Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will remove VAT on energy efficient measures retro-fitted to older homes; and what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the EU on the UK's ability to undertake that removal.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Applying VAT relief to the retrofitting of residential buildings would come at a significant cost to the Exchequer.
The Government keeps all taxes under review and assesses them against a range of fiscal and environmental considerations. Any future decisions on VAT will continue to be taken in line with the normal Budget process.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a list of the 100 companies and organisations that have received the highest amount of money from (a) the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and (b) other Government financial support during the covid-19 outbreak; and how much each of those organisations has received.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As part of their commitment to transparency and to deter fraudulent claims, HMRC will publish information about employers who claim for periods starting on or after 1 December 2020, as set out in guidance published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase the £5 billion of Government funding for the delivery nationwide one-gibibit-capable broadband.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The government recognises the importance of connectivity both to the economy and to people’s lives. We are committed to nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible, and are taking a number of steps to achieve this.
The March Budget this year committed £5 billion to support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband in the hardest to reach areas. This is the largest ever public investment by a UK government in digital connectivity.
As well as this, the government is encouraging competition and making it easier for commercial investment in gigabit-capable broadband. For example, we have introduced legislation to make it easier to install gigabit-capable broadband in blocks of flats, and confirmed we will legislate to ensure new build homes are built with gigabit-capable broadband.
The Comprehensive Spending Review, which will be published in the autumn, will set out the government’s spending plans.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to independent businesses who have limited internet access.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The government recognises the importance of digital connectivity both to the economy and to people’s lives and is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible. At Budget we committed £5 billion to support its rollout in the hardest to reach areas. This will benefit homes and businesses across the UK. In addition, we are currently providing vouchers worth up to £3,500 to rural businesses to help them pay connection fees for gigabit-capable broadband.
Furthermore, this autumn the Chancellor has announced a targeted package of measures to support jobs and business through the winter months following the introduction of further measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of business taxation for the (a) physical and (b) digital economy.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The widespread adoption of digital technologies means it is difficult to distinguish between the physical and digital economy.
However, the Government recognises the need to ensure that business taxes deliver fair and sustainable outcomes when applied to different operating models.
It is for this reason that the Government has introduced the Digital Services Tax, while also seeking long-term reform of international corporate tax rules.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs protected in industries eligible for the business rates suspension in the financial year 2020-2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman
About 400,000 businesses are expected to receive over £10 billion in business rates relief as part of the Government’s support for the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Combined with Small Business Rate Relief this means that over half of all ratepayers will pay no business rates in 2020/21.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government took to support the pub industry during the covid-19 lockdown; and what steps he is taking to support the pub industry as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The pub industry continues to have access to a range of government support measures including, but not limited to:
•A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in England, saving around 350,000 ratepayers a combined £10bn.
•A VAT deferral for up to 12 months
•Measures to make it easier to claim back duty on spoiled beer, wine and cider.
•A business grant worth £10,000 or £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors
•The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has supported 1.4 million jobs across the hospitality sector and which runs until October
•Access to affordable, government backed finance through Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBLS) for and larger firms, along with the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises.
•Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until September 30, 2020
In addition to this unprecedented package of support for businesses, the Summer Economic Update announced a VAT rate reduction from 20% to 5% - worth £4.1bn – for hospitality, accommodation and attractions, and the £500m Eat Out to Help Out scheme which entitles every diner to a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, at any participating restaurant, café or pub to encourage people to return to eating out and to support the sector’s recovery. This move will support up to 129,000 businesses, including the majority of pubs that serve food. Over 85% of pubs serve food and will benefit from both schemes. All pubs, including wet-led pubs will also benefit from the proposed regulatory easements in the Business and Planning Bill, which will make it easier, quicker and cheaper to set up furniture in adjacent outdoor spaces and to automatically convert all current licenses to allow pubs to sell off-licence.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to provide financial support to wet-led pubs as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The pub industry continues to have access to a range of government support measures including, but not limited to:
•A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in England, saving around 350,000 ratepayers a combined £10bn.
•A VAT deferral for up to 12 months
•Measures to make it easier to claim back duty on spoiled beer, wine and cider.
•A business grant worth £10,000 or £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors
•The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has supported 1.4 million jobs across the hospitality sector and which runs until October
•Access to affordable, government backed finance through Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBLS) for and larger firms, along with the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises.
•Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until September 30, 2020
In addition to this unprecedented package of support for businesses, the Summer Economic Update announced a VAT rate reduction from 20% to 5% - worth £4.1bn – for hospitality, accommodation and attractions, and the £500m Eat Out to Help Out scheme which entitles every diner to a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, at any participating restaurant, café or pub to encourage people to return to eating out and to support the sector’s recovery. This move will support up to 129,000 businesses, including the majority of pubs that serve food. Over 85% of pubs serve food and will benefit from both schemes. All pubs, including wet-led pubs will also benefit from the proposed regulatory easements in the Business and Planning Bill, which will make it easier, quicker and cheaper to set up furniture in adjacent outdoor spaces and to automatically convert all current licenses to allow pubs to sell off-licence.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to his Department for financial year 2018-19 for planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and how much of that funding has been spent.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Treasury has already allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19, including £24.8m and £260m for the Chancellor’s HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs respectively, to enable them to prepare for EU Exit effectively in any scenario.
A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments 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/) This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.
Expenditure on EU Exit preparation in 2018-19 will be detailed in departments Annual Report and Accounts in due course.