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1668859

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Arts: Tax Allowances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the cultural tax reliefs beyond 31 March 2025.
tabling member constituency	Worsley and Eccles South
tabling member printed	Barbara Keeley
uin	1082
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>The government recognises the value of the UK’s world-leading creative industries and arts sectors.</p><p> </p><p>The ‘cultural tax reliefs’ consist of theatre tax relief (TTR), orchestra tax relief (OTR) and museums and galleries exhibitions tax relief (MGETR).</p><p> </p><p>There is no end date for the TTR or OTR.</p><p> </p><p>MGETR will end on 1 April 2026. The sunset clause for MGETR was extended to this date at Spring Budget 2023, to enable museums and galleries to benefit from the extension of the 40% (for non-touring productions) and 45% (for touring productions) rates of the cultural reliefs. However, the Government keeps all tax reliefs under review.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 14/11/2023 17:14:51 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	1588 label Biography information for Barbara Keeley

1668860

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Orchestras: Tax Allowances
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Orchestra Tax Relief announced in the Spring Budget 2023 on the economic sustainability of orchestras.
tabling member constituency	Worsley and Eccles South
tabling member printed	Barbara Keeley
uin	1083
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>Orchestras are a crucial part of the UK arts sector. That is why at Spring Budget 2023, the government went further to support orchestras by announcing a 2-year extension to the current 45% (for non-touring productions) and 50% (for touring productions) rates of orchestra tax relief (OTR).</p><p> </p><p>From April 2024, qualifying expenditure for OTR will be that incurred on goods and services used or consumed in the UK. To qualify, 10% of expenditure on a production must be incurred on goods or services that are used or consumed in the UK. This is a significant decrease from the current requirement for 25% of expenditure to be incurred on goods or services in the UK or EEA. The government expects this will support companies in adjusting to the new rules.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 14/11/2023 17:17:21 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	1588 label Biography information for Barbara Keeley

1668870

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policies to tackle bank (a) fraud and (b) scams.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	1102
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government takes fraud and scams very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this devastating crime. Tackling fraud and scams requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and the private sector to better protect the public and businesses, reduce the impact on victims, and increase the disruption and prosecution of fraudsters.</p><p> </p><p>According to data published by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) on 31 October, the fourteen largest payment service providers reimbursed a total of £237,219,623 of losses from authorised push payment (APP) fraud. Reimbursement rates varied significantly by firm. As part of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Government legislated to enable the PSR to mandate payment service providers to reimburse victims of APP scams. This will ensure that victims of APP scams are reimbursed on a more consistent basis and ensure greater consumer protection. The Government also intends to introduce legislation to allow payment service providers to slow down payments processing when there is a reasonable suspicion of fraud. The Government will introduce this legislation in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond this, the Government has taken significant action to address this issue. In May 2022, the Government published its fraud strategy, setting out a number of new measures. For example, the Government announced it will extend the ban on cold calling to cover all consumer financial services and products, and recently consulted on the design and scope of this ban. The Government has also taken action to address fraudulent activity being hosted online through the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes a new standalone duty requiring large internet firms to remove fraudulent content on their platforms.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami grouped question UIN 1103 question first answered 16/11/2023 17:10:20 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1668871

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an estimate of the total amount banks have repaid customers that have been victims of (a) fraud and (b) payment scams.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	1103
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government takes fraud and scams very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this devastating crime. Tackling fraud and scams requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and the private sector to better protect the public and businesses, reduce the impact on victims, and increase the disruption and prosecution of fraudsters.</p><p> </p><p>According to data published by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) on 31 October, the fourteen largest payment service providers reimbursed a total of £237,219,623 of losses from authorised push payment (APP) fraud. Reimbursement rates varied significantly by firm. As part of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Government legislated to enable the PSR to mandate payment service providers to reimburse victims of APP scams. This will ensure that victims of APP scams are reimbursed on a more consistent basis and ensure greater consumer protection. The Government also intends to introduce legislation to allow payment service providers to slow down payments processing when there is a reasonable suspicion of fraud. The Government will introduce this legislation in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond this, the Government has taken significant action to address this issue. In May 2022, the Government published its fraud strategy, setting out a number of new measures. For example, the Government announced it will extend the ban on cold calling to cover all consumer financial services and products, and recently consulted on the design and scope of this ban. The Government has also taken action to address fraudulent activity being hosted online through the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes a new standalone duty requiring large internet firms to remove fraudulent content on their platforms.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami grouped question UIN 1102 question first answered 16/11/2023 17:10:20 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1668910

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Workplace Pensions: Advisory Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the affordability of independent financial advice for members of pension schemes with safeguarded benefits who are required to take advice under section 48 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Pensions Schemes Act 2015 requires that members of pension schemes with safeguarded benefits take independent financial advice before accessing their pension pot flexibly, where the total value of the member’s benefits exceeds £30,000. These pensions offer a high level of security and guarantees that should not be relinquished without consumers being supported to make an informed choice about the risks.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that consumers who took advice from firms that charged on a non-contingent basis typically paid £2,500 - £3,500 for advice.</p><p> </p><p>There are a variety of resources available to help consumers shop around for an advice firm that best meets their needs, including MoneyHelper’s Retirement Adviser Directory.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:17:33 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668915

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Credit: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce interim measures to protect buy now pay later borrowers.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) is an interest-free product which gives consumers a time-limited means of spreading payments for their purchases. When used responsibly and provided affordably it can be a helpful way for consumers to manage their finances and make purchases.</p><p> </p><p>Many consumers are attracted to BNPL because of its interest-free nature, which the Government considers makes it inherently lower risk than most other types of credit. The FCA’s most recent Financial Lives survey found that 46% of people of who had used BNPL in the past 12 months chose it because it was interest-free. In addition, the survey found that 88% of users found it easy to keep track of their repayments.</p><p> </p><p>As such, BNPL represents a popular alternative to traditional, interest-bearing forms of credit like credit cards and personal loans. For some financially vulnerable consumers it may also provide an alternative to high-cost and illegal lending. Further data from the FCA shows that around 14 million adults used BNPL in the six months to January 2023 and that the average outstanding BNPL balance is low at £236.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s consultation on proposed draft legislation to bring Buy-Now Pay-Later into regulation closed in April. Since then the Government has been carefully considering stakeholder feedback. The Government will publish a response to the consultation once it is finalised in due course.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, BNPL users already benefit from broader consumer protection legislation, including on advertising and unfair contract terms. The FCA also has existing powers to take action against firms, which it used as recently as Tuesday 31 October to secure changes to firms' potentially unfair and unclear contract terms. Some BNPL firms have also introduced a credit ‘opt-out’ function for their customers.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:12:48 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668916

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Credit Reference Agencies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of buy now pay later providers who voluntarily report their customers’ (a) borrowing and (b) repayment records to credit reference agencies.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>HM Treasury regularly monitors the consumer credit market as part of its normal process of policy development.</p><p> </p><p>Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) is an interest-free product which gives consumers a time-limited means of spreading payments for their purchases. When used responsibly and provided affordably it can be a helpful way for consumers to manage their finances and make purchases.</p><p> </p><p>Many consumers are attracted to BNPL because of its interest-free nature, which the Government considers makes it inherently lower risk than most other types of credit. The FCA’s most recent Financial Lives survey found that 46% of people of who had used BNPL in the past 12 months chose it because it was interest-free. In addition, the survey found that 88% of users found it easy to keep track of their repayments.</p><p> </p><p>As such, BNPL represents a popular alternative to traditional, interest-bearing forms of credit like credit cards and personal loans. For some financially vulnerable consumers it may also provide an alternative to high-cost and illegal lending. Further data from the FCA shows that around 14 million adults used BNPL in the six months to January 2023 and that the average outstanding BNPL balance is low at £236.</p><p> </p><p>While the department does not hold precise information on the number and proportion of BNPL firms reporting borrowing and repayment records for their customers’ agreements to credit reference agencies, it understands that several of the UK’s major BNPL firms have reporting arrangements in place with at least one credit reference agency.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:15:29 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668949

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Beer and Cider: Excise Duties
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reduce the duty rate for draught beer and cider.
tabling member constituency	Belfast South
tabling member printed	Claire Hanna
uin	1268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government is unable to speculate on tax matters outside of fiscal events.</p><p> </p><p>As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its yearly Budget process.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Gareth Davies question first answered 15/11/2023 15:36:29 answering member 4850 label Biography information for Gareth Davies
tabling member	4827 label Biography information for Claire Hanna

1668972

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how each Barnett consequential due to the Northern Ireland Executive was accrued in the period since 1 April 2023; when each was accrued; and what the value of each consequential was.
tabling member constituency	Belfast East
tabling member printed	Gavin Robinson
uin	1151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government provided £297 million of non-ringfenced RDEL funding to the Northern Ireland Executive at Supplementary Estimates 2022-23 to ensure the delivery of a balanced budget.</p><p> </p><p>In the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set a budget for 2023-24 via Written Ministerial Statement on 27 April 2023. This included flexibility on the repayment of the 2022-23 overspend.</p><p> </p><p>The Northern Ireland Executive received £17 million non-ringfenced RDEL and £13 million general CDEL in Barnett consequentials at Mains Estimates 2023-24. Any further Barnett consequentials will be confirmed if UK Government departmental budgets change at subsequent fiscal events.</p><p> </p><p>A more detailed breakdown of Barnett funding can be found in the Block Grant Transparency publication.</p><p> </p><p>Block Grant Transparency<strong>: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023</a></strong></p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 1152 1153 question first answered 14/11/2023 15:47:42 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4360 label Biography information for Gavin Robinson

1668975

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland Executive
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the Northern Ireland Executive's overspend in the financial year 2022-23.
tabling member constituency	Belfast East
tabling member printed	Gavin Robinson
uin	1152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government provided £297 million of non-ringfenced RDEL funding to the Northern Ireland Executive at Supplementary Estimates 2022-23 to ensure the delivery of a balanced budget.</p><p> </p><p>In the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set a budget for 2023-24 via Written Ministerial Statement on 27 April 2023. This included flexibility on the repayment of the 2022-23 overspend.</p><p> </p><p>The Northern Ireland Executive received £17 million non-ringfenced RDEL and £13 million general CDEL in Barnett consequentials at Mains Estimates 2023-24. Any further Barnett consequentials will be confirmed if UK Government departmental budgets change at subsequent fiscal events.</p><p> </p><p>A more detailed breakdown of Barnett funding can be found in the Block Grant Transparency publication.</p><p> </p><p>Block Grant Transparency<strong>: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023</a></strong></p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 1151 1153 question first answered 14/11/2023 15:47:42 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4360 label Biography information for Gavin Robinson