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62483

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Fuels: Tax Evasion
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address cross-border smuggling of diesel fuel between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
tabling member printed	Viscount Bridgeman
uin	HL412
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>A range of measures are in place to detect and deter cross border smuggling of diesel between the Republic and Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include investigative work on either side of the border, for example checking of documentation, and acting on intelligence received. This is augmented by close cooperation and information sharing by the HMRC, the Irish Revenue Commissioners and other relevant agencies.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Additionally, HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 30/06/2014 15:24:03 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	3515 label Biography information for Viscount Bridgeman

62507

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Government Departments: Fines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Newby on 17 June (HL Deb, col 788), by what authority HM Treasury imposes fines on other departments; for what reasons such fines may be imposed; what the effect of such fines are on the Government's overall resources; and whether any disciplinary action is taken against officials found to be responsible for incurring such fines.
tabling member printed	Lord Higgins
uin	HL436
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p>The Treasury is responsible for ensuring there is proper accountability to Parliament for the use of public money. It is responsible for setting the ground rules for the administration of public money and is accountable to Parliament for doing so.</p><p> </p><p>The guidelines for managing public expenditure have been set out in a number of documents published by the Treasury, including <em>Managing Public Money</em><em><strong>[1]</strong></em><em>, </em>the <em>Consolidated Budgeting Guidance</em><em><strong>[2]</strong></em> and <em>Improving Spending Control</em><em><strong>[3]</strong></em>. They set out the circumstances where the Treasury may impose fines or penalties on departments. In all cases, the Treasury retains the right to apply whatever penalties are appropriate to incentivise good financial management and value for money.</p><p> </p><p>Fines imposed on departments have had a minimal impact on the Government's overall resources.</p><p> </p><p>Accounting Officers are responsible for ensuring that their departments meet specific standards, as set out in <em>Managing Public Money</em>. The Chief Secretary will write to the Secretaries of State and the Head of the Civil Service where he is concerned that Accounting Officers may fall short in fulfilling their responsibilities for managing public money. Should an Accounting Officer fall short of the standards required he or she may have their designation as Accounting Officer withdrawn, which may lead to termination of employment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-public-money</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consolidated-budgeting-guidance</p><p> </p><p>[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-spending-control</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 30/06/2014 15:25:42 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	1067 label Biography information for Lord Higgins

61920

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Unpaid Fines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what value of fines remained unpaid at the end of financial years 2009–10, 2010–11 and 2011–12 (1) in total, and (2) with respect to fines issued in that financial year.
tabling member printed	Lord Howard of Rising
uin	HL338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p>We have answered this question on the basis that it relates to HMRC penalties.</p><p> </p><p>1) 2009-10 £0.5 billion</p><p>2010-11 £1.5 billion</p><p>2011-12 £1.5 billion</p><p> </p><p>Fines and Penalties that remain unpaid are included as receivables and are reported in both the Resource Accounts and Trust Statement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2) It is not possible to state the value of fines issued in each of the financial years. The question is very broad in scope and covers the majority of the business of the Department. Some data is held in electronic systems and some in paper files, and records are not kept centrally of the value of fines issued across the Department and across all obligations.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 26/06/2014 15:12:28 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	3674 label Biography information for Lord Howard of Rising

61534

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Succession
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any regulation of heir hunters in the way they operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries; if not, whether they have plans to introduce such regulations; and, if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Hoyle
uin	HL303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p>There is no regulation in place that specifically covers the way probate researchers operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries.</p><p> </p><p>Relationships between probate researchers and their clients are normally contractual arrangements and subject to contract law.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is planning to introduce regulation of the activity of conducting private investigations, surveillance or inquiries, which could bring some probate and asset researchers into scope for statutory licensing by the Security Industry Authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 26/06/2014 15:17:01 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	1000 label Biography information for Lord Hoyle

61538

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Debts
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what figures for household debt in the United Kingdom were provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility in each year from 2010–11 to 2013–14 and estimated for 2014–15; and what is the percentage represented by such debt of (1) national income, and (2) disposable income, in each year.
tabling member printed	Lord Kinnock
uin	HL307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p><strong>The OBR publish figures for household debt, GDP and disposable income on their website alongside their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>In 2010-11 total lending to households in the United Kingdom or debt liabilities was estimated to be £1.53 trillion in the National Accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics, this is equivalent to 102% of annual Gross Domestic Product and 152% of household disposable income in that year. In 2011-12 the figure was 1.53 trillion (99% and147% respectively), and in 2012-13 the figure was 1.54 trillion (98% and 143%). These data are not yet available for 2013-14. In their March 2014 Economic and fiscal outlook the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast these figures to be 1.66 trillion in 2014-15 (97% and 144% respectively).</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 26/06/2014 15:13:23 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	693 label Biography information for Lord Kinnock

61254

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Taxation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any estimate of the likely financial consequences for taxpayers over the official retirement age of any merger of income tax and national insurance contributions into a single tax; and, if so, what was that estimate.
tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
uin	HL214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>As set out by the Chancellor at Autumn Statement 2012, the Government will wait for further progress on planned operational changes to the tax system before formally consulting on the operational integration of income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The scope for the consultation was originally set out by the Chancellor at Budget 2011, and made it clear that the Government will not extend NICs to individuals above State Pension Age nor to other forms of income such as pensions, savings and dividends.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 23/06/2014 16:33:47 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

61257

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to bring their proposals to give HM Revenue and Customs power to remove money from bank accounts without prior judicial process for consideration or agreement by the House of Lords; and, if so, how.
tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
uin	HL217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government is consulting on the Direct Recovery of Debts until 29th July. This policy will modernise and strengthen HMRC's ability to recover tax and tax credit debts from those who are refusing to pay what they owe but have sufficient funds in their accounts.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government intends to publish a response document and draft legislation later this year. This draft legislation will be consulted on before it is included in next year's Finance Bill, where it will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 23/06/2014 16:29:56 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

61258

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Cooperative Bank
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any department, executive agency or non-departmental public body has a banking arrangement with the Co-operative Bank.
tabling member printed	Lord Rooker
uin	HL218
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>Treasury policy is to hold Exchequer funds safe and secure at the Bank of England and to minimise balances held with commercial banks. The Treasury has been working with departments in recent years to minimise balances held in commercial accounts.</p><p> </p><p>Government Departments and most public bodies bank with the Government Banking Service, which is a directorate within HM Revenue and Customs. GBS is a shared service which manages contracts and supports banking services to Government departments using cost-efficient and modern commercial banking platforms. The balances held by the Government Banking Service are utilised to reduce the Government's daily borrowing requirement and in turn its financing costs.</p><p> </p><p>In the rare circumstance where banking is required outside of the contract then the Department concerned must seek Treasury approval to open separate commercial accounts. This will normally be when third party-funds are being managed or the banking service requirement is complex. The Treasury provides an annual update to the Public Accounts Committee on monies held outside the Exchequer / Government Banking Service. The most recent update was published on 13th January 2014 and can be found at</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270747/36048_Cm_8774.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270747/36048_Cm_8774.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>From the information provided by departments we can confirm that the Forestry Commission and National Forest Company have a banking relationship with the Co-operative Bank.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 23/06/2014 16:35:25 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	302 label Biography information for Lord Rooker

61265

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Welfare State: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so how much, money they have withheld from the Northern Ireland Executive because of its failure to implement welfare reform in Northern Ireland.
tabling member printed	Lord Empey
uin	HL225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>The Chief Secretary to the Treasury notified the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel on 31 March that the Northern Ireland Executive's funding allocations would be reduced by £13m, £87 m and £114 m in 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 respectively.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 19/06/2014 15:14:55 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

61283

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Taxation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money was repaid to taxpayers as a result of overcharging by HM Revenue and Customs in each of 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13.
tabling member printed	Lord Howard of Rising
uin	HL243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>The information is not available as HM Revenue and Customs does not collect information on amounts underpaid or overpaid.</p><p> </p><p>For many of the taxes that HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for such as income tax and corporation tax, taxpayers are required by law to make payments on account before the ultimate tax liability for the year is known. This can result in overpayments, in which case the taxpayer would be due a refund once the final liability was known. But it can also result in underpayments, in which case HMRC would seek to collect the additional amount owed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In either case, interest may be due to HMRC or to the taxpayer according to the statutory rates.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 23/06/2014 16:32:14 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	3674 label Biography information for Lord Howard of Rising