Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of incorporating the recommendations from the Energy Research Accelerator's Spending Review submission into his forthcoming Spending Review.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government recognises the importance of Research and Development in reducing the costs of decarbonisation and meeting our Net Zero goal and I appreciate the work that the Energy Research Accelerator has been undertaking across the Midlands in this critical space.
We have significantly increased our investment on energy innovation, and the Prime Minister recently reiterated our Budget pledge to at least double the size of the Energy Innovation Programme in a new Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.
HM Treasury is considering all contributions as evidence to inform the upcoming Spending Review, which will be set out on 25 November.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, what enforcement action will be taken to ensure that companies comply with the Financial Conduct Authority's guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions; and in the event that companies do not comply with that guidance, what consequences will apply.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
New rules and guidance published by the FCA on Wednesday 5th February require firms to signpost consumers with mental health conditions to specialist providers when they are declined travel insurance cover on account of their condition.
Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. Furthermore, the FCA also states that an insurer’s communications should be clear, fair and not misleading.
If consumers believe they have been treated unfairly by their insurer, or if they believe that their insurer has not communicated with them in a clear manner, they should first make a formal complaint to the insurer, before referring the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
It is for regulators to determine the powers they use to address problems in the markets they regulate. They are authorised to impose fines, order injunctions, bring criminal prosecution and issue public censure when disciplinary action against a firm or individual is taken. The FCA sets out their enforcement powers on their website.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, how people with mental health conditions seeking travel insurance will be made aware of the risk that they might be declined cover; and what rights those people will have to challenge such a decision.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
New rules and guidance published by the FCA on Wednesday 5th February require firms to signpost consumers with mental health conditions to specialist providers when they are declined travel insurance cover on account of their condition.
Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. Furthermore, the FCA also states that an insurer’s communications should be clear, fair and not misleading.
If consumers believe they have been treated unfairly by their insurer, or if they believe that their insurer has not communicated with them in a clear manner, they should first make a formal complaint to the insurer, before referring the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
It is for regulators to determine the powers they use to address problems in the markets they regulate. They are authorised to impose fines, order injunctions, bring criminal prosecution and issue public censure when disciplinary action against a firm or individual is taken. The FCA sets out their enforcement powers on their website.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, what discussions officials of his Department has had with officials of the Treasury on the importance of people with health conditions getting travel insurance with adequate cover after European Health Insurance Card arrangements cease; and what negotiations the UK Government plans to conduct with the European Commission on safeguarding UK travellers with health conditions.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Regardless of any future healthcare arrangements, people who have moved to the UK / EU before 31 December 2020, will continue to have life-long reciprocal healthcare rights provided they remain covered under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.
For individuals who are not, or who cease to be, covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, we will consider addressing future social security coordination arrangements, which includes reciprocal healthcare cover, with the EU.
The Government advises that UK citizens check that any policy they buy provides comprehensive cover for their medical conditions when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations. This remains our advice.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) comprehensive and (b) competitively priced travel insurance cover is available to people with mental health problems after the transition period ends.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
On Wednesday 5 February, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published new rules and guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions
Included within the FCA’s rules is a requirement for firms to signpost consumers to specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical condition.
In addition, the Government has legislated to ensure that all UK insurance policies with EU insurance companies can continue to be serviced by those EU companies after Brexit, notably with a Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) for EEA firms currently passporting into the UK. This allows EU firms to continue operations in the UK for a time-limited period at the end of the transition period while they apply for full UK authorization, while the Financial Services Contracts Regime allows for the orderly wind down of the UK regulated activities of remaining firms who do not enter the TPR.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that (a) comprehensive and (b) competitively priced travel insurance cover is available to people with (i) disabilities and (ii) chronic health conditions after the transition period ends.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
On Wednesday 5 February, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published new rules and guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions
Included within the FCA’s rules is a requirement for firms to signpost consumers to specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical condition.
In addition, the Government has legislated to ensure that all UK insurance policies with EU insurance companies can continue to be serviced by those EU companies after Brexit, notably with a Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) for EEA firms currently passporting into the UK. This allows EU firms to continue operations in the UK for a time-limited period at the end of the transition period while they apply for full UK authorization, while the Financial Services Contracts Regime allows for the orderly wind down of the UK regulated activities of remaining firms who do not enter the TPR.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Treasury Select Committee's inquiry, consumers’ access to financial services, launched on 9 November 2018, what steps he plans to take to ensure that people with existing medical conditions have access to insurance after the transition period.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
On Wednesday 5 February, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published new rules and guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions
Included within the FCA’s rules is a requirement for firms to signpost consumers to specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical condition.
In addition, the Government has legislated to ensure that all UK insurance policies with EU insurance companies can continue to be serviced by those EU companies after Brexit, notably with a Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) for EEA firms currently passporting into the UK. This allows EU firms to continue operations in the UK for a time-limited period at the end of the transition period while they apply for full UK authorization, while the Financial Services Contracts Regime allows for the orderly wind down of the UK regulated activities of remaining firms who do not enter the TPR.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the minutes of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust’s Board Meeting which took place on 3 May 2018, what (a) checks and (b) approval processes his Department is undertaking on the preferred contractor of the new Midland Metropolitan hospital; which (i) Government departments and (ii) other stakeholders have been consulted on those checks and approval processes; and what the timetable is for the preferred contractor to be announced.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
A preferred contractor to complete the build has yet to be secured.
HM Treasury is engaging with DHSC and the IPA to ensure the hospital is completed as quickly as is possible. Any new arrangement will of course be subject to the approval of a business case which will include a value for money review.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to deposit the instruments of ratification for the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government is fully committed to the Protocol and steps to achieve ratification have begun. Subject to parliamentary approval, the government intends to deposit the instruments of ratification by 2 July 2018. This will enable the UK to participate if there is a first Meeting of the Parties later this year.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to deposit the instruments of ratification for the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products before the 2 July 2018 deadline to ensure that the UK can participate in the event that there is a first Meeting of the Parties this year.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government is fully committed to the Protocol and steps to achieve ratification have begun. Subject to parliamentary approval, the government intends to deposit the instruments of ratification by 2 July 2018. This will enable the UK to participate if there is a first Meeting of the Parties later this year.