Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the UK has paid to the EU since the 2016 referendum; how much they anticipate the UK will pay to the EU in the future; and for what purposes.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government publishes a summary of the UK’s financial relationship with the European Union in an annual report to Parliament by HM Treasury. The latest edition of the European Union Finances Statement has been laid before Parliament today, covering the calendar year 2020 as well as certain information for previous years. A copy is available in the Library of the House. The Statement reports the UK’s contributions to the EU Budget and public-sector receipts from the EU, in addition to receipts which flow directly to the private sector without being included in Government accounts. The EU Finances Statement provides the most complete analysis of the UK’s financial relationship with the EU.
The European Union Finances Statement also includes an annex on the impact of EU Withdrawal, which provides an updated estimate of the total value of the financial settlement. The Statement explains all components of the outstanding net liability and provides an extended description of the assurance arrangements which will ensure the UK pays only what it owes under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 29 April (HL15257), when they expect the Financial Conduct Authority to provide a response about the (1) value, and (2) service, provided by UK pension providers to holders of UK Self-Invested Personal Pensions.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Information on the value and service provided to holders of Self-Invested Personal Pensions has now been provided by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the form of a letter and a copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House. The FCA apologise for the delay in their response.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) value, and (2) service, provided by UK pension providers to holders of UK Self-Invested Personal Pensions.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government.
The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the Noble Lord by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their proposed ban on same sex attraction therapy will include a prohibition on talking therapy.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The Government takes this issue of Conversion Therapy very seriously and fundamentally disagrees with attempts to forcibly change someone’s sexuality. In order to end conversion therapy practice for good, we are thoroughly considering all legislative and non-legislative options.
My officials are reviewing the current legislative framework to see how certain harmful and abhorrent practices referred to as conversion therapy may already be captured by existing laws and offences. Where these practices are already unlawful, we will ensure that the law is clear, well-understood and enforced. Where dangerous conversion therapy practices are not already unlawful, we are examining the best ways to prevent them being conducted, without sending them underground.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average cost to the British taxpayer, including salary and expenses but excluding building maintenance costs, of a UK Member of the European Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The terms and conditions of MEPs are set out in the Statute for Members of the European Parliament. As of July 2016 the gross monthly salary of an MEP is €8,484.05. MEPs are also entitled to a monthly €4,342 general expenditure allowance covering staff and office costs, and allowances for travel and subsistence.
As the government contributes to the EU budget as a whole and not to individual programmes or institutions, it is not possible to say how much this costs the British taxpayer.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in 2015 what proportion of the aggregated value in sterling of UK imports of industrial goods and agricultural and fish products bore zero-rate customs duties.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The proportion of aggregated value in sterling of UK imports of agricultural and fish products with a zero rate of duty, from outside the EU, was 38.32% and for industrial products with a zero rate of duty was 23.33%.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in 2015 what was the value in sterling of (1) UK imports from outside the EU of agricultural and fish products, and (2) UK customs duties collected by HM Revenue and Customs on those imports.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The total value in sterling for imports of Agricultural goods and Fish products from outside of the EU was £12,377,442,495.75.The total value of Customs duties collected on those goods was £408,379,330.90 and the VAT duties collected was £282,733,876.80 in 2015.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in 2015 what was the value in sterling of (1) UK imports from outside the EU of industrial goods, and (2) UK customs duties charged and collected by HM Revenue and Customs on those imports.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The total statistical value in sterling for industrial goods outside of the EU was £337,197,217,084.94. The total of Customs duties collected was £2,321,736,536.64 and the VAT duties collected on those goods was £20,844,769,400.38 in 2015.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 9 January (HL4374), what negotiations took place between 1989 and 1993 about the former Soviet Union's international debt; upon what conditions Russia assumed that debt; and whether Russia welcomed that arrangement.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Negotiations took place in 1991 between the G7 and eight Soviet national republics, leading to a Memorandum of Understanding through which the eight republics agreed to take joint responsibility for Soviet debt. This was followed by an Inter-State Agreement on the Succession of External Debts & Assets of the USSR (December 1991) that divided Soviet overseas debts and assets between eight of the republics.
When it became clear that only Russia was able to make debt repayments, Russia assumed the full debt in exchange for the other states’ shares of Soviet overseas assets. This was negotiated between Russia and nine successor states between 1992 and 1994.
The Treasury does not hold information as to whether Russia welcomed the arrangement.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 9 January (HL4371), whether they will now provide figures to answer the question asked.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I have nothing to add to the answer given on 9th January 2017 (HL4371). The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union (Lord Bridges of Headley), updated the House on our plans for EU exit on 17 January.