Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidelines there are to insurance companies on considering claims of people who cancelled travel plans as a result of following Government travel advice relating to health concerns in the areas they plan to travel to.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The Government is determined that travel insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the UK insurance industry. The FCA’s Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS) states that insurers must handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.
If consumers would like to make a complaint about their case, in the first instance they should contact their insurer. If their complaint is not upheld and they would like to pursue the matter, they can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS offers a free dispute resolution service for people who wish to complain about how their insurance company has treated them. The decision of the FOS is binding on insurers up to £150,000. The FOS can be contacted at:
The Financial Ombudsman Service
Exchange Tower
London
E14 9SR
Telephone: 0300 123 9123
complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of reducing VAT on low-fat percentage food products from 20 to five per cent; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
A zero rate of VAT already applies to many foods, including for example fresh fruit and vegetables. The 20 per cent VAT rate applies to foods such as ice cream, confectionary and potato crisps.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of national insurance contributions have been allocated to (a) pensions and (b) the NHS in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The proportion of National Insurance contributions (NICs) allocated to the National Health Service (NHS) is set down in legislation in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (sections 161-162) and the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
Total National Insurance contributions have been reported annually on an accruals accounting basis since 2004-05, before that on a cash basis, in the Inland Revenue and then the HM Revenue and Customs Annual Report and Accounts which are laid before Parliament. Accounts for the last twenty years are available from the House of Commons Library and are also available online from 2012-13 at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrcs-annual-report-and-accounts.
The amounts of NICs paid out in state pensions and paid over to the NHS are reported annually on a cash basis in the National Insurance Fund Accounts which are laid before Parliament. Accounts for the last twenty years are available from the House of Commons Library and are also available online from 2007-8 at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts