Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are subject to the Loan Charge as at 8 June 2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
HMRC’s latest estimates for those affected by the Loan Charge are included in their GOV.UK publication titled Independent Loan Charge review: HMRC report on implementation.
As set out in this report, in January 2020, HMRC wrote to more than 55,000 individuals and employers who were identified as potentially affected by the Loan Charge. HMRC estimate the changes to the Loan Charge enacted in Finance Act 2020 took 11,000 people out of paying the charge altogether.
The report goes on to state that 5,600 employers and individuals settled their use of disguised remuneration schemes in the period to 30 September 2020.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in light of the conclusion of Round 4 of Offshore Wind Leasing, if he will review the formula for the Crown Estate’s annual payments to the taxpayer from net revenue profits,.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
Her Majesty The Queen surrenders the profits from The Crown Estate (which she owns as reigning Monarch) to the Government. As a result, over the last ten years, The Crown Estate has paid to HM Treasury £2.9 billion for the benefit of all taxpayers and invested in vital public services such as the NHS, transport, schools and defence.
In return for The Crown Estate’s revenue, the Government provides funding, known as the Sovereign Grant, for use by the Royal Household to support Her Majesty’s official duties.
The level of the Sovereign Grant is determined according to a formula set in the Sovereign Grant Act. As required by the Act, the reference percentage used for setting the Sovereign Grant is reviewed every five years to ensure it remains at an appropriate level. The next review will take place in the coming financial year, and any change will take effect from April 2022.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will use Budget 2021 to end the sanctions system under universal credit, jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The Chancellor will provide an update on the Budget on 3 March.
Sanctions are a core element of the conditionality approach to helping people back into work, and DWP work coaches will ensure that they are only ever used in a proportionate, reasonable way. In universal credit, jobseeker's allowance and new style employment and support allowance, sanctions are only considered where a claimant has not undertaken a work-related requirement as agreed in their Claimant Commitment without good reason. A personalised, tailored Claimant Commitment is agreed between the work coach and the claimant. They will only set reasonable requirements, based on the claimant’s circumstances and the local/national health guidelines – and no claimant can or will be sanctioned without a Claimant Commitment in place.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will allocate adequate funding in Budget 2021 to end the five week wait for universal credit.
Answered by Steve Barclay
No one has to wait five weeks for financial support when they make a claim for Universal Credit. Advance payments are available within days of making a new claim to ensure that families have money to support them through the period until their first full monthly payment.
Claimants moving from DWP legacy benefit and Housing Benefit are also eligible for a ‘run-on’ payment of up to two weeks of extra support when they move to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of reducing Machine Games Duty to five per cent to increase support for high street arcades.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Government has no current plans to reduce Machine Games Duty. High street arcade operators will have been able to benefit from the package of measures introduced to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19 worth over £280 billion, including the Job Retention Scheme, which has been extended until April, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the bounce back loan and payment deferral schemes.
However, HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including Machine Games Duty, under active review.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contractors have worked for HMRC while using disguised remuneration schemes to date.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 119261.Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2020 to Question 115670 on Offshore Industry and Shipping: Coronavirus, what recent estimate he has made of the number of employees aged (a) 16-24 and (b) 25 years or over that have benefited to date from the Job Retention Bonus payment introduced in the Plan for Jobs; and how many employers have received that payment in each industry.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The purpose of the Job Retention Bonus (JRB) was to encourage employers to keep previously furloughed staff in work until the end of January. However, as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been extended to the end of March 2021, the policy intent of the JRB falls away. As such, the JRB will not be paid in February. We will set out details of how a revised retention incentive will work in due course.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend business rates relief to all wholesalers.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. As set out in the guidance, support is available to premises that are wholly or mainly being used as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; for assembly and leisure; or as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the Government.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend business rates relief to all wholesalers.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. As set out in the guidance, support is available to premises that are wholly or mainly being used as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; for assembly and leisure; or as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the Government.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available.