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46725

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which social care providers have been identified by HM Revenue and Customs as non-compliant with national minimum wage legislation; how much is owed in arrears by each such provider and to how many workers; and what value of fines have been levied on such providers to date.
tabling member constituency	Leicester West
tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
uin	195074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and has done so since the introduction of NMW in April 1999. It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have a legal duty of confidentiality towards their customers. For NMW, this includes employers and their workers. This means that HMRC cannot supply all the information requested as this would breach HMRC's statutory duty of confidentiality under s18(1) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.</p><p> </p><p>Fines are associated with criminal offences. Where minimum wage arrears are identified for any pay reference periods starting on or after 6 April 2009, the employer will be charged an automatic penalty. The rate of the penalty charge was 50% of the arrears falling in pay periods after 6 April 2009 (minimum penalty charge was £100 and the maximum was £5,000).</p><p> </p><p>The Government has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure that underpaid workers receive the arrears of national minimum wage due to them, HMRC contacts every employer for confirmation that they have paid the arrears to workers. In cases where 5 or fewer workers are owed arrears HMRC also contacts all those workers for confirmation of payment. In cases where more than 5 workers are identified as being owed arrears HMRC contacts an additional sample of workers for confirmation of payment.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC records information by Standard Industry Codes. The table below shows the number of employers in the Social Care sector found to be non-compliant with NMW legislation in the last year. Also shown are the value of arrears, the number of underpaid workers identified and the value of penalties issued to employers as a result of those investigations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Number of employers recorded as Social Care Sector and found to be non-compliant</p></td><td><p>Arrears identified during those investigations</p></td><td><p>Underpaid workers identified during those investigations</p></td><td><p>Penalties issued during those investigations</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>£800,883</p></td><td><p>3,620</p></td><td><p>£46,020</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke previous answer version 5518 answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

46726

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment he has made of the effect of pensioners savings bonds on the private sector investment market.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
uin	195031
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The Budget set an upper limit of £10 billion for the level of inflows that National Savings and Investments (NS&amp;I) should attract into the fixed-rate savings bonds for people aged 65 or over. This is less than 1% of the total UK retail savings market.</p><p> </p><p>The NS&amp;I savings bonds announced at Budget should therefore not stop other institutions from attracting deposits or increasing lending. Furthermore, the introduction of New ISAs with an annual subscription limit of £15,000 will provide additional opportunities for banks and building societies to attract retail deposits.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Loughborough answering member printed Nicky Morgan question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4027 label Biography information for Baroness Morgan of Cotes
tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

46727

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposed role for National Savings and Investment (NS&I) offering pensioner savings bonds with NS&I's objective of reducing the cost to the taxpayer of Government borrowing.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
uin	195033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>NS&amp;I's purpose is to provide cost effective financing for the Government that balances the interest of savers, taxpayers and the wider markets.</p><p> </p><p>Given that the NS&amp;I fixed-rate savings bond for people aged 65 or over are a Budget measure designed to offer targeted support to a particular group of savers, the costs of raising funding through these bonds, rather than gilts, was represented in Table 2.1 of the Budget 2014 document.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Loughborough answering member printed Nicky Morgan question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4027 label Biography information for Baroness Morgan of Cotes
tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

46728

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the next meeting of the Finance Ministers Quadrilateral will take place; and what will be discussed at this meeting.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
tabling member printed	Margaret Curran
uin	195134
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The last Finance Quadrilateral was held on 18 November 2013.</p><p> </p><p>No formal minutes of the meeting were taken, but Ministers present discussed the general economic outlook for the UK and for each of the devolved administrations, as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Autumn Statement. Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the framework under which the devolved administrations could carry forward Financial Transactions capital into future years.</p><p> </p><p>The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations aim to meet regularly in Quadrilateral format, complimenting bi-lateral meetings and conversations throughout the year. It is anticipated the next Quadrilateral will take place over the coming months. No date or agenda has yet been set.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander grouped question UIN 195135 question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
tabling member	3982 label Biography information for Margaret Curran

46729

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the last Finance Ministers Quadrilateral met; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of that meeting.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
tabling member printed	Margaret Curran
uin	195135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The last Finance Quadrilateral was held on 18 November 2013.</p><p> </p><p>No formal minutes of the meeting were taken, but Ministers present discussed the general economic outlook for the UK and for each of the devolved administrations, as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Autumn Statement. Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the framework under which the devolved administrations could carry forward Financial Transactions capital into future years.</p><p> </p><p>The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations aim to meet regularly in Quadrilateral format, complimenting bi-lateral meetings and conversations throughout the year. It is anticipated the next Quadrilateral will take place over the coming months. No date or agenda has yet been set.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander grouped question UIN 195134 question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
tabling member	3982 label Biography information for Margaret Curran

46730

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which parties have received the £30 million for the Garden Bridge announced in the National Infrastructure Plan.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	195166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2014 answer text <p>HM TREASURY</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Helen Goodman MP</p><p> </p><p><strong>BISHOP AUCKLAND</strong></p><p> </p><p>To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which parties have received the £30 million for the Garden Bridge announced in the National Infrastructure Plan. 195166</p><p> </p><p>DANNY ALEXANDER</p><p>The £30 million contribution to the Garden Bridge from Government is conditional on a business case being produced that demonstrates the project represents good value for money. The business case is expected to be complete by mid 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Should the business case demonstrate that the project represents good value for money, Government will agree the detailed terms of funding with the Garden Bridge Trust.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander question first answered 10/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

46776

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's latest assessment is of the likely timeframe within which International Monetary Fund funds will be released for the Ukraine.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mr Douglas Alexander
uin	195125
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The IMF Board is expected to consider Ukraine's application for a financial assistance programme in April. The agreement of a programme and subsequent disbursement of funds is also dependent on the Ukrainian authorities adopting a set of reforms as set out by the IMF.</p><p> </p><p>The latest IMF statement, following staff level agreement with the Ukrainian authorities on a potential programme, can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2014/pr14131.htm" target="_blank">http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2014/pr14131.htm</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	632 label Biography information for Mr Douglas Alexander

46845

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many business rates appeals to the Valuation Office Agency are currently classified as (a) outstanding, (b) received and (c) cleared, by region; and what the current median time taken in days is to clear business rates challenges in each region.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	195251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>Table 1 shows the latest available statistics on proposals (appeals), by region, to amend the 2010 rating lists. The numbers provided cover England and Wales for the duration of the 2010 rating list as of 30 September 2013.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1: Proposals to amend the 2010 Rating Lists</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Region</strong></p></td><td><p>Total Received<sup>1,2</sup></p><p>1 Apr 10 to 30 Sept 13</p></td><td><p>Total Cleared<sup>1,2</sup></p><p>1 Apr 10 to 30 Sept 13</p></td><td><p>Total Outstanding<sup>1,2 </sup>at 30 Sep 13</p></td><td><p>Median time to clear (days)</p><p>30 Sept 13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>England</strong><strong> and Wales</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>572,780</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>409,680</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>163,100</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>360</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>544,550</p></td><td><p>388,850</p></td><td><p>155,700</p></td><td><p>360</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>23,030</p></td><td><p>17,370</p></td><td><p>5,660</p></td><td><p>360</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>79,090</p></td><td><p>58,620</p></td><td><p>20,470</p></td><td><p>370</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorkshire and the Humber</p></td><td><p>52,920</p></td><td><p>41,150</p></td><td><p>11,770</p></td><td><p>330</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>34,530</p></td><td><p>26,520</p></td><td><p>8,010</p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands</p></td><td><p>53,310</p></td><td><p>40,540</p></td><td><p>12,770</p></td><td><p>320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East</p></td><td><p>53,340</p></td><td><p>37,530</p></td><td><p>15,820</p></td><td><p>380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>119,130</p></td><td><p>71,540</p></td><td><p>47,590</p></td><td><p>400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>77,700</p></td><td><p>56,440</p></td><td><p>21,260</p></td><td><p>380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>51,500</p></td><td><p>39,150</p></td><td><p>12,350</p></td><td><p>350</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>28,230</p></td><td><p>20,830</p></td><td><p>7,400</p></td><td><p>360</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><sup>1 </sup>Figures may not sum to the totals due to the rounding of figures.</p><p><sup>2</sup> VOA Official Statistics, Local Rating Lists: Business Rates</p><p>(Experimental Statistics): Table As, November 2013</p><p><a href="http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/_downloads/xls/NDR_TableA_All_2010.xls" target="_blank">http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/_downloads/xls/NDR_TableA_All_2010.xls</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

46853

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish estimates produced by the Government Actuary's Department for his Department of any additional monies received from extra contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme before 19 March 2014.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South East
tabling member printed	Mr Pat McFadden
uin	195215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p><strong>The Government Actuary's Department did not produce estimates for HM Treasury of additional monies received from extra contributions to the Teachers' Pension scheme before 19 March 2014. </strong></p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
tabling member	1587 label Biography information for Pat McFadden

46855

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will put arrangements in place to enable telephone callers to the Tax Credit Office in Preston to raise queries with an official rather than through the automatic telephone system.
tabling member constituency	Walsall North
tabling member printed	Mr David Winnick
uin	195176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The introduction of HMRC's Intelligent Telephony Automation (ITA) system has enabled HMRC to significantly reduce call handling and call waiting times and increase satisfaction.</p><p> </p><p>The speech recognition technology system reacts to what the caller says instead of selecting an option by pushing a button on their phone. ITA allows customers to say what they want to discuss when they telephone HMRC. For the majority of customers, this means their queries are answered by tailored informational messages, without the need to speak to an adviser. If a customer still wants to speak to someone, ITA ensures the adviser is already aware of the customer's reason for calling, offering a more effective customer service.</p><p> </p><p>This enables HMRC to offer a more efficient and tailored customer service and where necessary, give the customer extra support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	316 label Biography information for Mr David Winnick