Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans future Budget statements to be in the Spring or the Autumn.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Government is required by law to commission the Office for Budget Responsibility to produce two forecasts per year and to hold a Budget each fiscal year.
The Government will notify Parliament on the timing and nature of the next fiscal even when this is agreed, as a matter of course.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2022 to Question 94724 on tobacco smuggling, when he expects secondary legislation to be introduced to extend the powers from HMRC to trading standards to provide on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 to retailers selling illicit tobacco.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
HMRC are not extending powers to Trading Standards to provide on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 to retailers selling illicit tobacco. The new sanctions for illicit tobacco will be administered by HMRC based on referrals from Trading Standards. This referral model has been developed and is supported by all parties.
Secondary legislation to enact the sanctions is expected to be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people seeking refunds due to the changes made as a result of the Morse Review have been refunded by HMRC.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer that was given on 12 January 2023 to the Question UIN 114508.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who will become bankrupt as a result of the Loan Charge in the next twelve months.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I refer the Hon Member to the answer that I gave on 6 February to the Hon Members for Richmond Park, UIN 136718 and Strangford, UIN 137775.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2022 to Question 105322 and to the Answer of 15 November from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to Question 902288, Official Report column 513, when the Economic Secretary plans to meet with the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall on the case raised in that Question.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
I can confirm that my office has contacted the hon. Member to organise a meeting for us to engage on the details of his constituent’s case.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many reports have been received through CrimeStoppers and referred to (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) Trading Standards relating to illegal tobacco in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The figures for tobacco-related Crimestoppers reports received by HM Revenue and Customs are:
Financial Year | Number of tobacco-related Crimestoppers reports |
2018/2019 | 644 |
2019/2020 | 867 |
2020/2021 | 579 |
2021/2022 | 342 |
2022/Present | 293 |
The figures for tobacco-related Crimestoppers reports received by Trading Standards are:
Financial Year | Number of tobacco-related Crimestoppers reports |
2017/2018 | 185 |
2018/2019 | 53 |
2019/2020 | 160 |
2020/2021 | 667 |
2021/2022 | 454 |
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to Question 902288, Official Report column 513, and with reference to the letter of that date to the Economic Secretary from the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall, when the Economic Secretary plans to meet the hon. Member to discuss the case raised in that Question.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
I regularly engage with colleagues across the house on a number of issues and will be in touch with the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall regarding the case in due course.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to include Trading Standards officers in the HMRC with the power to fine retailers for selling illicit tobacco products.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Trading Standards officers are not part of HMRC. They are a separate local government service.
However, HMRC works very closely with TS to tackle illicit tobacco. HMRC introduced legislation for tougher sanctions to tackle illicit tobacco sales in Finance Act 2022 including a new civil penalty of up to £10,000 for serious breaches. The new sanctions will take the innovative approach of HMRC and Trading Standards (TS) both working together to enforce them. Secondary legislation will be introduced next year setting out the detail on how the sanctions will operate.