Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new duty band for high strength white cider on levels of alcohol-related crimes.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government announced the creation of a new band for high strength ciders at Autumn Budget 2017. However a decision has not yet been made on the duty rate to be applied to products that fall within the band.
When making decisions on alcohol duty HM Treasury engages with interested stakeholders, including law enforcement organisations, to consider the impact of these decisions.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of the new duty band for high-strength white cider on the number of alcohol-related deaths.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government announced the creation of a new band for high strength ciders at Autumn Budget 2017. However a decision has not yet been made on the duty rate to be applied to products that fall within the band.
When making decisions on alcohol duty HM Treasury engages with interested stakeholders, including public health organisations, to consider the impact of these decisions.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of the new duty band for high strength white cider on the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government announced the creation of a new band for high strength ciders at Autumn Budget 2017. However a decision has not yet been made on the duty rate to be applied to products that fall within the band.
When making decisions on alcohol duty HM Treasury engages with interested stakeholders, including public health organisations, to consider the impact of these decisions.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new duty band for high strength white cider on levels of alcohol-related crimes.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government announced the creation of a new band for high strength ciders at Autumn Budget 2017. However a decision has not yet been made on the duty rate to be applied to products that fall within the band.
When making decisions on alcohol duty HM Treasury engages with interested stakeholders, including law enforcement organisations, to consider the impact of these decisions.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce a higher rate of tax for high-strength white ciders.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The government keeps all taxes under review and we will consider this issue as part of the Budget process.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
HM Treasury is committed to ensuring that we access the very best scientific expertise. The Director for the Enterprise and Growth Unit, who is responsible for public science funding, acts as HM Treasury’s Chief Scientific Adviser, working closely with the Government Office for Science and the wider network of scientific advisers. In addition, the Second Permanent Secretary is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total cost to (a) the economy, (b) government revenue and (c) public services of unemployment among (i) people with a disability, (ii) people with chronic mental health problems, (iii) ex-offenders, (iv) people who have been unemployed for a year or more, (v) care leavers and (vi) veterans.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HM Treasury does not make estimates of the total cost of unemployment of specific groups.
The government is committed to helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds get into work. The unemployment rate is at its lowest for over 40 years and has fallen by over 1 million since 2010.
3 million more people are in employment today than in 2010. The government’s successful labour market policies, including its effective unemployment support, has had a part in making this happen – today there are 687,000 fewer job-seeking claimants than in 2010.
As a result, this year the government is forecast to spend £2.8 billion on jobseekers benefits, this is £2.2 billion pounds less than seven years ago. In addition, £15bn is forecast to be spent on the Employment and Support Allowance which is paid to those who cannot work due to illness or disability.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will provide a holiday on employers' national insurance contributions for a full year for (a) those with a disability, (b) those with chronic mental health problems, (c) ex-offenders, (d) those unemployed for a year or more, (e) care leavers and (f) veterans.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government will set out its plans in due course.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will take steps to ensure that the proceeds of fines imposed by the Competition and Markets Authority on pharmaceutical companies will be invested in the NHS.
Answered by David Gauke
As with other fine income, fines levied by the CMA for breaches of competition law are returned to the Consolidated Fund. Receipts from this fine will therefore help fund the £10bn increase in NHS funding set out at the Spending Review. A separate process is available for parties to recover damages suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour through the courts.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many working days were lost due to mental illness in his Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by Simon Kirby
Details of sickness absence for Mental and Behavioural disorders in HM Treasury can be found in the HM Treasury published Annual report and Accounts.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-annual-report