Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office do not centrally record information on (a) Uber for Business or (b) other Uber transactions.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential VAT owed to his Department in respect of supply of passenger transportation services arising as a result of the employment tribunal ruling of 28 October 2016; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Decisions of the employment tribunal are not determinative of the VAT treatment of supplies.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes a risk-based approach to VAT compliance, including using HMRC intelligence and third party data.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by Margot James
The Department has spent £60.69 on transactions with Uber GB through Government Procurement Cards since 28 October 2016.
The Department does not hold information on individual travel claims centrally.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by John Hayes
I confirm that my Department has nil direct spend via purchase orders or contracts with Uber private hire services to date.
Departmental staff may, exceptionally, claim taxi or private hire fares when on official business. The Department electronically records the type of travel e.g. private hire and the amount claimed on the travel expenses accounting systems but does not in all cases centrally record or identify separately the name of the firm used.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by David Mowat
The Department can confirm following a detailed search of its Business Management Services database, that “Uber for Business” and “Uber” are not a registered supplier and consequently hold no records of any contracts held with this company.
Departmental staff travelling on official business may claim reimbursement for taxi journeys. Whilst we can identify the cost of these journeys the name of the provider is not recorded and so we would be unable to supply an expenditure figure specifically for Uber. All staff expense claims must be approved by an appropriate (more senior) approver and staff are required to submit receipts to justify their expenditure which would, in most cases, identify the supplier. However, it would incur a disproportionate cost to obtain this information through the examination of these receipts.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by Rory Stewart
DFID does not have any contracts with Uber.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by Guto Bebb
Nothing.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by Sarah Newton
No transactions have taken place between the Home Office and Uber since 28 October 2016.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by George Eustice
Core Defra did not make any payments to Uber for Business between 28 October 2016 and 21 February 2017.
Staff within Core Defra who claim expenses for taxis used for work-related travel are not required to specify the name of the taxi company they used. The Department’s finance system lists only two transactions between 28 October 2016 and 21 February 2017 where the traveller has identified that they used Uber. These transactions total £13.99.
Asked by: Iain Wright (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much 10 Downing Street has spent on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since 28 October 2016.
Answered by Ben Gummer
The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in this reply.
Following a check of Cabinet Office records, information on spend on (a) Uber for Business and (b) other Uber transactions since October 2016 is not held centrally.