Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the European Commission since the EU referendum on its timetable for proposals to allow member states to set their own VAT rate on sanitary products.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Since the referendum the UK has continued to raise the issue of a VAT zero-rate for women’s sanitary products with the European Commission in various fora.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on Scotland's public finances.
Answered by David Gauke
We have always been clear that this is a new chapter for the United Kingdom, but our economy is fundamentally strong. We will work closely with the Scottish Government – and get the best possible deal for all parts of our United Kingdom as we conduct our negotiations for leaving the EU.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it remains government policy to maintain the Bank of England's independence.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The operation of monetary policy in the UK is independent of Government. This is a crucial cornerstone of the UK’s macroeconomic framework. The Government’s position on this has not changed.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which reports commissioned by his Department from external bodies between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2016 have not yet been published; when each report was commissioned for research; what the nature of the research commissioned was; from which external body or individual person the research was commissioned; what the value was of each such piece of research commissioned; on what date each report was received by his Department; for what reasons the research has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish each report.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The Department does not hold this information centrally. The information requested can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what work his Department has done to assess the potential effect of the soft drinks industry levy on levels of obesity in children and teenagers.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Chief Medical Officer has said that reformulation and resizing are the key wins to tackle obesity.
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has been specifically designed to encourage companies to reduce the amount of added sugar in their products and move consumers towards healthier choices, by promoting low-sugar brands and introducing smaller portion sizes for high-sugary drinks.
The government will monitor industry progress in reformulation over the coming years.