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Written Question
Coronavirus: Fraud
Wednesday 6th December 2023

Asked by: Neale Hanvey (Alba Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of how much (a) was lost from the public purse due to fraud during the covid-19 pandemic, (b) of that fraud has been recovered and (c) is irrecoverable.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

During the pandemic, the Government delivered an unprecedented package of economic support to preserve livelihoods and save businesses across the whole United Kingdom.

The Government is committed to transparency in its efforts to tackle fraud against the public sector. The UK is one of the few countries to publish data on fraud and error within the public sector in the Fraud Landscape Report. The Government will continue to be transparent and prioritise its efforts in detecting, preventing and recovering fraud associated with the pandemic.

The Fraud Landscape Report showed that in 2020/21, across government and outside of tax and welfare (so, excluding COVID-19 expenditure in HMRC and DWP), departments reported £88m of recovered fraud and error related to COVID-19.

Since 2021, we have invested in taking action on fraud, to bolster the prevention and recovery of fraud losses in welfare, tax and COVID Business Loans, and prosecute those who have defrauded the public purse - this included the establishment of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA).

Fraud is a hidden crime and the Government’s focus remains on detecting and recovering as much of it as is possible. That is done by deploying cutting edge tools supported by world leading expertise to find and recover as much fraud as possible.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Clwyd South
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, on what date a Minister from his Department last undertook an official visit to Clwyd South constituency.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.

Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Clwyd South. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes over 189,000 payments delivered in Clwyd South through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic over 12,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £27 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and around £41 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans.

The UK Government has also supported innovation within Clwyd South with over £1 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Clwyd South has also received around £78,000 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to level up local sports facilities

In addition, Wrexham and Denbighshire, the local authorities for the Clwyd South constituency, are receiving over £22 million and over £25 million respectively, from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Wrexham is also receiving over £13 million from the Levelling Up Fund for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site and Dee Valley AONB. Clwyd South will also benefit from the £240 million North Wales Growth Deal.

This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Cynon Valley
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister from his Department last visited Cynon Valley constituency.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.

Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Cynon Valley. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes around 197,000 payments delivered in Cynon Valley through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 11,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £26 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and around £30 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans. The UK Government has also supported innovation within Cynon Valley with over £810,000 awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019.

In addition, Rhondda Cynon Taf, the local authority for the Cynon Valley constituency, is receiving over £45 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This is in addition to the £124,000 awarded to the CANA Resource and Training Centre in Penywaun. Cynon Valley also benefits from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, including the £4.4 million Zip World facility near Hirwaun.

This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Wrexham
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister from his Department last made an official visit to Wrexham constituency.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.

Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.

The UK Government has provided extensive support to Wrexham. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes around 186,000 payments delivered in Wrexham through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 12,000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £21 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and over £66 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans.

The UK Government has also supported innovation within Wrexham with over £1.6 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Wrexham has also received around £177,000 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to level up local sports facilities.

In addition, Wrexham County Borough Council, the local authority for the Wrexham constituency, is receiving over £22 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Wrexham is also receiving over £13 million from the Levelling Up Fund for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site and Dee Valley AONB. Wrexham will also benefit from the £240 million North Wales Growth Deal.

This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.


Written Question
Urine Drainage Bags: Import Duties
Tuesday 14th March 2023

Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to remove the six per cent import duty on urine drainage bags on a permanent basis by re-classifying them as medical devices under the UK Global Tariff regime.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2021 the Government implemented temporary tariff suspensions on a set of goods, including urine drainage bags, to support the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has extended the majority of these suspensions until 31 December 2023.

HMRC has reviewed the classification of urine drainage bags and although these are used in conjunction with medical products (e.g. catheters), they are not considered to be medical devices. As such they are classified as articles of plastic (tariff heading 3926). This is in line with classification decisions previously issued by the World Custom Organization which member countries are expected to follow. Businesses can direct queries on classification to classification.enquiries@hmrc.gov.uk or through this link https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/customs-international-trade-and-excise-enquiries.

The Government has recently received stakeholder feedback on tariffs on urine drainage bags. We are considering the evidence provided alongside wider UK Government analysis.


Written Question
Disease Control: Disinformation
Monday 20th February 2023

Asked by: Matt Hancock (Independent - West Suffolk)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fight misinformation to prepare for a future pandemic.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

The UK Health Security Agency worked closely with public health and science experts during COVID-19 to ensure transparency and that the science behind advice is shared. Communication plans and countering misinformation will form a key part of pandemic preparedness.

We continue to monitor misinformation and disinformation that forms a barrier to the uptake of vaccinations, disruption to access, drivers of low uptake and public health measures in both on and offline forums. We also liaise with the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to share reports and horizon scan for incoming threats and issues as part of our business-as-usual activity and ongoing disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.


Written Question
New Businesses: Scotland
Monday 21st November 2022

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the factors that have contributed to the trend in the level of business start-ups in Scotland since 2016.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Many factors influence the business start-up rate, for instance the ease of setting up a business, the availability of finance and the provision of business support. The level of business start-ups in Scotland has been broadly stable over the past five years, with the exception of 2020 where business activity was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK business start-up rate is one of the highest in the OECD, reflecting the UK’s position as one of the best countries in the world in which to start a business.

UK and Scotland births of business enterprises 2016-2021[1]

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

UK

397,540

356,895

348,630

363,825

333,020

363,995

Scotland

21,440

19,845

19,620

20,680

16,850

18,910

Scotland % of UK

5.4%

5.6%

5.6%

5.7%

5.1%

5.2%

[1] ONS, Business Demography, UK, November 2022


Written Question
Self-employed
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed entitled The Self Employed 2021 Landscape Report, published on 31 January 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the reduction in self-employment levels identified in that report.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government continues to monitor labour market trends and consider their wider implications. The UK labour market is currently performing strongly with high employment and low unemployment.

The Government recognises that many self-employed people have encountered challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but has supported the self-employed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which paid out over £28 billion across all five grants to nearly 3 million self-employed individuals and has been one of the most generous schemes for the self-employed in the world.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that the UK continues to be one of the best places in the world to work and grow a business.


Written Question
Hospitality Industry: VAT
Thursday 7th April 2022

Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to UK hospitality businesses, especially small businesses, to help with (1) rising costs, and (2) the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, following their decision not extend the 12.5 per cent rate of VAT for hospitality.

Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)

The government has already prioritised support for SMEs by cutting business rates by 50% for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, providing a 95% subsidy for apprenticeships, and supporting them to invest and grow by increasing the Annual Investment Allowance to £1 million. The Help to Grow scheme provides eligible SMEs with a 90% subsidy for world class management training and subsidises the cost of new software up to £5,000.

The Spring Statement 2022 went further and cuts the cost of employment for half a million small businesses, by increasing the Employment Allowance from £4,000 to £5,000. This means that from April, 670,000 businesses will not pay NICs and the Health and Social Care Levy. In addition, to help businesses and consumers, the main rates of petrol and diesel duty will be cut by 5 pence per litre, the largest cash terms cut that has ever been applied to fuel duty rates at once.


Written Question
Transport
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide details of all the strategies his Department is working on; and what the estimated publication date of each of those strategies is.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Work is underway across DfT on a number of strategies which will set out the important role transport will play as we build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic. The major strategies under development in the Department are listed below (including a number of strategies for which other organisations will lead development). Where known, expected and approximate publication dates have been included.

Aviation Strategic Framework - A strategic framework for the Aviation sector over next ten years, focussing on building back better to ensure a successful future for UK Aviation.

Aviation Jet Zero Strategy - A vision for how the aviation sector will reach net zero emissions by 2050.

EV Infrastructure Strategy - Expected to be published soon, and will set out our vision for the continued rollout of a world-leading charging infrastructure network across the UK – one which will enable mass uptake of cleaner vehicles.

Future of Freight - A long-term strategic plan for the freight and logistics sector, co-developed with industry, and expected to be published in Spring 2022.

Future of Transport Rural Strategy – Will set out Government’s approach to addressing the impact of new technology, changing demand and evolving business models on rural transportation.

Low Carbon Fuels Strategy - A strategy on the deployment of low carbon fuels across different transport modes in the period up to 2050, to be published by the end of 2022.

Maritime recovery road map - Our plan to support the recovery of the Maritime sector from the impacts of Covid-19, expected to be published in Spring 2022, forming part of our Maritime 2050 strategy (published in January 2019).

National Railways Accessibility Strategy - A commitment in the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, this strategy will consider how to improve inclusion and access for all to our railways. It is being developed by the Great British Railways transformation team following a commission from DfT.

Road Safety Strategic Framework – Will set out the Government’s plans for increasing the safety of our roads.

Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy - A second 4-year statutory cycling and walking investment strategy, reflecting the new policies in gear change and the multi-year funding settlement at Spending Review 2021. This is expected to be published in Spring 2022.

Third Road Investment Strategy - Will set out the Government’s aims and proposals for investment in the strategic road network from 2025 to 2030. The final version is expected to be published in 2024.

Whole Industry Strategic Plan for Rail - A 30 year strategy for the future of the rail sector, which is being developed by the Great British Railways transformation team following a commission from DfT.

There is other work ongoing in the Department which may lead to the development of more formal, externally published strategies in future, including on the sharing and use of data across the transport sector and on transport labour market and skills.