Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason workers in the (a) offshore oil and gas and (b) shipping industries were not specifically included in the Plan for Jobs announced on 8 July 2020; and what steps he has taken since that date to support levels of domestic (i) employment and (ii) training in those industries.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Plan for Jobs, announced on 8 July, invested in opportunities for people to develop skills to find and retain a job, expanding the National Careers Service, tripling the number of sector-based work academy placements for 2020-21, tripling the scale of traineeships, and funding a brand new offer to all 18 and 19 year olds studying high value level 2 and 3 courses. Recognising young people are particularly at risk of labour marketing scarring, the Government also launched a new £2bn Kickstart Scheme, creating hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people (16-24) at risk of long-term unemployment across Great Britain. There is also a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Worksearch group, through its new Youth Offer. The Plan for Jobs’ focus on traineeships and jobs for young people was well received by Oil & Gas UK, the offshore oil and gas industry trade body. The offshore oil and gas industry and shipping industry can both access the economy-wide support measures offered through the Plan for Jobs.
On the 5 November, the Government announced a further extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, until the end of March. This means employees can receive 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The Government has also announced an increase to the third self-employed grant, covering November to January, from 55% to 80% of trading profits.
The Government is in frequent contact with the offshore oil and gas industry to support it in tackling the twin challenges of a low oil price and Covid-19. This has included regular engagement with the industry regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority, and the trade body, Oil & Gas UK.
Furthermore, the Government remains committed to seafarer training through its Support for Maritime Training programme which will see its budget increase to £30m by 2024/25. In addition, the Maritime Skills Commission is undertaking a Cadet Review, led by the Maritime Coastal Agency, which will look at the skills needs of cadets. The Government also remains committed to the development and delivery of maritime apprenticeships.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the median wage is of people in receipt of Government support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, by Parliamentary constituency.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
It is not possible to provide an answer in the time available.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people who had wages paid using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme have been made redundant, to date.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Employers are not required to inform HMRC of redundancies.
CJRS is a new scheme and HMRC are currently working through the analysis they will be able to provide based on the data available.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list all assets owned by the Government and their latest estimated value in Wansbeck constituency.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
A comprehensive list of assets owned by the Government is not available at parliamentary constituency level. The Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) reports the cumulative value of assets owned by central and local government at the national level. This data is collated through returns from local authorities and central government departments. The Whole of Government Accounts is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/whole-of-government-accounts
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) businesses are using the furlough scheme and (b) employees have been furloughed in (i) Wansbeck, (ii) Northumberland, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Applications for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) opened on Monday 20th April. By close 3 May 2020, HMRC had received 800,000 claims representing 6.3m furloughed employments and £8bn.
This is a new scheme and HMRC are currently working through the analysis they will be able to provide based on the data available. HMRC will make the timescales for publication and the types of data available in due course.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made for the implications for his policies on free ports of the potential risk of (a) tax avoidance, (b) money laundering and (c) other illegal activities taking place in those ports.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The UK plays a key role in tackling cross-border illegal activity and this is not going to change. UK Freeports will be innovative hubs that boost trade, attract inward investment and drive productive activity across the UK. HMRC have been closely involved in their design to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of tax towards funding our vital public services, while boosting growth in all regions of the UK.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether companies operating within free ports will be subject to (a) tax and (b) other financial incentives.
Answered by Steve Barclay
We are considering a wide range of measures to create vibrant, innovative Freeports which are attractive to domestic and international investors looking to start or grow their UK operations.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the adequacy of central government funding for schools.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Treasury ministers regularly discuss public spending issues with Cabinet Colleagues.
This year the Government is investing £43 billion of core funding into schools, ensuring that core schools funding grows in real terms per pupil. The National Funding Formula is providing every local authority with more money for every pupil in every school.
This means thousands of underfunded schools will attract significantly larger gains of up to 6% per pupil and every school attracting at least 1% more per pupil over the last two years.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of total public expenditure is spent on children’s services delivered by local government.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
I refer the hon member to the answer I gave on 17 December 2018 to PQ UIN 202165.
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 27 June 2018 to Question 158255, on Western Sahara: Imports, whether products entering the UK under the ISO code EH pay import duty.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Goods entering the UK under the ISO code ‘EH’ are chargeable to customs duty.