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Written Question
Business: Exports
Thursday 3rd September 2020

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for the application and administration of VAT thresholds in relation to non-VAT registered UK businesses exporting to individual customers in the EU from January 2021.

Answered by Jesse Norman

Following the end of the Transition Period, non-VAT registered businesses exporting to customers in the EU will not be subject to UK VAT rules but will be subject to any VAT rules in the country to which they are exporting. It would therefore be a matter for the country to which the goods are exported to set any such thresholds.


Written Question
UK Trade With EU: Export Controls
Monday 13th July 2020

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her policy is on tariff payments for non-vat registered businesses that export directly to customers in the EU at the end of the transition period.

Answered by Jesse Norman

Following the end of the transition period, there will be no tariffs on the export of goods from the UK to the EU, or any other country. This is irrespective of whether the exporter is VAT registered or not.


Written Question
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Wednesday 24th June 2020

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to discount the state pension as income for the purpose of claiming the Self-Employment Support Scheme.

Answered by Jesse Norman

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer to Parliamentary Question 49808 on 2 June 2020: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-20/49808/.


Written Question
Holiday Accommodation: Taxation
Tuesday 9th June 2020

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the tax status of furnished holiday lets.

Answered by Jesse Norman

Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHLs) make an important contribution to local economies across the UK, especially in coastal and rural areas. To support FHLs in England during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has provided full business rates relief and grants of up to £25,000 per business. Consequential funding has been provided to the devolved administrations in line with the Barnett formula.

The Government does not currently plan to review the tax status of FHLs, which are well established and provide equitable tax outcomes.

However, the Government keeps all tax policy, including the tax status of FHLs, under review, including as part of the response to COVID-19.


Written Question
Mortgages: Young People
Friday 22nd June 2018

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what specific plans he has to tackle the rise of mortgage debt for young people which take account of the relatively higher level of such debt than in previous generations.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The share of households, including young people, with mortgage debt-servicing-ratios above 40% of income – the level often associated with a higher risk of repayment difficulties – remains low at 1.5%, and well below the levels seen before the financial crisis. Secured debt as a proportion of income was 104% in Q4 2017, down from a peak of 120% in Q1 2008.

The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee’s (FPC) 2014 owner-occupier mortgage market recommendations guard against the risk of a marked loosening in underwriting standards and a significant increase in the number of highly indebted households, including among younger households. These include a limit on lending at high loan-to-income ratios, and the requirement that all new mortgage loans are stress-tested against the effect of a rise in interest rates.

The FPC will continue to monitor risks to UK financial stability from UK household indebtedness and regularly reviews the calibration of its macroprudential tools.


Written Question
Debts: Young People
Tuesday 19th June 2018

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what specific plans he has to tackle the rise of debt for young people which take account of the relatively higher level of debt than in previous generations.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The number of under 25s holding a financial liability has fallen since 2010, from 26% to 22%. Despite this, the government is taking a proactive approach to ensure that young people with debt are supported.

To protect those who choose to take on debt, we fundamentally reformed consumer credit regulation in 2014, giving the Financial Conduct Authority robust regulatory powers to protect consumers. The government is also setting up a new Single Financial Guidance Body, which will provide consumers with a single point of contact for help with all financial matters, and commission high-quality, free to user debt advice.

However, we recognise that, despite these measures, some people can fall into problem debt. That is why the government-commissioned Money Advice Service is spending over £56m to provide debt advice to at least 530,000 people this year. The government is also introducing a six week breathing space alongside a statutory debt repayment plan. Together, they will provide over-indebted people with protection from creditor action so they can seek debt advice and enter into a sustainable debt solution.


Written Question
Royal Bank of Scotland
Friday 12th January 2018

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department was first made aware of plans by the Royal Bank of Scotland to close 259 of its branches.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including RBS, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

The decision to open or close branches is a commercial matter, in which the Government does not intervene.

RBS Group retains its own board which is responsible for commercial and operational decisions, including in relation to its branch network. The Government’s shareholding in RBS Group is managed at arm's length and on a commercial basis through UK Financial Investments Ltd, a company which is wholly owned by the Government.


Written Question
Royal Bank of Scotland: Closures
Monday 8th January 2018

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Royal Bank of Scotland branch closures on (a) elderly, (b) disabled and (c) vulnerable people who are unable to use online banking services.

Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.

99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs.

The Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network. In December 2018, the Government announced an additional £370 million of funding for the period 2018-2021.


Written Question
Royal Bank of Scotland: Closures
Monday 8th January 2018

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed closure of Royal Bank of Scotland branches on the ability of local business to deposit and collect funds.

Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.

99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs.

The Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network. In December 2018, the Government announced an additional £370 million of funding for the period 2018-2021.


Written Question
Banks: Scotland
Monday 18th December 2017

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last had discussions with the Scottish Government on the effect on local communities of the bank branch closures in Scotland recently announced by Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group.

Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

I discussed RBS Group’s recent branch closure announcement with the Scottish Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy on 4 December.

The Government is committed to improving access to financial services. While the decision to close a branch remains a commercial judgement for banks, the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.

The industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.

99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. At Autumn Budget 2017, I wrote to the Post Office and UK Finance to ask them to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs. Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network.