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
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 - Leader of HM Official Opposition
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 - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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 - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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 - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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 - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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 - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make the provisions of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme accessible to employees who have to go part-time as a result of reduced demand and social distancing measures.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not subsidise part-time work. It is designed to support individuals who would otherwise have been made redundant and it also protects public health by minimising the number of non-key workers outside of their homes on a regular basis. The Government has strengthened the welfare system to support those whose hours change, including an increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and the working tax credit basic element.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2020 to Question 31468 on Businesses: Insurance, what steps he is taking to provide insurance for businesses that have not been directed to close by the Government but have closed as a result of Government advice on the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Glen
Insurance is not an appropriate product where a risk has already materialised, or where it is overwhelmingly likely that a risk will occur. For this reason, where businesses did not already have an appropriate policy that covers government-ordered closure or unspecified notifiable diseases, insurance is not a suitable tool for the Government to cover the financial losses due to COVID-19.
The Government recognises that businesses who do not have appropriate insurance cover will require support from elsewhere. That is why the Chancellor set out a package of support in the Budget, on 17 March, and on 20 March, which includes measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support he plans to provide for employees in the event that their employer requires them to come into work and refuses to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on their behalf but they (a) are not a key worker, (b) do not deem their work to be essential and (c) believe that there is a risk of spreading covid-19 by attending work.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
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, 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 towards creating a robust economic recovery as the UK emerges from this pandemic.