Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 22 January (HL1443), in what circumstances His Majesty's Revenue and Customs would seek account details from banks for specified categories of tax payers beyond individuals already suspected of fraud.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can ask for bank account details when reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the taxpayer’s tax position, or for the purpose of collecting a tax debt of the taxpayer, as set out in Schedule 36 Finance Act 2008 information and inspection powers. They also have data-gathering powers that enable them to collect data from certain third parties to use in compliance activities and that includes requesting from financial institutions information relating to accounts of recipients of bank and building society interest, as detailed in Schedule 23 Finance Act 2011.
Operationally, when investigating, HMRC work on a case-by-case basis after identifying where tax is most at risk of not being paid, and design tailored, targeted and proportionate interventions to address it. They may need specific information to check a person's tax position where it may be incorrect, whether this inaccuracy was deliberate or erroneous. The vast majority of people co-operate with requests for such information and this collaborative approach enables HMRC to check the person's tax position quickly and effectively. Where this does not happen, they may use their legal powers to obtain the information directly from financial institutions.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether provision has been made for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Ministers to be located at the new Salford offices, and what proportion of their time will they expect to be there.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The department is committed to having 25% of roles outside of London and the southeast by 2027. Based on current headcount figures in Salford, this would equate to an increase of 58 staff per year and so the projected headcount for the end of 2024 is 172 staff based in Salford. The department’s Places for Growth targets are not based on grades. There is no formal stipulation for Ministers to spend a proportion of their time in Greater Manchester or any other growth location. The department works with Ministerial offices to support visits to growth locations where possible.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff, and at what grade, will be located in the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology office in Salford by the end of 2024.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The department is committed to having 25% of roles outside of London and the southeast by 2027. Based on current headcount figures in Salford, this would equate to an increase of 58 staff per year and so the projected headcount for the end of 2024 is 172 staff based in Salford. The department’s Places for Growth targets are not based on grades. There is no formal stipulation for Ministers to spend a proportion of their time in Greater Manchester or any other growth location. The department works with Ministerial offices to support visits to growth locations where possible.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what access fraud investigators in the Inland Revenue have to individual bank accounts, and what discussions they have had with banks about broadening that access beyond individuals already suspected of tax fraud.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has long-established legislative powers to access information on bank accounts for a number of its functions, including the investigation of tax fraud. Any extension of these powers would be subject to full public consultation.
A HMRC officer may require information and examine documents from third parties, including banks and other financial institutions, using the information and inspection powers in Schedule 36 of Finance Act 2008. An officer can require information and documents that are not unduly onerous for the institution to provide or produce and are reasonably required for the purpose of checking the tax position or collecting a tax debt of the taxpayer. These civil information powers may be used by investigators that suspect fraud.[1]
In the course of conducting Criminal Investigations into suspected fraud, HMRC officers might require access to information contained in bank accounts. To obtain the account information the officer makes an application to a Crown Court to seek a Court Order, if it is granted it will be served on the bank. Granted Court Orders are specific and limit access to the accounts and date range that has been granted by the Court[2].
[1] https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch23000, https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch220000,
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-investigation/criminal-investigation
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Institutes of Technology have been created, what courses they provide, and how many pupils currently study at the Institutes.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is investing up to £300 million to establish a comprehensive network of 21 Institutes of Technology across England.
They bring together our world class higher and further education sectors, with local businesses – to develop a pipeline of local talent to address local skills needs. Our IoTs work hand in glove with our Local Skills Improvement Plans. They specialise in delivering high-quality training and education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based subjects, helping to bridge a vital skills gap in our economy in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing, digital, and construction. Subjects and qualifications offered differ across the network as training is tailored and responsive to the needs of business in the areas they serve. Whilst offering a range of qualifications from Level 3 (T-levels) to Level 7 (master’s degrees), they specialise in higher-level technical skills at Level 4/5, including degree apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and professional training.
The latest data the department has on the number of students studying at Institutes of Technology comes from the cohort as of the end of the 2022/23 academic year, which was 14,231. This number of students was across 15 Institutes of Technology that were open to learners at that time.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what competitive grant funds have been launched by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology since its establishment.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The following competitive grant funds have been launched:
Open Networks Ecosystem Competition
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/open-networks-ecosystem-competition
Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-infrastructure-pilots-programme
5G Innovation Regions:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5g-innovation-regions
Research Venture Catalyst
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-ventures-catalyst
Research & Innovation Organisations Infrastructure Fund:
Manchester Prize:
https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/manchester-prize-1
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the 1,000 new PhD places in artificial intelligence identified in the UK Digital Strategy have been created.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Digital strategy referenced the 1,000 PhDs that had already been created through 16 Centres for Doctoral Training as part of the AI sector deal. The last cohort of these students has now been recruited and commenced their studies.
The strategy also re-committed to the announcement of a further 1,000 PhDs through an additional investment of £117M. This funding has been awarded to 12 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) AI Centres for Doctoral Training across the UK, leveraging an additional £110M from industry, universities and other sources. The universities hosting these centres will receive the funding to train PhD students through five cohorts. Recruitment has started for the first cohort due to start in autumn 2024 who will complete their studies in 2028.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what sectoral strategies have been produced by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology since its establishment.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The sectoral strategies produced by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology since its establishment are:
DSIT also recently published its National Vision for Engineering Biology.
Strategies produced prior to the department’s establishment that are key to our sectors include:
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Camrose on 5 December (HL474), what assessment they have made of the impact on recruitment of overseas research and development workers of the increase in the minimum salary to £38,700 for foreign workers.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
My Department supports the Government’s aim of reducing net migration, whilst ensuring the UK maintains a competitive advantage in attracting international talent in research and development, as set out in the Science & Technology Framework.
The UK’s generous and points-based immigration offer enables talented scientists, researchers and innovators to come to the UK through a number of visa routes. Following the Home Secretary’s announcements on 5 December, my Department is working with the Home Office on the details of the policy of increasing the salary threshold for the skilled worker visa route, and will be undertaking assessments of its impacts.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking on a cross-government basis to monitor and integrate the individual departmental responsibilities set out in the Net Zero Research and Innovation Delivery Plan.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Strategic oversight and integration of government funding for net zero research and innovation takes place through the Net Zero Innovation Board (NZIB). It is chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and brings together senior representatives from government departments, non-departmental public bodies and non-ministerial departments with major climate mitigation, decarbonisation or energy-related research and innovation budgets, or related policy remits. NZIB, through its Innovation Delivery Board sub-group, also monitors progress of the programmes set out in the Net Zero Research and Innovation Delivery Plan.