Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when is the earliest date that applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The earliest date by which applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund, following a successful application, is within 30 days of the valid claim for reimbursement being accepted.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is provision for SME Brexit Support Fund grants to be applied retroactively to cover adjustments put in place by businesses before the funding became available.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Applicants can only seek support for eligible expenditure on or after 11 February 2021, the date the scheme was announced.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits to businesses of receiving funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund (1) at any time, and (2) after the impending import process changes.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided extensive guidance to businesses on VAT, excise, and customs processes to support them in their readiness for the UK leaving the EU. This guidance includes videos, webinars and step-by-step guides.
The announcement of the SME Brexit Support Fund followed extensive engagement with individual businesses, leading business organisations and trade associations from across the UK. Grants have been designed to cover a significant portion of the costs faced for basic customs training courses or professional advice on customs, rules of origin and the VAT aspects of imports and exports.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the 100 per cent business rates holiday for the next 12 months to “all leisure business in England”, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 March, will cover the offices of such businesses, including theatre production offices and places used for content production such as studios; and what guidance they have provided to local authorities about that business rates holiday.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on 25 March.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as creative industry businesses, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter.
The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to support creative industries businesses whose premises have a rateable value higher than £51,000.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on 25 March.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as creative industry businesses, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter.
The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential merits of the removal of VAT on digital (1) books, (2) magazines and (3) newspapers.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications. Policy development also includes consideration of equalities impacts.
HMRC does not hold detailed information about the VAT paid on specific products by government departments or public institutions.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business and we are taking action to ensure innovative firms can access the skills, investment and infrastructure they need to thrive. Last year, jobs in the digital sector grew at twice the rate of those in the wider economy.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much VAT on digital (1) books, (2) magazines, and (3) newspapers was paid by all Government departments in the last (a) year, and (b) five years.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications. Policy development also includes consideration of equalities impacts.
HMRC does not hold detailed information about the VAT paid on specific products by government departments or public institutions.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business and we are taking action to ensure innovative firms can access the skills, investment and infrastructure they need to thrive. Last year, jobs in the digital sector grew at twice the rate of those in the wider economy.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of VAT on digital (1) books, (2) magazines, and (3) newspapers to public institutions in the last (a) year, and (b) five years.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications. Policy development also includes consideration of equalities impacts.
HMRC does not hold detailed information about the VAT paid on specific products by government departments or public institutions.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business and we are taking action to ensure innovative firms can access the skills, investment and infrastructure they need to thrive. Last year, jobs in the digital sector grew at twice the rate of those in the wider economy.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the application of VAT to e-publications but not to physical publications does not have a negative impact on the growth of the UK's digital sector and the use of digital technologies.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications. Policy development also includes consideration of equalities impacts.
HMRC does not hold detailed information about the VAT paid on specific products by government departments or public institutions.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business and we are taking action to ensure innovative firms can access the skills, investment and infrastructure they need to thrive. Last year, jobs in the digital sector grew at twice the rate of those in the wider economy.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the application of VAT to e-publications but not to physical publications does not discriminate against readers from any social backgrounds.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT on e-publications. Policy development also includes consideration of equalities impacts.
HMRC does not hold detailed information about the VAT paid on specific products by government departments or public institutions.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a digital business and we are taking action to ensure innovative firms can access the skills, investment and infrastructure they need to thrive. Last year, jobs in the digital sector grew at twice the rate of those in the wider economy.