Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what figures are available from HMRC's (a) Real Time Information data or (b) other data sources on the average wage at which previously unemployed people move into employment.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Unfortunately, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold sufficient information on unemployment within the Real-Time Information (RTI) system or other datasets. Therefore, HMRC are not able to provide information on previously unemployed persons.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy for all consumer deferred payment programmes to come under the regulatory oversight of the Financial Conduct Authority, whether or not an interest charge is payable.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
In 2014, the Government transferred regulatory responsibility for the consumer credit market to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In November 2019, the FCA published rules to address consumer harm in the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market. However, not all BNPL products fall under the FCA’s regulatory oversight. Exempt agreements include those where no interest or charges are payable, and where credit is repaid in fewer than 12 months and no more than 12 payments.
The Government carefully considered this exemption at the time of transfer and decided this exemption achieved the right balance between ensuring that burdens on firms are proportionate whilst maintaining the appropriate level of consumer protection.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the average wage of people in employment who had been unemployed in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The welfare system ensures that work pays and supports claimants through the transition into work. Employment is at a record high and there are 3.9 million more people in work than in 2010. Wages have outpaced inflation for almost a year and a half.
The lowest earners have seen their real wages grow by 11% between April 2015 and April 2019 and on April 1, following the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission, the Government will increase the National Living Wage by 6.2% to £8.72 an hour.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) children and (b) families benefiting from tax-free childcare in each year since its inception in (a) East Hampshire constituency, (b) Hampshire local authority area and (c) England.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC publish quarterly Official Statistics which includes a breakdown of families using Tax-Free Childcare by country and Government Office Region. The latest statistics were published in August 2019:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-free-childcare-statistics-june-2019
Using methodology consistent with the published statistics HMRC can calculate account usage at the local authority and parliamentary constituency level. Results for England, Hampshire Local Authority and East Hampshire Parliamentary Constituency are shown in the table below:
Rounded to nearest 100. | Users of Tax-Free Childcare | |||
2017-18 | 2018-19 | |||
Families | Children | Families | Children | |
|
|
|
|
|
England | 52,300 | 64,600 | 144,400 | 181,200 |
Hampshire Local Authority* | 1,600 | 2,100 | 4,400 | 5,700 |
East Hampshire Parliamentary Constituency | 100 | 100 | 300 | 400 |
*Hampshire Local Authority figures are compiled from the following lower tier/district authorities:
Basingstoke and Deane |
East Hampshire |
Eastleigh |
Fareham |
Gosport |
Hart |
Havant |
New Forest |
Rushmoor |
Test Valley |
Winchester |