Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with HM Revenue and Customs on its approach to tax rule breaches arising from pension scams.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We take the issue of pension scams very seriously. The government is committed to protecting people from pension scams and pursuing those who perpetuate pension scams wherever possible.
In 2012 the government established Project Bloom, a cross-government taskforce currently led by the Pensions Regulator (TPR), to tackle scams and identify emerging threats.
HMRC will continue to come down hard on scammers who we identify, working closely with the Pensions Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority in a cross-agency approach.
HMRC does not hold an estimate of the number of breaches of tax law which were made as a result of pension scams.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available to self-employed workers who have to self isolate (a) once or (b) repeatedly due to themselves or a personal contact testing positive for covid-19.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government is committed to supporting self-employed individuals financially through this difficult time The self-employed whose businesses have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 because they are self-isolating may be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which remains open for applications until the 19 October.
As announced on 20 September the government will introduce a new package to support and enforce self-isolation. People required to self-isolate who are on a low income, cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will be eligible for a payment of £500. Just under 4 million people who are in receipt of benefits in England will be eligible for this payment from 28 September.
These measures sit alongside a comprehensive welfare offer. According to OBR estimates, the government has injected a further £9.3bn into the welfare system to support individuals who are unable to work or on a low income, including for the self-employed. For those on low incomes, the government has relaxed the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed claimants. Self-employed individuals are eligible for “new style” Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if they are incapable of work due to Covid-19, including those who are required to self-isolate according to Government guidance. We have made it easier for people to claim new style ESA by removing the seven-day waiting period which means people can get support from day one.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals to introduce non-repayable grants on qualification for universal credit.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Universal Credit offers tailored financial support that reflects claimants’ personal circumstances. No one has to wait for a first Universal Credit payment, with new claimants able to request additional support through an advance if they need it. Advances can be repaid over a year, allowing new claimants to receive 13 payments during that period instead of 12. Budgeting support is also available for anyone who needs extra help managing their finances.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of removing the minimum hours requirements for working tax credits.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, HMRC has changed the Working Tax Credit regulations so that any interruption or lowering of hours worked is treated as temporary for the duration of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This allows claimants to remain on Working Tax Credit when entitlement would otherwise have ended.
This is in addition to a wider package of welfare measures to support families including a £20 per week increase to the basic element of Working Tax Credit and the Universal Credit standard allowance.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to Question 71791, tabled by the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts on 9 July 2020.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
I replied to the hon. Member on 17 July 2020.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Barnett consequentials are from the £3 billion green investment package.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The £3 billion green investment package will generate almost £600 million of Barnett consequentials.
As discussed with the devolved administrations, to facilitate their financial planning, we are working to provide them with the expected increase in Barnett consequentials as a result of all changes in departmental spending this year.
The Summer Economic Update therefore confirmed that we expect to provide the devolved administrations with an additional £8.9 billion of resource funding this year.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the capital funding to support the Green Investment Scheme is new money.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. We are committed to meeting our climate change targets, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
We have recently announced investments to accelerate progress towards this goal. At Spring Budget 2020 the Government announced at least £800m for carbon capture and storage, over £1bn of further support for ultra-low emission vehicles, at least doubling funding for energy innovation, and tax measures to encourage greater energy efficiency and tackle plastic waste.
On July 8th the Chancellor announced a £3.05 billion package on building decarbonisation for homeowners and landlords, the public sector and social housing. Further announcements will follow in the Autumn at the Spending Review.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral contribution of 8 July 2020, Official Report column 976, how he plans to allocate that additional £1.2 billion to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DWP has been provided with £1.2bn this financial year to significantly expand and enhance work search support across Great Britain. This includes: £895m to double the number of work coaches; £150m additional investment into the Flexible Support Fund to provide direct support at a local level; £95m to expand the scope of the Work and Health Programme; and £40m over two years to fund private sector capacity to introduce a job finding support service.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an individualised financial support package for different sectors of the economy based on the respective effects of covid-19 outbreak on those sectors.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government has provided one of the most comprehensive and generous packages of support for businesses globally. The Chancellor recently extended the furlough scheme until the end of October and a host of other support measures are still available for businesses in all sectors.
In addition, the Government has implemented targeted measures for specific sectors where it has believed it was necessary. For example, small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes can benefit from £25,000 per property for each property that has a rateable value above £15,000 and below £51,000. Eligible businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality in England can also benefit from a 12-month business rates holiday. Also, on 5 July the Government announced that Britain’s arts, culture and heritage industries will receive a world-leading £1.57 billion rescue package.
Additionally, on 8 July the Chancellor announced further sectoral support for businesses including, but not limited to:
As we cautiously reopen closed sectors of the economy the Government will continue to review the economic situation and provide further support for specific sectors if it believes it is appropriate.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to extend the Coronavurus Job Retention Scheme for businesses in sectors unable to reopen for safety reasons as the covod-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further extensions or changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).
After eight months of the CJRS, the scheme will close at the end of October.
Businesses and sectors that are unable to reopen can continue to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until the scheme’s end as they have done so far.
The introduction of flexible furloughing further ensures that firms can begin to bring furloughed employees back to work as lockdown restrictions are eased and it becomes safe to do so.
It would be challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors and locations in a fair and deliverable way, and it may not be the case that this is the most effective or sensible way to provide longer term support for those sectors and areas that are not yet reopening.
The Government will continue to engage with businesses and sectors with the aim of ensuring that support provided is right for those sectors and for the economy as a whole.