Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the potential effect of the removal of the £20 uplift to the standard allowance of universal credit on the cost to the public purse of spending on health.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government has always been clear that the £20 per week increase to Universal Credit was a temporary measure to support households whose incomes and earnings were affected by the economic shock of Covid-19.
There have been significant positive developments in the public health and economic situation since the uplift was first announced and later extended. Now that the economy has reopened, the Government is focusing on supporting people to move into and progress in work.
As part of the comprehensive Plan for Jobs, the Government has announced the £2 billion Kickstart scheme which will create 250,000 new, fully subsidised jobs for young people, and the new three-year Restart programme, which will provide intensive and tailored support to over one million unemployed Universal Credit claimants.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ensure the sustainability of local welfare assistance schemes after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Councils have the flexibility to prioritise the funding they receive from the annual Local Government Finance Settlement for local welfare assistance schemes.
In 2021-22, the Government will provide an additional £1.55 billion of unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to meet additional expenditure pressures as a result of Covid-19. Local authorities can use this funding to meet local needs, including prioritising local welfare assistance schemes.
Additionally, the Government will provide £670 million to local authorities in England in recognition of the increased costs of providing local council tax support and other help to economically vulnerable people and households following the pandemic. The funding is unringfenced and can be used to provide other support to vulnerable households, including through local welfare schemes.
Addressing future local authority resourcing and stability is a matter for future Spending Reviews and Local Government Finance Settlements.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what long-term support he plans to provide to local welfare assistance schemes in England for which demand has increased as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Councils have the flexibility to prioritise the funding they receive from the annual Local Government Finance Settlement for local welfare assistance schemes.
In 2021-22, the Government will provide an additional £1.55 billion of unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to meet additional expenditure pressures as a result of Covid-19. Local authorities can use this funding to meet local needs, including prioritising local welfare assistance schemes.
Additionally, the Government will provide £670 million to local authorities in England in recognition of the increased costs of providing local council tax support and other help to economically vulnerable people and households following the pandemic. The funding is unringfenced and can be used to provide other support to vulnerable households, including through local welfare schemes.
Addressing future local authority resourcing and stability is a matter for future Spending Reviews and Local Government Finance Settlements.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115096 on Revenue and Customs: Disability, what recent assessment has he made of whether HMRC’s Regional Centre at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London E20 (a) meets and (b) exceeds the 2009 British Standard 8300.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC’s Stratford Regional Centre meets building regulations required by law. However, HMRC have decided to go further than this and have additional reasonable work planned beyond BS8300 2009, in relation to the updated 2018 edition of BS8300.
In addition to this HMRC are working with the Construction Industry Council to ensure its inclusive design approach is further recognised at a project level.
HMRC are working closely with their colleagues and specialist consultants in order to ensure any specific requirements in terms of parking, drop off and building evacuation support are met, in line with both legal requirements and those of BS8300 2009. HMRC have arranged for sufficient car parking which meets their obligation under BS8300 2009.
BS8300 2009 notes that “lifts not designed for evacuation can be used for evacuation in certain circumstances, provided that a fire risk assessment has evaluated that the lift is able to function as an evacuation lift”. HMRC have obtained the London Fire Brigade and the Building Control Officer’s agreement to use both firefighting lifts for evacuation on the above basis.
BS8300 2009 also notes that a drop off point should be covered “where feasible”. HMRC have arranged for the provision of a drop off/setting down point at the front of the building.
Assessments are being undertaken by HMRC for the delivery of inclusive designs including relating to BS8300 2009. A final assessment of the fit out will be completed in line with standard Practical Completion protocols in advance of HMRC taking on the lease agreement.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115096 on Revenue and Customs: Disability, what steps HMRC to to help ensure the design of its Regional Centre at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London E20 met the 2009 British Standard 8300 in full.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC’s Stratford Regional Centre meets building regulations required by law. However, HMRC have decided to go further than this and have additional reasonable work planned beyond BS8300 2009, in relation to the updated 2018 edition of BS8300.
In addition to this HMRC are working with the Construction Industry Council to ensure its inclusive design approach is further recognised at a project level.
HMRC are working closely with their colleagues and specialist consultants in order to ensure any specific requirements in terms of parking, drop off and building evacuation support are met, in line with both legal requirements and those of BS8300 2009. HMRC have arranged for sufficient car parking which meets their obligation under BS8300 2009.
BS8300 2009 notes that “lifts not designed for evacuation can be used for evacuation in certain circumstances, provided that a fire risk assessment has evaluated that the lift is able to function as an evacuation lift”. HMRC have obtained the London Fire Brigade and the Building Control Officer’s agreement to use both firefighting lifts for evacuation on the above basis.
BS8300 2009 also notes that a drop off point should be covered “where feasible”. HMRC have arranged for the provision of a drop off/setting down point at the front of the building.
Assessments are being undertaken by HMRC for the delivery of inclusive designs including relating to BS8300 2009. A final assessment of the fit out will be completed in line with standard Practical Completion protocols in advance of HMRC taking on the lease agreement.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115096 on Revenue and Customs: Disability, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of evacuation lifts at HMRC’s Regional Centre at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London E20 in providing for evacuation of staff and visitors in accordance with the 2009 British Standard 8300.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC’s Stratford Regional Centre meets building regulations required by law. However, HMRC have decided to go further than this and have additional reasonable work planned beyond BS8300 2009, in relation to the updated 2018 edition of BS8300.
In addition to this HMRC are working with the Construction Industry Council to ensure its inclusive design approach is further recognised at a project level.
HMRC are working closely with their colleagues and specialist consultants in order to ensure any specific requirements in terms of parking, drop off and building evacuation support are met, in line with both legal requirements and those of BS8300 2009. HMRC have arranged for sufficient car parking which meets their obligation under BS8300 2009.
BS8300 2009 notes that “lifts not designed for evacuation can be used for evacuation in certain circumstances, provided that a fire risk assessment has evaluated that the lift is able to function as an evacuation lift”. HMRC have obtained the London Fire Brigade and the Building Control Officer’s agreement to use both firefighting lifts for evacuation on the above basis.
BS8300 2009 also notes that a drop off point should be covered “where feasible”. HMRC have arranged for the provision of a drop off/setting down point at the front of the building.
Assessments are being undertaken by HMRC for the delivery of inclusive designs including relating to BS8300 2009. A final assessment of the fit out will be completed in line with standard Practical Completion protocols in advance of HMRC taking on the lease agreement.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115096 on Revenue and Customs: Disability, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of accessible car parking for disabled staff and visitors at HMRC’s Regional Centre at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London E20 in meeting the requirements of the 2009 British Standard 8300.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC’s Stratford Regional Centre meets building regulations required by law. However, HMRC have decided to go further than this and have additional reasonable work planned beyond BS8300 2009, in relation to the updated 2018 edition of BS8300.
In addition to this HMRC are working with the Construction Industry Council to ensure its inclusive design approach is further recognised at a project level.
HMRC are working closely with their colleagues and specialist consultants in order to ensure any specific requirements in terms of parking, drop off and building evacuation support are met, in line with both legal requirements and those of BS8300 2009. HMRC have arranged for sufficient car parking which meets their obligation under BS8300 2009.
BS8300 2009 notes that “lifts not designed for evacuation can be used for evacuation in certain circumstances, provided that a fire risk assessment has evaluated that the lift is able to function as an evacuation lift”. HMRC have obtained the London Fire Brigade and the Building Control Officer’s agreement to use both firefighting lifts for evacuation on the above basis.
BS8300 2009 also notes that a drop off point should be covered “where feasible”. HMRC have arranged for the provision of a drop off/setting down point at the front of the building.
Assessments are being undertaken by HMRC for the delivery of inclusive designs including relating to BS8300 2009. A final assessment of the fit out will be completed in line with standard Practical Completion protocols in advance of HMRC taking on the lease agreement.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115096 on Revenue and Customs: Disability, whether HMRC’s Regional Centre at 14 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London E20 will have a covered setting-down point in accordance with clause 4 of the 2009 British Standard 8300.
Answered by Jesse Norman
HMRC’s Stratford Regional Centre meets building regulations required by law. However, HMRC have decided to go further than this and have additional reasonable work planned beyond BS8300 2009, in relation to the updated 2018 edition of BS8300.
In addition to this HMRC are working with the Construction Industry Council to ensure its inclusive design approach is further recognised at a project level.
HMRC are working closely with their colleagues and specialist consultants in order to ensure any specific requirements in terms of parking, drop off and building evacuation support are met, in line with both legal requirements and those of BS8300 2009. HMRC have arranged for sufficient car parking which meets their obligation under BS8300 2009.
BS8300 2009 notes that “lifts not designed for evacuation can be used for evacuation in certain circumstances, provided that a fire risk assessment has evaluated that the lift is able to function as an evacuation lift”. HMRC have obtained the London Fire Brigade and the Building Control Officer’s agreement to use both firefighting lifts for evacuation on the above basis.
BS8300 2009 also notes that a drop off point should be covered “where feasible”. HMRC have arranged for the provision of a drop off/setting down point at the front of the building.
Assessments are being undertaken by HMRC for the delivery of inclusive designs including relating to BS8300 2009. A final assessment of the fit out will be completed in line with standard Practical Completion protocols in advance of HMRC taking on the lease agreement.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 29 January 2019, Official Report, Column 637, to which (a) initial and (b) final financial year she referred to in relation to official estimates of the change in the number of children in absolute child poverty.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
From 2009/10 to 2016/17, the number of children in absolute poverty fell from 2.5 million to 2.2 million.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers using tax avoidance schemes have faced (a) investigation and (b) sanction for failures to inform their employees that they are involved in a Disclosed Tax Avoidance Scheme that has not been approved by HMRC.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HMRC does not approve tax avoidance schemes.
Promoters are required to give scheme users the tax avoidance ‘Scheme Reference Number (SRN)’ issued by HMRC when an avoidance scheme is disclosed under the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Scheme (DOTAS). For schemes disclosed since the end of March 2015, which involve employers and their employees, the employer is required to give the SRN to those employees.
The forms that promoters and employers are required to use make it clear to the recipient that they are “involved in a Disclosed Tax Avoidance Scheme” and that the scheme is “not HMRC approved”. They also provide clear information to inform would‑be tax avoiders of the risks they face by using avoidance schemes.
HMRC has no evidence to suggest that promoters and employers are not complying with these obligations.