Asked by: Chris Davies (Conservative - Brecon and Radnorshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to the climate change levy on the policy to move off-gas grid businesses away from oil, coal and other higher carbon fuels.
Answered by Jane Ellison
As announced at Budget 2016, the Government will rebalance the Climate Change Levy (CCL) rates between energy sources from 2019-20.
In 2019-20, the electricity to gas rates will move from a ratio of 2.9:1 to 2.5:1. Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other taxable fuel rates will be increased in proportion to the rate for gas. The Government intends to further rebalance the electricity to gas ratio to 1:1 by 2025.
This continues to ensure that the CCL encourages the efficient use of energy by businesses and reduces emissions by creating incentives to source electricity from renewable sources.
Asked by: Chris Davies (Conservative - Brecon and Radnorshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how his Department determined the bands for the soft drinks industry levy; and what scientific studies were used in reaching that decision.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The new levy will be charged on producers and importers of drinks with added sugar. There will be one rate for drinks with total sugar content above 5g/100ml and a higher charge for drinks with more than 8g/100ml of sugar.
This structure is clear, simple and transparent. It is designed to encourage producers to reformulate their product mix by removing the added sugar content from drinks and helping consumers choose lower and no sugar brands.
The bands have been set to give producers certainty over the next two years before implementation so they can gradually reformulate their products. Companies have until April 2018 before the levy comes into force to reformulate and if they do, they can pay less.
Asked by: Chris Davies (Conservative - Brecon and Radnorshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to prevent local high street bank branches from closing.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 25 June 2015 in response to PQ 3380. The answer can be accessed using the following link:
www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=QuestionsWithAnswersOnly&house=commons%2clords&use-dates=True&answered-from=2015-06-25&answered-to=2015-06-26&member=4107.