Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mineworkers Pension Scheme Trustees on potential reforms to the Mineworkers Pensions Scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment has she made of the potential impact of uprating mileage allowance scheme rates on the travel costs of people working in the voluntary sector.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses) and can be used by organisations to reimburse volunteers who use their own vehicle for voluntary purposes.
Voluntary organisations reimbursing volunteers can either use the AMAP rates or can reimburse the actual cost incurred where the volunteer drivers can evidence such costs without a tax liability arising. Any reimbursement above the AMAP rates would be subject to Income Tax unless the driver can show evidence of the expenditure. It is ultimately up to the voluntary organisation to determine the amount they reimburse to volunteers.
In estimating typical motoring costs per business mile HMRC use a variety of information. This includes information from the AA, the National Travel Survey, the Association of British Insurers and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (fuel prices). The AMAP rate is intended to reflect both running costs (such as fuel) and a proportion of standing costs (such as insurance, MOT and depreciation).
As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review. Any changes to are announced by the Chancellor at fiscal events, taking into account the wider economic and fiscal context.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of abolishing the mileage allowance scheme reduced rate for over 10,000 miles of travel in the tax year on the travel costs of people working in the voluntary sector.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses) and can be used by organisations to reimburse volunteers who use their own vehicle for voluntary purposes.
Voluntary organisations reimbursing volunteers can either use the AMAP rates or can reimburse the actual cost incurred where the volunteer drivers can evidence such costs without a tax liability arising. Any reimbursement above the AMAP rates would be subject to Income Tax unless the driver can show evidence of the expenditure. It is ultimately up to the voluntary organisation to determine the amount they reimburse to volunteers.
In estimating typical motoring costs per business mile HMRC use a variety of information. This includes information from the AA, the National Travel Survey, the Association of British Insurers and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (fuel prices). The AMAP rate is intended to reflect both running costs (such as fuel) and a proportion of standing costs (such as insurance, MOT and depreciation).
As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review. Any changes to are announced by the Chancellor at fiscal events, taking into account the wider economic and fiscal context.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the implementation of UN General Assembly resolution A /RES/78/230 on the Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations adopted on 22 December 2023.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has been an active participant in negotiations at the UN, as we are committed to working with others to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation.
We maintain the view that a UN Framework Convention will only be successful in delivering this objective if it is clear in its aims, seeks to build upon rather than reinvent existing initiatives, and seeks to secure the broad support and participation of members.
We will continue to engage constructively in support of those principles.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Welsh Government will receive in additional Barnett Formula consequential funding as a result of the most recent pay award for NHS staff in England.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL). When UK Government departmental budgets change, the Barnett formula will apply in the usual way. Any Barnett consequentials in 2024-25 resulting from the recent pay award for NHS staff in England would be confirmed at Autumn Budget 2024 and Supplementary Estimates 2024-25.
The published Block Grant Transparency document provides a detailed breakdown of how the block grants are calculated. The most recent report was published in July 2023.