Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 261211 on Immigration: EU Nationals, for what reason the information requested is not recorded in a data set that that can be interrogated through the automated checks for the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
HMRC and the Home Office have worked closely together to ensure that information provided for the automatic residence checks is sufficient to provide a response for the majority of applications. After taking account of the other information sources available to the Home Office, tax credit records have not been included as they would only be relevant to a small number of applicants. Individuals that received tax credits during a period of residence that is not validated automatically will still be able to provide documents directly to the Home Office as evidence of their residence.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the personal finances of claimants.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Universal Credit replaces an outdated system of six different benefits, ensuring it always pays to work. We’ve scrapped the seven waiting days for Universal Credit so that people get their payments faster, and we’ve increased advances so everyone who needs it can get their first month’s pay within five days.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of the modelling that the Government is using to assess the potential disruption at the UK border in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.
Ministers have a responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information relevant to ongoing negotiations.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussion he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the cap on rent-to-own lending to start in April 2019.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Treasury ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. This includes regular meetings with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to discuss relevant regulatory issues.
The government welcomed the FCA’s May update on high-cost credit, including a proposal to cap the cost of rent-to-own. The Government will continue to work closely with the FCA to ensure that all rent-to-own customers are treated fairly.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the UK will remain a member of the European Banking Authority during the implementation period for the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK and EU negotiating teams have agreed the terms of a time-limited Implementation Period. Once the UK becomes a third country, we will withdraw from the institutions of the EU. As a non-member state, we have been clear that the UK will no longer have the same role in the decision-making of the EU. However, it is clearly in the interests of both sides that the UK continues to work closely together on matters that concern the UK, as set out in the agreement.
The UK takes its international obligations to protect financial stability very seriously and we remain strongly supportive of continued engagement and cooperation between UK and EU regulators. To help ensure a smooth adjustment to the future relationship, the UK will continue to engage with and work alongside the European Banking Authority during the Implementation Period.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information on (a) labour rights and (b) access to advice and remedy is routinely provided to workers who (i) file a complaint with and (ii) are encountered during inspections conducted by HMRC National Living Wage enforcement teams.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them.
HMRC provides general information on NMW entitlement to workers who make a NMW complaint; this includes a worker’s right to pursue any NMW arrears through an employment tribunal and the applicable time limits. If HMRC opens an NMW investigation, regular updates on the progression of the case are provided to the impacted workers. If HMRC encounters other impacted workers in the course of an NMW investigation, general information on HMRC’s enforcement of NMW legislation is provided.
HMRC does not record data on referrals made to the Home Office in relation to undocumented migrants, however does work collaboratively with the Home Office and other enforcement bodies on tackling NMW, illegal working and wider labour market risks.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases of migrants working undocumented were passed from his Department's national minimum wage team to Immigration Enforcement in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them.
HMRC provides general information on NMW entitlement to workers who make a NMW complaint; this includes a worker’s right to pursue any NMW arrears through an employment tribunal and the applicable time limits. If HMRC opens an NMW investigation, regular updates on the progression of the case are provided to the impacted workers. If HMRC encounters other impacted workers in the course of an NMW investigation, general information on HMRC’s enforcement of NMW legislation is provided.
HMRC does not record data on referrals made to the Home Office in relation to undocumented migrants, however does work collaboratively with the Home Office and other enforcement bodies on tackling NMW, illegal working and wider labour market risks.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that consumers are protected from unsolicited increases in credit limits.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The regulation of consumer credit is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA has carried out an extensive credit card market study which identified concerns about persistent credit card debt. The FCA’s proposed measures to tackle persistent debt include an industry agreement to restrict unsolicited credit limit increases
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to work with the Financial Conduct Authority to regulate the credit market and stop uninvited credit limit increases by lenders.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Treasury ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. This includes regular meetings with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA has carried out an extensive credit card market study that identified concerns about persistent credit card debt. The FCA’s proposed measures to tackle persistent debt include an industry agreement to restrict unsolicited credit limit increases.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2017 to Question 107910, on social services: minimum wage, how much was paid to social care workers through self-correction; and how much was recovered by HM Revenue and Customs between January 2016 and 31 March 2017.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
As referenced in the answer to question 107910, between January 2016 and 31 March 2017, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) instructed 42 employers to self-correct identified arrears of over £1.9m to social care workers.
Where employers self-correct arrears owed, HMRC carries out checks to ensure the money is repaid to the workers. HMRC does not recover the arrears.