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Written Question
Job Support Scheme
Friday 23rd October 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish final guidance on the implementation of the Job Support Scheme.

Answered by Jesse Norman

On 22 October the Government published further details on the Job Support Scheme, increasing the scale of support available to employers through JSS-Open, above that which was initially announced. Further guidance on the Job Support Scheme will be available by the end of October.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU
Friday 16th October 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether GB issued EORI numbers will be valid in Europe after 31 December 2020.

Answered by Jesse Norman

After 31 December 2020 when the transition period ends, GB prefixed EORI numbers will no longer be valid in Europe.

Businesses exporting goods from, or importing goods into, the UK will need an EORI number from the UK in order to submit a customs declaration to UK customs.

UK businesses which currently trade with non-EU countries will already have an EORI number. If this number starts with “GB” then it was issued by the UK and will continue to be valid for the purposes of submitting customs declarations in the UK from January 2021.


Written Question
Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
Wednesday 30th September 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make provision to ensure that UK citizens resident in the remaining EU 27 countries are able to have British Civil Service and other state pensions paid into overseas bank accounts.

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

The Civil Service pension scheme offers the facility for members to have their pension paid into a foreign bank account. The amount received by overseas members is their pension entitlement in pounds sterling converted to the local currency using business exchange rates at the time the payment is made.

The UK state pension will continue to be paid worldwide following our departure from the EU, either into a bank in a pensioner’s country of residence or a bank or building society in the UK.


Written Question
Bank Services: British Nationals Abroad
Thursday 24th September 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) passporting arrangements and (b) banking facilities used by UK citizens resident in the remaining EU 27 countries will be maintained after the 31 December 2020.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The UK has consistently been clear that we want an agreement with the EU that reflects the maturity of our financial services relationship.

The EU’s financial services passport is not available for firms based in countries outside of the EU and the EEA as they are based on the single EU rulebook for financial services. The UK is leaving the Single Market, and therefore is not subject to the passport. The UK has taken a pragmatic approach to the future relationship on financial services, and has been clear that politicisation of equivalence is in no-one’s interests.

The UK authorities have taken all the action we can to mitigate risks of disruption to cross-border financial services at the end of the Transition Period (TP), including confirming that the Temporary Permissions Regime will apply from the end of the TP. It will allow EEA firms currently providing services in the UK via a financial services ‘passport’ to continue operating after the TP while they apply for full UK authorisation.

But whether UK firms can service EEA-based retail customers remains a matter of local law and regulation in each country. We expect banks to act lawfully and in accordance with local regulators’ expectations.

We also expect that banks work to ensure good outcomes for their customers and provide timely communications to enable them to make appropriate decisions and take necessary steps. If customers are concerned then they should speak to their provider.


Written Question
Off-payroll Working
Monday 27th April 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of IR35 tax reforms on rates of employment amongst contractors.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The off-payroll working rules are designed to ensure that someone working like an employee, but through a company, pays similar levels of tax to other employees. It is fair that individuals who work in a similar way should pay broadly the same amount of tax. The rules do not apply to the self-employed or stop anyone working through their own company.

In January 2020, the Government launched a review into the implementation of the reform of the rules. The Government is aware that some organisations are considering whether PSCs are the best way to engage contractors who are working like employees. Businesses reported that where individuals had been moved onto payroll, this was a result of a review of the structure of their workforce.

However, the Government has not seen any evidence that this indicates an overall change in demand for the services and skills that contractors offer, but will continue to monitor impacts on the labour market. For contractors who would prefer to continue to use a PSC, many organisations will still choose to engage contractors in this way, where this suits their business model.

Independent research on the impacts of the reform in the public sector has suggested that it did not reduce market flexibility or affect the use of contingent labour.

At Budget 2018, the independent OBR did not judge the forthcoming reform to have any specific macroeconomic impacts. This was reiterated in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published in July 2019, which sets out HMRC’s assessment of the impact of the reform to the off-payroll working rules. The TIIN can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020.


Written Question
Off-payroll Working
Monday 27th April 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of IR35 tax reforms on (a) the economy and (b) flexibility in the workforce.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The off-payroll working rules are designed to ensure that someone working like an employee, but through a company, pays similar levels of tax to other employees. It is fair that individuals who work in a similar way should pay broadly the same amount of tax. The rules do not apply to the self-employed or stop anyone working through their own company.

In January 2020, the Government launched a review into the implementation of the reform of the rules. The Government is aware that some organisations are considering whether PSCs are the best way to engage contractors who are working like employees. Businesses reported that where individuals had been moved onto payroll, this was a result of a review of the structure of their workforce.

However, the Government has not seen any evidence that this indicates an overall change in demand for the services and skills that contractors offer, but will continue to monitor impacts on the labour market. For contractors who would prefer to continue to use a PSC, many organisations will still choose to engage contractors in this way, where this suits their business model.

Independent research on the impacts of the reform in the public sector has suggested that it did not reduce market flexibility or affect the use of contingent labour.

At Budget 2018, the independent OBR did not judge the forthcoming reform to have any specific macroeconomic impacts. This was reiterated in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published in July 2019, which sets out HMRC’s assessment of the impact of the reform to the off-payroll working rules. The TIIN can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020.


Written Question
Valuation Office Agency
Monday 27th April 2020

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to fully re-open the Valuation Office Agency in order to clear the backlog of that Agency`s outstanding queries during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is continuing to serve ratepayers at this challenging time, in line with Government guidance on managing this pandemic. The VOA is handling queries via email and other online channels and is prioritising work related to COVID-19. The VOA has moved staff from other areas to support customer service teams and help reduce response times.


Written Question
Aviation: Technology
Monday 7th January 2019

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to exempt electronic conspicuity devices used in general aviation from VAT.

Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Under EU law it is not possible to exempt electronic conspicuity devices from VAT. VAT incurred on such devices by VAT registered businesses will be recoverable from HMRC subject to normal VAT recovery rules.


Written Question
Aviation: Fuels
Friday 8th June 2018

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was raised from fuel duty on aviation fuel in the last five years for which data is available.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

For the years 2012-13 to 2016-17 inclusive, around £8m per year was raised from fuel duty on aviation fuel for pleasure flying. There is no duty on aviation fuel used by commercial jets.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 6th June 2018

Asked by: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparisons he has made of the taxation of flight training in the UK with such taxation in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

UK law allows an exemption from VAT for vocational training. This exemption is available to all EU Member States under the EU VAT framework.