Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons ebooks are not zero-rated to protect the accessibility of knowledge.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Following changes to the EU Value Added Tax (VAT) Directive which took effect in December 2018, Member States may equalise the VAT treatment of physical publications and e-publications.
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications.
Any amendments to the UK VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and e-publications must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal considerations.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a return of duty free would see the return of allowances and see an end to personal duty paid goods coming in from the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The issues around duty-free are complex, with a range of possible approaches. The government is clear that tax is a sovereign matter and that it will be open to the UK government and Parliament to decide to change its policy in the future, subject to any negotiations with the EU.
The Chancellor made clear at the Treasury Select Committee on 5 November that there are no plans at the moment to review the duty-free situation, when asked about the possible reintroduction of duty-free after March 2019.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) the European Commission and (b) TaskForce 50 on whether (i) duty free would return for passengers travelling from the EU to the UK and (ii) reciprocal arrangements would be made after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The issues around duty-free are complex, with a range of possible approaches. The government is clear that tax is a sovereign matter and that it will be open to the UK government and Parliament to decide to change its policy in the future, subject to any negotiations with the EU.
The Chancellor made clear at the Treasury Select Committee on 5 November that there are no plans at the moment to review the duty-free situation, when asked about the possible reintroduction of duty-free after March 2019.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his Department’s policy to reintroduce duty free in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The issues around duty-free are complex, with a range of possible approaches. The government is clear that tax is a sovereign matter and that it will be open to the UK government and Parliament to decide to change its policy in the future, subject to any negotiations with the EU.
The Chancellor made clear at the Treasury Select Committee on 5 November that there are no plans at the moment to review the duty-free situation, when asked about the possible reintroduction of duty-free after March 2019.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF); and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the publication of the planned public consultation on the UKSPF.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
As set out by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in July, the government will establish a UK Shared Prosperity Fund once the UK has left the European Union and EU Structural Funds. The Fund will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to conduct a review of the effect of air passenger duty on tourism in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review, and any changes will be announced at fiscal events.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of air passenger duty on levels of tourism in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
International treaties ensure that there is no taxation of international aviation fuel, and the Government does not levy VAT on flights. Air Passenger Duty (APD) ensures the aviation sector contributes its fair share to general taxation.
The Government has not conducted an assessment of the effect of APD on tourism in England, Scotland and Wales. However, even at the current rates of APD, UK airports have enjoyed strong passenger growth: exceeding 15% in the previous five years.
The government is seeking views on the effects of APD and VAT on tourism in Northern Ireland. Respondents to the call for evidence can submit evidence on the wider impacts of APD upon UK tourism by 5 June 2018.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuing availability of cash dispensers in rural areas.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government will continue to engage with industry to ensure that widespread free access is maintained.
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), which Government set up as an independent regulator in 2015 with a statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users, is monitoring developments within ATM provision, and is conducting ongoing work on the impact that changes may have. The PSR has recently published a summary of their work to date, which can be found at https://www.psr.org.uk/psr-focus/the-UK-ATM-network.
The PSR has committed to using its powers to act should any of the firms it regulates behave in a way that conflicts with its statutory objectives.
LINK, the main scheme behind the UK’s ATM network, has assured us and the PSR that industry is committed to maintaining an extensive network of free-to-use cash machines, and to ensuring that the present geographical spread of ATMs is maintained. LINK has announced plans to bolster its Financial Inclusion Programme, which ensures the provision of ATMs in certain areas where demand would not otherwise make one viable. LINK has also committed to protecting all free-to-use ATMs which are a kilometre or more from the next nearest free-to-use ATM, and to ensuring that any community that loses ATM access because of a branch closure has a free ATM provided.
In addition, LINK will set up publicly available monitoring on its website of every area of the country showing free ATM availability, and highlight any areas where free ATM availability is lost.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the progressive beer duty regime to ensure that the excise duty system supports growth in British beer exports.
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.
The UK duty regime complies with EU Directives on rates and structures of alcohol excise duty. The European Commission is currently undertaking a review of the Alcohol Structures Directive and we expect this to conclude in due course.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered the report from Europe Economics commissioned by the Small Brewer Duty Reform Coalition; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Treasury engages with a wide variety of organisations to understand industry developments, including the beer and pub industry and public health groups. This government is aware of concerns about Small Brewers Relief, it has invited views on how it can be reformed in a way that the whole sector could support. All taxes are kept under review at fiscal events, and we will consider these issues carefully as part of the Autumn Budget process.