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Written Question
Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad
Tuesday 8th December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on levels of poverty among UK pensioners living overseas.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This information is not available.

The most recent poverty statistics for pensioners are derived from the 2018/19 Family Resources Survey (FRS) so would not cover the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. As the FRS sample is drawn from random UK addresses it does not provide information on those living overseas.


Written Question
Welfare Tax Credits: Scotland
Monday 7th December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that recipients of the Scottish Government's health and social care £500 bonus payment who receive tax credits will be able to keep the full amount of that bonus payment.

Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

COVID-19 is the biggest threat the UK has faced in decades. Key workers, including NHS staff and social care workers, have already demonstrated remarkable commitment to keeping the public safe in the continuing fight against the virus. The Government hugely values and appreciates these vital contributions to the COVID 19 response.

Under the longstanding rules any payments made in connection with an employment are chargeable to income tax and National Insurance Contributions. They also count as income for the purposes of calculating entitlement to certain benefits. This was the case when the Welsh Government announced similar payments earlier this year.

We’ve provided over £8.2billion of extra funding for the Scottish Government this year to support people, businesses and public services.

If it is their intention for NHS staff and social care workers in Scotland to benefit by at least £500, the Scottish Government has the powers and funding to gross up the payments.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Scotland
Monday 7th December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that recipients of the Scottish Government's health and social care workers £500 bonus payment who are in receipt of universal credit are able to keep the full amount of that payment.

Answered by Will Quince

The Government recognises the vital role that all key workers including health and social care workers continue to play.

Universal Credit (UC) is designed to ensure that people are better off in work by reducing their UC by less than they are earning. Bonuses are treated as earnings in Universal Credit and the taper is applied when the UC award is calculated.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions his Department has had with foreign Governments on the merits of uprating the state retirement pensions of UK pensioners living in countries where that pension is frozen.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has no plans to change its policy on uprating UK State Pensions overseas. This is a longstanding policy which has been supported by successive Governments for over 70 years.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all UK state pensioners have financial security in (a) the UK and (b) overseas.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve. The State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people.

The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions. It is based on a person’s National Insurance record without regard to nationality.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Airdrie and Shotts
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total reduction was for all benefit awards resulting from sanctions in Airdrie and Shotts constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Scotland
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total reduction was for all benefit awards resulting from sanctions in Scotland in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Disqualification
Thursday 26th November 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total amount of reduction was for all benefit awards resulting from sanctions in (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the latest year for which data is available.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Benefit statistics for Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Communities:

https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/topics/benefits-statistics


Written Question
Employee Ownership and Save as You Earn: Scotland
Thursday 26th November 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) Airdrie and Shotts constituency participated in the (a) save as you earn scheme and (b) share incentive plan in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Save As You Earn (SAYE) and Share Incentive Plan (SIP) schemes are tax-advantaged employee share schemes offered by the Government.

On point (b) of UIN 119250, the value of gain for the whole of the UK for SAYE schemes is provided in the Employee Share Scheme national statistics. A breakdown by country could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The data for the past three years (whole UK) is provided in the table below:

Year

Value of gain on exercised options (£m)

2018/19

420

2017/18

350

2016/17

360

On UIN 119249, point (a) of UIN 119250, and UIN 119251, the information requested is not readily available and would require analysis of multiple data sources and therefore could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Save as You Earn
Thursday 26th November 2020

Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average (a) value of savings held in save as you earn schemes is at the point that the options are exercised and (b) growth in value of save as you earn schemes at the point of maturity in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Save As You Earn (SAYE) and Share Incentive Plan (SIP) schemes are tax-advantaged employee share schemes offered by the Government.

On point (b) of UIN 119250, the value of gain for the whole of the UK for SAYE schemes is provided in the Employee Share Scheme national statistics. A breakdown by country could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The data for the past three years (whole UK) is provided in the table below:

Year

Value of gain on exercised options (£m)

2018/19

420

2017/18

350

2016/17

360

On UIN 119249, point (a) of UIN 119250, and UIN 119251, the information requested is not readily available and would require analysis of multiple data sources and therefore could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.