Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons money wrongly paid to HMRC in January 2000 was not returned to the Roadchef Employee Benefits Trust until September 2018.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The administration of the tax system is a matter for HMRC. It would not be appropriate for Treasury Ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax system in specific cases.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish its response to its consultation on funeral plan regulation, launched in June 2018.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
HM Treasury has analysed the submissions to the call for evidence on pre-paid funeral plans and is currently reviewing the available policy options.
The response to the call for evidence will be published in due course.
The Competition and Market Authority’s proposed extension of the scope of its funeral market investigation to consider the delivery of funeral plans has not had an effect on the timing of this response.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what effect the Competition and Market Authority’s proposed extension of the scope of its funeral market investigation to consider the delivery of funeral plans will have on the timing of HM Treasury’s response to its consultation on funeral plan regulation.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
HM Treasury has analysed the submissions to the call for evidence on pre-paid funeral plans and is currently reviewing the available policy options.
The response to the call for evidence will be published in due course.
The Competition and Market Authority’s proposed extension of the scope of its funeral market investigation to consider the delivery of funeral plans has not had an effect on the timing of this response.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on reviewing the adequacy of funding for social security benefits.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
We are projected to spend almost £100bn on working age welfare in GB in 2019/20 – more than in any other year.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether people in receipt of back-payments for ESA are also entitled to receive back-payments for tax credits.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
As with other legacy benefits, the government is considering the position of tax credit claimants who receive historical ESA payments from DWP.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of progress on delivering the future of child benefit transformation project, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Future of Child Benefit Programme will migrate current Child Benefit customer data from the existing DWP IT System across to a more modern, stable and flexible IT system within HMRC. The Programme is currently on track for delivery in late 2019.
It will enable HMRC to maintain existing claims and payments, and process new claims for Child Benefit within the HMRC IT estate.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of progress on delivering the tax-free childcare new front end project; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The childcare service is working well, following HMRC’s improvements. This is demonstrated by over 80% parent satisfaction with the service since the start of the year. As with all new digital services, HMRC are continuing to improve the customer journey in response to customer feedback.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on preparations for inter-governmental discussions in relation to negotiations with the EU in 2018 to date.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received from (a) business organisations and (b) trade unions on customs arrangements after the UK leaves the EU; and how many of those such representations have received a response from his Department.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The government speaks regularly to a range of stakeholders on customs and related matters. Since the referendum, ministers and officials have met with over 300 businesses and other organisations involved in international trade throughout the UK to discuss customs VAT and excise.
Businesses and representative bodies have an important role to play in the policy making process and the government will continue its engagement.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the fiscal multiplier associated with the Hinkley C nuclear power station project relative to carbon capture and storage projects.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
As part of our appraisal of energy projects, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) assess impacts on the local and UK economy. This is reflected in the Government assurance process for Hinkley Point C, and we continue to monitor the delivery of the project’s economic benefits with the developer. The developer expects the project will contribute £1.5 billion to the local economy during construction and 25,000 job opportunities, whilst up to 64% of the value of construction contracts will be received by UK companies.