Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times his Department has (a) terminated a contract, (b) imposed a penalty and (c) denied permission for a company to tender on the grounds of grave professional misconduct since November 2015.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent from the public purse on advertising the marriage tax allowance in each year since it was introduced.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015, to recognise the importance of marriage and provide support to those on low incomes, many of whom have little engagement with tax matters. So it is right that the Government has taken action to improve awareness of the positive impact this allowance could have on family finances. Since the introduction of the Marriage Allowance in April 2015, HM Revenue and Customs has spent £1,457,479 (excluding VAT) on targeted campaigns to raise awareness. Families across the UK could be better off by up to £432 if they claim the Marriage Allowance today if their application is backdated to April 2015.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of towns and villages which have been left without a bank in the last five years due to local branch closures.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The Treasury does not produce estimates relating to bank branch closures.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 51521, on marriage tax allowances, how many couples have taken up the marriage tax allowance in each year since its introduction.
Answered by Jane Ellison
It has been possible for eligible couples to claim the Marriage Allowance since September 2015. 305,861 couples successfully claimed Marriage Allowance in 2015 and, to date, a further 763,377 couples have successfully applied in 2016. Eligible couples who haven’t claimed for the 2015/16 tax year are able to do so until 5 April 2020.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on agency workers in each of the last five years.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The amount the department has spent on agency workers in the last five financial years are as follows:
Year | Spend (£) |
2011/12 | 140,315 |
2012/13 | 321,360 |
2013/14 | 188,302 |
2014/15 | 408,628 |
2015/16 | 206,783 |
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials of his Department have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive.
Answered by Jane Ellison
There are no employees in HMT who have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are eligible for marriage tax allowance; and of those people, how many have taken it up.
Answered by Jane Ellison
4.2 million couples are eligible for the Marriage Allowance. As of 2 November, over one million couples have successfully claimed the allowance.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement by HM Treasury on EU regional funding, dated 3 October 2016, whether his Department plans to (a) guarantee and (b) replace European Solidarity Funding for flood relief.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government finalised its application to the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) in respect of the exceptional flooding in winter 2015-16 on 22 September 2016. Unlike multi-year European Union structural and investment funds, EUSF awards are paid in a single sum to the relevant Member State. If the UK’s current application is approved, any award would be received before the UK leaves the European Union.Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his announcement on EU regional funding dated 3 October 2016, what conditions will need to be passed by funding projects to ensure they are (i) good value for money and (ii) in line with domestic strategic priorities; and if he will guarantee that all regions will receive the full amount of funding they were allocated by the EU.
Answered by David Gauke
The Chancellor announced that the Treasury will provide a guarantee for all new structural and investment fund projects, signed after Autumn Statement, and before we leave the EU, where they provide value for money and support domestic strategic priorities.
Each government department will take responsibility for the allocation of money to projects in line with these conditions and the wider rules on public spending. The Treasury will work with departments to embed this approach.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to make available funding at the same level as currently received from the Asylum, Immigration and Integration Fund after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by David Gauke
Leaving the EU means we will need to consider carefully how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding, including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
Over the coming months, we will consult with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest.