Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issued to (a) banks and (b) the financial service sector on responding to cases has of domestic abuse in which the perpetrator and victim have a joint bank accounts.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury has not issued guidance. The independent financial services regulator - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - requires firms to treat their customers fairly and has broad and robust powers to enforce breaches of its rules.
Confirmed Industry Guidance for the FCA’s Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook sets out what information firms must provide to customers when they open a joint account, including an explanation of a customer’s rights and duties and the concept of joint and several liability. UK Finance and the Building Societies Association also publish an information leaflet for those considering opening a joint account.
The Government wants to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse are provided with the support they need. The Government will shortly be launching a consultation into tackling domestic abuse, in advance of bringing forward legislation, and I encourage the hon. Member to engage with the consultation when it is published.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether all banks and financial service firms are required to have a written policy on domestic abuse.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury has not issued guidance. The independent financial services regulator - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - requires firms to treat their customers fairly and has broad and robust powers to enforce breaches of its rules.
Confirmed Industry Guidance for the FCA’s Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook sets out what information firms must provide to customers when they open a joint account, including an explanation of a customer’s rights and duties and the concept of joint and several liability. UK Finance and the Building Societies Association also publish an information leaflet for those considering opening a joint account.
The Government wants to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse are provided with the support they need. The Government will shortly be launching a consultation into tackling domestic abuse, in advance of bringing forward legislation, and I encourage the hon. Member to engage with the consultation when it is published.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2017 to Question 110350, on the proposed transfer of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) posts from East Kilbride to Glasgow, on what dates meetings between HMRC and departmental trade unions took place.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) held a specific briefing event for managers and the departmental trade unions on 10 November 2015 to share the plans, formally, for its future locations strategy in advance of the announcement on 12 November 2015. This included the detail for all regional centres, specialist sites, transitional sites and a head office presence at Westminster. Prior to this, HMRC held discussions with the unions in confidence about its plans as they developed and in advance of the decisions being made.
The Regional Engagement Group for Glasgow meets on a monthly basis to consider implementation activity for Glasgow, including the moves to Glasgow from East Kilbride and Cumbernauld. There is union representation at these meetings. Topics for discussion are prioritised in accordance with the timeline for office closures in the region. HMRC is retaining East Kilbride as a transitional site until 2025-26 so the detail for this specific move is not yet finalised.
HMRC continues to engage with the unions at both local and national levels throughout the delivery of the Locations Programme.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions officials of his Department have had with trade union representatives on the proposed transfer of 2,700 HM Revenue and Customs posts from East Kilbride to Glasgow.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In relation to the Locations Programme, including the move of staff from East Kilbride to Glasgow, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has regular contact with the departmental trade unions, through scheduled monthly and other meetings and/ or correspondence, to ensure they are aware of its developing plans. Departmental trade unions are briefed in advance of any announcements.
HMRC works with the unions to seek individual solutions for staff members unable to move to regional centres.
HMRC continues to work with local councils and relevant stakeholders across the UK, including those in Scotland, throughout implementation of this strategy.
HMRC’s decision to move to regional centres is part of a wider Government strategy to develop Government hubs. HMRC is prioritising its commitment to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial impact assessment the Government has made relating to the transfer of HM Revenue and Customs posts from East Kilbride to Glasgow.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In relation to the Locations Programme, including the move of staff from East Kilbride to Glasgow, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has regular contact with the departmental trade unions, through scheduled monthly and other meetings and/ or correspondence, to ensure they are aware of its developing plans. Departmental trade unions are briefed in advance of any announcements.
HMRC works with the unions to seek individual solutions for staff members unable to move to regional centres.
HMRC continues to work with local councils and relevant stakeholders across the UK, including those in Scotland, throughout implementation of this strategy.
HMRC’s decision to move to regional centres is part of a wider Government strategy to develop Government hubs. HMRC is prioritising its commitment to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions officials in his Department have had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) South Lanarkshire Council on the proposed transfer of HM Revenue and Customs posts from East Kilbride to Glasgow.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In relation to the Locations Programme, including the move of staff from East Kilbride to Glasgow, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has regular contact with the departmental trade unions, through scheduled monthly and other meetings and/ or correspondence, to ensure they are aware of its developing plans. Departmental trade unions are briefed in advance of any announcements.
HMRC works with the unions to seek individual solutions for staff members unable to move to regional centres.
HMRC continues to work with local councils and relevant stakeholders across the UK, including those in Scotland, throughout implementation of this strategy.
HMRC’s decision to move to regional centres is part of a wider Government strategy to develop Government hubs. HMRC is prioritising its commitment to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the change in the level of tax revenues since scrapping the Alcohol Duty Escalator.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Information on the amount of duty collected is routinely published online by HM Revenue & Customs. This includes information about the amount of revenue collected over the current financial year and over the last 5 years. This can be found at: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with UK Financial Investments on the charging of unarranged overdraft fees by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with colleagues across Government, and the various regulators, to discuss a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
The Government’s shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is managed at arm’s length from Government by UK Financial Investments (UKFI). UKFI is responsible for managing the shareholding on a wholly commercial basis, in a way that creates and protects value for the taxpayer. UKFI is not responsible, for managing the bank itself; RBS retains its own board for strategic and management decisions. Decisions on overdraft fees are solely within the remit of the bank.
The Government supports the work the Financial Conduct Authority is carrying out on high-cost credit, including overdrafts, and will continue to work with them to ensure that all consumers who use high-cost credit products are treated fairly.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Competition and Markets Authority and (b) Financial Conduct Authority on overdraft fees.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with colleagues across Government, and the various regulators, to discuss a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
The Government’s shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is managed at arm’s length from Government by UK Financial Investments (UKFI). UKFI is responsible for managing the shareholding on a wholly commercial basis, in a way that creates and protects value for the taxpayer. UKFI is not responsible, for managing the bank itself; RBS retains its own board for strategic and management decisions. Decisions on overdraft fees are solely within the remit of the bank.
The Government supports the work the Financial Conduct Authority is carrying out on high-cost credit, including overdrafts, and will continue to work with them to ensure that all consumers who use high-cost credit products are treated fairly.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made on identifying suitable properties for the relocation of its offices to Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) location decisions were based on a number of key principles to enable it to deliver more for less. This included retention of its current staff and skills and local and national transport links. It does not plan to carry out an impact assessment on the local economy of East Kilbride in addition to the People Impact Assessments that have already been conducted.
HMRC is considering a number of sites at each regional centre location, including Glasgow. More details will be available when commercial negotiations have finished.