortions.

As such, there has been no assessment on the application of the EIS to specific industries or sectors. In 2018/19, 3,900 companies from a range of industries used EIS to raise over £1.9 billion of capital.

The Government recognises the valuable contribution of the film industry to the UK economy, which is why it also provides industry-specific support via the film tax relief. In 2018-19 alone, the film sector benefitted from over £595m worth of support, and 245 completed films had claimed film tax relief.


Written Question
Enterprise Investment Scheme: Film
Monday 10th February 2020

Asked by: Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of the support offered by the Enterprise Investment Scheme to the independent film industry.

Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Enterprise Investment Scheme is intended to incentivise investment in early-stage, entrepreneurial businesses seeking growth finance. The EIS is designed to apply equally across all qualifying businesses to prevent market distortions.

As such, there has been no assessment on the application of the EIS to specific industries or sectors. In 2018/19, 3,900 companies from a range of industries used EIS to raise over £1.9 billion of capital.

The Government recognises the valuable contribution of the film industry to the UK economy, which is why it also provides industry-specific support via the film tax relief. In 2018-19 alone, the film sector benefitted from over £595m worth of support, and 245 completed films had claimed film tax relief.


Written Question
Social Security: Reciprocal Arrangements
Monday 21st October 2019

Asked by: Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ensure (a) the continued validity of UK-issued A1 certificates or (b) that freelance workers are exempted from social security contributions for work undertaken in the EU27 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

In the event that the UK leaves the EU without an agreement the current system of reciprocal social security coordination with the EU, EEA and Switzerland will end. A replacement for the A1/E101 form will be issued for new applications after Brexit. The Government is encouraging individuals or their employers to contact the relevant EU social security institution to check if they need to start paying social security contributions in that country, as well as in the UK.

The Government is calling on Member States to protect UK nationals by reaching reciprocal arrangements with the EU so individuals, including freelance workers, will only pay social security contributions in one country at a time.


Written Question
Claims Management Services
Thursday 25th July 2019

Asked by: Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to regulate complaints made by claims management companies on behalf of complainants on the same basis as independent and other financial advisors, banks and building societies.

Answered by Rishi Sunak

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has taken over regulation of claims management companies (CMCs). The FCA rules mean CMCs must meet the same basic standards as other FCA-regulated firms on conduct, as well as additional CMC-specific rules.