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1244778

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Food Supply: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What fiscal steps he is taking to support food supply chains during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	907786
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>The government has provided unprecedented levels of support for workers and businesses across the food supply chain to protect against the current economic emergency.</p><p> </p><p>This includes the Dairy and Fisheries Response Funds provided to support our farmers and fisherman, the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme to back our pubs and restaurants, and the Job Support Scheme to protect jobs and livelihoods right across the hospitality sector.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 20/10/2020 14:49:06 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1244779

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Fraud: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps the Government is taking to help prevent the fraudulent use of Government schemes to provide financial support for people and businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
uin	907787
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>HMRC, and the Government more generally, take the risk of fraud arising from the use of COVID-19 support schemes very seriously. Accordingly the Government has established a ministerial board, chaired jointly by ministers from the Cabinet Office and Home Office. This board has set direction on the fraud response, with work coordinated by the Government's Counter-Fraud Function. COVID-19 schemes have been assessed for fraud risk and appropriate controls have been designed and implemented. Departments are working together to share intelligence, and to identify and investigate cases of suspected fraud.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 20/10/2020 15:44:30 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1244780

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Education: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on additional financial support in helping to close the disadvantage attainment gap.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	907789
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State on Education policy. We are committed to ensuring no child, whatever their background, falls behind as a result of this pandemic. Our £1 billion catch-up plan includes £350 million for a National Tutoring Programme targeted at disadvantaged children. We have also provided over £2.4 billion of Pupil Premium funding this year for the most disadvantaged.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 20/10/2020 14:55:10 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1244781

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Families: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans he has to provide additional fiscal support to families during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
tabling member printed	Dame Cheryl Gillan
uin	907790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to support families through the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why we have put in place an unprecedented package of support – including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and the Job Support Scheme. In addition to these measures, the Government has introduced over £9bn of temporary welfare support – all helping to protect incomes, jobs, and support those most in need.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 20/10/2020 14:57:20 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan

1244165

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a banking service standard to prohibit the closure of the last bank branch in a community.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	104718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>The decision to maintain a presence on the high street is a commercial one for the management team of a bank and Government does not intervene in those decisions.</p><p> </p><p>The retail financial landscape is changing, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. Banking service providers need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government also firmly believes that the impact of branch closures should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking services if they wish to use them. That’s why the Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published guidance setting out their expectation of firms when they are deciding whether and how to reduce their physical branches or the number of free to use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and other relevant branch services and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This will ensure the implementation of closure decisions is done in a way that treats customers fairly.</p><p> </p><p>Further to this, the FCA recently consulted on guidance for firms’ on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, including those who are digitally excluded or have low digital skills. This consultation closed on 30 September and the FCA are currently considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key priority for the FCA. While many firms have made significant progress in how they treat vulnerable consumers, HM Treasury and the FCA want to see the fair treatment of vulnerable consumers being taken seriously by all firms so that such customers receive consistently fair treatment. HM Treasury continues to work with firms and the FCA to ensure that the needs of vulnerable customers are met.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 104719 question first answered 21/10/2020 07:34:01 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1244172

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to protect community access to banking facilities for vulnerable people unable to use online banking.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	104719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>The decision to maintain a presence on the high street is a commercial one for the management team of a bank and Government does not intervene in those decisions.</p><p> </p><p>The retail financial landscape is changing, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. Banking service providers need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government also firmly believes that the impact of branch closures should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking services if they wish to use them. That’s why the Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative options include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published guidance setting out their expectation of firms when they are deciding whether and how to reduce their physical branches or the number of free to use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and other relevant branch services and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This will ensure the implementation of closure decisions is done in a way that treats customers fairly.</p><p> </p><p>Further to this, the FCA recently consulted on guidance for firms’ on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, including those who are digitally excluded or have low digital skills. This consultation closed on 30 September and the FCA are currently considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key priority for the FCA. While many firms have made significant progress in how they treat vulnerable consumers, HM Treasury and the FCA want to see the fair treatment of vulnerable consumers being taken seriously by all firms so that such customers receive consistently fair treatment. HM Treasury continues to work with firms and the FCA to ensure that the needs of vulnerable customers are met.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 104718 question first answered 21/10/2020 07:34:02 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1244175

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Help to Save Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Help to Save accounts (a) have been opened and (b) have no deposits; and what steps he is taking to encourage account holders to actively utilise those accounts.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	104701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published statistics on Help to Save accounts up to July 2020. These statistics show the total number of accounts opened now stands at 222,000 and there are 60,500 accounts that are yet to receive a deposit. The latest publication is available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-save-statistics.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has recently issued regional press releases to highlight the advantage of the Help to Save scheme and bonuses available.</p><p> </p><p>All Help to Save customers receive a welcome pack that gives them information on how to maximise the bonus available. They also receive annual statements that update them on their account status. HMRC regularly contacts customers with no deposits to remind them that their account is open and how this affects their future bonus payments.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 21/10/2020 07:36:05 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1244180

registered interest
date	16/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Protective Clothing: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend the VAT holiday on personal protective equipment after 31 October 2020, in response to the ongoing covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
uin	104748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>The temporary zero rate of VAT on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was an extraordinary measure to help affected sectors during the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the global supply of PPE did not meet demand. This measure will come to an end on 31 October, as new measures introduced by the Government will ensure supply of COVID-related PPE to affected sectors from 1 November.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/10/2020 09:46:59 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

1243842

registered interest
date	15/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Expenditure: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish all Departmental budget adjustments in response to the covid-19 outbreak, in full, so that there is transparency and clarity of consequential funding to allow devolved Administrations to plan their response to the covid-19 outbreak effectively.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	104131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>The Treasury regularly updates parliament on funding for measures in response to Covid-19. All adjustments to departmental budgets since Main Estimates will be published at Supplementary Estimates in the winter, in the usual way.</p><p> </p><p>In July the Treasury announced an unprecedented guarantee that the DAs would receive at least £12.7 billion in additional resource funding this year to help them respond to Covid-19. The Treasury has subsequently uplifted that by £1.3 billion, to at least £14 billion. This gives the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive the certainty to ensure they can plan for Covid-19 response in the months ahead.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 20/10/2020 11:56:54 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1243871

registered interest
date	15/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Employment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support he plans to provide to clinically extremely vulnerable people who are unable to return to work because of the safety concerns after the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
tabling member printed	Alex Norris
uin	104179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>From 1 August the Government has relaxed national advice for the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV), bringing it in line with the advice to those who are clinically vulnerable. The advice is still to stay at home as much as possible. However, if they are unable to work from home, they will be able to return to work, provided their workplace is COVID-safe. It is important that this group continue to take careful precautions, and employers should do all they can to enable them to work from home where this is possible, including moving them to another role or adjusting their work patterns if required.</p><p><br>To support this guidance, the CEV will continue to have access to an unprecedented package of financial support after the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends. To keep employees attached to the workforce even if they are unable to work their usual hours, the Government will be introducing a new Job Support Scheme from 1 November, which will support firms facing reduced demand with wage costs incurred from 1 November 2020. In order to protect jobs, the Government has also expanded the JSS for businesses legally required to temporarily close their premises as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions. The Government will provide those employers with a grant for employees unable to work, covering two thirds of their usual wages and subject to a cap.</p><p><br>For clinically extremely vulnerable individuals who are on low incomes or who are out of work, the Government has injected a further £9.3 billion into the welfare system according to OBR estimates. Changes include a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 20/10/2020 15:56:02 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris