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Written Question
UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that customs controls do not disproportionately affect small and medium-sized businesses trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to ensuring smooth trade flows within the UK internal market.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) replaced the previous UK Trader Scheme on 30 September 2023. UKIMS allows a much wider range of businesses to move goods into Northern Ireland under the existing ‘not at risk’ arrangements than the previous scheme, with over 3,000 new businesses now authorised.

Under UKIMS, the turnover threshold below which companies involved in processing can move eligible goods under the scheme quadrupled from the old £500,000 limit up to £2m, benefiting SMEs. From 30 September 2024, UKIMS traders will also be able to benefit from the new simplified processes for UK internal market movements which will scrap burdensome supplementary declarations and allow for the use of a simpler dataset based on standard commercial information as opposed to full customs declarations as is required currently.

There is tailored support available for all sizes of businesses trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including small and medium-sized businesses, via the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS).


Written Question
UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in March in simplifying trade procedures between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to minimise disruption for businesses.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to ensuring smooth trade flows within the UK internal market.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) replaced the previous UK Trader Scheme on 30 September 2023, allowing a much wider range of businesses to move goods into Northern Ireland under the existing ‘not at risk’ arrangements, with over 3,000 new businesses now authorised.

From 30 September 2024, UKIMS traders will also be able to benefit from the new simplified processes for UK internal market movements which will scrap burdensome supplementary declarations and allow for the use of a simpler dataset based on standard commercial information as opposed to full customs declarations as is required currently.

There is also tailored support available for businesses trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland via the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS).


Written Question
EU Budget: Contributions
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton on 12 March (HL Deb col 1905), how much money the United Kingdom pays to the European Union annually; on what that money is spent; and what plans they have, and to what timescale, for its reduction.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Details of how much money the UK has paid the EU under the Withdrawal Agreement, its purposes, forecasts of future payments and timings are set out in the annual European Union Finances Statement. The most recent version covers payments made in 2023 and is available in the library of the House and on Gov.uk.


Written Question
Export Controls
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to table 8.5 in the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, of the strategic exports and sanctions seizures in each year, how many and what proportion related to (a) strategic exports controls seizures and (b) goods subject to trade sanctions; what the destination countries were for each seizure; and in each case, (i) what and (ii) how many items were seized.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information on seizures of goods subject to sanctions and strategic export controls is available here:
UK strategic export controls annual report 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


Written Question
Tourism: VAT
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions has he had with businesses on tax-free shopping for international visitors.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

As the UK’s economic and finance ministry, HM Treasury has regular discussions with representatives from a wide range of industries including travel and retail as well as business representative organisations covering many sectors.


Written Question
Windsor Framework: Finance
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether recurring financial provision will be made to implement the Windsor Framework; and, if so, what quantum they are expecting.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, the UK Government will fund the direct costs associated with reaching the required level of compliance to implement the UK Government’s obligations under the Windsor Framework. Funding will continue to be provided to the Northern Ireland Executive for this purpose through the Estimates process.


Written Question
National Insurance Contributions: Personal Income
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department conducted distributional analysis of the impact of the reduction to National Insurance contributions announced in the Spring Budget 2024 on people in different income brackets.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury published distributional analysis at Spring Budget 2024, which can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e83ed008eef600115a5660/Impact_on_households_-_SB24_FINAL.pdf


Written Question
Cost of Living: Disability
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to provide financial support for disabled people with the rise in the cost of living.

Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable. Over the last two years, the government has provided support to help households with the cost of living totalling £96 billion – an average of £3400 per UK household.

Individuals who incur extra cost due to a long-term health conditions or disability may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment, which can be worth over £8,900 per year. This has been complemented in recent years with two £150 Disability Cost of Living Payments, to help the most vulnerable through the period of high inflation.


Written Question
Financial Services: Learning Disability
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase the financial inclusion of people with a learning disability.

Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government aims to ensure that all people have access to useful and affordable financial products and services. To promote financial inclusion, the Government works closely with the regulators and stakeholders from the public, private and third sectors.

The FCA’s vulnerability guidance requires firms to identify vulnerable customers, which can include those with a learning disability, and to consider the needs of these customers appropriately.

The Consumer Duty builds on this work by raising the standard expected from firms for all customers with a focus on delivering good outcomes and preventing harm.


Written Question
Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco: Smuggling
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many full time equivalent staff are dedicated to the work of the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce; how often will the taskforce meet; has the taskforce met to date; whether illicit vaping products will be included as part of its remit; and what recent estimate has he made of losses in tax revenue from the illicit trade in (a) tobacco and (b) vaping products in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

We plan to establish the taskforce during 2024/25. We are not yet able to give details on meeting frequency or staff numbers.