Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September to Question 81494 on Pensions, on what date he is planning for that change to take effect.
Answered by John Glen
In 2014 the government announced it would increase the minimum pension age to 57 from 2028, reflecting trends in longevity and encouraging individuals to remain in work, while also helping to ensure pension savings provide for later life.
Further details, and plans for legislation, will be published in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to increase the minimum age at which people can access their private pension under the tax rules; and if he will make a statement
Answered by John Glen
In 2014 the government announced it would increase the minimum pension age to 57 from 2028, reflecting trends in longevity and encouraging individuals to remain in work, while also helping to ensure pension savings provide for later life.
That announcement set out the timetable for this change well in advance to enable people to make financial plans and will be legislated for in due course.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the additional tax receipts that would be raised from a national licensing scheme for residential landlords.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
All individual landlords are liable to income tax at normal rates on any taxable profits they receive from property that they rent. Landlords must contact HMRC if they have any taxable profits from property.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent estimate is of the tax revenues lost through residential landlords failing to declare their rental income.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The information requested is not available as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not make a separate estimate of the proportion of the total tax gap attributable to residential landlords.
However, HMRC does estimate the tax gap arising from individuals in employment who have not declared and therefore not paid tax on lettings income. The latest estimate of this tax gap was £540 million for the tax year 2018-19.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether child benefit is payable in respect of a child who is a UK national but whose parents have leave to remain in the UK with no recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Barclay
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 21st October 2019. Access to Child Benefit follows the long-standing Government policy that those who have not established their right to remain permanently in the UK should not have welfare provision on the same basis as those whose citizenship or status here gives them an entitlement to benefits. All those admitted to the UK for a temporary purpose are required, under the immigration rules, to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds.
For this reason, apart from specified exceptions – set out in the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2000 – persons subject to immigration control are not eligible for Child Benefit.
However, individuals who have no recourse to public funds can access many services including the NHS, statutory sick pay and some other work-related benefits. Local Authorities also have a statutory duty to provide support to families subject to the NRPF condition where a child’s wellbeing is in question.
In addition, they are able to access support measures put in place to respond to the Covid-19 global pandemic, including the Job Retention and Self-Employed Income Support schemes, free school meals, mortgage payment holidays and protection from eviction.
Eligible immigrants with a condition of NRPF can apply to the Home Office to have this lifted if their financial circumstances change.
Further information on the support that is available for migrants subject to NRPF can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Part 2, regulation 7 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Telecommunications Infrastructure Relief) (England) Regulations 2018, (S.I., 2018, No. 425), which companies have (a) applied for and (b) received a certificate for fibre rates relief.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has issued a number of certificates but it is not possible to disclose the specific companies involved, as the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 restricts the VOA from providing this information, in order to protect ratepayer confidentiality.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether child benefit is paid for children who are UK citizens but whose parents have no recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
Access to Child Benefit follows the long-standing Government policy that those who have not established their right to remain permanently in the UK should not have welfare provision on the same basis as those whose citizenship or status here gives them an entitlement to benefits. All those admitted to the UK for a temporary purpose are required, under the immigration rules, to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds.
For this reason, apart from specified exceptions – set out in the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2000 – persons subject to immigration control are not eligible for Child Benefit.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for a hardship fund to assist people in greatest difficulty in the event that food prices rise following the UK exiting the EU without a deal.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
HM Treasury routinely monitors economic conditions and risks, and the Government has a range of mechanisms available to support vulnerable people from price rises in food. We stand ready to take appropriate action in the event the UK exits the EU without a deal.
Furthermore, officials estimate the direct impact of spending decisions on household living standards, and would continue to do so in any no deal response. This is a central consideration when allocating public funds.
The temporary tariff regime, as confirmed on 8 October, took into account, amongst other things, the need to help mitigate any price rises that could affect UK consumers and supply chains. This was a key consideration when setting tariffs on all goods, including food.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC has made of the number of non-compliant trucks arriving at Dover per day for Calais in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has recently published it’s assessment of the flow of freight across the border in a Reasonable Worst Case Scenario as of 2 August.Since that date, the Government has taken significant steps to improve levels of trader and haulier readiness to improve overall flow across the short Strait crossings. This includes a £100m public information campaign and additional funding for businesses and trade associations to support traders and hauliers to get ready.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of using Islamic financial certificates, sukuk to finance infrastructure projects without adding to Government debt on the public sector balance sheet; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The proceeds from the Sukuk, like the proceeds from the wider gilt programme, flow into the consolidated fund. This is used for general expenditure, including expenditure on infrastructure. The government considers the core gilt program rather than the Sukuk to be the most cost-effective way of raising money for expenditure, including that of infrastructure projects. The main purpose behind the decision to issue a second Sukuk is to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the UK being the Western hub for Islamic finance, whilst also providing high-quality liquid assets to UK-based Islamic banks.