To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Friendly Societies Act 1992
Wednesday 28th February 2024

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Commissioners have been appointed for the Law Commission Review of the Friendly Societies Act 1992; and what the planned timetable is for that review .

Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is working with the Law Commission and will release further information on the Review of the Friendly Societies Act 1992 and its timeline once the project timetable is confirmed.
Written Question
Cooperatives and Friendly Societies: Reviews
Thursday 6th July 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement entitled Law Commission reviews of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and Friendly Societies Act 1992, published on 19 June 2023, whether Commissioners have been appointed to conduct the reviews; what estimate he has made of when the review will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement, the Government has invited the Law Commission to conduct reviews of the Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and Friendly Societies Act 1992. The Treasury is now working with the Law Commission to formally agree a terms of reference and a timetable for each review once the projects are formally agreed.

The Law Commission’s statement on the reviews can be found here: https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/law-commission-invited-to-review-legislation-on-cooperatives-and-friendly-societies/

The Government expects that the reviews will start in the autumn.


Written Question
Customs
Monday 17th April 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the effective delivery of the Single Trade Window; and if he will make a statement.

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

The 2025 Border Strategy, published in December 2020, committed to deliver a world-leading Single Trade Window (STW). This will provide a gateway between businesses and UK border processes and systems, allowing users to meet their import, export and transit obligations by submitting information once, and in one place.

The goal is to create a seamless new “digital” border, where technologies and real-time data will save time and cost and improve customer experience at the border. This will help UK businesses of all sizes take advantage of new trading relationships and enhance the UK’s position as a global trading partner

There are frequent discussions among colleagues across Government, at both official and ministerial levels, as well as engagement with businesses, to ensure the effective delivery of the Single Trade Window.

Ministers will update the House in due course as the work develops.


Written Question
Customs
Monday 17th April 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the de minimis customs threshold to £1000; and if he will make a statement.

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

The customs duty de minimis threshold allows for ease of trade when importing low value consignments, benefiting businesses and consumers. This threshold remains under continuous review as part of ongoing work to develop and enhance our independent customs regime.


Written Question
Freight
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) aviation partners and (b) stakeholders on the potential merits of a trial to assess the merits of reforming canalisation; and if he will make a statement.

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

As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.

The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.

To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.


Written Question
Freight
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reforming canalisation for (a) reducing cargo emissions and (b) increasing exports; and if he will make a statement.

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

As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.

The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.

To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.


Written Question
Aviation: Freight
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of canalisation procedures for speeding up airside freight transhipment times; and if he will make a statement.

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

As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.

The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.

To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU
Wednesday 21st December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Article 103 of UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, what assessment he has made of the steps taken by the European Union to reduce the time and costs for (a) all businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

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

The Government is committed to growing the UK’s economy by making the most of our Brexit freedoms to boost UK businesses, which is why the Government is aiming to cut £1 billion of red tape for UK businesses and ease regulatory burdens.

The Government has provided approximately £8.4 million to UK Businesses through the SME Brexit Support Fund. This has enabled over 4,100 businesses to pay for practical support to adjust to new customs and VAT rules when trading with the EU. All businesses can get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe by accessing the Government’s Export Support Service via GOV.UK.

The UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for a range of customs cooperation between the UK and EU, including on simplifying and modernising our customs procedures, facilitating transit movements, and ensuring that traders are clear on how to move goods smoothly between our respective borders. UK officials across departments regularly meet traders to solicit feedback and, where businesses are facing customs barriers when exporting the EU, these are raised with EU counterparts under established channels.


Written Question
Treasury: Trade
Friday 16th December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department have been allocated to deal with issues related to international trade in (a) each of the past five years and (b) the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

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

HM Treasury is the government’s economic and finance ministry, maintaining control over public spending, setting the direction of the UK’s economic policy, and working to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth.

Free and fair trade is fundamental to the prosperity of the United Kingdom and the world economy, and HMT takes a flexible and dynamic approach to resourcing in order to meet this objective. As a result, there are a number of HMT officials, across groups, working on issues related to international trade matters, and total numbers of staff fluctuate within and across years.

The number of paid full time equivalent staff in the Treasury was as follows over the past 5 years.

Date

Number of HMT staff employed

March 2022

2,045

March 2021

1,992

March 2020

1,599

March 2019

1,447

March 2018

1,328


Speech in Public Bill Committees - Wed 30 Nov 2022
Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill (First sitting)

Speech Link

View all Gareth Thomas (LAB - Harrow West) contributions to the debate on: Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill (First sitting)