Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to removing VAT on bottled water.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. When assessing a new VAT relief, the Government must consider whether the cost saving is likely to be passed onto customers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.
The Government therefore has no current plans to zero-rate supplies of bottled water, but keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to establish an investment and reinvestment initiative to support Northern Ireland infrastructure schemes which is separate to the block grant allocation scheme for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Infrastructure strategy and investment is a devolved responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE). As part of the NIE’s Interim Fiscal Framework agreed in May 2024, the NIE committed to publish a comprehensive and costed long-term strategic infrastructure plan setting out priority areas for action and how it will support prosperity and growth.
The NIE’s Spending Review settlement for 2025-26 is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution. The NIE is receiving £18.2 billion in 2025-26, including an additional £1.5 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the Government Social Research Publication Protocol, which was last revised in 2022.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government Social Research (GSR) publication protocol is reviewed on a regular basis and changes are made as required.
The protocol was developed by the GSR in collaboration with the Government Analysis Function and the Office for Statistics Regulation. The guidance is consistent with the Code of Practice for Statistics which is statutory. The protocol is reviewed each time it is recirculated, which happens on change of administration or roughly annually, with small or more significant changes made as needed.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's state of readiness for the implementation of new customs and parcel arrangements under the Windsor Framework from 31 March 2025.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to implementing the new freight and parcel arrangements under the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market. Businesses should be ready for the new arrangements by 31 March 2025.
An intensive programme of engagement with operators and representatives from the freight and parcels sectors is underway. We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders including businesses who send parcels to Northern Ireland, business representative organisations, and the wider customs and logistics sector, in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. Most recently HMRC published additional guidance on 24 October, which can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they will give to the Official Development Assistance budget for overseas aid in the forthcoming Autumn Budget statement.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to restoring ODA spending at the level of 0.7 percent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. The Government is currently undertaking a Spending Review and will set out its approach in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they will put in place to mitigate the administrative burden on firms sending business-to-business parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland following the full implementation of customs controls under the Windsor Framework from autumn.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to delivering the Windsor Framework. It has carried out extensive engagement with businesses (including parcel carriers) to implement the changes agreed under the Windsor Framework for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to communicate the next stage of the implementation of the Windsor Framework in autumn to businesses in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to delivering the Windsor Framework. It has carried out extensive engagement with businesses (including parcel carriers) to implement the changes agreed under the Windsor Framework for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive, since the restoration of devolved institutions in Northern Ireland on 3 February, about financial allocations from the Treasury.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The UK Government has regular discussions with its devolved administration counterparts, including the Northern Ireland Executive.
Since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has met with the Northern Ireland Finance Minister on three occasions.
UK Government officials continue to engage regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of all aspects of the UK Government’s £3.3 billion restoration financial package which will stabilise and transform Northern Ireland’s public finances.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation contained in The National Food Strategy, published on 15 July 2021, to introduce a Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
There are no current plans to introduce a Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax. The Government published its response to the National Food Strategy on 13 June 2022, setting out the approach to working with the food industry to create a healthier food environment for all and investing in innovative approaches to address weight and diet related ill health.
However, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) encourages producers to remove added sugar from soft drinks. It has been very successful in this aim, with a reduction of sugar in soft drinks of 46% between 2015 and 2020.
The Government remains committed to helping people live healthier lives. Having a fit and healthy population is essential for a thriving economy, and reducing sugar and salt in food remains a priority for the Government through the voluntary reformulation and reduction programme.
The Government keeps all taxes under constant review and welcomes representations from stakeholders to inform policy development.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to other food and drink products that are high in sugar.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The primary aim of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) is to encourage producers to remove added sugar from soft drinks. It has been very successful in this aim, with a reduction of sugar in soft drinks of 46% between 2015 and 2020.
There are no current plans to extend SDIL to other food and drink products. As with all taxes, the Government keeps SDIL under constant review and welcomes representations from stakeholders to inform policy development.