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102068

registered interest
date	31/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time taken to answer calls to tax credit helplines.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	212822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Over the next few months HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) will be migrating its existing telephone services to a new telephony platform. This will improve the way that the queuing systems work and, over time, will lead to reduced wait times.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is also looking at a number of initiatives to improve customer service and wait times. These include: greater flexible working across HMRC to improve its response to particular peaks in demand; and investing in online and digital services for the future, opening up a wider variety of channels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All HMRC helplines, including those for Tax Credit Helpline are landline numbers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 212842 question first answered 17/11/2014 15:52:57 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

102072

registered interest
date	31/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Working Tax Credit: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce landline telephone numbers for calls to HM Revenue and Customs' helplines for working tax credits queries.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	212842
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Over the next few months HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) will be migrating its existing telephone services to a new telephony platform. This will improve the way that the queuing systems work and, over time, will lead to reduced wait times.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is also looking at a number of initiatives to improve customer service and wait times. These include: greater flexible working across HMRC to improve its response to particular peaks in demand; and investing in online and digital services for the future, opening up a wider variety of channels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All HMRC helplines, including those for Tax Credit Helpline are landline numbers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 212822 question first answered 17/11/2014 15:52:57 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

101795

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria is used to establish whether a sector is high-risk in terms of non-compliance with the national minimum wage; and which sectors are so defined.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	212652
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage very seriously. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Within that obligation, HMRC work to priorities agreed with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). To identify sectors where non-payment of National Minimum Wage is more likely HMRC and BIS analyse numbers of complaints and incidences of non-compliance and take account of information from, for example, other Government Departments, Trade Union representatives and the Low Pay Commission . Using this information, and often in conjunction with other Government Departments, HMRC have undertaken targeted enforcement on areas such as the care sector, car washes and the retail sector, amongst others.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, HMRC, including National Minimum Wage officials, undertake joint working with the police, Home Office and local authorities across the country. HMRC’s collaboration has assisted in identifying instances of slavery and servitude in some of these operations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 212651 question first answered 04/11/2014 17:11:31 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

101796

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Lighting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the merits of introducing fiscal incentives to more widespread use of LED lighting.
tabling member constituency	Colchester
tabling member printed	Sir Bob Russell
uin	212613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>There are already fiscal incentives for LED lighting. An Enhanced Capital Allowance is available for white light emitting diode (LED) lighting units. This Enhanced Capital Allowance lets businesses claim 100% first year relief on investments in certain energy-saving equipment. More information on product eligibility for an Enhanced Capital Allowance can be found on the Energy Technology Criteria List 2014 at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://etl.decc.gov.uk/etl/site/criteria.html" target="_blank">https://etl.decc.gov.uk/etl/site/criteria.html</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme is designed to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions in large public and private sector organisations. The scheme provides a fiscal incentive to install energy-saving measures such as LED lighting.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The government has a long term commitment to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) 2012 Energy Efficiency Strategy highlighted the importance of increasing energy efficiency to achieve the Government’s climate change goals, in addition to helping people and business manage their energy bills.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor keeps all tax policy under review.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 06/11/2014 14:38:38 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
tabling member	35 label Biography information for Sir Bob Russell

101797

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Human Trafficking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training is provided to national minimum wage inspectors to identify cases of trafficking.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	212651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage very seriously. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Within that obligation, HMRC work to priorities agreed with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). To identify sectors where non-payment of National Minimum Wage is more likely HMRC and BIS analyse numbers of complaints and incidences of non-compliance and take account of information from, for example, other Government Departments, Trade Union representatives and the Low Pay Commission . Using this information, and often in conjunction with other Government Departments, HMRC have undertaken targeted enforcement on areas such as the care sector, car washes and the retail sector, amongst others.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, HMRC, including National Minimum Wage officials, undertake joint working with the police, Home Office and local authorities across the country. HMRC’s collaboration has assisted in identifying instances of slavery and servitude in some of these operations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 212652 question first answered 04/11/2014 17:11:31 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

101798

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	National Insurance Contributions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses have (a) claimed and (b) been successfully awarded employment allowance in (i) Bury St Edmunds, (ii) Suffolk, (iii) the East of England and (iv) England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
uin	212563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>A statistical release covering take-up of the Employment Allowance, including regional and constituency data, is already scheduled for publication on the 7<sup>th</sup> November.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The release will cover take-up for the first six months of 2014-15. The scheme as a whole has enjoyed good take-up so far. A press release from July 2014 announced that by the end of June around 725,000 businesses and charities; including around 72,000 in the East of England, around 616,000 in England, and around 30,000 in Wales had benefitted from the allowance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to reducing the costs of employment for small businesses across the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 06/11/2014 13:59:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley

101799

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Lighting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to implement a replacement programme to introduce LED lighting throughout his Department's buildings and sites; if he will estimate the proportion of lighting in his Department which is LED; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Colchester
tabling member printed	Sir Bob Russell
uin	212632
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Treasury is committed to improving the energy efficiency of the Department’s estate and reducing energy consumption year on year. LED lighting has already been introduced in leasehold premises occupied by part of the Treasury Group. We have introduced energy efficient fluorescent lighting in the Treasury main building on Horse Guards Road.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 05/11/2014 17:00:42 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	35 label Biography information for Sir Bob Russell

101800

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Currencies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2014, to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan, Official Report, column 26W, on Bitcoin, what his policy is on the regulation of Bitcoin derivatives and other securities paired to digital currencies.
tabling member constituency	Fareham
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hoban
uin	212665
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>Bitcoin itself is not regulated. However, the UK’s regulatory perimeter in relation to derivatives is wide and would capture Bitcoin and digital currency derivatives that were futures, options or contracts for difference.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 05/11/2014 16:57:59 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1414 label Biography information for Mr Mark Hoban

101801

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cryptocurrencies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his speech of 6 August 2014 on FinTech, what progress his Department has made on its programme of work exploring the potential of virtual currencies and digital money.
tabling member constituency	Fareham
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hoban
uin	212668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>On 3 November the Treasury published a Call for Information, focused on the potential benefits and risks of digital currencies and looking into whether digital currencies could or should be regulated in the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 05/11/2014 16:59:05 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1414 label Biography information for Mr Mark Hoban

101802

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Currencies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the ability of businesses using digital currencies to open a UK bank account.
tabling member constituency	Fareham
tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hoban
uin	212669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>On 3 November the Treasury published a Call for Information on digital currencies. This Call for Information asks whether there are currently barriers to digital currency businesses setting up in the UK, and will consider access to UK bank accounts as part of this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In October, the Financial Conduct Authority launched its Innovation Hub to provide support to innovative businesses. It has identified helping innovators access bank accounts as an area of priority.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 05/11/2014 16:56:46 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1414 label Biography information for Mr Mark Hoban