Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Tuesday 1st October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

Let me correct my hon. Friend on the facts. We have been notified of three suicides that may have some connection with the loan charge, and which have been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. In one case there has been a referral back to HMRC, but in all other cases there has been no further development, so I do not recognise the picture that my hon. Friend has described. Let me also remind him that although these effects have been much bruited, there is also the question of collecting the several billion pounds of back tax that is due.

[Nic Dakin]

What is clear is that the retrospective loan charge is causing huge pain and upset as people’s livelihoods and homes are threatened. Will the Minister ensure that the review hears directly from people who have been so affected, and will he either suspend the loan charge or at least tell HMRC that those who have signed a settlement agreement can pause their payments until the review has been concluded?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Tuesday 2nd July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

May I put on record my surprise that a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, with its concern for the public finances, should take that view? Some people may have been very adversely affected in mental health terms and we must protect them at all times using all proper measures. HMRC is attempting to do that. However, there is a much larger number of people who are simply seeking to avoid paying tax due.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

People were told that they could work particular jobs if they took on this way of remuneration. Will that be considered? Will the Minister take on board what the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) said and just take a fresh look at this issue?

[Jesse Norman]

I remind the hon. Gentleman that there were other signs that indicated to people that they were in tax avoidance schemes—for example, a very low or relatively low effective rate of tax. The signs were there and people would have been right to pick up on them. Even if they were mis-sold, that does not have a bearing on the question of whether tax is now due.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 14th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

I am not sure I recognise that problem, but my right hon. Friend is welcome to write to me. There is every reason to think that HS2 might in fact relieve some of the traffic, because people will be making journeys that are not merely local.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

I welcome the Minister’s comments. Is he basically saying that North Lincolnshire Council has no excuse for the potholes in the pavements and roads around our area?

[Jesse Norman]

It is hard for me to comment on whether the council has any excuse, since I do not know the circumstances it is under. All I can say is that it has a share in £420 million more than was expected at the end of last year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 11th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

I do not need to, because my hon. Friend has done a splendid job in the House himself.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

Given that the introduction of E10 fuel would improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, why do we not introduce it? When are the Government going to do this?

[Jesse Norman]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that this is the subject of a consultation that has only just closed. We will need to review that, but we are looking closely at the issue and we have been making tremendous progress on it. He will also be aware that some of the business concerns that have been expressed had much more to do with the low bioethanol price and higher wheat prices than with the Government’s position.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 5th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

8. What representations he has received on the introduction of provisions relating to E10 fuel since the consultation on the alternative fuels infrastructure directive.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jesse Norman)]

The Department absolutely recognises, as the Government do, the importance of clean air, and established a working group with the fuel industry and others in November 2017 to look at issues relating to the potential introduction of E10 fuel. This group has also considered the new fuel labelling requirements introduced by the alternative fuels infrastructure directive. We intend to consult on proposals later this year and, in some cases, potentially very soon.

[Nic Dakin]

The forthcoming mandatory changes to pump labelling are the perfect opportunity to consider introducing E10. Will the Minister confirm that there will be a question in that consultation that allows people to respond on introducing E10 in the future?

[Jesse Norman]

I can certainly confirm that we will be consulting shortly on E10 and that we are looking closely at the issue of fuel labelling, which, as the hon. Gentleman knows, has to be addressed relatively quickly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 24th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

As my hon. Friend will know, the North bridge in Oundle falls under the responsibility of Northamptonshire County Council as the highway authority. Since 2015-16, the Department has provided the council with £72 million of local highways maintenance finance, including £12 million this year. That can be used to help to strengthen bridges. It is entirely for the council to determine how that funding is deployed.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

North Lincolnshire’s roads and pavements are pitted with potholes. Given what the Minister has just said, should North Lincolnshire Council not be doing a better job of tackling this issue?

[Jesse Norman]

Of course, these are matters for local authorities in each case, as the hon. Gentleman rightly points out. Our job is to take a more strategic view of the overall picture, which is what I have said we are planning to do.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 1st March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

My hon. Friend will be interested to know that I sent a message of welcome to the team from the International Council on Monuments and Sites that is currently considering the issue of Stonehenge. Of course we will look into my hon. Friend’s concerns, and he is welcome to write to me with further details.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

When will the Government catch up with the rest of the world and take advantage of a quick, easy, cost-effective way of reducing transport emissions by introducing E10 fuel?

[Jesse Norman]

We are reviewing that option at the moment. As the hon. Gentleman will know, it would require legislation, but we are already giving considerable support to the ethanol industry, and we are continuing to look into it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 18th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

Will the Government work with businesses that supply renewable fuels to see what impact the renewable transport fuel obligation has on them, and will they continue to look to develop E10?

[Jesse Norman]

We have already consulted quite extensively, and we will continue to work with those businesses.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Jesse Norman

Thursday 19th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

I can only admire the hon. Lady’s ingenuity in crowbarring a point about Virgin rail into a question about road transport emissions. Obviously the rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard), is better placed to answer that, but let me draw her attention to the work that we are doing through the cycling and walking investment strategy on improving the links between rail and cycling.9

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

E10 fuel can reduce emissions from road transport. Can the Minister confirm the Government’s commitment to introducing E10 in the UK in 2018?

[Jesse Norman]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have been looking closely at this issue and will make an announcement in due course.