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Written Question
Collective Investment Schemes: Regulation
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what regulatory framework is in place to supervise (a) unregulated collective investment schemes and (b) the promotion of those schemes.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The UK’s financial promotions regime, underpinned by Section 21 and Section 238 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), seeks to ensure that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information that enables them to make appropriate decisions for their individual circumstances. Under this regime, the FCA has imposed rules on the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes, including that such schemes cannot be promoted to ordinary members of the public.

Enforcement relating to the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes is generally a matter for the FCA, which is operationally independent from the Government. These questions have therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.


Written Question
Collective Investment Schemes: Regulation
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data his Department holds on he number of (a) cases investigated and (b) enforcement actions taken against individuals and entities involved in the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes in each of the last five years.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The UK’s financial promotions regime, underpinned by Section 21 and Section 238 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), seeks to ensure that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information that enables them to make appropriate decisions for their individual circumstances. Under this regime, the FCA has imposed rules on the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes, including that such schemes cannot be promoted to ordinary members of the public.

Enforcement relating to the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes is generally a matter for the FCA, which is operationally independent from the Government. These questions have therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.


Written Question
Collective Investment Schemes: Regulation
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures his Department has in place to protect investors from the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes; and what penalties or enforcement action is being pursued against those found promoting such schemes.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The UK’s financial promotions regime, underpinned by Section 21 and Section 238 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), seeks to ensure that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information that enables them to make appropriate decisions for their individual circumstances. Under this regime, the FCA has imposed rules on the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes, including that such schemes cannot be promoted to ordinary members of the public.

Enforcement relating to the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes is generally a matter for the FCA, which is operationally independent from the Government. These questions have therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.


Written Question
Collective Investment Schemes: Regulation
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to identify and prevent entities and individuals promote unregulated collective investment schemes.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The UK’s financial promotions regime, underpinned by Section 21 and Section 238 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), seeks to ensure that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information that enables them to make appropriate decisions for their individual circumstances. Under this regime, the FCA has imposed rules on the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes, including that such schemes cannot be promoted to ordinary members of the public.

Enforcement relating to the promotion of unregulated collective investment schemes is generally a matter for the FCA, which is operationally independent from the Government. These questions have therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.


Written Question
Gaming Machines: Excise Duties
Thursday 9th February 2023

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing businesses in the land-based gambling sector that pay Machine Games Duty to reclaim VAT.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The takings from gaming machines that are subject to Machine Games Duty are exempt from VAT. This means that businesses do not have to charge any VAT on the machine takings but, in line with the normal VAT rules, they cannot reclaim VAT on related costs.

There are no plans to review the VAT liability of this income.


Written Question
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: Blackpool South
Tuesday 11th October 2022

Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the costs to the public purse of the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and (b) Self-Employment Income Support Scheme for claims made in Blackpool South constituency.

Answered by Richard Fuller - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

HMRC published statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-coronavirus-covid-19-statistics.

For the CJRS, the total value of claims is not available for individual constituencies. By the end of the scheme, a total of 15,500 employments benefitted from CJRS in the Blackpool South constituency.

For the SEISS, 13,700 claims were made at a cost of £30,500,000 in the Blackpool South constituency.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 23 Sep 2022
The Growth Plan

"Thousands of my constituents will welcome this statement, which will see the average working family in Blackpool more than £1,500 a year better off through the combination of tax cuts and the energy price guarantee. They will also welcome the opportunities that it presents for jobs and investments in the …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: The Growth Plan

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases

"I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate on an incredibly important issue for many families in Blackpool. My constituency is among the most deprived in England, with the numbers of households in poverty, in receipt of benefits and looking for work being far higher than the …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Cost of Living Increases

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Mar 2022
Cost of Living Increases

"I thank my hon. Friend and he makes a good point. I know that he shares my ambition for the Government to expand their capabilities on nuclear.

We also need to consider further investment in North sea oil and gas, in order to ensure a smooth transition to green and …..."

Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Cost of Living Increases

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]

"My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech and I commend him on tabling this new clause. Does he agree that the BDS movement has consistently opposed efforts from Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a peaceful settlement? He referred earlier to Wirral Council and its pensions committee; does he …..."
Scott Benton - View Speech

View all Scott Benton (Ind - Blackpool South) contributions to the debate on: Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]