Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether they plan to amend the £2.5 million lending cap for wholesale Community Development Finance Institutions lending to retail Community Development Finance Institutions using the Community Investment Tax Relief.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Spring Budget 2023, the government increased the amounts that Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) can raise through the Community Investment Tax Relief (CITR) from £20 million to £100 million for wholesale CDFIs, and £10 million to £25 million for retail CDFIs. The amounts that CDFIs can lend to eligible businesses was also increased from £250,000 to £375,000 for non-profit distributing organisations and £100,000 to £250,000 for profit distributing organisations. The government keeps all tax reliefs under review and will monitor the impact of these changes.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to support the growth of the life sciences sector.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Life sciences is one of my priority growth sectors. In May, the Government announced a bold new policy package backed by over £650m funding, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting a thriving life sciences industry.
This follows a number of initiatives announced at Spring Budget that will support the sector, including £10m extra funding for our medicines regulator the MHRA, full expensing of capital expenditure and reforms to R&D tax credits.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What fiscal steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support people who are out of work to gain skills to find new, well-paid jobs.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Plan for Jobs supports people to gain the skills needed to access high quality jobs. The Chancellor provided £111 million to triple traineeships, £17 million to expand sector-based work academies, and £32 million to boost the National Careers Service’s capacity.
At the Spending Review, the Government announced £95 million to fund free courses for adults in subjects with strong employment prospects and £43 million to provide 16,000 places on employer-led skills bootcamps.
At Budget, the Chancellor announced £126 million more for traineeships, and increased incentives for hiring apprentices to £3,000.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with relevant stakeholders on a refresh to the tonnage tax regime.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
As with all taxes, the Government keeps the tonnage tax regime under review and regularly engages with relevant stakeholders. Any changes to the tax system are considered and announced by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on social enterprises of the end of Social Investment Tax Relief once the sunset clause is reached in April 2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) was introduced in 2014 to encourage risk finance investments in qualifying social enterprises and charities. HMRC statistics show that up to 2018-19, about 110 enterprises have used the scheme to raise £11.2 million.
The Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review in order to ensure they continue to meet policy objectives in a way that is fair and effective. The Government previously published a Call for Evidence on SITR’s use to date. A response to the consultation will be published in due course and a decision on SITR’s future will be announced at the Budget ahead of its sunset clause in April 2021.