Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that UK-based companies are fully complying with the sanctions imposed on (a) Russian oil and (b) other Russian exports.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OSFI) and The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have published extensive guidance to support industry in complying with sanctions measures against Russia.
OFSI takes a proactive enforcement approach and is currently undertaking a number of investigations into suspected breaches of the oil price cap, using their legal powers to request information and working closely with our international partners in the G7+ Coalition.
HM Revenue & Customs is responsible for enforcing export controls on strategic goods and sanctions and investigating potential breaches of those controls.
HMRC enforcement mechanisms are robust and act as a deterrent against those considering circumventing sanctions measures. They take breaches of sanctions seriously and undertake a preliminary investigation into all credible allegations of an offence. They have improved their capacity to investigate and enforce sanctions and are developing new capabilities to enforce sanctions on services under criminal law. Non-compliance with UK sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the level of alcohol duty on the financial viability of pubs.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support pubs with increases in the cost of living.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes that pubs make an important contribution to our culture, fostering a sense of place and community, and the UK economy. And we understand the challenges pubs are facing.
That is why the new alcohol duty system implemented on 1 August 2023 included a new Draught Relief that provides a significant duty discount on alcohol sold in containers of 20 litres or more in pubs and other on-trade venues. As well as this, the Government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee,’ confirms that the duty on a draught pint will always be lower than its equivalent in a supermarket.
Pubs also benefit from a broader package of business rates support worth £13.6bn over the next five years, including a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief scheme which increased from 50% to 75% relief in 2023-24. And community assets have benefitted from the Community Ownership Fund, which has allocated £49.3m to 195 projects across the UK, including pubs.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2023 to Question 181783 on Child Trust Funds, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its work in making contact with account holders of unclaimed mature Child Trust Funds.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Although primary responsibility for communicating with account holders and their parents lies with Child Trust Fund (CTF) providers, the government is committed to helping people access the savings they are entitled to and continues to explore new routes to reunite young people with their mature CTFs.
HMRC actively engages with the industry, other government departments, organisations such as the Money and Pensions Service, and youth focused charities to ensure that young people are aware of, and can access, their CTFs. HMRC also issues a range of communications and provides resources for key intermediaries such as the University and Colleges Admissions Service, who have greater influence and visibility amongst the CTF audience.
The government’s current plans will reunite most accounts with their owners, but there may be some cases where further action will be required. The government will monitor how many matured accounts remain open and judge when it is appropriate to intervene in other ways.
If a child lacks the mental capacity to manage their account when they turn 18, a person with responsibility must apply to the Court of Protection (or equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland) for a financial deputyship order. While responsibility for the process and legislation relating to mental capacity rests with the Ministry of Justice and devolved administrations, the CTF guidance on gov.uk provides specific references to mental capacity and links to the relevant bodies in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April to Question 181792 on Child Trust Funds: what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its policies on simplifying the process for families to access Child Trust Funds.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Although primary responsibility for communicating with account holders and their parents lies with Child Trust Fund (CTF) providers, the government is committed to helping people access the savings they are entitled to and continues to explore new routes to reunite young people with their mature CTFs.
HMRC actively engages with the industry, other government departments, organisations such as the Money and Pensions Service, and youth focused charities to ensure that young people are aware of, and can access, their CTFs. HMRC also issues a range of communications and provides resources for key intermediaries such as the University and Colleges Admissions Service, who have greater influence and visibility amongst the CTF audience.
The government’s current plans will reunite most accounts with their owners, but there may be some cases where further action will be required. The government will monitor how many matured accounts remain open and judge when it is appropriate to intervene in other ways.
If a child lacks the mental capacity to manage their account when they turn 18, a person with responsibility must apply to the Court of Protection (or equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland) for a financial deputyship order. While responsibility for the process and legislation relating to mental capacity rests with the Ministry of Justice and devolved administrations, the CTF guidance on gov.uk provides specific references to mental capacity and links to the relevant bodies in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department provides to the families of children with health conditions that are trying to access their Child Trust Funds.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Although primary responsibility for communicating with account holders and their parents lies with Child Trust Fund (CTF) providers, the government is committed to helping people access the savings they are entitled to and continues to explore new routes to reunite young people with their mature CTFs.
HMRC actively engages with the industry, other government departments, organisations such as the Money and Pensions Service, and youth focused charities to ensure that young people are aware of, and can access, their CTFs. HMRC also issues a range of communications and provides resources for key intermediaries such as the University and Colleges Admissions Service, who have greater influence and visibility amongst the CTF audience.
The government’s current plans will reunite most accounts with their owners, but there may be some cases where further action will be required. The government will monitor how many matured accounts remain open and judge when it is appropriate to intervene in other ways.
If a child lacks the mental capacity to manage their account when they turn 18, a person with responsibility must apply to the Court of Protection (or equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland) for a financial deputyship order. While responsibility for the process and legislation relating to mental capacity rests with the Ministry of Justice and devolved administrations, the CTF guidance on gov.uk provides specific references to mental capacity and links to the relevant bodies in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to identify the number of unclaimed mature Child Trust Funds that have been claimed by account holders in the last 12 months.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
HMRC publishes annual statistics on the number of matured CTFs that remain unclaimed together with the number of CTFs that have been claimed. The latest statistics were published in June 2023 and can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2023. An update will be published in Summer 2024.
The government is committed to helping people identify and access the savings they are entitled to and continues to explore new routes to reunite young people with their matured CTFs.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the VAT charged on alcohol supplied by (a) pubs and (b) supermarkets on the level of competition between those sectors.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, including alcohol sold at both pubs and supermarkets. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited by both legal and fiscal considerations.
The Government understands the vital role the hospitality industry plays in the UK economy. We have implemented a new alcohol duty system on 1 August, which also has many benefits for pubs. The new Draught Relief provides a significant duty discount on alcohol sold in containers of 20 litres or more, in pubs and other on-trade venues. As well as this, the Government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee,’ confirms that the duty on a draught pint will always be lower than its equivalent in a supermarket.
The Government continues to keep all taxes under review.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Darlington Economic Campus on the local economy.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury is planning to carry out a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of impact of the Darlington Economic Campus as part of HM Treasury’s Evaluation Strategy.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money his Department spent in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023 on (i) standard class and (ii) first class train tickets for the purpose of staff travel to the Darlington Economic Campus.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury’s senior civil servant travel is published as part of HMT’s on-going commitment to transparent reporting and can be found on gov.uk. Please see link below;
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-officials-expenses