Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the rate of bankruptcy as a result of the Loan Charge.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Hon Member to the answer that I gave on 6 February to the Hon Members for Richmond Park, UIN 136718 and Strangford, UIN 137775.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to prevent self-harm or suicide of people who are facing HMRC action, in relation to disguised remuneration schemes.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Any loss of life is a tragedy, and HMRC takes issues relating to loss of life or serious injury extremely seriously.
HMRC is committed to , wherever possible, identifying taxpayers who need extra help and giving them the support they need.
Taxpayers who have used disguised remuneration schemes can face large tax bills which may have a significant impact. HMRC can agree an affordable and sustainable instalment plan based on taxpayers’ specific circumstances and for as long as they need. HMRC can also refer taxpayers for free debt advice that is independent from HMRC.
Taxpayers are also supported by HMRC’s trained advisers. Where appropriate, they signpost taxpayers to voluntary and community organisations. To further improve the emotional support offered to taxpayers, HMRC's Extra Support Teams and Samaritans are working together to deliver an 18-month project. As part of the project, Samaritans will help strengthen HMRC’s Extra Support Teams by providing additional guidance to identify taxpayers who might be in vulnerable circumstances, and signpost them to support. Where needed, HMRC will signpost customers to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional support.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost for staff to administer the Loan Charge including (a) legal advice and (b) consultants.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Hon Member to the answers given on 23 February 2023 for PQ UIN 147156 and on 21 October 2022 for PQ UIN 61846.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC continue to pursue people for pre 2010 tax years following the Morse Review.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Hon Member to the answers given on 23 February 2023 for PQ UIN 147156 and on 21 October 2022 for PQ UIN 61846.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people seeking refunds due to the changes made by the Morse Review have been refunded by HMRC.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer that was given on 12 January 2023 to the Question UIN 114508.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of HMRC’s enforcement of agency regulations collecting PAYE tax from agencies who have had registered contractors.
Answered by John Glen
I refer the Honorable Member to the answer that I gave on 7 March 2022 to the Honorable Member for Enfield, Southgate (UIN 156216).
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing (a) business rates and (b) issuing VAT refunds for (i) nurseries and (ii) childcare providers to help with increases in the cost of living.
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 to businesses over the next five years. This includes a freeze to the business rates multiplier for 2023-24, a tax cut worth £9.3 billion over the next 5 years, meaning all bills are 6% lower than without the freeze. The Government also announced a generous Exchequer funded Transitional Relief scheme worth £1.6 billion, which will protect an estimated 700,000 ratepayers facing bill increases at the revaluation.
The Government has no plans to re-introduce a nurseries relief at this time.
While we keep all taxes under review, we have no plans to make changes to the VAT exemption which private nurseries and childcare providers currently enjoy.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of dealing with damage caused by the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather due to climate change.
Answered by John Glen
Local authorities have a crucial role to play in managing climate impacts at the local level. The upcoming National Adaptation Programme due next year will respond to the 61 risks and opportunities set out in the Climate Change Risk Assessment earlier this year. The Programme will set out the work local authorities are doing and planning to adapt to climate impacts.
The 2023-24 Local Government Finance Settlement provides an increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities of around 9%, making available almost £5 billion in additional funding, demonstrating how Government stands behind councils up and down the country. As democratically elected organisations, local authorities are responsible for managing their budgets and making spending decisions that reflect their priorities.
The Government continues to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures local authorities are facing across their services, including those regarding climate change. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for stewardship of the local government system and is committed to ensuring that funding allocations for councils are based on an up-to-date assessment of their needs and resources.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to provide a support package for local authorities to be able to adapt and protect communities against the impacts of climate change.
Answered by John Glen
Local authorities have a crucial role to play in managing climate impacts at the local level. The upcoming National Adaptation Programme due next year will respond to the 61 risks and opportunities set out in the Climate Change Risk Assessment earlier this year. The Programme will set out the work local authorities are doing and planning to adapt to climate impacts.
The 2023-24 Local Government Finance Settlement provides an increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities of around 9%, making available almost £5 billion in additional funding, demonstrating how Government stands behind councils up and down the country. As democratically elected organisations, local authorities are responsible for managing their budgets and making spending decisions that reflect their priorities.
The Government continues to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures local authorities are facing across their services, including those regarding climate change. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for stewardship of the local government system and is committed to ensuring that funding allocations for councils are based on an up-to-date assessment of their needs and resources.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to research by the End Child Poverty Coalition and the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, published July 2022, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of children in poverty in Portsmouth South constituency.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government is committed to tackling poverty through a long term, sustainable approach and believes that the best way to support people out of poverty is to help them get into work. A child growing up in a home where all the adults work is four times less likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than a child growing up in a home where nobody works.
That is why the Government is focused on supporting people by helping them get into work through the multi-billion-pounds Plan for Jobs. To continue to boost employment, wages and living standards, the Government is continuing or enhancing the most successful Plan for Jobs schemes and introducing a new package of measures, taking the total DWP spend on labour market support to over £6 billion over the next three years.
The Government has also taken decisive action to make work pay by cutting the Universal Credit taper rate from 63p to 55p, and increasing Universal Credit work allowances by £500 a year. This is effectively a tax cut for the lowest paid households worth around £1.9 billion in 2022-23. 1.7 million households will keep, on average, around an extra £1000 a year.
Furthermore, the government is supporting over 8 million households across the UK in receipt of means tested benefits with a one-off Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments. This package builds on the over £22 billion announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37 billion this year.