Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been issued section 684 notices by HMRC in relation to disguised remuneration schemes in the last 12 months.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) only ever considers insolvency as a last resort. Anyone who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should contact HMRC, who may be able to agree an instalment arrangement based on the individual’s financial circumstances. There is no maximum length for these arrangements.
Where people are facing insolvency, HMRC is not always the only creditor. Some individuals are declared bankrupt as a result of a non-HMRC debt and some individuals may choose to enter insolvency themselves based on their overall financial position. To date, HMRC has not initiated insolvency proceedings against any taxpayer solely for a Loan Charge debt.
As set out in the answer to PQ 17136, since 2022, HMRC has issued around 2,700 decisions under s.684(7A)(b) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 to disguised remuneration scheme users.
Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answers of 23 October 2006, Official Report, column 1679WA and 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 227W, and pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 16860 on Housing: Valuation, whether the Valuation Office Agency uses locality adjustment factors to calibrate the automated valuation model for multiple regression analysis; and how many localities the Valuation Office Agency has created for the model.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency’s Automated Valuation Model (AVM) methodology for Wales has been updated substantially since the cancelled 2007 English revaluation. The new AVM uses spatial modelling techniques of which location is a key element. The spatial model estimates a continuous field of location factors (which are influenced by various aspects such as transport links, crime rates, quality of nearby schools) rather than the discrete localities.
I would observe that this is a policy proposed by the Welsh Government, and does not represent the policy position of the UK Government in England.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) short and (b) long term impact of (i) extreme weather and (ii) storms on the economy.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) was published in July 2023. It set out policies and actions to respond to the 61 climate risks and opportunities identified in the independent Third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3), including risks arising from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events. As part of CCRA3, the Climate Change Committee produced an analysis of the monetary valuation of risks and opportunities, as well as an analysis of the indicative costs and benefits of adaptation.
The Treasury continues to work to determine what additional research and analysis, including economic analysis, is required to ensure robust adaptation.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19040 on Climate Change: Investment, what steps he is taking to help support the national coordination of funding for climate adaptation.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has set out the steps it is taking to respond to climate risks and opportunities in the Third National Adaptation Programme, which has taken an integrated approach through governance, engagement and coordinated policymaking. These steps, including those relating to the 2023 Green Finance Strategy, will inform future collective investment prioritisation through the usual government planning processes, including Spending Reviews.Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the return on investment criteria are for prioritising proposals in the next Spending Review.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Treasury will put in place a robust and comprehensive strategy for improving public sector productivity at the next Spending Review, putting these improvements at the heart of departmental settlements.
As the Chancellor set out, building on work to date and the £4.2 billion of funding announced at the Budget, relevant departments will develop detailed productivity plans over the coming months ahead of the next Spending Review.
Further decisions will be taken at the Spending Review.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's advice on the cost effectiveness of a respiratory syncytial virus immunisation programme.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) plays a vital role in advising the government on vaccination programmes. DHSC are responsible for considering their recommendations.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department received in Emissions Trading Scheme fees from (a) Belfast International, (b) Belfast City and (c) Londonderry airport in the financial year 2022/23.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Belfast International, Belfast City and Londonderry airports are not covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and therefore do not contribute to Emission Trading Scheme revenue.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on compensation for infected blood scandal victims in the last 12 months.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This was an appalling tragedy, and my thoughts remain with all those affected. The Government has accepted the moral case for compensation and justice must be delivered for the victims.
As such, the Government intends to respond in full to Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations for wider compensation following the publication of the Inquiry’s final report in May 2024.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on a respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Ministers and officials across government meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues, including routine and new vaccination programmes. If any RSV programmes are agreed to, they will be announced to the public and health professionals in due course.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 27 March (HL3259), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, 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 Lord Roborough - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
At the Spring Budget 2020 following withdrawal from the EU the OBR estimated that there was £42.3bn more to spend on public services between 2020-21 and 2024-25 than would have been the case had we stayed in the EU. This additional spending has been included in the overall spending plans set out at Spending Reviews since we left the EU.
The financial settlement as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement ensures the UK only pays its past obligations as a departing Member State and does not relate to any continuing or future arrangements. As set out in the European Union Finances Statement 2023 (available in the library of the House and on Gov.uk), the UK is estimated to have paid £6.1bn in net liabilities in 2023 as part of this settlement.
Where the UK has decided it is in its interests to cooperate with the EU further, for instance on Horizon Europe, details of payments are set out in the relevant departments’ annual account.