Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether directors of limited companies are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Directors who pay themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
For periods from 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021, an employer can claim for employees employed on or before 30 October 2020. The employer must have also made a PAYE Real Time Information submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the tax per transaction for retail purchases that are made (a) online and (b) offline.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government published a Call for Evidence on 21 July, as part of its Fundamental Review of Business Rates, to gather views from stakeholders on all elements of the Business Rates system and a number of alternative taxes including an Online Sales Tax.
One of the objectives of the Call for Evidence was to understand the impact of business rates on various sectors, including retailers.
The Government is considering responses to the Business Rates Review and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses received support under the Government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme, which ended on 1 February 2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In 2018-19 (the latest year available), approximately 4,700 companies claimed enhanced capital allowances for energy saving equipment and environmentally beneficial equipment.
Although any claims for these allowances can be identified within the current version of the company tax return, the level of such claims in all tax returns is likely to be affected by the Annual Investment Allowance which businesses may claim to obtain tax relief for these types of investments. This is another type of 100 percent capital allowance but which is subject to a cap which has been temporarily set at £1 million since 2019.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the steps that Bank takes to ensure that all livestock projects it funds meet EU animal welfare standards as required by the terms of that Bank’s environmental and social policy.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the UK Governor for the EBRD. All prospective projects are reviewed and scrutinised by the EBRD in line with the Bank’s project process, and this analysis is provided to shareholders ahead of discussion and approval by the Board of Directors. The UK assesses all projects to ensure that they meet the EBRD’s mandate and the high environmental and social standards required by its 2019 Environmental and Social Policy.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Written Statement of on 21 July 2020, HCWS400, on Finance Bill 2020-21: Draft Legislation and Tax Documents, on what date he plans to open the technical consultation on Small Brewers Relief.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The technical consultation on Small Brewers Relief is due to be published later this year.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his decision to postpone the autumn Budget, whether a decision on the future of the Social Investment Tax Relief will be made in 2020.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) is intended to encourage investment into social enterprises. Since 2014, about 110 social enterprises and trading charities have used the scheme, raising £11.2 million.
The Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review in order to ensure they continue to meet policy objectives and represent value for money for taxpayers. The Government committed to a full review of SITR within two years of its expansion, and published a Call for Evidence last year on the use of the scheme to date. A Summary of Responses will be published in due course alongside a decision on the policy’s future.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will remove VAT on (a) domestic renewables and (b) installations for a period of 10 years to help (i) stimulate the green economy and (ii) the uptake of microgeneration.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Under current VAT rules, the installation of water and wind turbines is subject to the standard rate of VAT. However, the installation of other energy saving materials that generate domestic energy, such as solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, are subject to the reduced rate of VAT when certain conditions are met.
Although there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing VAT on (a) domestic renewables and (b) installations to help (i) grow the green economy and (ii) stimulate the uptake of microgeneration on domestic properties.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Under current VAT rules, the installation of water and wind turbines is subject to the standard rate of VAT. However, the installation of other energy saving materials that generate domestic energy, such as solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, are subject to the reduced rate of VAT when certain conditions are met.
Although there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to allow employees to apply to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme where employers are refusing to do so on their behalf but the work is not essential.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The decision to furlough an employee must ultimately be agreed to by both the employer and employee. If an employee is concerned that their employer is not claiming on their behalf, they should speak with their employer in the first instance, and then with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).
Where it is permitted and does not go against public health guidance, businesses may wish to ask their employees to continue working as usual. Maintaining economic activity where possible will help economic recovery as the UK emerges from this pandemic.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to allow employers that have not completely ceased their operations to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help firms that have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. The scheme is open to all UK employers providing they have created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020 and have a UK bank account. Employers do not need to place all their employees on furlough.