Covid-19: Hospital Patient Referrals

Debate between Lord Bhatia and Baroness Penn

Monday 28th June 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

Can the Minister confirm that this was an error, because care homes were not properly staffed or equipped?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, I do not agree with that assessment of the situation. We have been providing support to care homes since the start of this pandemic, including ensuring that proper staffing is in place to help with, for example, infection control methods.

Covid-19: Death Duties and Inheritance Tax

Debate between Lord Bhatia and Baroness Penn

Thursday 24th June 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

Perhaps I can reassure my noble friend, in that some 94% of estates are forecast to have no inheritance tax liability whatsoever over the next five years. However, inheritance tax does still make an important contribution to funding public services, raising more than £5 billion each year.

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

Might increasing VAT be the answer?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

I am afraid that I could not quite hear the noble Lord’s question, but I would be happy to write to him when I have clarified what he said.

New Businesses: Capital Gains Tax

Debate between Lord Bhatia and Baroness Penn

Wednesday 20th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, the Government are absolutely committed to levelling up across the UK, including by incentivising investment in areas outside London and the south-east. When it comes to capital gains tax and wider tax measures, the report by the Wealth Tax Commission actually found that, on a narrow definition, UK taxes on wealth are about average for G7 countries, and on a slightly wider definition, our taxes on wealth are among the highest of the G7 countries.

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

My Lords, can the Minister confirm whether new businesses will benefit from this equalisation?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, the proposals for equalisation are currently in a report from the Office of Tax Simplification and do not represent government policy—although of course the Government will look at the recommendations of that report very carefully.

Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Debate between Lord Bhatia and Baroness Penn

Tuesday 27th October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

Yes. Can you hear me now? Is this better?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

Please continue.

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

This regulation applies to timber harvested in the EU and third countries. It imposes obligations on those who place timber or timber products plus those who sell or buy these goods in the course of commercial activity. The traders must not place illegally harvested timber—

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, I believe there is a problem connecting to the noble Lord, Lord Bhatia. I suggest we move on and maybe return to him if we can reconnect.