To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Off-payroll Working
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the obligations of employment agencies and umbrella companies under Chapter 10, Part 2 of The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Chapter 10, Part 2 of The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (ITEPA) relates to the off-payroll working rules, which apply to engagements where a worker provides their services through their own intermediary. It does not apply to engagements where workers provide their services as an employee of an agency or umbrella company.

Under the off-payroll rules, employment agencies are responsible for passing the Status Determination Statement to the party below them in the labour supply chain. If they are the deemed employer, they will be responsible for operating PAYE on the engagement.

Umbrella companies are responsible for operating PAYE on payments to workers employed by them; these engagements do not fall within the off-payroll working rules in Chapter 10 of ITEPA.

On 30 November 2021, the Government published a Call for Evidence on the umbrella company market, inviting views on the role that they play in the labour market and the ways in which they interact with the tax and employment rights systems: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-umbrella-company-market


Written Question
Tax Avoidance
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC received legal advice supporting the pursuit of employees rather than employers for use of loan schemes.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The long-standing basis of the UK income tax system is that individuals are responsible for paying their tax liabilities. Individuals are therefore liable for tax on their income received through disguised remuneration avoidance schemes, whether as a loan or in some other form.

Where there is an employer, the employer may be obliged to operate PAYE on the payments to their employees. In these circumstances, HMRC in the first instance, and wherever possible, seeks to recover the tax due through PAYE from the employer. However, the employee remains the person liable to the income tax and in some circumstances the law allows HMRC to recover the tax due directly from the employee.


Written Question
Tax Avoidance
Thursday 9th December 2021

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will carry out a further review of the loan charge.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

I refer the Hon Member to the answer that was given to PQ UIN 83372.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU: Import Duties
Monday 2nd November 2020

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the potential annual value to the public purse from imposing tariffs on trade from the EU in the event that a free trade agreement is not signed.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The UK wants a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. The Government believes that it is still possible to reach an agreement with a Free Trade Agreement at the core, like those the EU has agreed with other close partners around the world, and that this could be done quickly.

A negotiated outcome remains the Government’s clear preference. It has put forward proposals and is working hard to reach a deal with the EU. The Government’s aim is a zero tariff zero quota FTA, given that avoiding tariffs is beneficial to both sides.

From 1 January, the UK will keep all our tariff revenue, rather than remit 80% to the EU as we have done as a member of the customs union.

As is standard practice, the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish an updated estimate of tariff revenue at the next forecast based on their latest set of assumptions and tariff schedule.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU: Import Duties
Monday 2nd November 2020

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the potential annual cost of tariffs which will be paid by UK businesses to the EU in the event that a free trade agreement is not signed.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The UK wants a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. The Government believes that it is still possible to reach an agreement with a Free Trade Agreement at the core, like those the EU has agreed with other close partners around the world, and that this could be done quickly.

A negotiated outcome remains the Government’s clear preference. It has put forward proposals and is working hard to reach a deal with the EU. The Government’s aim is a zero tariff zero quota FTA, given that avoiding tariffs is beneficial to both sides.

From 1 January, the UK will keep all our tariff revenue, rather than remit 80% to the EU as we have done as a member of the customs union.

As is standard practice, the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish an updated estimate of tariff revenue at the next forecast based on their latest set of assumptions and tariff schedule.


Written Question
Brexit
Tuesday 24th October 2017

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funding his Department is providing to other government departments to make preparations in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

The Government has worked up plans for a range of scenarios, including leaving the EU without a deal. The Treasury has already committed over £250 million of additional spending in 2017-18 to enable departments to prepare effectively for all eventualities.


Written Question
Charities: Government Assistance
Thursday 12th October 2017

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to support small local charities.

Answered by Andrew Jones

The Government recognises the vitally important work the charity sector does in the UK, which is why we currently provide tax relief to charities and donors worth over £5 billion per year, including over £1.2 billion for Gift Aid alone. The Government is also committed to supporting small charities to become more independent, resilient and sustainable. Recent work includes the announcement of a further three years of the Small Charities Fundraising Training Programme and work to explore the role of small charities in public services. On the 15th December the country will celebrate the second Local Charities Day highlighting the fantastic work of small, local charities.

Smaller charities will also benefit from recent changes to the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) that allows eligible charities and community amateur sports clubs to claim top-up payments on small donations made by cash or contactless technology of £20 or less. The rules were simplified and the maximum annual donation GASDS limit was increased to £8,000, allowing charities to now claim up to £2,000 per year in payments.


Written Question
EU Budget: Contributions
Friday 21st July 2017

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the UK's financial contribution to the EU in 2017-18.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces an independent forecast of both UK gross contributions to the EU and contributions net of EU receipts administered by the UK public sector.

The OBR’s latest forecast, at March 2017, puts the UK’s post-rebate gross contribution to the EU across 2017-18 at £15bn. The UK’s receipts administered via government departments are forecast to be £5.1bn. This figure excludes receipts directly administered by the European Commission, for example science funding, which do not form part of the public finance calculations.


Written Question
Exports
Thursday 15th December 2016

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect changes in the value of sterling on export businesses since the referendum.

Answered by Simon Kirby

Her Majesty’s Government does not express a view on the level of exchange rates. The exchange rate is allowed to adjust flexibly in response to economic conditions and movements in sterling are determined by market forces.

At the Autumn Statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that the depreciation of sterling between the beginning of June and the end of October will support exports and reduce imports in the short term, with net trade adding 0.3 percentage points to GDP growth in both 2017 and 2018.


Written Question
Exchange Rates
Friday 21st October 2016

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the value of the pound on the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Answered by Simon Kirby

The UK has an inflation target, not an exchange rate target, and the Government does not express a view on the level of the exchange rate. Instead, the exchange rate is allowed to adjust flexibly in response to economic conditions and movements in sterling are determined by market forces.

The UK economy is fundamentally strong and is well-placed to deal with the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, that lie ahead. HM Government is not giving a running commentary on our exit negotiations.