Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of whether there will be any gap in funding for UK universities during the transition from EU structural and investment funds to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Government made a manifesto commitment to use the EU structural and investment fund money returning to the UK after the UK leaves the EU to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
In October 2016 the Chancellor confirmed that HMT would guarantee funding for all multi-year ESIF projects signed ahead of the point at which the UK leaves the EU. Funding will be honoured provided that the relevant government department considers the project to provide good value for money and be in line with domestic strategic priorities.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of the time taken to implement the Customs Declarations Services programme.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Customs Declaration Service (CDS) programme has been reviewed by the Infrastructure & Projects Authority and the National Audit Office. These plans are on track but not without risk, as is normal for any programme of this size, and contingency planning has been carried out to ensure the successful delivery of the new CDS system without significant impact on the smooth running of the UK’s international trade.
HMRC has a strategy for moving customers to CDS. This has been reached through extensive stakeholder and customer engagement, working closely with key partners in international trade. Our guiding design principles are to ensure minimal change to processes and minimal disruption to operations to reduce burdens on business. There is still a year to go before customers will start transitioning to the new CDS system.
The timetable for implementation has been discussed and influenced by trade partners and key customers to fit with their preferred lead in times where changes to their systems were unavoidable.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of the creation and first five years of running the Customs Declarations Services programme.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The estimated cost of investment to deliver and run the Customs Declaration Service up to 2022 is £133 million, reflecting total development and operating costs as published in the National Audit Office report in July 2017. The estimated cost is based on latest 2017 Outline Business Case.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to change alcohol taxation structures and levels after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. We will seek to achieve the right deal for Britain and for the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will match EU funding levels for the Scotch whisky industry to fund the promotion of food and drink geographical indications or protected designations of origin and rural development after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Scotch whisky producers are currently eligible to apply for EU funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
The UK government has provided guarantees for rural development and agri-environment schemes that are signed before the UK leaves the EU. We are offering the devolved administrations the same level of reassurance as we are offering to UK government departments in relation to programmes they administer but for which they expected to rely on EU funding.
In the longer term, decisions on funding will be taken in light of wider UK strategic priorities and other domestic spending decisions.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional financial and legal protections are in place for UK firms and agencies which (a) collaborate with and (b) take investment from sovereign wealth funds.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The UK is open to investment from all sources. There are well-developed markets for professional and financial advice that support this. There are no specific protections relating to sovereign wealth funds.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the Scottish financial industry and wider economy of the European Banking Agency headquarters leaving the UK.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The future of our relationship with the European Banking Authority (EBA), and any potential effects on the wider banking sector relating to the location of EBA staff, is subject to the outcome of the withdrawal negotiations.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Diageo's plans for 100 job losses on the Scottish economy.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government has been in contact with Diageo and understands the company has begun a consultation with staff about proposed operational changes. The Government understands this will be a worrying time for Diageo employees and their families.
Job Centre Plus stands ready to assist in the event of redundancies being confirmed, and the Government continues to support the Scottish economy and key sectors such as the food and drinks industry.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to maximise the effect of investment of sovereign wealth funds in the UK in each of the next five years.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The government welcomes investment from investors all over the world, including Sovereign Wealth Funds.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to maximise investment in the UK by sovereign wealth funds in each of the next five years.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The government welcomes investment from investors all over the world, including Sovereign Wealth Funds.