Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2020 to Question 1971, when the EU Commission requested the UK’s observations regarding post duty paid dilution and its compatibility with EU Law; when his Department responded to that request; and if he will publish that response.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The EU Commission requested the UK’s observations regarding post duty point dilution in February 2017. HM Revenue and Customs responded to that request in May 2017.
As communications between the Commission and Member States on infringement proceedings are generally confidential, the Government does not intend to publish the UK’s response.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the EU has instigated infringement proceedings against the UK over its post production dilution duty regime; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Budget 2018 announced the Government’s intention to introduce legislation prohibiting the practice of post duty point dilution (PDPD). This change is due to take legal effect from April 2020. The Government’s announcement followed a review by HM Revenue & Customs, which considered a wide range of information from businesses across the drinks industry and their representative bodies.
The review concluded that the practice, which is not adopted across the alcohol sector, leads to certain products enjoying an unjustifiable competitive advantage in the UK market place and that this advantage comes at a significant cost to the Exchequer.
The EU Commission has not instigated formal infringement proceedings against the UK on the matter of PDPD. However, under the EU’s pre-infringement process the Commission did request the UK’s observations regarding the PDPD and its compatibility with EU Law.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to encourage consumers to drink lower ABV beverages; and whether he plans to change the rates of taxation on alcohol.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Fiscal changes to alcohol, and tax rates are kept under review and the impact of a change to duty is considered at each fiscal event.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of capping public sector redundancy payouts at £95,000 on (a) long-serving, (b) low income and (c) middle income public sector workers.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The government was clear during the passage of the primary legislation that the cap will have no impact on the large majority of public sector workers. We accept that there will be some circumstances where it is necessary or desirable to relax the cap. The waiver is in place for use in exceptional situations, including where imposing the cap would cause genuine hardship.
An impact assessment was conducted and published in the 2016 consultation ahead of the primary legislation. A further equalities assessment will be conducted on the final version of the legislation. The government is currently considering responses to the consultation on the draft regulations to implement the public sector exit payment cap and will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend by 12 months the implementation date of 20 May 2019 for the Tobacco Track and Trace system; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government remains committed to implementing the tobacco track and trace system and it remains on track to do so by 20 May 2019. It has no plans to delay the implementation.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HMRC plans to publish details of the process for retailers to apply for their (a) economic identifier and (b) facilities identifier codes for the Tobacco Track and Trace system; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Revenue & Customs has appointed De La Rue as the UK’s ID Issuer for the tobacco track and trace system, which comes into effect on 20 May 2019. De La Rue will publish details of the registration process for retailers before that.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2017 to Question 10193, whether the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)has conducted investigative work to assess whether consumer credit providers are complying with FCA rules and ensuring that advertised loan APR rates are being offered to at least 51 per cent of those customers who request them.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the number of customers offered loans at a higher rate than that advertised by UK financial institutions.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, transferring regulatory responsibility from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in April 2014. This more robust regulatory system is helping to deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which is able to meet consumers’ needs. Treasury ministers and officials meet regularly with the FCA to discuss relevant regulatory issues.
The Government does not hold the requested estimate, but the FCA’s rules require firms to reasonably expect that in at least 51% of credit agreements entered into as a result of a promotion, credit will be provided to the consumer at the representative APR or lower. The FCA’s rules also require firms to ensure that their communications and financial promotions are fair, clear and not misleading. The FCA is able to impose tough sanctions, such as banning products, imposing unlimited fines and ordering firms to pay money back to customers, where wrongdoing is found.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have had loans approved at the advertised representative APR rates for loan products.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, transferring regulatory responsibility from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in April 2014. This more robust regulatory system is helping to deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which is able to meet consumers’ needs. Treasury ministers and officials meet regularly with the FCA to discuss relevant regulatory issues.
The Government does not hold the requested estimate, but the FCA’s rules require firms to reasonably expect that in at least 51% of credit agreements entered into as a result of a promotion, credit will be provided to the consumer at the representative APR or lower. The FCA’s rules also require firms to ensure that their communications and financial promotions are fair, clear and not misleading. The FCA is able to impose tough sanctions, such as banning products, imposing unlimited fines and ordering firms to pay money back to customers, where wrongdoing is found.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received over the additional burdens to small businesses of the move to quarterly tax returns.
Answered by David Gauke
Making Tax Digital will not involve quarterly tax returns. Instead, this is about making life easier for businesses – saving them time and money. These changes are a central part of a package of reforms that will save businesses £400m in administrative burdens.
Many taxpayers have told HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that they want more certainty over their tax bill and access to an in-year picture of their tax position. Instead of an onerous tax return, once a quarter businesses will update HMRC from their digital records and in most cases, little or no further entry of information will be needed. These reforms will make it easier for business to understand how much tax they owe, giving them far more certainty over their tax position, helping them budget, invest and grow.
The Government has received a number of representations from individuals, businesses, professional bodies and the software industry about Making Tax Digital. I also refer the honourable Member to my response of 11 January 2016 (with references 20876 and 21032).