Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether visits to the Republican Convention by former Prime Ministers could qualify for expenditure under the Public Duty Costs Allowance; and what further information they can provide on claims made under the scheme.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) is not paid to support private duties, nor is it used for security purposes.
Further details about the PDCA are on gov.uk at the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-duty-cost-allowance.
Annual payments are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. The most recent report is available on gov.uk at the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to undertake a review of the Public Duty Costs Allowance.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) has a limit of £115,000 per year. The limit is reviewed annually and at the start of each Parliament; the government is currently in the process of reviewing the limit and will publish the outcome in due course.
There are no current plans to review the PDCA more widely.
Mar. 01 2010
Source Page: Ministry of Defence statement of civilian personnel policy: Civilian detached duty expenses. 57 p.Found: cost of the duty travel to below the public transport cost.
Stop ex-prime ministers being able to claim expenses from the taxpayer
- 157 Signatures
(Estimated Final Signatures: 271 - 2 added in the past 24hrs)
I am starting a petition to stop to ex-prime ministers from claiming the PDCA (public duty cost allowance). The PDCA allows a former prime minister to claim up to £115,000 a year- for life - for the 'necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life'.
Found: I am starting a petition to stop to ex-prime ministers from claiming the PDCA (public duty cost allowance
Found: Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill RUNNING LIST OF ALL AMENDMENTS IN GRAND COMMITTEE
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 October 2023 (HL10740), how the National Audit Office, in assessing the use of the Public Costs Duty Allowance (PCDA) for audit purposes, distinguishes between the costs of paying staff, travel, and accommodation expenses, incurred (1) as a result of political and commercial projects, including political activity overseas, and (2) costs which arise wholly and exclusively as a result of being an ex-Prime Minister, excluding commercial or political activities; and what consideration they have given to publishing a summary of PCDA claims showing different categories of expenditure on a regular basis.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Audit Office is independent of the government.
Former Prime Ministers submit invoices to the Cabinet Office setting out their claims. This information is used by the Cabinet Office for auditing and assurance purposes and is made available to NAO.
Most of the claims are used to cover the salaries of the staff that work in the offices of the former Prime Ministers. These staff are not civil servants, and it would therefore not be appropriate for the Cabinet Office to publish any further detail.
Jul. 17 2008
Source Page: Valuation Office Agency's guidelines on travelling and subsistence. 21 p.Found: costs of meals up to the maximum limit personal expenses allowance Exceptionally, you may also
Nov. 06 2007
Source Page: Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs. October 2007. 22 p.Found: 5,225 5,435 2 Personal allowance (age 65Œ74) 3 7,550 9,030 2 Personal allowance (age 75 and
Feb. 27 2025
Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 24 February 2025Found: allowance. 7.3 Some other costs may be incurred in the Mess.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) business rates and (b) employment costs increases on the beer and pub sector.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27, which will benefit almost all pubs in England. We intend to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on the most valuable properties. The multiplier rates will be confirmed at Autumn Budget 2025.
During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL businesses will receive a 40 per cent relief on their business rates up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and the tax multiplier applied to small properties will be frozen. Under the previous government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025, and so by extending it, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.
In recognition of the economic and social importance of pubs, and the wider “on trade”, the Government is cutting duty on qualifying draught products – approximately two-thirds of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This reduces businesses’ total duty bill by up to £100 million a year and increases the duty differential between products from 9.2 per cent to 13.9 per cent.
The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Turning to employment costs, to repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.
The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.
A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November 2024.
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are set on the independent and expert advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC).
By seeking expert and independent advice from the LPC when setting the minimum wage rates, the Government is able to ensure that the right balance is struck between the needs of workers, affordability for businesses and the impact on the economy.