Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the Pillar 2 OECD global minimum income tax on the UK economy.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Pillar 2 will protect the UK tax base against aggressive tax planning and reinforce the competitiveness of the UK, boosting the UK’s attractiveness as a place to do business, and raising over £12bn in the UK over the next 6 years.Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What recent assessment he has made of the impact of his fiscal policies on levels of foreign direct investment into the UK.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK has the second highest level of greenfield inward investment in the world, behind only the US. The UK remains an attractive destination thanks to our competitive tax regime, world-leading regulatory and legal system, and exemplary academic institutions.
This success was demonstrated at last year’s Global Investment Summit, where the PM announced £29.5bn of investment into the UK.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2023 to Question 3785 on Corporation Tax: International Cooperation, when he next plans to (a) review and (b) make an assessment of the potential impact on (i) UK-based businesses and (ii) foreign direct investment of implementation of the OECD Pillar 2 minimum corporation tax measures.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Tax Information and Impact notes will be published alongside any future legislation on Pillar 2 in a Finance Bill.
As set out in my answer on 5 December, a Tax Information and Impact note was published in March 2023 which set out the impact on UK businesses of the current legislation.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Government Efficiency Framework; and if he will make an estimate of the impact of that framework on costs to the public purse (i) so far and (ii) in each of the next three financial years.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
All departments are expected to use the framework to measure and categorise efficiencies.
The framework aims to standardise and simplify definitions and processes across the finance function, building on work already being done by departments as part of business as usual budgeting and financial management processes. As such, we do not expect there to be any direct implementation costs.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to reduce costs across Government departments in each of the next five years; and what estimate he has made of the resulting annual savings, by department.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Spending Review 2021 set UK Government Departmental budgets for the rest of this Parliament (up to 2024-25).
Individual Departmental budgets beyond 2024-25 will be set at the next Spending Review.
To control spending and reduce debt in accordance with the fiscal rules, the government is maintaining a consistent focus on tackling productivity across the public sector. I am leading an ambitious Public Sector Productivity Programme, which will reduce costs across government by changing the way we deliver public services, cutting down waste and reducing the amount of time spent on administrative tasks.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department holds information on the countries that will implement the OECD Pillar 2 minimum corporation tax measures from 31 December 2023; and what discussions he has had with (a) the OECD and (b) his counterparts in other countries on the implementation of that measure.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Countries that have committed to apply Pillar 2 from 31 December 2023 or 1 January 2024 include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vietnam. Japan are implementing for 1 April 2024.
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Hong-Kong and Singapore have committed to implement for 1 January 2025.
There are many other jurisdictions that have taken steps towards Pillar 2 implementation.
There are regular multilateral discussions at Ministerial level, including at the level of the G20, on how to ensure swift and coordinated implementation of Pillar 2, as well as the support that can be provided to developing countries in that regard.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) UK based businesses and (b) foreign direct investment of implementation of the OECD Pillar 2 minimum corporation tax measures.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
A Tax Information and Impact Note was published in March 2023 which sets out the impact on business of complying with Pillar 2.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing further business rate reliefs to support (a) small businesses, (b) other businesses, (c) high streets and town centres and (d) local authorities.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
At Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced a package of changes and tax cuts worth £13.6 billion over the next five years, including:
Decisions on future business rates support will be made in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of retaining the business rates multiplier at the current level for the 2024-25 financial year.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government has taken action to hold the tax rate steady over the last three years, protecting businesses from inflationary pressures at a cost of £14.5 billion to the Exchequer.
Most recently, the Government froze the business rates multiplier for a third consecutive year in 2023-24, a tax cut worth £9.3 billion to business over the next 5 years. This will support all ratepayers, large and small, with the revaluation in 2023, meaning bills are 6 per cent lower, before any reliefs or supplements are applied, than without the freeze.
Decisions on the level of the multiplier for 2024-25 will be made in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the income from VAT on defibrillator sales in the last five years; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making defibrillator sales VAT exempt.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden. Therefore, HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services, including VAT on defibrillators.
The Government currently provides various VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators and other first aid equipment. For example, when an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity or by voluntary contributions, and then donated to an eligible body (such as an NHS body or a charitable care institution), this purchase can then be zero rated, meaning no VAT is charged. Otherwise, they attract the standard rate of VAT.
The Department of Health and Social Care are examining whether there are ways to further expand public access to defibrillators. The Government keeps all taxes under constant review.