Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support is available to support (a) childminders, (b) driving instructors and (c) other self-employed people during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new support for the self-employed on 26 March 2020.
The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It will allow eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed and is one of the most generous self-employed support schemes in the world.
To qualify, an individual’s self-employed trading profits must be less than £50,000 and more than half of their income must come from self-employment. Some 95% of people who receive most of their income from self-employment will benefit from this Scheme.
HM Revenue & Customs will contact individuals if they are eligible and will invite them to apply online using a simple form. HMRC are working on this urgently and expect people to be able to access the Scheme no later than the beginning of June.
More information about the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria and how to claim, is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
The Scheme supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses and employees, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and deferral of tax payments.
More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he will take to protect the incomes of self-employed people affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is deferring tax payments, through the Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA) and VAT system to help support businesses and the self-employed with cash flows. VAT payments due between now and mid-June will be deferred. No business will have to make a VAT payment to HMRC in that period. Income tax payments due in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2021, benefitting up to 5.7m self-employed businesses.
The Government has also announced it is delaying the reforms to the off-payroll working rules (IR35) from April 2020 to April 2021 and the reforms will be legislated for in the 2020 Finance Bill. This deferral has been announced in response to the spread of Covid-19, to help businesses and individuals deal with the economic impacts of the pandemic.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is available to self-employed individuals with an eligible business entity. By providing an 80% government guarantee on finance facilities up to £5 million, this scheme will help more businesses access the finance they need. The Government will not charge businesses for this guarantee, and will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments for businesses. For more information on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme go to: www.British-business-bank.co.uk/CBILS.
The Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for all self-employed UC claimants for 1 year from 6 April. This means a drop in earnings due to the economic impacts of Covid-19 will not affect the amount of UC a claimant receives. This goes further than the Budget announcement to temporarily relax the MIF only for claimants who are directly affected by Covid-19, which has already come into effect. For those directly affected or self-isolating, there will be no attendance requirements, and Universal Credit can be claimed online or via phone.
Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by Covid-19 or self-isolating will be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance. This is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth. Eligible claimants under 25 will be entitled to £57.90 per week, and over 25s £73.10 per week.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he plans to make available for employees who are requested or required to take unpaid leave as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has announced a wide-ranging package of measures to support employees affected by Covid-19.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will now be available for individuals diagnosed with Covid-19 or those who are unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with government guidance. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day one instead of day four for affected individuals.
Those who are not eligible for SSP can now more easily make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance:
· For the duration of the outbreak, the requirements of the Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for those who have Covid-19 or are self-isolating, ensuring self-employed claimants will receive support. ·
- People will be able to claim?Universal Credit and access?advance payments upfront without the current requirement to attend a jobcentre if they are advised to self-isolate.
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance will be payable, at a rate of £73.10 a week for those over 25, for eligible people affected by COVID-19 or self-isolating in line with advice from day one of sickness, rather than day eight.
From Friday 20 March onwards, those who are advised to self-isolate will be able to obtain?an “isolation note” by contacting?NHS 111?, rather than by visiting a doctor.
The Budget also announced a £500 million Hardship Fund to help Local Authorities to support economically vulnerable people and households.
Banks and building societies are also ready and able to support consumers affected by Covid-19. On 17 March, the Chancellor announced on behalf of the sector that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers that are financially struggling with their repayments. This forbearance measure will enable affected borrowers to defer their mortgage payments for up to three months while they get back on their feet. Customers who are concerned about the current financial situation should get in touch with their lender at the earliest possible opportunity.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have left HMRC as a result of (a) voluntary exits, (b) voluntary redundancies and (c) compulsory redundancies since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, broken down by region.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost has been of (a) voluntary exits, (b) voluntary redundancies and (c) compulsory redundancies among the staff of HMRC since the start of the Building our Future Programme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) voluntary exits, (b) voluntary redundancies and (c) compulsory redundancies there will be among HMRC staff in 2020-21; and what the projected cost is of those exits and redundancies.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of UK payments due to the EU under the withdrawal agreement in each of the next five financial years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The OBR publish a five year forecast of UK payments to the EU at each fiscal event in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Their most recent forecast was published at the time of the Spring Budget on 11 March 2020 and can be found at: https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2020/
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of a parent in a single-parent household leaving paid employment and accessing benefits to look after their children, in each year since 2010.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
It is not possible to make an assessment with the information available. Assessing the total cost to the Exchequer is highly dependent on the individual’s circumstances. If a parent in a single-parent household left paid employment and accessed benefits to look after their children, under Universal Credit their total claim would be dependent on the claimant’s age, where they live and their housing tenure type, how many children are in the household and whether they or any of their children have a disability. Depending on the level of previous earnings, it may be the case that the person would also be eligible to Universal Credit whilst they were in work.
The overall public spending impact will also include lost Exchequer revenues from any taxation paid (such as National Insurance and Income Tax) which is again is dependent on the level of previous earnings, and other circumstances determining their National Insurance category.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What discussions he has had with (a) HMRC and (b) the Secretary of State for Scotland on proposals to close HMRC's Cumbernauld office.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
HMRC announced its Locations Programme in 2015, which included the establishment of the Glasgow Regional Centre and closure of the Cumbernauld office. Ministers are kept up to date on HMRC’s progress in delivering the Locations Programme.
The former Secretary of State for Scotland (Rt Hon David Mundell MP) met with HMRC representatives to discuss the closure of the Cumbernauld office and the relocation of staff to the Glasgow Regional Centre.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) HMRC, (ii) the Valuations Office Agency and (iii) the Bank of England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The quantities of electricity and natural gas used by HMRC, the Valuations Office Agency and the Bank of England during 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 are shown in the table below.
Department | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | |
HMRC | Electricity (kWh) | 131,609,522 | 121,652,717 | 118,800,248 |
Gas (kWh) | 127,762,062 | 120,395,843 | 116,023,372 | |
VOA | Electricity (kWh) | 1,889,340 | 2,615,620 | 2,152,840 |
| Gas (kWh) | 1,667,922 | 1,339,405 | 1,172,962 |
Bank of England | Electricity (kWh) | 34,912,704 | 37,030,738 | 35,511,277 |
Gas (kWh) | 17,068,773 | 15,366,608 | 18,467,814 |