Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of Air Passenger Duty rates on the development of new routes from UK airports compared with such development from other EU airports; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
International treaties ensure that there is no taxation of international aviation fuel, and the Government does not levy VAT on flights. APD ensures the aviation sector contributes its fair share to general taxation. Even at the current rates of APD, UK airports have enjoyed strong passenger growth: exceeding 15% in the previous five years.
The Government has not conducted an assessment of route opportunities under the specific scenarios mentioned. However, the Government is working with the sector to understand better how they believe any reduced APD rates might support new routes and increase connectivity.
The government will also look at the effects of APD and VAT on tourism in Northern Ireland. A call for evidence on this issue was announced at Autumn Budget 2017 and will be published in due course. Respondents in the aviation industry will be able to submit evidence on the wider impacts of APD upon UK tourism.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing Air Passenger Duty by 50 per cent on (a) the number of passenger journeys and (b) air routes.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
International treaties ensure that there is no taxation of international aviation fuel, and the Government does not levy VAT on flights. APD ensures the aviation sector contributes its fair share to general taxation. Even at the current rates of APD, UK airports have enjoyed strong passenger growth: exceeding 15% in the previous five years.
The Government has not conducted an assessment of route opportunities under the specific scenarios mentioned. However, the Government is working with the sector to understand better how they believe any reduced APD rates might support new routes and increase connectivity.
The government will also look at the effects of APD and VAT on tourism in Northern Ireland. A call for evidence on this issue was announced at Autumn Budget 2017 and will be published in due course. Respondents in the aviation industry will be able to submit evidence on the wider impacts of APD upon UK tourism.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2018 to Question 125741, on Economic Situation, what the average cost was of publishing other Treasury publications over the last three years.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The average costs for printing Treasury publications over the last three years were £13,825; £7,546 and £12,445 for the calendar years 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What progress is being made on reducing the deficit.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The deficit has been reduced by three quarters from its post-war peak in 2010, from 9.9% GDP to 2.3% GDP last year.
The OBR’s November forecasts shows the deficit reducing further, to 1.1% of GDP in 2022-23.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of drafting and publishing his Department's May 2016 report, HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU, Cm 9292.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury has always had officials working on UK and EU economic and policy issues and they, together with civil servants across the department, contributed to writing “HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU, Cm 9292”. The costs of producing and publishing this analysis was in line with the costs of other Treasury publications.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a rise in insurance premium tax on the (a) private medical insurance market and (b) NHS.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a tax accounted for and paid by insurers based on the insurance premiums they receive. Pricing is a commercial decision for insurers, affected by a wide range of factors, such as repair costs, investment returns and risks posed. The taxes that they pay are only one of these factors.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a rise in insurance premium tax on the affordability of motor insurance for young drivers.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a tax accounted for and paid by insurers based on the insurance premiums they receive. Pricing is a commercial decision for insurers, affected by a wide range of factors, such as repair costs, investment returns and risks posed. The taxes that they pay are only one of these factors.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a rise in insurance premium tax on the affordability of flood insurance for people living in areas of high flood risk.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a tax accounted for and paid by insurers based on the insurance premiums they receive. Pricing is a commercial decision for insurers, affected by a wide range of factors, such as repair costs, investment returns and risks posed. The taxes that they pay are only one of these factors.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a rise in insurance premium tax on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a tax accounted for and paid by insurers based on the insurance premiums they receive. Pricing is a commercial decision for insurers, affected by a wide range of factors, such as repair costs, investment returns and risks posed. The taxes that they pay are only one of these factors.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to prevent the closure of the last remaining local bank in communities where there is a high population.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management team of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government. While banks and building societies need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy, the Government is pleased to see that the industry is committing to further improvements to protect those affected by branch closures. For this reason, the Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking Protocol and Professor Russel Griggs’ independent ‘one year on’ review, published last November.
Building on Professor Griggs’ review, the new Access to Banking Standard came into effect on 1 May. The Standard commits banks to ensure customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help.