Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether suitable businesses purposes for which loans provided under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility may be utilised include payments (a) for kerosene futures, (b) for buying fuel, (c) to avoid buying fuel for which agreements or contracts have already been entered into and (d) to (i) Avalon and (ii) other aircraft leasing companies.
Answered by John Glen
The Covid Corporate Financing Facility is designed to support companies who would ordinarily seek market-based finance to strengthen working capital, but find themselves struggling to access financial markets in this uncertain operating environment. It primarily provides bridging support to see through the temporary nature of Covid-19 related disruption, by catalyzing the market for short term corporate funding.
Since 19 May the Government has imposed restraints on capital distributions (including dividends and share buybacks), as well as senior pay, on companies accessing the CCFF. Firms must provide a letter of commitment to these constraints to HMT, which HMT reserves the right to publish if it becomes aware the terms of the letter have not been complied with.
In order to ensure support can be provided quickly, and in a broad-based manner, those are the only conditions imposed on participating firms at this time. Firms must meet strict criteria to access the CCFF so that the Government is confident the funds will be repaid.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 to the families of all key workers who die from covid-19.
Answered by Steve Barclay
On 27 April, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a new Life Assurance scheme for frontline NHS and social care workers who die from coronavirus. This recognises the increased risks faced by these staff during the course of their essential and lifesaving work during the crisis, and the need to encourage retired doctors and nurses to fill staff shortages and boost service capacity.
It pays a £60,000 tax-free lump sum where staff die as a result of coronavirus and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have contracted coronavirus.
The government will continue to review the support provided to key workers on the front-line.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he has introduced to increase the domestic installation of solar roofs since the closure of the Feed in Tariff framework.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government is committed to greening the economy. HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs are working closely together to ensure that the tax system as a whole, as well as future spending decisions, facilitate the Government’s objectives for both the Net Zero Review and its wider fiscal and economic strategy.Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on meeting the UK's Paris Climate Agreement commitments; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The UK played a prominent role in helping to secure the Paris Agreement in 2015, and we are determined that the UK’s Presidency of COP26 this November will be a milestone for ambition, targeting action to deliver on the promise of the Agreement.
In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to legislate to end its contribution to climate change by 2050.
The UK is committed to doubling our International Climate Finance to at least £11.6bn between 2021 and 2025, to help developing countries to take action.
HM Treasury takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. As you would expect, we are considering what further fiscal and other policy measures are needed to meet our 2050 net zero target.
To support this, HM Treasury launched a review into how the transition to a net zero economy will be funded, and where the costs will fall. The review will publish its findings in Autumn 2020.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Treasury measures annual progress on carbon reduction commitments.
Answered by Steve Barclay
HM Treasury takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and works closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who lead on clean growth and carbon budgets policy.
The Committee on Climate Change also provides independent, expert advice to Government on climate change mitigation and adaptation and produce an annual report to Parliament assessing progress in reducing UK emissions over the past year. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy produce a response to these reports annually.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution his Department' spending plans to meeting the target to reduce emission to net zero by 2050.
Answered by Steve Barclay
HM Treasury takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. As you would expect, we are considering what further fiscal and other policy measures are needed to meet our 2050 net zero target.
To support this, HM Treasury launched a review into how the transition to a net zero economy will be funded, and where the costs will fall. The review will publish its findings in Autumn 2020.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking in response to the Resolution of the House of Commons of 1 May 2019 declaring a climate emergency.
Answered by Steve Barclay
HM Treasury takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. As you would expect, we are considering what further fiscal and other policy measures are needed to meet our 2050 net zero target.
To support this, HM Treasury launched a review into how the transition to a net zero economy will be funded, and where the costs will fall. The review will publish its findings in Autumn 2020.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are employed (a) full time and (b) part-time by the Royal Mint.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Royal Mint currently employs 726 full-time employees, and 48 part-time employees.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-British employees are employed (a) full time and (b) part-time by the Royal Mint.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Royal Mint currently employs 9 non-British full-time employees, and 1 non-British part-time employee.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on the soft drinks industry levy of research by Cancer Research UK linking obesity and cancer.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
All taxes are kept under review. New evidence related to fiscal interventions such as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy is considered as part of the normal Budget process. As set out in Phase 2 of the Childhood Obesity Strategy, HMT will review the Soft Drinks Industry Levy exemption for milk-based drinks in 2020.