Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) budget and (b) spending was on remediation of legacy IT systems across central Government in each of the last three years; and what proportion of the overall digital and technology budget for central Government does this spending represent.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Individual departmental spending on the remediation of legacy IT systems is the responsibility of each department.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to encourage cryptocurrency companies to operate in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In April 2022, the government set out ambitious plans for the UK to harness the benefits of crypto technologies. It is taking forward a number of measures to both foster innovation and implement a regulatory framework that encourages responsible participation in cryptoasset markets.
HM Treasury recently finished consulting on wide-ranging proposals for cryptoasset regulation, aimed at placing the UK at the forefront of crypto innovation and responding to risks in the market. These proposals seek to provide the regulatory clarity needed for long-term investment, innovation, consumer protection, and financial stability for cryptoassets firms to operate in the UK. The government will publish a response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Crown Works Studio project in Sunderland.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is aware of the Crown Works Studio proposal in Sunderland and is supportive of investment which grows the film and high-end TV industry and creates more jobs and opportunities in the North East.
The Chancellor has regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including the creative industries. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to improve access to (a) life and (b) travel insurance for people who have survived cancer.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government continues to work closely with insurers and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator responsible for the conduct of the sector, to ensure people are supported to access the cover they need.
Under rules set by the FCA, insurers must treat customers fairly.
In 2020, the FCA found that some consumers with pre-existing medical conditions, including those affected by cancer, faced challenges navigating the travel insurance market. To address this, since 2021, the FCA requires firms offering retail travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium due to a pre-existing medical condition.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the difference in tax paid by (a) married and (b) unmarried couples in each category of taxation where marital status is relevant in the most recent 12 months for which data is available.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015 to recognise the importance of marriage and civil partnerships in the tax system. The estimated tax relief given to couples through the Marriage Allowance in 2020-21 was £580 million.
Personal Taxation is usually assessed on individuals’ incomes rather than couples or households. As a result, HMRC do not hold administrative data on which to underpin an assessment of the difference in tax paid by married and unmarried couples.
The cost of the Marriage Allowance, and other reliefs, are set out in HMRC’s tax relief statistics publication, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/minor-tax-expenditures-and-structural-reliefs/estimated-cost-of-tax-reliefs-statistics.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support the Government is providing for (a) businesses going into administration as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and (b) staff whose jobs are threatened such administration.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Businesses, including those in the retail sector, experiencing economic difficulties continue to have access to a range of support measures including, but not limited to:
The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.
The Government has also introduced the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill which is currently passing through the House. This bill will provide businesses with the flexibility and breathing space they need to continue trading during this difficult time. The measures are designed to help UK companies and other similar entities by easing the burden on businesses and helping them avoid insolvency during this period of economic uncertainty.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what emergency support the Government is providing for retail sector organisations at risk of entering in to administration as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Businesses, including those in the retail sector, experiencing economic difficulties continue to have access to a range of support measures including, but not limited to:
The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.
The Government has also introduced the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill which is currently passing through the House. This bill will provide businesses with the flexibility and breathing space they need to continue trading during this difficult time. The measures are designed to help UK companies and other similar entities by easing the burden on businesses and helping them avoid insolvency during this period of economic uncertainty.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the increased telecommunications costs to vulnerable people who are unable to leave their homes during the covid-19 outbreak; and what fiscal support the Government is providing to those people.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The government is committed to supporting individuals through this difficult time. We have increased the generosity of Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by £20 p/w, as well as raising the Local Housing Allowance rate to 30% of market rents. We have made significant changes to the operation of Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, and new style Employment and Support Allowance to ensure that people have quicker and more generous access to a support system.
The government has also agreed a set of commitments with the UK's major telecommunications providers to support and protect vulnerable consumers and those who may become vulnerable due to circumstances arising from COVID-19. These measures include, among others, the removal of all data allowance caps on all current fixed broadband services, and a commitment by providers to work fairly with customers who find it difficult to pay their bills as a result of COVID-19.
In addition, the government recently announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible. We are also working with the country’s major telecommunication providers to make it easier for children in vulnerable and disadvantaged families, who are relying on mobile data, to access online educational resources.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak and the increased reliance on online services during that outbreak, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the adequacy of Government funding for digital skills.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
HMT and DCMS ministers meet frequently to cover a range of issues as part of the normal process of policy development and delivery.
The government recognises that new measures taken to protect against Covid-19 mean there will be an increased reliance on digital services. This is why the government is working with FutureDotNow, a coalition of companies and civil society organisations to improve digital skills and support remote working.
The government has also announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on funding programmes to provide electronic equipment and connectivity for education and social use to vulnerable people.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
HMT and DCMS ministers meet frequently to cover a range of issues as part of the normal process of policy development and delivery.
The government is working to address issues faced by vulnerable people who may also be digitally excluded. For example:
- The government is currently working with FutureDotNow to support an industry-led campaign to provide devices to digitally excluded people to support better health and social care outcomes.
- The government has also worked with the UK’s major telecommunications providers to agree measures to support connectivity for vulnerable consumers.
- The government has also recently announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible. The government is additionally working with the major telecommunications providers to make it easier for families to access selected educational resources by temporarily exempting these sites from data charges.