Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the representatives of large companies on their ability to assess the employment status of their workers for the purpose of IR35 rules; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The off-payroll working rules (sometimes known as IR35) have been in place since 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees pay broadly the same amount of tax and National Insurance Contributions, regardless of the structure they work through. They do not affect the self-employed.
Budget 2018 announced that reforms introduced in 2017 for the public sector would be extended to all sectors, from 6 April 2020, giving businesses time to prepare.
The Government has worked closely with external stakeholders, including contractor representatives, businesses and parliamentary colleagues to ensure that customers are ready for these changes, providing targeted support for customers to help them implement these changes. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will continue working with stakeholders to enhance the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) digital service. Customers can use the CEST service to help make decisions on the employment status of their workers for tax purposes.
In addition, HMRC have set up dedicated teams to provide education and guidance to all businesses affected by the reforms. This support will include one-to-one support for 2,000 of the UK’s biggest employers and direct communications to around 15,000 medium-sized businesses.
HMRC have produced guidance for large and medium-sized customers, which can be found on GOV.UK;
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/april-2020-changes-to-off-payroll-working-for-clients
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total gross amount paid by the UK to the EU was in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available (a) including and (b) excluding tariffs collected on goods entering the UK from non-EU countries.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
In 2017, the total gross amount paid by the UK to the EU rounds to £13bn. In accordance with EU regulations, Member States contribute 80% of customs duties collected on non-EU imports. The UK consequently retains 20% of these duties to cover the costs of collection. In 2017, the UK contributed £3.2bn in customs duties to the EU. Therefore, the UK’s gross contribution excluding customs duties to the EU was £9.8bn.Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total amount the EU paid to the UK in grants and funding was in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.
Answered by John Glen
The most recent statement, European Union Finances 2017, provides public sector receipts details for: European Agriculture Guarantee Fund, European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development, European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund, and other public-sector receipts. In 2017, these were estimated to be £4.1bn.
Further breakdown of UK receipts is available through the EU Financial Report. This includes those receipts the UK receive through the public sector and private sector, i.e. receipts information on Horizon 2020 and Euratom.
The EU’s Financial Report 2017 total UK receipts at €6.3bn. Using the exchange rate as of 31st December 2016 (this is the rate used for all contributions), this totals £5.4bn of both public sector and private sector receipts.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) cigarettes and (b) pouches of tobacco smoked in the UK that have had full tax paid on them; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The information requested is available within Table 3.5 and Table 3.6, chapter 3, of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)’s publication Measuring Tax Gaps: 2018 Edition, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps. HMRC estimates that tax and duty was paid on approximately 29.5 billion cigarettes in 2016-17 and 6.4 million kg of hand rolling tobacco, representing 85% of the total cigarette market and 72% of the hand rolling tobacco market.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was received in tariffs for goods imported into the UK from non-EU sources in the last year for which figures are available; and how much of that was sent on to the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
In accordance with EU regulations, Member States contribute 80% of customs duties collected on non-EU imports. The UK consequently retains 20% of these duties to cover the costs of collection. In 2017, the UK contributed £3.2bn in customs duties to the EU.