Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that European Commission proposals for reform of the European Copyright Framework do not undermine the principle that writers and other creators should be rewarded for their work.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government wants to ensure that any proposals on European copyright reform serve to deepen the digital single market, promote innovation, and continue to ensure that writers and other creators are rewarded for their work.
The Government will be engaging with the European Commission across the digital single market agenda to promote a single market which supports economic growth and enables businesses, creators and consumers to enjoy the opportunities presented by the digital economy.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact the reclassification of Network Rail as a government body has had on (a) the financial position of the Government and (b) the financial position of Network Rail; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Danny Alexander
The impact of the reclassification on the government’s financial position is set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook as at March 2014.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any proportion of Network Rail's debt has been allocated to the Scottish Government as a result of the reclassification of Network Rail as a government body on 1 September 2014.
Answered by Danny Alexander
Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) is not currently geographically split and so only overall Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) has increased.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England have a specifically designated library for use by pupils as a proportion of the total number of schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We do not collect data on the number of primary or secondary schools that provide a specifically designated library for their pupils.
The Government is fully supportive of school libraries and aware of the important role they play in encouraging young people to read for pleasure. We know that many headteachers recognise the role libraries can play in improving young people’s literacy and ensure that suitable library facilities are provided.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on publishers, authors and consumers of the proposed changes to VAT on eBooks in 2015.
Answered by David Gauke
The UK applies the standard rate of VAT to digital books and the zero rate of VAT to physical books.
The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to Member States in this regard, is governed by EU law. The sale of a digital book is classified as an electronic service and attracts the standard rate of VAT under EU law.
Legal advice obtained by the Government indicates there is no scope to change the VAT treatment of the sale of digital book and similar products under EU law. As such, no assessments have been made of the type referred to by the honourable Member.
From 1 January 2015, VAT legislation across the EU will change to tax the supply of broadcasting, telecoms and electronically supplied services (including e-books) at the place of consumption.
HMRC has published information on the VAT changes which includes a summary of the impacts:
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what grounds he decided to introduce VAT at 20 per cent on eBooks while maintaining zero rate VAT on printed books.
Answered by David Gauke
The UK applies the standard rate of VAT to digital books and the zero rate of VAT to physical books.
The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to Member States in this regard, is governed by EU law. The sale of a digital book is classified as an electronic service and attracts the standard rate of VAT under EU law.
Legal advice obtained by the Government indicates there is no scope to change the VAT treatment of the sale of digital book and similar products under EU law. As such, no assessments have been made of the type referred to by the honourable Member.
From 1 January 2015, VAT legislation across the EU will change to tax the supply of broadcasting, telecoms and electronically supplied services (including e-books) at the place of consumption.
HMRC has published information on the VAT changes which includes a summary of the impacts:
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of standard rate VAT on eBooks on (a) the UK's creative industries, (b) progress towards achieving the Government's aim of making the UK a hub for digital innovation and (c) benefits to the education sector from digital technology.
Answered by David Gauke
The UK applies the standard rate of VAT to digital books and the zero rate of VAT to physical books.
The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to Member States in this regard, is governed by EU law. The sale of a digital book is classified as an electronic service and attracts the standard rate of VAT under EU law.
Legal advice obtained by the Government indicates there is no scope to change the VAT treatment of the sale of digital book and similar products under EU law. As such, no assessments have been made of the type referred to by the honourable Member.
From 1 January 2015, VAT legislation across the EU will change to tax the supply of broadcasting, telecoms and electronically supplied services (including e-books) at the place of consumption.
HMRC has published information on the VAT changes which includes a summary of the impacts:
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of growth in the UK market for eBooks on authors, publishers and readers.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The creative industries are a great success story for the UK, and the importance of the publishing sector has been illustrated in the recently published creative industries statistics (January 2014), which show its worth of £9.7bn in 2012, employment of nearly a quarter of a million people, and worth of £1.25bn in export of services in 2011.
The Department has made no direct assessment of the effect of growth in the UK market for eBooks on authors, publishers and readers; however, the existence of digital platforms, such as eBooks, increases the multimedia possibilities for authors and publishers, and provides consumers with more choice. The sector is continuing to seize the opportunities presented by digital technologies and the UK eBook industry is continuing to develop even further.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will launch a public consultation on steps to be taken to promote the UK eBook industry.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The creative industries are a great success story for the UK, and the importance of the publishing sector has been illustrated in the recently published creative industries statistics (January 2014), which show its worth of £9.7bn in 2012, employment of nearly a quarter of a million people, and worth of £1.25bn in export of services in 2011.
The Department has made no direct assessment of the effect of growth in the UK market for eBooks on authors, publishers and readers; however, the existence of digital platforms, such as eBooks, increases the multimedia possibilities for authors and publishers, and provides consumers with more choice. The sector is continuing to seize the opportunities presented by digital technologies and the UK eBook industry is continuing to develop even further.
Asked by: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of VAT at 20 per cent on eBooks on reading and literacy levels of young and teenage readers.
Answered by David Gauke
The UK applies the standard rate of VAT to digital books and the zero rate of VAT to physical books.
The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to Member States in this regard, is governed by EU law. The sale of a digital book is classified as an electronic service and attracts the standard rate of VAT under EU law.
Legal advice obtained by the Government indicates there is no scope to change the VAT treatment of the sale of digital book and similar products under EU law. As such, no assessments have been made of the type referred to by the honourable Member.
From 1 January 2015, VAT legislation across the EU will change to tax the supply of broadcasting, telecoms and electronically supplied services (including e-books) at the place of consumption.
HMRC has published information on the VAT changes which includes a summary of the impacts: