Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the terms of reference are for the COP26 Private Finance Hub.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury is supporting preparations for COP26 across a range of policy areas, including private finance. There is a team of 19 staff, drawn from secondees across the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, as well as HM Treasury officials working on this area. The team reports to the Chancellor and Treasury ministers.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Minister has responsibility for the COP26 Private Finance Hub; how many staff work in the Hub; how many of those staff are seconded from Departments, organisations or bodies outside of his Department; and if he will list those Departments, organisations or bodies from which those staff are seconded.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury is supporting preparations for COP26 across a range of policy areas, including private finance. There is a team of 19 staff, drawn from secondees across the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, as well as HM Treasury officials working on this area. The team reports to the Chancellor and Treasury ministers.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s policy of reduced rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax for residential properties purchased from 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the deadline for completing transactions beyond 31 March 2021 for people whose property transactions may be delayed as a result of the External Wall Fire Review Process.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The temporary relief was designed to stimulate immediate momentum in a property market where property transactions fell by as much as 50 per cent during the COVID-19 lockdown in March. This momentum in the property market will also support the jobs of people whose employment relies on custom from the property industry, such as retailers and tradespeople.
The Government will continue to monitor the market. However, as the relief was designed to provide an immediate stimulus to the property market, the Government does not plan to extend this relief.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff of his Department are paid less than the London Living Wage; and what requirements his Department places on contractors to pay the London Living Wage to London-based staff.
Answered by Simon Clarke
This government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2019, the National Living Wage increased to £8.21 per hour, handing a full-time worker a further £690 annual pay rise. By 2024 the National Living Wage will rise to £10.50 per hour, reaching 66% of median UK earnings. The scope will be expanded to everyone aged 21 and over and is expected to benefit over 4 million low paid workers.
The Government will always award contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer.
No staff directly employed by HM Treasury are paid less than the Real, or London Living Wage for London-based staff. Contractors must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, or the National Living Wage for workers over 25, in line with statutory requirements, but the London Living Wage is not a requirement.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ring-fence a proportion of the revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty for projects to improve air quality.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government is committed to tackling air pollution. We have invested over £3.5 billion since 2010 to improve air quality and deliver cleaner transport.
From 2020, all funds raised through Vehicle Excise Duty in England will be ring-fenced to form a National Roads Fund, which will be reinvested into the road network. We expect some of this investment to support environmental outcomes across the road network, which includes improving air quality.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue accrued to the public purse in Vehicle Excise Duty on cars registered in London in each of the last three financial years; and what estimate he has made of the amount of that revenue which will accrue to the public purse in the next two financial years.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government does not collect Vehicle Excise duty (VED) data by region as place of registration has no bearing on road usage. For example, many company vehicles will be registered at a head office, but kept and used elsewhere.
The OBR publishes forecasts for national receipts in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook, available at the following link: www.obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-march-2019/
From 2020, English VED revenue will be hypothecated to the National Roads fund to deliver nationally significant schemes across the strategic road network, such as improvements to the M25.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Clean Air Strategy 2019, what progress he has made in reviewing current uses of red diesel to ensure that its lower cost is not discouraging the transition to cleaner alternatives.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
In April 2019 HMT and Defra published a summary of responses to the call for evidence on non-road mobile machinery and red diesel. HMRC also published a research paper on the same topic. These can be found at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792651/red_diesel_summary_of_responses_web.pdf
and
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/791883/Non-agricultural_use_of_red_diesel_for_non-road_mobile_machinery_Research_Report.pdf
The government will continue to pursue policies to reduce the overall environmental impact of diesel use and encourage the uptake of alternatives in industries where a practical substitute for diesel engines is available.
All taxes are kept under review and any changes are announced as part of the annual budget process.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich of 16 April 2019 on Sharia-compliant home purchase plans.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I replied to the hon. Member on 24 April and a copy has been sent by email.Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich of 7 March 2019 on the effect of public sector pensions schemes on Ravensbourne University London.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
I replied to the hon. Member on 21 March and a copy has been sent by email.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March to Question 229779, which four high street banks offer Sharia-compliant home purchase plans.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The four banks serving the UK which offer Sharia-compliant home purchase plans are: Al Rayan Bank, United National Bank, Ahli United Bank and ABC International Bank.