Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the level of demand for use cheques as payment amongst (a) businesses and (b) charities.
Answered by Richard Fuller - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Cheques remain an important part of the UK’s payments landscape. While there has been a decline in overall cheque volumes, they continue to be used by many individuals, businesses, charities, and other voluntary organisations. HM Treasury does not currently have plans to undertake a formal assessment of cheque volumes.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the business rates review.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
With the conclusion of the Business Rates Review, the Government has delivered meaningful reform and cuts worth £7 billion to business over the next five years.
The review has implemented significant new measures to reduce the burden of business rates on firms, including a freeze in the multiplier, new support for improvements and green technology, and further relief for high street businesses. The Government is committing to more frequent revaluations, which represents significant reform of the system and will ensure that liabilities are more responsive to changing market conditions. This addresses key asks of stakeholders for more frequent revaluations and for a reduction of the burden of business rates to make the system fairer.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority at improving its customer service standards.
Answered by John Glen
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is operationally independent from the Government. Therefore, questions about operational matters are for the independent FCA.
This question has therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including infrared heat panels in zero rating VAT policy in respect of energy saving measures.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Chancellor announced at Spring Statement 2022 that the VAT relief for the installation of energy saving materials (ESMs) will be expanded in Great Britain.
From 1 April 2022, complex eligibility conditions to access the relief have been removed and wind and water turbines have been reinstated as qualifying materials. Qualifying installations will also now benefit from a VAT zero-rate until April 2027. Overall, this represents an additional £280 million of support for investment in ESMs over the next 5 years.
This will support the uptake of products that are used to increase the energy efficiency and decarbonisation of residential accommodation. These improvements are key to reducing gas dependency and household bills and are also a vital part of the UK’s transition to Net Zero.
While infrared heat panels were not added to the list of materials which qualify for the relief, the Government keeps all taxes under review and continues to welcome representations on how the tax system can be improved.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that policy remains in step with the rapid pace of technological development in the ESMs market and the changing policy context since this particular relief was first introduced.
That said, requests for further changes should be viewed in the context of over £50 billion of requests for relief from VAT received since the EU referendum. Such costs would have to be balanced by increased taxes elsewhere, increased borrowing, or reductions in Government spending.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that the 5 pence cut to fuel duty is passed on to consumers.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is clear that it expects those in the supply chain to pass the fuel duty cut through to consumers as soon as possible, and has written to key industry stakeholders to set out this expectation.
The Government will continue to monitor fuel prices closely.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking with HMRC to ensure that methods for the public to contact HMRC are (a) clear and (b) accessible.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Customers wishing to contact HMRC have several routes they can use, including a number of digital options as well as more traditional methods, such as telephoning or writing.
Information on how to contact HMRC can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/contact-hmrc