Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the increased telecommunications costs to vulnerable people who are unable to leave their homes during the covid-19 outbreak; and what fiscal support the Government is providing to those people.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The government is committed to supporting individuals through this difficult time. We have increased the generosity of Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by £20 p/w, as well as raising the Local Housing Allowance rate to 30% of market rents. We have made significant changes to the operation of Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, and new style Employment and Support Allowance to ensure that people have quicker and more generous access to a support system.
The government has also agreed a set of commitments with the UK's major telecommunications providers to support and protect vulnerable consumers and those who may become vulnerable due to circumstances arising from COVID-19. These measures include, among others, the removal of all data allowance caps on all current fixed broadband services, and a commitment by providers to work fairly with customers who find it difficult to pay their bills as a result of COVID-19.
In addition, the government recently announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible. We are also working with the country’s major telecommunication providers to make it easier for children in vulnerable and disadvantaged families, who are relying on mobile data, to access online educational resources.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak and the increased reliance on online services during that outbreak, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the adequacy of Government funding for digital skills.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
HMT and DCMS ministers meet frequently to cover a range of issues as part of the normal process of policy development and delivery.
The government recognises that new measures taken to protect against Covid-19 mean there will be an increased reliance on digital services. This is why the government is working with FutureDotNow, a coalition of companies and civil society organisations to improve digital skills and support remote working.
The government has also announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on funding programmes to provide electronic equipment and connectivity for education and social use to vulnerable people.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
HMT and DCMS ministers meet frequently to cover a range of issues as part of the normal process of policy development and delivery.
The government is working to address issues faced by vulnerable people who may also be digitally excluded. For example:
- The government is currently working with FutureDotNow to support an industry-led campaign to provide devices to digitally excluded people to support better health and social care outcomes.
- The government has also worked with the UK’s major telecommunications providers to agree measures to support connectivity for vulnerable consumers.
- The government has also recently announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible. The government is additionally working with the major telecommunications providers to make it easier for families to access selected educational resources by temporarily exempting these sites from data charges.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the contribution to the public purse of the apprenticeship levy since its introduction.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Monthly receipts data for the Apprenticeship Levy is published by HM Revenue & Customs in their Tax & NIC Receipts publication which can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the two child tax credit limit on kinship carers who are already raising two children.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The government is committed to making the welfare system fair for those who pay for it as well as those who benefit from it. Families in receipt of welfare payments should face the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work. However, in recognition that some claimants are not able to make choices about the number of children in their family, the government has provided exceptions for certain groups, including in cases of kinship care.
Data on the exceptions will be published at a future date following quality assurance.
As with all our policies, the government will continue to keep this policy under review.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to remove the two child tax credit limit for kinship carers who are unable to claim child tax credit for any child to whom they give birth.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The government is committed to making the welfare system fair for those who pay for it as well as those who benefit from it. Families in receipt of welfare payments should face the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work. However, in recognition that some claimants are not able to make choices about the number of children in their family, the government has provided exceptions for certain groups, including in cases of kinship care.
Data on the exceptions will be published at a future date following quality assurance.
As with all our policies, the government will continue to keep this policy under review.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the performance and effectiveness of (a) National Savings and Investments and (b) Atos in respect of tax-free childcare since that policy was launched in April 2017.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 16 October to the Hon Member for Arfon to PQ 105683.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) system and (b) running costs of tax-free childcare; and whether that estimate exceeds the original budget for such childcare.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The forecast cost of developing the childcare service for Tax-Free Childcare is within the agreed budget for the Tax-Free Childcare programme, which is £357m through to 2021/22.