Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with farmers in Northern Ireland on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with key stakeholders on matters of importance to the economy across the UK.
Agriculture is an area of primarily devolved competence. After we leave the EU, each administration will be able to independently design policies that support agriculture and enhance the environment, working closely with farmers.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to lower corporation tax after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government is committed to ensuring the UK remains competitive and an attractive destination to set up and grow a business.
Since 2010, the government has cut the rate of corporation tax from 28% to 19% today. The government has legislated to reduce the corporation tax rate further to 17% in April 2020. This delivers the government’s ambition to have the lowest overall rate in the G20.
As with all aspects of the tax system, the government keeps the UK corporation tax rate under review. Any decisions on future policy would be considered as part of the Budget process, in the context of the wider public finances.
The government also remains committed to commence the power for the Northern Ireland Assembly to set a Northern Ireland rate of corporation tax, as set out in the Stormont House Agreement, once a restored Northern Ireland Executive demonstrates its finances are on a sustainable footing.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle people using overseas accounts to avoid paying tax.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Since 2010 HMRC has protected and secured tax revenues of over £2.8 billion from those trying to hide money abroad. Furthermore, the UK has implemented the Common Reporting Standard - a ground-breaking agreement for 100 jurisdictions to automatically exchange financial account information, to tackle offshore tax evasion.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were placed in the higher tax threshold in 2017-2018.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The estimated number of taxpayers liable for tax at the higher rate are published in the HMRC National Statistics table 2.1, available here:
These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) outturn data up to 2015-16. The 2017-18 estimates are based upon the 2015-16 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s March 2018 economic and fiscal outlook.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the 43 agricultural businesses who participated in the agricultural flat rate (AFRS) VAT scheme were selected to receive a questionnaire as part of the HMRC review of eligibility between 2011 - 2015.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HMRC use various risking methods that includes risk triggers on types of businesses and intelligence, as part of their compliance work/activity. As a result of this activity 31 businesses that presented a VAT risk were removed from the agricultural flat rate scheme.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many farmers participated in the agricultural flat rate (AFRS) VAT scheme since its establishment in each region of the UK.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The number of successful entrants to the agricultural flat rate scheme since its commencement in 1993 to 2017 is 1,742. HMRC does not hold historic data by region.Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many farmers have been excluded from the agricultural flat-rate VAT scheme since its introduction in each region of the UK in each year since the scheme's introduction.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The table attached lists the known exclusions (refusal of entry into the scheme or subsequent removal from the scheme) from the Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme, broken down by region and calendar year.
These figures are based on management information and have not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.
Figures are not available for the period covering 1993-2007.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many agriculture flat-rate scheme questionnaires have been sent to participants in the scheme in each region of the UK.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HMRC may request additional information from businesses applying for, or participating in, the Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme (AFRS). Data is not available relating to all of these information requests.
Between 2011-2015 HMRC undertook a specific review of eligibility for the AFRS, during which 43 questionnaires were sent to agricultural businesses participating in the scheme requesting additional information. 41 of these businesses were based in Northern Ireland, and 2 in Scotland.