Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department provides to religious minorities affected by the activities of ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
Answered by Justine Greening
UK aid is reaching hundreds of thousands of vulnerable displaced people across Iraq and Syria, including those religious minorities affected by ISIL’s activities. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. DFID continues to work with the UN and the international community to ensure all minorities’ rights are protected and our aid reaches those in greatest need. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, and a further £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the case of Asia Bibi and the death sentence she has received in Pakistan for an alleged offence of blasphemy; what representations he has made to the government of Pakistan about that country's blasphemy laws; and whether he has received any representations on the possibility of excluding Pakistan from the Commonwealth on human rights grounds.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I am concerned to hear about the case of Asia Bibi and reports that a court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty. We regularly raise at the highest levels the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan both against Muslims and against religious minorities. We have consistently pressed the government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and our principled opposition to it in all cases and I will ensure that we continue to do both of these things. The FCO has not received any representations on the possibility of excluding Pakistan from the Commonwealth on human rights grounds. However, we consistently strive to foster debate on the death penalty to achieve a change in attitude on this issue within the Commonwealth.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what most recent reports he has received on the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped on the West Bank on 12 June 2014; what recent steps he has taken to help secure their release; what representations he has made regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives daily updates from our posts in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We have offered practical support. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister on 17 June about this issue. I also discussed this issue with both Israeli and Palestinian authorities during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 18-19 June.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the position of (a) the Christian community and (b) other religious minorities in Mosul, Iraq; what reports he has received of Christians fleeing their homes in Mosul; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
We are concerned by the impact of the security situation in Mosul for all Iraqis living there, including religious minorities. Reports estimate that 500,000 people have left the Mosul area to escape violence caused when the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) attacked the city on 10 June. Many have sought refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A team from the Department for International Development arrived in Erbil on 13 June to assess the situation on the ground and co-ordinate with partners. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account his Department has taken of mortgage liability in its assessment of liability for levy on higher value homes as part of its work preparatory to the possible introduction of such a tax.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the number of properties in each region liable for a possible levy on higher value homes.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what work has been carried out by his Department's officials on the possible introduction of a levy on higher value homes; what starting points for liability in the value of properties have been considered in the course of any such work; and if he will publish that work.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what methods of assessing liability for a levy on higher value homes have been considered by his Department in the course of preparatory work on the introduction of such a tax; whether individual valuation of properties has been considered in such work; and what estimate has been made of the cost of implementation of such a tax.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations have been carried out with (a) valuers and (b) other organisations on the possible introduction of a levy on higher value homes.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.
Asked by: James Clappison (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of the yield of a levy on higher value homes during the preparatory work carried out by his Department into the possible introduction of such a tax.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government does not intend to introduce a new levy on higher value homes.
The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000. The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2 million.
Budget 2012 introduced a number of changes to high value property tax, including the introduction of the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED), a tax on residential properties valued at more than £2 million owned through certain corporate ‘envelopes'.
Self-assessment was chosen for ATED. The cost of implementing ATED was set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside Budget 2013. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1182.pdf
The cost of implementation of a new levy would be dependent on the nature of the tax.
As part of the introduction of ATED, a public consultation document was published and a variety of organisations responded. The response to the consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ensuring-the-fair-taxation-of-residential-property-transactions
When developing ATED, no account was taken of mortgage liability.