Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what safeguards he plans to put in place to ensure the security of Scottish NHS data shared with HM Revenue and Customs.
Answered by David Gauke
Any taxpayer data held by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is subjected to strict safeguards.
HMRC take their duty of confidentiality very seriously and cannot disclose any information acquired or held unless specifically provided for by law. All HMRC information is subject to stringent data security controls and unlawful disclosure of taxpayer information is potentially a criminal offence.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers on the sharing of Scottish NHS data with HM Revenue and Customs.
Answered by David Gauke
Treasury ministers discuss a wide range of issues with their ministerial counterparts, including in the Scottish Government. In line with the practice followed by previous administrations, details of such discussions are not routinely disclosed.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on oil and gas receipts of the fall in the price of Brent crude to $56 a barrel.
Answered by David Gauke
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published forecasts for oil and gas revenues in the December 2014 Economic and Financial Outlook. The report shows that these tax receipts are expected to be £15.8bn over the forecast period. The March 2015 forecast will incorporate the impact of recent changes in the oil price.
The global fall in oil prices should provide a boost to the economy and support UK and global growth. Falling oil prices contributed to annual CPI inflation of 1.0 per cent in November, the lowest level of inflation in 12 years, and reductions in petrol and diesel prices, which are now at their lowest levels since September 2010. On 5th January 2015, diesel was down 18.28p/l on its July 2014 peak, at 117.93p/l, and petrol down 20.05p/l at 111.06p/l.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to respond to Question 213722 tabled on 6 November 2014.
Answered by Danny Alexander
I have done so.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how adjustments to the Scottish block grant will be calculated following implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax.
Answered by Danny Alexander
The Government has agreed a block grant adjustment mechanism through the operation of the Barnett formula with the Scottish Government in relation to the Scottish rate of income tax.
During two or three transitional years, the deduction will reflect the tax generated by a Scottish rate of 10p. Following this transitional period, the first year deduction will again reflect the tax generated by a Scottish rate of 10p, and then in subsequent years this deduction will be indexed against growth in the UK non-savings non-dividend income tax base.
The Scottish Government’s overall funding will therefore be partly determined by the relative growth in the Scottish and UK non-savings non-dividend income tax base.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2014 to Question 210913, when he plans to begin public information campaigns in Scotland to inform taxpayers and businesses about changes to the tax system in Scotland.
Answered by David Gauke
The Scottish rate of income tax will be introduced from April 2016. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will contact individuals who will be affected by the introduction of the Scottish rate from autumn 2015. HMRC will continue to work with stakeholders and provide updates to businesses about the changes ensuring those affected will have the information and support they need in advance of the introduction of the Scottish rate.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Pensions Technical Group and Income Tax Technical Group established to examine issues arising from the introduction of a Scottish rate of income tax have completed their work.
Answered by David Gauke
The advisory groups set up by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to examine issues from the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax have completed their work. The Government’s proposals for the detailed consequential changes needed to implement the Scottish Rate of Income Tax were set out in the Technical Note published by HMRC in May 2012. In December 2013 HMRC announced arrangements to ensure that from 2016 Scottish taxpayers will receive the appropriate tax relief on their pension contributions to relief at source schemes.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many requests the Scottish Government has made using the powers of Part 3 of the Scotland Act 2012 for the addition of new devolved taxes.
Answered by David Gauke
The Scottish Government has not made any requests to create new devolved taxes under this power.
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in his Department are working on the Scottish rate of income tax project.
Answered by David Gauke
I refer the hon member to the answer that I gave her on 13 June 2013 (OR,WA, COL: 390W).
Asked by: Margaret Curran (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the last Finance Ministers Quadrilateral met; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of that meeting.
Answered by Danny Alexander
The last Finance Quadrilateral was held on 18 November 2013.
No formal minutes of the meeting were taken, but Ministers present discussed the general economic outlook for the UK and for each of the devolved administrations, as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Autumn Statement. Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the framework under which the devolved administrations could carry forward Financial Transactions capital into future years.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations aim to meet regularly in Quadrilateral format, complimenting bi-lateral meetings and conversations throughout the year. It is anticipated the next Quadrilateral will take place over the coming months. No date or agenda has yet been set.