Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making privately purchased hearing aids zero-rated for VAT.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government maintains a number of VAT reliefs for certain goods and services designed solely for use by disabled people to ensure the reliefs are appropriately targeted. Hearing aids that are not designed solely for use by disabled people do not qualify for VAT relief. However, VAT relief is available for induction loops and aids for the auditory training of deaf children.
The Government keeps all taxes under review, and any future decisions on tax policy will be made at future fiscal events.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the revenue raised through the application of VAT on hearing aids in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The details that HM Revenue and Customs collect from taxpayers on their VAT returns are not specific enough to provide an estimate of VAT on hearing aids.
In order to minimise the administrative burden on businesses, they are only required to report the total VAT on all their taxable supplies of goods and services in the relevant period. It is therefore not possible to identify the types of supplies on which the VAT was charged.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses in Dunfermline and West Fife constituency have applied for VAT deferrals during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.
HMRC have published some data relating to the schemes that they are running to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-coronavirus-covid-19-statistics.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have applied to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in Dunfermline and West Fife constituency.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As of 31 May 2020, 2,600 individuals had applied for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in Dunfermline and West Fife constituency.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses based in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As of 11 June 2020, 1,110 claims have been made under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by PAYE schemes registered at an address within the boundaries of the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer, what the Barnett consequentials are for each of the devolved nations from the Zoo Support Fund.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The UK government is applying the Barnett formula in the normal way to the additional funding for charities announced by the Chancellor. In relation to the £750 million package, the Scottish Government are receiving at least £55 million, the Welsh Government are receiving at least £32 million, and the Northern Ireland Executive are receiving at least £19m.
Funding for charities is a devolved matter and it is for the devolved administrations to decide how to support charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to support zoos and aquariums that are unable to furlough their employees.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government announced a package of support for licensed zoo or aquariums in England on May 4. These businesses can apply for a grant of up to £100,000. The amount received will be based on animals’ needs and can be used to cover animal-care costs such as:
Applications are being handled by The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Further details are available here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-apply-for-the-zoos-support-fund.
However, before applying for a grant these businesses must try to reduce costs or generate income in other ways, including applying for COVID-19 business support schemes and commercial and philanthropic funding.
The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to provide financial support to visitor attractions that rely on a high income during summer months but are ineligible for covid-19 business support during to the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP.
Businesses in the leisure and tourism sector may benefit from the range of support measures made available, which includes:
The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the recommendation of the National Infrastructure Assessment to provide devolved, long-term transport funding to all city regions.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The government is carefully considering the National Infrastructure Commission’s recommendations, including on transport funding for cities. It is already investing significantly in intra-city transport with the £2.5 billion Transforming Cities Fund set up in 2017 which provides devolved funding to six Mayoral Combined Authorities outside of London and competitive funding to up to twelve shortlisted city regions.
The National Infrastructure Strategy will be published later in the autumn setting out the government’s assessment of the NIC’s recommendations, alongside ambitious plans for future capital spending.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure a long-term approach to infrastructure investment as recommended in the National Infrastructure Assessment.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As set out in Spending Round 2019, the Government will announce its ambitious plans for future capital spending later in the autumn, including through the publication of the National Infrastructure Strategy.
This Strategy will set out the Government’s plans to deliver a step change in infrastructure investment to support the UK economy and will provide the Government’s official response to the National Infrastructure Assessment, which set out an assessment of the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs.