Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department work on child benefit.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has a dedicated team of trained staff members available to support and assist customers with queries related to Child Benefit. The staffing numbers are regularly reviewed and adjusted based on demand throughout the year. The Department has the capability to train existing colleagues from outside the Child Benefit team as needed to address priority areas.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the (a) Government’s policy on charging VAT on audiobooks and (b) provisions of the Equality Act 2010 on people (i) with dyslexia, (ii) with sight loss or impairment and (iii) who are unable to hold books.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to supporting those with disabilities who may struggle to access physical books and therefore rely more heavily on audiobooks. In line with its statutory obligations under the Equality Act, the Government carefully considers the impact of VAT policy on those with disabilities
However, there is never any guarantee that any VAT cut is passed onto consumers. It is therefore not clear that cutting the VAT on audiobooks would benefit consumers, including those with disabilities.
The government does not currently have any plans to change the VAT treatment of audiobooks.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) political (i) benefits and (ii) disadvantages of membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an established multilateral development bank (MDB) with a membership of 109 countries worldwide.
The benefits of the UK's membership of the AIIB were set out when the government announced its intention for the UK to join the AIIB and in presenting the Draft AIIB (Initial Capital Contribution) Order 2015 for agreement by the House of Commons.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle the threat of use by the Chinese authorities of UK membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Ban to access UK data.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are actively monitoring threats to UK data and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our national security.
Data can be exploited by those seeking to counter UK interests and we are taking action to secure our data. As set out in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, this includes considering new levers to prevent hostile actors accessing our data.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many pensioners will become eligible to pay income tax as a result of the increase in the state pension.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Personal Allowance is currently set at a level high enough to ensure that those pensioners whose sole income is the full rate of the new State Pension or basic State Pension do not pay any income tax.
As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps the Personal Allowance under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to what overseas-based financial organisations staff from his Department are seconded; and how many staff are seconded to each such organisation for how long and for what purpose.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury pursues secondments with a wide range of partners to represent the Treasury, deepen our exchange with other institutions whilst also honing the skills and experience of our staff beyond the Civil Service environment.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of his Department's staff are seconded to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and for what purpose.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury pursues secondments with a wide range of partners to represent the Treasury, deepen our exchange with other institutions whilst also honing the skills and experience of our staff beyond the Civil Service environment.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the question from the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 19 March 2024, Official Report, column 794, if he will commit to an Independent Review of the funeral firm Safe Hands Ltd.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Treasury and FCA have worked closely throughout the process of bringing the pre-paid funeral plan sector into regulation, as well as during the implementation of the new regulatory framework.
On 11 October 2023 the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced that it was conducting a criminal investigation into Safe Hands Plans Limited. As I am sure you will understand, I am unable to comment on this ongoing investigation.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral question from the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 19 March 2024, Official Report, column 794, when he expects the Financial Conduct Authority will complete its investigation into Safe Hands Ltd.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Treasury and FCA have worked closely throughout the process of bringing the pre-paid funeral plan sector into regulation, as well as during the implementation of the new regulatory framework.
On 11 October 2023 the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced that it was conducting a criminal investigation into Safe Hands Plans Limited. As I am sure you will understand, I am unable to comment on this ongoing investigation.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to expand the pilot No Interest Loan Scheme to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government funded No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is being run by Fair4AllFinance, in conjunction with their partners. The pilot is designed to test the impact that NILS could have on addressing the needs of vulnerable consumers across the UK.
Fair4AllFinance have now rolled out the pilot in England, Scotland and Wales. Fair4AllFinance will continue to engage closely with stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Executive, in an effort to deliver our shared ambition to launch a pilot site in Northern Ireland.