Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase the number of banks participating in the Business Banking Resolution service.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government welcomes the recent launch of Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS), a free and independent service designed to settle unresolved complaints from SMEs about their bank.
The Government has set out high level guidance regarding what the BBRS should look to achieve. In 2018, the then Chancellor wrote to the BBRS signalling that for the scheme to bring closure it is vital that it considers as many complaints as possible, but also that it is right the scheme focuses on providing resolution to SMEs who have not had anywhere independent to take their complaint. Beyond this high-level guidance, it is not for the Government to comment on specific details about the eligibility of a voluntary, non-governmental service.
On increasing the number of banks participating in the BBRS, the service launched with 7 founding banks who make up the majority of the UK banking sector, and it is understood that the BBRS hopes additional lenders will join over time. It is not for Government to mandate participation in an industry-led, independent organisation.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to expand the eligibility criteria for the Business Banking Resolution Service.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government welcomes the recent launch of Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS), a free and independent service designed to settle unresolved complaints from SMEs about their bank.
The Government has set out high level guidance regarding what the BBRS should look to achieve. In 2018, the then Chancellor wrote to the BBRS signalling that for the scheme to bring closure it is vital that it considers as many complaints as possible, but also that it is right the scheme focuses on providing resolution to SMEs who have not had anywhere independent to take their complaint. Beyond this high-level guidance, it is not for the Government to comment on specific details about the eligibility of a voluntary, non-governmental service.
On increasing the number of banks participating in the BBRS, the service launched with 7 founding banks who make up the majority of the UK banking sector, and it is understood that the BBRS hopes additional lenders will join over time. It is not for Government to mandate participation in an industry-led, independent organisation.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC employees were located in Scotland (a) in March 2011 and (b) at the most recent date on which his Department has collated that information.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Based on the HMRC organisational structure for March 2011 and May 2021, the numbers of employees located in Scotland were:
Headcount, March 2011 = 9,918
Headcount, May 2021 = 7,817
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the (a) locations, (b) size, (c) charitable status and (d) sectors of organisations that have benefited from social investment tax relief in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The requirement to maintain taxpayer confidentiality means it is not possible to disclose which specific businesses have used the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) to raise investment.
The registered locations of enterprises benefitting from SITR in this period are as follows:
| 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
East Midlands | Fewer than 5 | 0 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 |
East of England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
London | 0 | 5 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 5 |
North East | Fewer than 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North West | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 5 |
Scotland | 0 | 10 | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 5 |
South East | Fewer than 5 | 0 | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 20 |
South West | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
Wales | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 | Fewer than 5 |
West Midlands | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 20 |
Yorkshire & Humber | 0 | 0 | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 |
Total | 5 | 25 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. Individual locations may not sum up to the total due to rounding. In order to maintain taxpayer confidentiality, any location with fewer than five organisations has been defined as ‘fewer than 5’.
Information on the other requested characteristics of social enterprises using SITR is not readily available and cannot be provided within the time available.
In order to qualify for SITR, enterprises must have fewer than 250 employees and less than £15 million gross assets at the time investment is received.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the organisations that have benefited from social investment tax relief in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The requirement to maintain taxpayer confidentiality means it is not possible to disclose which specific businesses have used the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) to raise investment.
The registered locations of enterprises benefitting from SITR in this period are as follows:
| 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
East Midlands | Fewer than 5 | 0 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 |
East of England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
London | 0 | 5 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 5 |
North East | Fewer than 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North West | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 5 | Fewer than 5 | 5 |
Scotland | 0 | 10 | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 5 |
South East | Fewer than 5 | 0 | Fewer than 5 | 5 | 20 |
South West | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
Wales | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 | Fewer than 5 |
West Midlands | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 20 |
Yorkshire & Humber | 0 | 0 | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | 0 |
Total | 5 | 25 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. Individual locations may not sum up to the total due to rounding. In order to maintain taxpayer confidentiality, any location with fewer than five organisations has been defined as ‘fewer than 5’.
Information on the other requested characteristics of social enterprises using SITR is not readily available and cannot be provided within the time available.
In order to qualify for SITR, enterprises must have fewer than 250 employees and less than £15 million gross assets at the time investment is received.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March to Question 164514, what the Barnett Consequentials are for (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland of his Budget 2021 announcement on funding for the Thalidomide Health Grant Renewal.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Further to my previous answer, at spending reviews the Barnett formula is generally applied to the overall change in each department’s funding, rather than being applied at programme level.
It is not therefore possible to specify the Barnett consequentials generated by the funding for the Thalidomide Health Grant Renewal at the 2020 Spending Review. However, I can confirm that the 2020 Spending Review provided the devolved administrations with a combined additional £4.7 billion for 2021-22 through the Barnett formula.
Funding for 2022-23 onwards will be determined at the upcoming spending review.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he received from former Prime Minister David Cameron on Government support to Greensill Capital; what responses were given; and when those responses were recorded.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Ministers routinely meet with a range of private sector stakeholders. Transparency releases are published on a quarterly basis and are currently publicly available for Ministerial meetings up to and including September 2020, which is in line with normal reporting timelines on disclosures.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet and (b) devolved administration colleagues on the effect of (i) increased inflation and (ii) normalisation of the Government bond yield on public borrowing costs.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Chancellor has regular discussions on macroeconomic policy with European and G7 counterparts. They all recognise the significant challenges ahead of us in the months to come. The G7 has an important role to play in steering the global economy, and as Chair of the G7 Finance Track, the Chancellor has discussed with colleagues how best to shape and respond to the phases of the global recovery from Covid-19. This includes the short- and medium-term economic challenges relating to both fiscal and monetary policy. The Chancellor will continue to work with colleagues over the coming months to learn from each other’s policy interventions, to recognise and manage spillover effects, and to support continued coordination on policy responses.
As highlighted in the Budget, while borrowing costs are affordable now, interest rates and inflation may not stay low forever. A sustained 1 percentage point increase in both interest rates and inflation would increase debt interest spending by £27.8bn in 2025-26.
It is important to take action as the economy durably recovers to limit the UK’s exposure to this risk and to build fiscal resilience. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2021 forecast shows that the medium-term outlook for the public finances has returned to a more sustainable path, supported by the fiscal repair measures set out in the recent Budget.
Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with counterparts in the devolved administrations on matters of mutual interest.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) increased inflation and (b) normalisation of the Government bond yield on public borrowing costs.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Chancellor has regular discussions on macroeconomic policy with European and G7 counterparts. They all recognise the significant challenges ahead of us in the months to come. The G7 has an important role to play in steering the global economy, and as Chair of the G7 Finance Track, the Chancellor has discussed with colleagues how best to shape and respond to the phases of the global recovery from Covid-19. This includes the short- and medium-term economic challenges relating to both fiscal and monetary policy. The Chancellor will continue to work with colleagues over the coming months to learn from each other’s policy interventions, to recognise and manage spillover effects, and to support continued coordination on policy responses.
As highlighted in the Budget, while borrowing costs are affordable now, interest rates and inflation may not stay low forever. A sustained 1 percentage point increase in both interest rates and inflation would increase debt interest spending by £27.8bn in 2025-26.
It is important to take action as the economy durably recovers to limit the UK’s exposure to this risk and to build fiscal resilience. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2021 forecast shows that the medium-term outlook for the public finances has returned to a more sustainable path, supported by the fiscal repair measures set out in the recent Budget.
Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with counterparts in the devolved administrations on matters of mutual interest.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with (a) European and (b) G7 counterparts of 2021 and 2022 inflation on government borrowing costs.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Chancellor has regular discussions on macroeconomic policy with European and G7 counterparts. They all recognise the significant challenges ahead of us in the months to come. The G7 has an important role to play in steering the global economy, and as Chair of the G7 Finance Track, the Chancellor has discussed with colleagues how best to shape and respond to the phases of the global recovery from Covid-19. This includes the short- and medium-term economic challenges relating to both fiscal and monetary policy. The Chancellor will continue to work with colleagues over the coming months to learn from each other’s policy interventions, to recognise and manage spillover effects, and to support continued coordination on policy responses.
As highlighted in the Budget, while borrowing costs are affordable now, interest rates and inflation may not stay low forever. A sustained 1 percentage point increase in both interest rates and inflation would increase debt interest spending by £27.8bn in 2025-26.
It is important to take action as the economy durably recovers to limit the UK’s exposure to this risk and to build fiscal resilience. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2021 forecast shows that the medium-term outlook for the public finances has returned to a more sustainable path, supported by the fiscal repair measures set out in the recent Budget.
Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with counterparts in the devolved administrations on matters of mutual interest.