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Written Question
Voluntary Organisations: VAT Exemptions
Monday 4th March 2024

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of making not-for-profit organisations that provide welfare services VAT exempt.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Whilst there are exceptions to the standard rate, these have always been strictly limited by both legal and fiscal considerations.

Welfare services provided by local authorities and similar bodies and charities are exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged to the final consumer.

Welfare services provided by state regulated private welfare organisations are also exempt from VAT. State regulated suppliers are those that are registered with the Care Quality Commission, and are eligible for the VAT exemption where they are providing services that are state regulated.

The regulation requirement ensures that VAT relief is limited to providers certified as offering safe and high-quality welfare services. This is a long-standing requirement, and there are no plans to make changes to these rules.


Written Question
Community Interest Companies: VAT
Monday 26th June 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2023 to Question 187024 on Dementia: Health Services, if his Department will consider the potential merits of including community interest companies that provide social care but are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, due to not providing personal care, in the VAT exemptions for welfare services.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The standard rate of VAT applies to most goods and services. Exceptions have always been strictly limited by legal and fiscal considerations.

Where social care is provided by a state-regulated body, including community interest companies, then the VAT exemption for welfare services applies.

The regulation requirement ensures that VAT relief is limited to providers certified as offering safe and high-quality welfare services. This is a long-standing requirement, and there are no plans to make changes to these rules.


Written Question
Dementia: Health Services
Monday 12th June 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on access to social care for people with dementia of the inclusion of community interest companies within the VAT exemptions for welfare, services and goods.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Where social care for people with dementia is provided by a state-regulated body then the VAT exemption for welfare services applies.

Community interest companies qualify for the VAT exemption for welfare if the activity they provide is required to be regulated by or registered with the relevant regulatory body.
Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Friday 31st March 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

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 US Inflation Reduction Act and the need for a price support mechanism for sustainable aviation fuel in the UK on the future levels of domestic production of those fuels.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Friday 31st March 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an estimate of the future value of sustainable aviation fuel to the British economy.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Friday 31st March 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has had discussions with the Department for Transport on the need for a price stability mechanism to ensure that sustainable aviation fuel production takes place in the UK.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Friday 31st March 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a contracts for difference scheme for the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.


Written Question
Imports: Tax Allowances
Tuesday 24th January 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of personal allowances for people bringing excise and non-excise goods into the UK for personal use on the economy.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Following a consultation in Spring 2020, on 1 January 2021, the Government extended duty-free sales to EU-bound passengers at UK ports and airports for the first time in over 20 years. This is a significant boost to all ports, airports and international rail terminals in England, Scotland and Wales, including smaller regional airports and rail hubs, which were not able to offer duty-free to the EU before.

The Government also introduced personal allowances for passengers entering Great Britain from the EU. During the consultation stakeholders expressed concerns about this change, particularly those that deal with large volumes of EU passengers travelling to Great Britain in a vehicle by ferry or train, given many passengers were used to bringing back unlimited amounts of goods from the EU. The Government therefore used its freedoms from EU rules to significantly increase alcohol allowances for all passengers. This enables visitors to bring in, for example, three crates of beer, two cases of wine and one case of sparkling wine, without having to pay the relevant taxes, with Great Britain having one of the most generous allowances in the world.


Written Question
Alcoholic Drinks: Imports
Tuesday 24th January 2023

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the context of personal allowances for bringing excise goods into the UK for personal use, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average value of (a) 42 litres of beer, (b) 18 litres of still wine, (c) four litres of spirits and other liquors with over 22 per cent alcohol content and (d) nine litres of sparkling wine and fortified wine up with up to 22 per cent alcohol content.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

HMRC does not hold values for the average price of alcohol brought into the UK under the personal allowance.


Written Question
Cost of Living: Disability
Thursday 27th January 2022

Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional steps he is taking to ensure disabled people are financially supported as energy prices and other costs of living rise.

Answered by Simon Clarke

The government is forecast to spend over £58 billion in 21/22 on benefits to support disabled people in Great Britain. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the government’s primary means of supporting working age adults with the extra costs arising from having a disability and is paid regardless of income and irrespective of whether someone is in work. The government will spend over £12.2 billion to support 2.1 million people on PIP in 21/22. Those who have a disability or health condition which limits their ability to work can get additional support through Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). For those with limited capability for work or work-related activity, this includes an additional component in UC, worth £79.30 per week.

We recognise the recent increase in wholesale global gas prices will be a cause of concern, particularly for those who are vulnerable or have a disability. That is why we continue to protect households through the energy price cap, which has saved the 15 million customers on default tariffs up to £100 a year on their bills since it was introduced in 2019. This is on top of wider support that the government is providing this winter through the £140 Warm Home Discount, up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment and £25 per week Cold Weather Payment, all of which help to ensure those most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the winter.

The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help with the cost of living. This includes the £500 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households with costs for essentials such as energy bills, food, clothing, and utilities over the winter. The Household Support Fund adds to the support already in place to help those on low incomes with the cost of living, including:

  • £140 million in 2021-22 for Discretionary Housing Payments;
  • £670 million in 2021-22 for local authorities to support households struggling with their council tax bills;
  • £200m each year of the Spending Review to continue the Holiday Activities and Food programme; and
  • increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers.