Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 3 of the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18, what steps HMRC has taken to ensure that computer applications it has using the SAP platform are accessible by disabled staff.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HMRC is working closely with SAP and other supporting suppliers to address known accessibility issues on the SAP platform as part of a wider look at how the department can improve the accessibility of technology across its estate. HMRC and SAP are using established accessibility frameworks to ensure common standards are met, and working to make sure the platform meets the accessibility needs of our department’s staff.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the HMRC guidance entitled Partnership pack: preparing for a no deal EU exit published on 22 October 2018, if HMRC will rescind any non-disclosure agreements they required organisations to sign in order to be able to discuss with them border arrangements in various scenarios for the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HMRC use Non-Disclosure Agreements only on the most sensitive and confidential discussions.
The Partnership Pack has been developed by HMRC to support stakeholders by explaining the practical arrangements that would be in place if we exit the EU without a deal.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC employees are paid less than £8.21 per hour.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Currently, HMRC have 1,244 employees who are paid less than £8.21 per hour.Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many accessible car parking spaces are available in the Canary Wharf Government Hub for disabled staff of HM Revenue & Customs.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
There are four accessible visitor car parking spaces for blue badge holders at the Canary Wharf Government Hub. These are available to all departments occupying the building, including HMRC. In addition there is an accessible drop off point outside the entrance and accessible public car parking nearby.
HMRC is reviewing its car parking policy for all sites and this will prioritise accessible parking for staff and visitors. It expects to increase availability in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, within the limited number of spaces available under the building.
HMRC is committed to ensuring that its new hubs will be accessible to all staff. It will review individual cases where reasonable adjustments are required, explore options such as Access to Work and may fund the cost of a taxi or an accessible parking space where this is necessary.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 103 of the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18, what steps HMRC has taken to to ensure that visually impaired staff that have been issued with Microsoft Surface Pros are able to use accessibility software including Zoomtext.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HMRC currently provides a range of assistive technologies to support visually impaired members of staff, including an upgraded version of Zoomtext compatible with Surface Pros.
The Department will continue to work with both key suppliers and staff to improve and expand its suite of accessibility software, as part of its commitment to being a leading employer for equality, diversity and inclusion.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 46 of the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Operation Swiftarrow; when that operation is planned to conclude; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The pre-clearance checks referenced on page 46 of HMRC’s Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 are part of HMRC’s ongoing approach to customs compliance, which involves compliance activity both before and after customs clearance, as well as trader monitoring and providing trader education. This approach is proving effective.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contractors employed in (a) the Government Actuary's Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs,(c) HM Treasury Group, (d) National Savings & Investments, (e) Office for National Statistics, (f) Royal Mint, and (g) Valuation Office Agency are paid £1,000 or more per day.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Revenue and Customs makes use of one contractor in that category. There are none being employed at the others.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contractors employed in(a) the Government Actuary's Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs, (c) HM Treasury Group, (d) National Savings & Investments, (e) Office for National Statistics, (f) Royal Mint and (g) Valuation Office Agency are paid £650 or more per day.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Revenue and Customs currently makes use of 29 contractors in that category and the Valuation Office Agency currently makes use of 2. There are none at the others.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are employed by HMRC in each region; and how many staff will be employed in each HMRC regional hub when those hubs become fully operational.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The number of full time equivalent (FTE) staff currently employed by HMRC in each region and the number expected to be based in each HMRC regional centre are set out in the table below.Additionally HMRC will be retaining a Headquarters, five specialist sites and eight transitional sites which will remain operational after the opening of the regional centres. The Ipswich Transitional Site will become a specialist site in 2026. The figures included in the table are what have been announced to date.
HMRC is still finalising its plans for its regional centre in Nottingham and for the second phases of Glasgow and Manchester.
Region | Current FTE @ 31/07/2018 | Regional Centre | FTE | Specialist Site | FTE | Transitional site | FTE |
Scotland | 7,459 | Edinburgh | 2,680 | Gartcosh | 260 | East Kilbride | 1,100 |
Glasgow (Phase 1) | 2,670 | ||||||
Northern Ireland | 1,725 | Belfast | 1,780 |
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Wales | 3,899 | Cardiff | 3,600 |
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North East | 9,606 | Newcastle | 6,250 |
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| Washington | 2,100 |
North West | 10,875 | Liverpool | 4,100 |
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Manchester (Phase 1) | 2,400 |
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| Salford | 2,500 | ||
Preston | Not yet finalised | ||||||
Yorkshire & the Humber | 4,016 | Leeds | 3,850 |
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West Midlands | 3,798 | Birmingham | 2,650 | Telford | 600 |
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East Midlands | 3,046 | Nottingham | 3,450 |
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South West | 1,297 | Bristol | 1,650 |
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London, South East and East | 12,231 | Croydon | 2,700 | Dover | 140 | Reading | 550 |
Stratford | 3,800 | Worthing | 900 | Portsmouth | 850 | ||
Westminster HQ | 1,000 | Ipswich – from 2026-2027 | 450 | Ipswich – until 2026-27 | 450 | ||
Canary Wharf* |
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*Currently Canary Wharf is a transitional site and staff based there will move to the Stratford Regional Centre. The staff numbers are included in the relevant regional information above.
In addition to the above, HMRC will be retaining existing buildings in Liverpool until 2022/23, Southend, Alexander House until the end of 2022 and Dundee, Sidlaw House until spring 2022.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18, HC 1282, what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of VOA's Target Organisational Model on delays in Billing Authorities receiving the New Homes Bonus.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Valuation Office Agency expects to clear a similar number of cases that contribute to the payment of the New Homes Bonus this year as it did last year.