Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an (a) estimate of the potential costs and (b) assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for HMRC's compliance functions.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government regularly reviews the levels of funding provided to HMRC.
The government is committed to tackling tax avoidance, evasion and all other forms of non-compliance. The UK’s tax gap is at an all time low at 4.8 per cent of theoretical tax liabilities in 2021-22, down from 7.5 per-cent in 2005-06. It is amongst the lowest worldwide.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) economic growth and (b) inequality of introducing a higher earners minimum tax rate of 35% for people earning over £100,000 a year.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to a fair tax system in which those with the most contribute the most. The income tax system is highly progressive, with different rates of tax sitting above an internationally high Personal Allowance.
The Government keeps tax policy under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an (a) estimate of the potential costs and (b) assessment of the potential merits of (i) reducing and (ii) removing (a) Business Relief, (B) Agricultural Property Relief and (C) other inheritance tax reliefs.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC publishes the cost of structural and non-structural tax reliefs. The information is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will place sanctions on Israeli (a) ministers and (b) members of parliament who participated in the conference entitled Settlement Brings Security on 28 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We were alarmed by the conference in Jerusalem calling for the resettlement of Gaza, and the fact that Israeli ministers participated. The UK's position is clear: Gaza is occupied Palestinian territory and will be part of the future Palestinian state. Settlements are illegal. No Palestinian should be threatened with forcible displacement or relocation.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to lift the freeze on personal tax allowance.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to keeping taxes low to support people to keep more of what they earn. However, the Government must also ensure the UK’s economic stability and provide confidence in the commitment to fiscal discipline. The Chancellor has made clear that the UK’s public finances must be on a sustainable path into the medium term.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any tanks other than Challenger 2 are in storage.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I can confirm that Challenger 2 is the only tank currently held in storage.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Defence how many Aardvark AMCS Mk4 mine flail vehicles (a) are in storage, (b) are in use and (c) were donated to Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2023.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Aardvark AMCS Mk4 is not in service with the British Armed Forces. There are none in storage nor have any been Granted in Kind to Ukraine by the UK.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department donated 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine; and for what reason his Department did not donate all Challenger 2 tanks not due to be upgraded to Challenger 3.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK’s decision to send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine delivered a coherent and combat effective capability and, in doing so, unlocked dozens of additional Main Battle Tanks from international partners.
A decision on what will happen to the Challenger 2 platforms not being used as part of the Challenger 3 programme has not yet been taken.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Python Minefield Breaching Systems (a) are in storage, (b) are in use and (c) were donated to Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
I am withholding the number of in-service Python as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the British Armed Forces.
I can confirm however that no Python Minefield Breaching Systems have been Granted in Kind to Ukraine by the UK.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to donate more Minefield Breaching Systems to Ukraine.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK does plan to donate additional Minefield Breaching Systems to Ukraine. However, due to operational security I will not provide a specific breakdown.