Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to bullet four of Aim 1A in the policy paper entitled Stubbing out the problem: A new strategy to tackle illicit tobacco, published in January 2024, whether the review of sanctions will include a re-examination of the ability for Trading Standards to apply on-the-spot fines rather than referring to HMRC.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no immediate plans to re-examine the ability for Trading Standards to apply ‘on the spot fines’ rather than referring to HMRC. However, the Government keeps all options under review and welcomes representations to inform future decisions.
HMRC and Trading Standards worked closely together to design the current referral process. Making best use of their respective resources and expertise in the most effective and efficient way was a major driver for the current design.
The referral model leverages the strengths of both organisations: Trading Standards’ ability to provide street level enforcement activity and visibility, alongside HMRC's capabilities in the effective administration of penalties.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the policy paper entitled Stubbing out the problem: A new strategy to tackle illicit tobacco, published in January 2024, whether the £100 million to be allocated to HMRC and Border Force to tackle the illicit tobacco trade is in addition to the £30 million planned investment announced in the news story entitled Prime Minister to create smokefree generation by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009, published on 4 October 2023.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The £100 million to be allocated to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Border Force to tackle the illicit tobacco trade will be split over 5 years and represents a proportion of the aforementioned £30 million per year. It will support the delivery of the illicit tobacco strategy.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that the police are represented on the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Although HMRC works with the police where appropriate, it is the lead law enforcement agency on tobacco fraud. HMRC has its own powers to conduct criminal investigations, make arrests and seek prosecution (via the Crown Prosecution Service).
The initial members of the taskforce will play a lead role in tackling tobacco fraud, but will also work with all law enforcement and intelligence agencies where appropriate. As the taskforce develops, the Government will regularly review the need to bring in other partners.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to lengthen the time in which a complaint may be brought to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The time limit for making a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is comparable to other ombudsman institutions and may be set aside if special circumstances exist.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of people who have indicated that they want to make contributions to fill gaps in their state pension contributions are waiting to be informed of the (a) amount they should pay and (b) code required to make that payment as of 10 January 2024.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Honourable Member to the replies given to him on 13th November 2023 (UIN748) and to the Honourable Member for North East Fife on 15th November 2023 (UIN498).
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve public awareness of eye health.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS.uk website sets out the importance of regular sight tests whilst also providing information about entitlement to free sight tests in the National Health Service. The Department also seeks opportunities to promote the importance of eye health, such as during National Eye Health Week.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of financial pressures resulting from Horizon compensation on Southall Broadway Crown Post Office.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Government has provided over £2.5 billion in funding to support the Post Office network over the past decade and is providing a further £588 million for the Post Office between 2022 and 2025.
As part of the funding package up to 2025, Government is providing Post Office with £150 million to enable the company to meet the costs of participating in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and delivering compensation to postmasters.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of complaints raised with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman are rejected for being submitted after more than 12 months.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information on complaints decided by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is set out in its Annual Reports and Accounts, and can be found on page 37 here: https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/sites/default/files/886%20PHSO%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202022-23%20FINAL%20ONLINE.pdf
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in mortgage interest rates over the course of this Parliament on household income.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The path to lower interest rates is through low inflation, and the independent Bank of England has the Government’s full support as it takes action to return inflation to target. The Government’s Mortgage Charter is providing support to mortgagor households. Living standards have also proven more resilient than anticipated as real disposable income per person was around £800 higher than the OBR expected in their March forecast.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) appointing a hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination programme national clinical lead and (b) establishing a national register for monitoring HBV diagnoses and treatment uptake.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Management of care for patients with Hepatitis B (HBV) is the responsibility of integrated care boards. Therefore, NHS England Specialised Commissioning does not have plans to appoint a national clinical lead for Hepatitis B elimination specifically. At a national level, the UK Health Security Agency is prioritising a programme of work to reduce the harmful impact of Hepatitis B to health.
NHS England is identifying opportunities to build on the successful programme to eliminate Hepatitis C. This includes ensuring that the Emergency Department opt-out testing programme includes testing for Hepatitis B, as well as HIV and Hepatitis C.
As England has signed up as a pilot country for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assess progress to HBV elimination, monitoring of HBV in England aligns to WHO programme targets. These include increasing the proportion of people living with HBV who are diagnosed and aware of their infection, and increasing the proportion of people living with HBV who are receiving treatment.