Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will (a) undertake a review of the compensation afforded to people affected by Equitable Life and (b) issue guidance on recourse available to people affected in Southport constituency who have either not been paid out or have received insufficient compensation.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Equitable Life Payment Scheme closed to claims in 2015. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme. There are no plans to reopen the Payment Scheme or review the funding allocation made to it.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has the Government invested in Help to Buy ISA bonuses since the introduction of that scheme.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
From the Help to Buy: ISA’s launch in 1 December 2015 till 31 March 2018, the Government has paid out over 196,000 bonus payments with a total of £157 million in bonus payments.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure multi-national internet-based companies who make profits in Britain pay the appropriate level of tax.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
As set out in its position papers dated 22 November 2017 and 13 March 2018, the government is seeking reform of the international corporate tax framework to ensure digital multinational businesses pay a fair amount of UK corporate tax reflecting the value created by UK users. Pending global reform, the government is working with like-minded countries to explore interim measures to tax digital businesses.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The joint HMRC/Border Force strategy to tackle illicit tobacco (‘Tackling Illicit Tobacco: From leaf to light’) published on 24 March 2015 reinforced the government’s commitment to tackle illicit tobacco at all points in the supply chain. This was further demonstrated by increased investment in resources to fight this fraud announced at Summer Budget 2015 and Budget 2016.
Effective action requires collaboration across government and HMRC and Border Force work closely with other enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards and the police to target those involved in the fraud. In the last two years alone, over 2.8 billion illicit cigarettes and over 660 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized resulting in approximately 700 prosecutions.
HMRC has also reviewed the impact of sanctions and is currently developing options, with particular focus on the approach taken to repeat offenders.
In accordance with international commitments, HMRC is also developing a new track and trace system for tobacco products. This will go live in May 2019 and will make it easier to identify where genuine product has been diverted into the illicit market and more difficult for illicit goods to enter the legitimate market.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal support the Government provides to small businesses on high streets affected by trends related to online retail.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The government recognises business rates can represent a high fixed cost for small businesses on our high streets. This is why at Autumn Budget 17 the Chancellor announced cuts of £2.3bn to support businesses and improve the fairness of the business rates system.
This builds on both Spring Budget 2017 which provided £435m of support following the recent revaluation; and Budget 2016 which announced major reforms worth almost £9bn over five years, including permanently doubling Small Business Rate Relief.
On the issue of online retail, the government is currently reviewing the wider taxation of the digital economy. This includes ensuring international corporate tax rules deliver fair results across different businesses and that sellers operating through online marketplaces pay the right amount of VAT.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal support the Government provides to small businesses on high streets affected by trends related to online retail.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The government recognises business rates can represent a high fixed cost for small businesses on our high streets. This is why at Autumn Budget 17 the Chancellor announced cuts of £2.3bn to support businesses and improve the fairness of the business rates system.
This builds on both Spring Budget 2017 which provided £435m of support following the recent revaluation; and Budget 2016 which announced major reforms worth almost £9bn over five years, including permanently doubling Small Business Rate Relief.
On the issue of online retail, the government is currently reviewing the wider taxation of the digital economy. This includes ensuring international corporate tax rules deliver fair results across different businesses and that sellers operating through online marketplaces pay the right amount of VAT.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to prevent councils using offshore companies to avoid paying stamp duty when purchasing commercial property.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Purchases of land and buildings by offshore companies are liable to Stamp Duty Land Tax in the same way as any other purchase. Further, the treatment of non-resident landlords means that income from UK property is taxable wherever in the world it is received.
Under statute, local authorities have the freedom to invest without prior government consent.