Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Duchy of Cornwall property used by Bishop Peter Ball was transferred into the private ownership of the Prince of Wales; and, if so, whether the transfer was approved by HM Treasury; and, if so, whether at (1) an independently audited commercial rate, or (2) a discounted rate.
Answered by Lord Bates
This is a matter for the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy of Cornwall Management Acts 1863 and 1982 set out the requirement for HM Treasury approval. I understand that the property was fully marketed and disposed by the Duchy of Cornwall estate at arms-length to a third party in 2015.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 6 June (HL8105), which categories of crown bodies using the single series of VAT registration numbers are in the private sector.
Answered by Lord Bates
VAT legislation does not distinguish between different categories of crown body. Any crown body making taxable supplies of goods and services is treated in the same way as any commercial business.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 21 May (HL7676), which crown bodies using the single series of VAT registration numbers are in the private sector.
Answered by Lord Bates
HMRC cannot comment on the affairs of individual taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of the UK being required to repay EU funding awarded to British organisations following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and what guarantees they require from recipients of such funding that they will reimburse the Government for any funds that the Government have to repay to the EU.
Answered by Lord Bates
Under the terms of the financial settlement, set out in a draft Withdrawal Agreement and welcomed by the EU-27 at March European Council, the UK will continue to participate in all EU programmes funded by the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework. Under this agreement, funding for UK participants and projects will, therefore, be unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the Union for the entire lifetime of such projects.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 30 April (HL6867), why the Duchy of Cornwall has a VAT number from the Government department registration series.
Answered by Lord Bates
There is a single series of VAT registration numbers for all crown bodies.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Duchy of Cornwall is subject to rules relating to Value Added Tax (VAT) on the same basis as other bodies; if so, whether the Duchy is registered for VAT; and how much VAT was charged by the Duchy in each of the last two financial years.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Duchy of Cornwall is subject to VAT on the same basis as other bodies.
In response to the second and third parts of the question, HM Revenue and Customs ensures that everyone pays the tax they owe under the law. They cannot comment on the detailed affairs of individual taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether HM Treasury approved the offshore investments by the Duchy of Cornwall of $3.9 million in 2007 which were disclosed in the Appleby papers.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Treasury’s oversight of the Duchy relates to the sale of and expenditure on land and property, as required by the Management Acts. The Treasury does not oversee and approve the Duchy’s financial investments.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they treat the Duchy of Cornwall as a private or public corporation, a company, a trust, or a settlement, for tax purposes.
Answered by Lord Bates
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is the department with principal responsibility for reviewing individual tax affairs. They do not comment on the affairs of identifiable taxpayers. However, since 1993 the Prince of Wales has voluntarily paid tax on income from the Duchy of Cornwall. The 2013 Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation gives further details and is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any investment by the Duchy of Cornwall requires the approval of HM Treasury; and if so, what level of investment.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Duchy of Cornwall Management Acts 1963 and 1982 require the Treasury to authorise transactions over £500,000 on the Duchy’s capital account in relation to land and property.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of Brexit on the UK's GDP per hour worked, in comparison to (1) Germany, (2) France, and (3) Italy.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government has made no assessment of the effect of leaving the EU on the UK’s GDP per hour worked compared to that of other countries.