Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
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.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on providing (a) tenancy security, (b) limiting rent rises and (c) providing frameworks for tenants to oppose rent increases.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have their records with HM Revenue and Customs recorded clerically; and what procedures are in place for such clerical cases to be moved to newer computer systems.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
All HMRC customers have computerised records and most can access their records digitally using their Personal Tax Account or Business Tax Accounts. Over 3 million businesses have used their Business Tax Accounts in the past 12 months; and 13.7 million customers use their Personal Tax Accounts.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reconsider allowing Zambrano carers to apply for child benefit for children who are UK citizens.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Government’s policy is that although Zambrano carers have a right to live and work in the UK, it does not entitle them to Child Benefit. This maintains the long-standing position of successive Governments that persons from outside the EU/EEA are, in general, not entitled to public funds.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following number of occasions in the last 5 years: 2011: 1.
- Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 1.
- Sections 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were used together on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2013: 2.
No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following number of occasions in the last 5 years: 2011: 1.
- Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 1.
- Sections 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were used together on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2013: 2.
No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what instructions have been given to staff in his Department dealing with freedom of information requests on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No. 19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, in considering whether to apply the exemptions in section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following number of occasions in the last 5 years: 2011: 1.
- Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 1.
- Sections 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were used together on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2013: 2.
No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.