Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to expand the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk based drinks.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The SDIL is internationally recognised as a successful tax intervention, with measurable reformulation and consequent health impacts.
As with all taxes, the Government keeps SDIL under review as part of its Budget process.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of agreeing a UN global tax convention.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention.
The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.
The UK was disappointed that these principles were not fully reflected in the Terms of Reference agreed by the UN Ad Hoc Committee in August, but will continue to engage constructively in support of key principles for strengthening international tax cooperation.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a wealth tax.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are several long-standing taxes on assets and wealth that generate substantial revenue for the government.
The government is committed to making sure everyone pays their fair share of tax, helping us to fund public services whilst staying within the Chancellor’s fiscal rules. This includes progressing the government’s manifesto policies to close tax loopholes and tackle tax avoidance. These policies will make the tax system fairer and support government priorities including funding the NHS and schools and supporting the UK’s transition to clean energy.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of differences in inheritance tax thresholds for people (a) with and (b) without children; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such thresholds on saving for adult care costs.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The estates of all individuals benefit from a £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax. The residence nil-rate band is a further £175,000 for those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. Other countries recognise the relationships between parents and children with different thresholds in equivalent systems.
The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional funding for charities that support women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Through the Safer Streets and Safety of Women at Night Funds, the Home Office has invested over £150 million to deliver interventions to tackle violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime.
In 2023/24, the Ministry of Justice provided £21 million for community-based serious violence and domestic abuse services, and £38 million for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors posts. In all, the Ministry of Justice is quadrupling funding for victim and witness support services by 2024/25, up from £41 million in 2009/10.
And at Autumn Statement 2023, the government announced £10 million of additional funding available in 2024/25 for projects that aim to understand the impacts of domestic abuse on the labour market, support victims of domestic abuse in the workplace or prevent victims experiencing further abuse.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to commission a survey into public trust in the Financial Conduct Authority.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Public trust in financial regulators is important. The Government has no current plans to commission a survey into public trust in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) but will keep such option under review in the future.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer on 3 July 2023 to Question 191434, Prisons: Education, when he plans to provide an update on the implications for New Fair Deal of the ONS reclassification of Further Education to the public sector.
Answered by John Glen
The policy review of New Fair Deal in relation to Further Education colleges will include engagement with unions. The Government will update the House in due course.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer on 3 July 2023 to Question 191434 on Prisons: Education, whether relevant stakeholders included staff unions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The policy review of New Fair Deal in relation to Further Education colleges will include engagement with unions. The Government will update the House in due course.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2023 to Question 183809, Prisons: Education, whether his Department is consulting (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) officials and (c) departmental legal advisers as part of that review.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
My officials are discussing the implications for New Fair Deal of the ONS reclassification of Further Education to the public sector with relevant stakeholders. The Government will update the House in due course.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2023 to Question 183809, Prisons: Education, when his Department plans to complete that policy review.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
My officials are discussing the implications for New Fair Deal of the ONS reclassification of Further Education to the public sector with relevant stakeholders. The Government will update the House in due course.