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Written Question
Married People: Tax Allowances
Wednesday 22nd February 2017

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of uptake of the marriage tax allowance is; what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of that allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jane Ellison

The Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015, to recognise the importance of marriage in the tax system and support those on low incomes. Over 1.6 million couples have successfully applied for the Marriage Allowance, with around one million applying so far in this tax year.

The Government is committed to raising awareness of the savings the allowance will bring to eligible couples. HM Revenue and Customs ran a marketing campaign in the autumn of 2016, comprising radio, digital, social media and search engine advertising. A further round of advertising commenced on 20 February and will run through to 31 March 2017.

As with all efforts to promote awareness of tax reliefs and allowances, the Government will keep the effectiveness of these marketing campaigns under review.


Written Question
Married Couple's Allowance
Thursday 8th September 2016

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of providing the married couples allowance in each financial year since 2001.

Answered by Jane Ellison

The Married Couple’s Allowance (MCA) is an additional allowance for married couples worth between £322 and £835.50 per couple in 2016-17. Prior to 2000-01, MCA was available to all married couples irrespective of age, but on the introduction of the tax credit system it remained available to married couples where at least one of them was born before 6 April 1935.

The estimated cost and the estimated number of claimants of MCA for the financial years 2002-03 to 2015-16 are given in the table below.

Married Couple's Allowance

Cost (£millions)

Number of Claimants (000s)

2002-03

450

1160

2003-04

610

1510

2004-05

590

1450

2005-06

530

1320

2006-07

520

1230

2007-08

450

1050

2008-09

*

*

2009-10

440

890

2010-11

340

670

2011-12

400

760

2012-13

360

650

2013-14

320

570

2014-15

285

490

2015-16

245

420

*Data not currently available

Up to 2012-13 these estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. Later years are projected from the 2012-13 SPI using the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Autumn Statement 2015 economic and fiscal outlook. Data for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2008-09 are not currently available.


Written Question
Married Couple's Allowance
Thursday 8th September 2016

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many couples claimed the married couples allowance in each financial year since 2001.

Answered by Jane Ellison

The Married Couple’s Allowance (MCA) is an additional allowance for married couples worth between £322 and £835.50 per couple in 2016-17. Prior to 2000-01, MCA was available to all married couples irrespective of age, but on the introduction of the tax credit system it remained available to married couples where at least one of them was born before 6 April 1935.

The estimated cost and the estimated number of claimants of MCA for the financial years 2002-03 to 2015-16 are given in the table below.

Married Couple's Allowance

Cost (£millions)

Number of Claimants (000s)

2002-03

450

1160

2003-04

610

1510

2004-05

590

1450

2005-06

530

1320

2006-07

520

1230

2007-08

450

1050

2008-09

*

*

2009-10

440

890

2010-11

340

670

2011-12

400

760

2012-13

360

650

2013-14

320

570

2014-15

285

490

2015-16

245

420

*Data not currently available

Up to 2012-13 these estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. Later years are projected from the 2012-13 SPI using the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Autumn Statement 2015 economic and fiscal outlook. Data for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2008-09 are not currently available.


Written Question
Finance (No. 2) Bill: Families
Monday 18th April 2016

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will apply the family test to the Finance Bill and publish the results.

Answered by David Gauke

The Government carefully considers all relevant legal obligations – including the Family Test – when formulating policy. This includes policies implemented via the Finance Bill or other legislation.


Written Question
Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties
Thursday 17th March 2016

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the difference between the duty imposed on cider with alcohol content of 7.5 per cent and beer with a similar alcohol content.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

There are higher duty rates on both beer and cider above 7.5 per cent alcohol by volume compared to standard strength beers and ciders. This is to encourage the production and consumption of lower strength products.

The Chancellor keeps all duty rates under review as part of the Budget process.


Written Question
Married People: Tax Allowances
Thursday 3rd March 2016

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the uptake of the marriage tax allowance is; what steps he is taking to increase uptake of that allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by David Gauke

400,000 couples have successfully claimed Marriage Allowance. HM Revenue and Customers is continuing to extensively market Marriage Allowance, including through print, radio and billboard advertising. Eligible couples who haven’t already claimed for the tax year 2015/16 will not lose out as they have until 5 April 2020 to do so.


Written Question
Treasury: Families
Tuesday 9th June 2015

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - The Family Test - Guidance for Government Departments available at gov.uk.

The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.

The Treasury has been working with the DWP to embed the Test in the policymaking process.


Written Question
Child Benefit
Monday 16th March 2015

Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the higher income child benefit charge who have failed to declare it to HM Revenue and Customs.

Answered by Priti Patel

Of 1.1 million individuals expected to be affected in the first year, 2012/13, 45,000 did not register for Self Assessment to pay the charge. HMRC is contacting people who have not complied to ensure the charge is paid.