Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1351067

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Food: VAT
	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 introducing a permanent lower level of VAT for all food and beverages sold in pubs to support the pubs and brewery sector.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	41325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>In order to support the cash flow and viability of around 150,000 businesses and to protect over 2.4 million jobs, the Government has applied a temporary reduced rate of VAT (5 per cent) to goods and services supplied by the tourism and hospitality sectors, which will now end on 30 September 2021. On 1 October 2021, a new reduced rate of 12.5 per cent will be introduced for these goods and services to help affected businesses manage the transition back to the standard rate. The new rate will end on 31 March 2022.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has been clear that the reduced rate of VAT is a temporary measure. It is right that, as restrictions are lifted and demand for goods and services in the tourism and hospitality sectors increases, this relief is reduced and eventually removed in order to rebuild and strengthen the public finances. This policy will cost the Exchequer over £7 billion and, while the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no plans to make the reduced rate of VAT permanent.</p><p> </p><p>VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019/20 and helps to fund key spending priorities. Any reduction in tax paid is a reduction in the money available to support important public services, including the NHS and policing. While all taxes are kept under review, any decision to grant new permanent VAT reliefs would have to be balanced by a reduction in public spending, increased borrowing or increased taxation elsewhere.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 37517 37518 question first answered 10/09/2021 13:26:30 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1663839

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Self-assessment: Fines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the level of fines issued by HMRC for the late submission of self-assessment tax returns for self-employed people who have not earned above the threshold for paying tax.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	201692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2023 answer text <p>HMRC issues Self Assessment (SA) tax returns to customers when the information they hold suggests that the customer meets the published criteria for completing one. HMRC often cannot determine someone’s tax liability until they have sent in a tax return, therefore they need the return to establish whether there is tax due or not.​​ Late filing and payment penalties are charged to encourage customers to file on time, but HMRC can cancel a customer’s late filing penalty if the customer has a reasonable excuse. Customers can also ask HMRC to remove them from the SA process for future years if they no longer meet the criteria.​</p><p> </p><p>From October 2011 the penalty legislation changed, from this point the capping of penalties was no longer factored into the calculation and any fixed penalty applied remained at the full amount regardless of liability. Although no change to the current penalty regime has been announced, Penalty Reform within Making Tax Digital will change the way HMRC calculates penalties for late Submission and late payment of tax. The new legislation will factor in the Liability amount, Filing frequency and length of time outstanding within its penalty calculations.</p><p> </p><p>In reforming late payment and late filing penalties HMRC’s aim is to encourage those who persistently default to comply with their tax obligations rather than penalise those who make occasional errors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 200538 question first answered 18/10/2023 14:20:24 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1308587

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2021
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Business: Overseas Trade
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures the Government has put in place to support businesses that have experienced a decline in (a) exports and (b) imports between December 2020 and March 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	180620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has put in place a range of measures to facilitate trade with the EU and to avoid disruption at ports including publishing comprehensive guidance on the new arrangements for trade with the EU and operating a staged approach to customs controls. Until 31 December 2021 most traders importing non-controlled goods from the EU can make a declaration in their own records and defer making a customs declaration to HMRC for 175 days. Further information can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/delaying-declarations-for-eu-goods-brought-into-great-britain" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/delaying-declarations-for-eu-goods-brought-into-great-britain</a>. The Government has also provided a £20 million Brexit Support Fund to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in adjusting to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules when trading with the EU.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, businesses can choose to use customs facilitations to make trading across borders quicker, cheaper and easier. Further information can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-delay-customs-duty-and-import-vat" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-delay-customs-duty-and-import-vat</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 180621 question first answered 19/04/2021 14:27:29 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1308588

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2021
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Business: UK Trade with EU
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government has taken to support businesses that are unable to purchase essential materials from the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	180621
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has put in place a range of measures to facilitate trade with the EU and to avoid disruption at ports including publishing comprehensive guidance on the new arrangements for trade with the EU and operating a staged approach to customs controls. Until 31 December 2021 most traders importing non-controlled goods from the EU can make a declaration in their own records and defer making a customs declaration to HMRC for 175 days. Further information can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/delaying-declarations-for-eu-goods-brought-into-great-britain" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/delaying-declarations-for-eu-goods-brought-into-great-britain</a>. The Government has also provided a £20 million Brexit Support Fund to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in adjusting to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules when trading with the EU.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, businesses can choose to use customs facilitations to make trading across borders quicker, cheaper and easier. Further information can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-delay-customs-duty-and-import-vat" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-delay-customs-duty-and-import-vat</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 180620 question first answered 19/04/2021 14:27:29 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1178964

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	EU Grants and Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has for (a) universities and (b) other UK institutions to be able to participate in EU-funded projects after 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	18876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Public Mandate states that the UK is ready to consider participation in certain EU programmes where it is in the UK's and the EU’s interest that the UK does so. The Public Mandate can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-approach-to-the-future-relationship-with-the-eu" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-approach-to-the-future-relationship-with-the-eu</a></p><p> </p><p>The UK will consider a relationship in line with non-EU Member State participation for the following programmes: Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, and Copernicus. The UK will consider service access agreements for the following programmes: EU Space Surveillance and Tracking, and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. The Government’s manifesto set out its ambitious approach on research and development, including a commitment to continue collaboration internationally and with the EU on scientific research, including Horizon Europe.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government wants to ensure that UK and European universities and institutions continue to benefit from each other’s world-leading systems and expertise. The UK will consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests. The Government is considering a wide range of options with regards to future cooperation, including potential domestic alternatives. Decisions on future budget provisions are a matter for the Comprehensive Spending Review.</p><p> </p><p>The proposed regulations for programmes in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-27) are still being discussed in the EU and are yet to be finalised. The UK’s future participation in these programmes and projects will be subject to negotiations on the UK-EU relationship.</p><p> </p><p>Under the financial settlement the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget in respect of the EU’s current financial planning period (the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-20) and will continue to participate and benefit from its programmes and receive receipts for the duration of projects, which in some cases go beyond 2020.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 02/03/2020 15:30:55 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1198867

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Wonga
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claims for refunds from Wonga customers who were mis-sold higher risk loans remain outstanding; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing support from the public purse to those customers who only received 4.3 per cent of the compensation due to them.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	52558
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>When a firm enters administration, assets are pooled and used to cover customer redress claims and administration costs. In the case of Wonga, the pooled assets are not sufficient to meet all of the redress claims. The administrator, Grant Thornton UK LLP, is therefore unable to pay out 100% of these claims and must address claims in order of the creditor hierarchy. The number of redress claims and the amounts due in the case of Wonga is a matter for the administrators.</p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who regulate payday loans, has the power to decide which activities are given Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection. In 2016, the FCA decided not to extend FSCS protection to most consumer credit activities because it believed other regulatory requirements were sufficient. The full reasoning behind the FCA’s decision is set out in a letter from their Chief Executive to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee on 15 February 2019.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 04/06/2020 09:53:47 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1239663

	registered interest
	date	01/10/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Debts Written Off: Developing Countries
	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 merits of (a) debt cancellation for lower-income countries from Governments, the IMF and World Bank, the private sector and all other creditors for 2020 and 2021 and (b) bringing forward legislative proposals similar to the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 to enforce on the private sector the terms of an international agreement for debt relief.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	98290
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government is concerned about the debt vulnerabilities of low-income developing countries, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The UK cancelled most of our low-income developing country debt under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. However, we have remained a global leader in advancing sovereign debt transparency and sustainability. In April 2020 the Chancellor joined his G20 counterparts to commit to a temporary suspension on debt service repayments from the 77 poorest countries under the debt service suspension initiative (DSSI). To date, the DSSI has supported 43 countries which have requested suspensions by freeing up $5 billion to fund their COVID-19 responses. Given the depth of liquidity needs in these countries, the UK supports an extension of the DSSI into 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The G20 agreed private sector DSSI participation should be voluntary and at borrowers’ discretion. The Government continues to support this approach, which helps protect these countries’ hard-won market access which will be essential for financing COVID recovery. Where borrowers do make requests, private creditors should implement the DSSI. Where sovereign debt reductions are necessary, it will be important for there to be fair and timely burden sharing between all creditor types, including commercial creditors.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 06/10/2020 12:51:11 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1244687

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Debts Written Off: Developing Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make representations to his overseas counterparts at the G20 Finance Ministers Meetings on the cancellation of developing countries' debts to the IMF and World Bank to help those countries tackle the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	105566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the crisis on the debt situation in developing countries, including through our membership of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Paris Club. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is placing extraordinary pressures on the finances of low and middle income countries. Recognising this, the G20 has taken action to support these countries, agreeing the landmark DSSI (Debt Service Suspension Initiative).The DSSI provides a suspension of debt repayments to eligible countries so they can focus resources on their coronavirus response.</p><p>On the 14<sup>th</sup> October, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) met. They agreed to extend the DSSI for a further six months and, importantly, reached an in principle agreement on a Common Framework on future debt treatments beyond the DSSI to facilitate timely and orderly debt treatment for DSSI-eligible countries where this is required.A further G20 FMCBG meeting is to take place in early November and the UK is asking all G20 countries to fulfil the necessary internal approvals to endorse and publish the Common Framework in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/10/2020 08:19:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1252782

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pensions: Uprating
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made on the potential effect of the retail prices index (RPI) review on RPI-linked pensions.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	116670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>The Retail Prices Index (RPI) is a measure of inflation with a number of shortcomings. To address these shortcomings, the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) has made a proposal to reform RPI by bringing the methods and data sources of the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) into RPI. Owing to the use of RPI in specific index-linked gilts, prior to 2030 the Chancellor’s consent to this proposal is required before it can be implemented.</p><p> </p><p>At the Budget in March, the government and UKSA launched a consultation to consider whether UKSA’s proposal should be implemented at a date other than 2030, and, if so, when between 2025 and 2030. The consultation closed for responses on 21 August. As part of the consultation, the government sought views on the broader impacts of the proposed reform of RPI.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation document can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-consultation-on-the-reform-to-retail-prices-index-rpi-methodology" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-consultation-on-the-reform-to-retail-prices-index-rpi-methodology</a>.</p><p> </p><p>As announced on 9 November, the government and UKSA will respond to the consultation alongside the Spending Review on 25 November.</p><p> </p><p>The 9 November announcement can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-letter-from-rishi-sunak-to-sir-david-norgrove-on-the-date-of-the-government-and-uk-statistics-authoritys-response-to-their-joint-consultation-on-re" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-letter-from-rishi-sunak-to-sir-david-norgrove-on-the-date-of-the-government-and-uk-statistics-authoritys-response-to-their-joint-consultation-on-re</a>.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/11/2020 15:00:03 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1256637

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Sunscreens: VAT
	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 merits of reclassifying sunscreen products as essential healthcare items for VAT purposes.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	122902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2020 answer text <p>Under the current VAT rules, sun protection products are subject to the standard rate of VAT. High-factor sunscreen is on the NHS prescription list for certain conditions and is provided VAT free when dispensed by a pharmacist.</p><p> </p><p>Expanding the scope of the current VAT relief would come at a considerable cost to the Exchequer. Therefore, while all taxes are kept under review, there are currently no plans to reduce VAT on sunscreen products.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 08/12/2020 12:08:55 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana