Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the value of the (a) former HMRC property Custom House in the City of London and (b) land attached to that property.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC still retain ownership of the freehold interest in Custom House, London. The advice they have received from external surveyors is that the value of their freehold interest is probably negligible as it is subject to an unexpired long lease on the property which is owned by Mapeley, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contractor. The value of the grant of the long leasehold interest was reflected in the PFI contractor’s bid price at the start of the contract.
HMRC understand that Mapeley have received an offer for their unexpired long leasehold interest in the property, subject to planning permission being granted, for the development of a hotel, but is not party to the details of that proposal. HMRC have no interest in, or information about, any additional land that may be proposed as part of a wider redevelopment of the area.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Gift Aid under an enhanced Gift Aid scheme to help civil society sector recover from the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government is fully committed to supporting charities through the Gift Aid regime. This relief is tied to the basic rate of tax paid by donors, currently at 20%, so can only be changed if the personal basic tax rate changes.
The Government recognises that the sector is experiencing significant pressures and has made available an unprecedented package of economic support, including a £750 million package specifically for charities.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much each Department (a) bid and (b) has been allocated for planning for leaving the EU without a deal from the 2018-19 resource allocation.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor set aside £1.5 billion for EU Exit preparations in both 2018/19 and 2019/20; this was subsequently increased by £0.5bn for 2019/20 in the 2018 Budget. A full breakdown of how this funding was allocated for 2018/19 can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/).
HM Treasury does not publish bids received from departments for public spending.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on extending Small Business Rate Relief to businesses that claim Rural Rate Relief.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Rural Rate Relief provides 50% mandatory relief from business rates. The hierarchy of reliefs requires that a ratepayer must be given Rural Rate Relief over Small Business Rate Relief. The government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the continuing viability of services offered by charities providing accommodation and life skills services to homeless adults, such as Caritas Anchor House in the London Borough of Newham, of unexpected demands for VAT payments arising out of the development of their premises; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
No assessment has been made.