Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will conduct an assessment of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on the number of abortions in the UK.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
No assessment has been made of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on the number of abortions in the UK.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on long-term trends in family size.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The reforms to Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit will ensure that in the future, families on benefits will have to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves through work.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 57 of the Information Commission's office's annual report 2014-15, under what statutory provision the Treasury imposes a financial penalty on that office; how the amount of that penalty was arrived at; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Treasury does not require statutory provision to impose a financial penalty on a department. Rather, it is within the Treasury’s remit to set policy relating to public funds, for example the Civil Service Pay Guidance, a breach of which provides the authority to impose appropriate administrative sanctions at its discretion.
A financial penalty was imposed on the Information Commissioner’s Office of £18,400 for a breach of the Civil Service Pay Guidance relating to the salary increases of two Executive Team members. A statement was made publically in the Information Commissioner’s 2014/15 annual report.