Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the percentage changes in alcohol revenue were broken down by alcohol category for each financial year between 2013-14 to 2022-23.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Alcohol Bulletin tables show receipts by alcohol category between the financial years 2013-14 and 2021-22.
Data relating to the 2022-23 financial year has yet to be published, but will be released at the end of May 2023, in the Alcohol Bulletin.
The Alcohol Bulletin can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/alcohol-bulletin.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of the thresholds for paying High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government is committed to managing the public finances in a disciplined and responsible way.
The Adjusted Net Income threshold of £50,000 for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) means that the Government continues to support the majority of Child Benefit claimants, whilst ensuring that the fiscal position remains sustainable. The Government therefore considers that the current threshold remains appropriate.
However, as with all elements of tax policy, the Government keeps this under review.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses became eligible to pay VAT in (a) 2023 and (b) each of the preceding five years; and if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of those businesses that would not have become eligible for VAT payments if the threshold had risen in line with inflation.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU Member State and the second highest in the OECD at £85,000. This keeps the majority of businesses out of VAT altogether.
The number of businesses newly registering for VAT in each year can be found here: Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), see Table T2.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the manufacture of wine ranked under the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme criteria.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users across the UK with a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024, following the end of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme. It will also provide businesses in sectors with particularly high levels of energy use and trade intensity with a higher level of support.
We have taken a consistent approach to identifying the most energy and trade intensive sectors, with all sectors that meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity eligible for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) support. These thresholds have been set at sectors falling above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and 60th percentile for trade intensity, plus any sectors eligible for the existing energy compensation and exemption schemes.
All other eligible businesses will automatically receive a unit discount on their bills of up to £19.61/MW for electricity, and £6.97/MW for gas.
Further details on the scheme, including information on eligibility and discount levels, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bills-discount-scheme.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the manufacture of beer ranked under the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme criteria.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users across the UK with a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024, following the end of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme. It will also provide businesses in sectors with particularly high levels of energy use and trade intensity with a higher level of support.
We have taken a consistent approach to identifying the most energy and trade intensive sectors, with all sectors that meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity eligible for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) support. These thresholds have been set at sectors falling above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and 60th percentile for trade intensity, plus any sectors eligible for the existing energy compensation and exemption schemes.
All other eligible businesses will automatically receive a unit discount on their bills of up to £19.61/MW for electricity, and £6.97/MW for gas.
Further details on the scheme, including information on eligibility and discount levels, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bills-discount-scheme.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the manufacture of cider ranked under the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users across the UK with a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024, following the end of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme. It will also provide businesses in sectors with particularly high levels of energy use and trade intensity with a higher level of support.
We have taken a consistent approach to identifying the most energy and trade intensive sectors, with all sectors that meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity eligible for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) support. These thresholds have been set at sectors falling above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and 60th percentile for trade intensity, plus any sectors eligible for the existing energy compensation and exemption schemes.
All other eligible businesses will automatically receive a unit discount on their bills of up to £19.61/MW for electricity, and £6.97/MW for gas.
Further details on the scheme, including information on eligibility and discount levels, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bills-discount-scheme.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the manufacture of spirits ranked under the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme criteria.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users across the UK with a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024, following the end of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme. It will also provide businesses in sectors with particularly high levels of energy use and trade intensity with a higher level of support.
We have taken a consistent approach to identifying the most energy and trade intensive sectors, with all sectors that meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity eligible for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) support. These thresholds have been set at sectors falling above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and 60th percentile for trade intensity, plus any sectors eligible for the existing energy compensation and exemption schemes.
All other eligible businesses will automatically receive a unit discount on their bills of up to £19.61/MW for electricity, and £6.97/MW for gas.
Further details on the scheme, including information on eligibility and discount levels, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bills-discount-scheme.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact the fiscal announcements made on (a) 23 September and (b) 17 October 2022 will have on families on benefits with disabled children.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury carefully considers the equality impacts of the individual measures announced at fiscal events on those with protected characteristics, including gender, race and disability – in line with both its legal obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and with its strong commitment to equality issues. As part of these legal obligations, the Treasury considers equalities impacts and has due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination under the Act, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups.
The Government understands that families across the UK, especially those with children who are suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to help families get through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Recipients of extra-costs disability benefits, including children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) received a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the rising cost of living. The DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) has already processed around 6 million such payments. A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered to households in receipt of means-tested benefits.
We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department made of the impact of the measures in the fiscal announcement made on (a) 23 September; and (b) 17 October on families with disabled children.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury carefully considers the equality impacts of the individual measures announced at fiscal events on those with protected characteristics, including gender, race and disability – in line with both its legal obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and with its strong commitment to equality issues. As part of these legal obligations, the Treasury considers equalities impacts and has due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination under the Act, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups.
The Government understands that families across the UK, especially those with children who are suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to help families get through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Recipients of extra-costs disability benefits, including children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) received a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the rising cost of living. The DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) has already processed around 6 million such payments. A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered to households in receipt of means-tested benefits.
We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of child benefit.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government is committed to managing the public finances in a disciplined and responsible way by targeting support where it is most needed.
For the third consecutive year, Child Benefit has increased in line with CPI (3.1 per cent). The Government will continue to review levels of Child Benefit alongside other benefits annually.