Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing polluter pays’ taxes and levies to fund climate projects.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a range of climate taxes and levies that apply the polluter pays principle. Among others, these include the two main carbon pricing policies - the Carbon Price Support and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. Together, these policies have contributed to a significant shift in the economics of, and investment incentives for, renewable energy sources compared to coal for domestic power generation.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to help ensure that the cost of maintaining the ATM network is not passed onto consumers.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The government recognises that while the transition towards digital payments brings many opportunities, cash continues to be used by many people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups.
The government is currently legislating to protect access to cash across the UK as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022. The Bill establishes the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as the lead regulator for access to cash with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities.
With regards to the ATM network, LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's largest ATM network) has made commitments to protect the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs and is held to account against these commitments by the Payment Systems Regulator. According to LINK data for February 2023, there were 39,500 free-to-use ATMs across the UK. Further information is available at: https://www.link.co.uk/initiatives/financial-inclusion-monthly-report/
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the trends in the number of free-to-use ATMs in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency and (b) England.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The government recognises that while the transition towards digital payments brings many opportunities, cash continues to be used by many people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups.
The government is currently taking legislation to protect access to cash across the UK through Parliament as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022. The legislation will establish the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as the lead regulator for access to cash with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. The FCA will consult on its regulatory approach in due course.
With regards to the provision of free-to-use ATMs, LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's largest ATM network) has made commitments to protect the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs and is held to account against these commitments by the Payment Systems Regulator.
LINK publishes a Monthly ATM Footprint Report and information on the number of ATMs by constituency. According to LINK data for February 2023, there were over 31,000 free-to-use ATMs in England, including 67 free-to-use ATMs in the constituency of Liverpool, Walton. Further information is available at: https://www.link.co.uk/initiatives/financial-inclusion-monthly-report/
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help protect free access to cash.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The government recognises that while the transition towards digital payments brings many opportunities, cash continues to be used by many people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups.
The government is currently taking legislation to protect access to cash across the UK through Parliament as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022. The legislation will establish the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as the lead regulator for access to cash with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. The FCA will consult on its regulatory approach in due course.
With regards to the provision of free-to-use ATMs, LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's largest ATM network) has made commitments to protect the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs and is held to account against these commitments by the Payment Systems Regulator.
LINK publishes a Monthly ATM Footprint Report and information on the number of ATMs by constituency. According to LINK data for February 2023, there were over 31,000 free-to-use ATMs in England, including 67 free-to-use ATMs in the constituency of Liverpool, Walton. Further information is available at: https://www.link.co.uk/initiatives/financial-inclusion-monthly-report/
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Energy Profits Levy investment allowance on carbon emissions; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) ending those tax reliefs and (b) using the funding for renewable energy projects.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Energy Profits Levy was introduced in May 2022 to respond to very high prices that meant oil and gas companies are benefiting from exceptional profits. At Autumn Statement 2022, the government confirmed the rate of the levy would rise by a ten percentage points to 35%. This is on top of the 40% tax rate under the permanent regime, bringing the combined headline rate of tax for the sector to 75%, one of the highest amongst comparable North Sea regimes.
The levy was designed to strike the right balance between ensuring a fair tax return for the UK from its natural resources and continuing to encourage investment in the North Sea. The investment allowance within the Energy Profits Levy encourages the oil and gas sector to reinvest its profits to support the economy, jobs, and the UK’s energy security. It is right the government has put in place investment incentives to encourage activity to remain in the UK. Abolishing these would be counterproductive: the UK is still reliant on gas for its energy supply; reducing incentives to invest would lead to investors pulling out of the UK, damaging the economy, causing job losses and leading to future lower tax revenue.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the length of legal protections under the Debt respite (breathing space) scheme.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Government launched the Breathing Space scheme on 4 May 2021, and as of January 2023, over 110,000 people in problem debt have benefited from Breathing Space protections.
As part of the consultation on the Statutory Debt Repayment Plan (SDRP), the Government proposed minor technical changes to Breathing Space and invited views on what further changes could be made. The Government is considering these proposals and will provide a further update in due course.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the potential change in tax revenues arising from the Energy Profits Levy investment allowance for the development the Rosebank oil field.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecast of tax revenues from Energy Profits Levy was presented at Autumn Statement 2022. An update will be published alongside Spring Budget 2023 on Wednesday, 15 March.
The forecast takes into account the effect of the investment allowance but does not give a breakdown by field or company to protect taxpayer confidentiality.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 9 February 2023 from Martin Lewis.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Government values input from stakeholders, and the Chancellor will respond to Martin Lewis’ letter as soon as possible.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Liverpool Walton of 10 January 2023 on the international aid budget.
Answered by John Glen
The hon. Member's correspondence was received on 10 January 2023 and I have responded.Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will publish all correspondence between his Department, Yevgeny Prigozhin and his legal representatives.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
HM Treasury does not comment on individual licensing cases or publish correspondence with applicants for licences.
We need to carefully balance the right to legal representation - which is a fundamental one - with wider issues, including the aim and purpose of the sanctions. It is right therefore that Ministers are examining whether there are any changes that can be made to the licensing of legal expenses.