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1054996

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Funerals: Pre-payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing transition arrangements in the event that the Financial Conduct Authority becomes responsible for the pre-paid funeral plan market.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	217010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>HM Treasury has analysed the submissions to the call for evidence on pre-paid funeral plans and is currently reviewing the available policy options.</p><p>This includes considering transitional arrangements to any new regulatory framework. The response to the call for evidence will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 12/02/2019 14:53:47 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1055020

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cannabis: Medical Treatments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the contribution of the medicinal cannabis industry to the UK economy since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	217017
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>The Treasury has not made an estimate of the contribution of the medicinal cannabis industry to the UK economy since 2010.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 08/02/2019 11:11:03 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1055093

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Evasion: Prosecutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many prosecutions have been initiated under sections 45 and 46 of the Financial Services Act 2017 for offences of failing to prevent tax evasion (a) in the UK and (b) abroad.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	216928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>The Corporate Criminal Offences, introduced by articles 45 and 46 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017, were enacted on 30 September 2017. Neither offence is retrospective in nature.</p><p> </p><p>The domestic offence (Article 45) is covered by the functions of HMRC. However, the overseas offence (Article 46) is covered by the functions of Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and/or the National Crime Agency (NCA).</p><p> </p><p>HMRC currently has less than five criminal investigations into behaviours occurring since 30 September 2017 for offences under Article 45. These investigations have been commenced since November 2018 and are the first in a pipeline of cases HMRC has under development that may have Article 45 implications.</p><p> </p><p>Neither HMRC nor the NCA are prosecuting authorities. All prosecutions leading from their investigations have to be authorised by the relevant independent prosecuting authority, which for England and Wales would be the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); for Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS); and for Northern Ireland (NI), the Public Prosecution Service for NI, (PPSNI).</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 08/02/2019 09:03:43 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1055169

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages: Islam
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 availability of Sharia-compliant home purchase plans.
tabling member constituency	Greenwich and Woolwich
tabling member printed	Matthew Pennycook
uin	217062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to the availability of Islamic finance in the UK to ensure that no one is denied access to competitive financial products for reasons of faith. We are doing this by working to ensure that Sharia-compliant financial products can be supplied on the same terms and at the same standard as conventional financial products. The UK is already the western leader in Islamic finance, however we continue to explore areas where Islamic finance can be developed further.</p><p> </p><p>Home purchase plans are enabled by regulations overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator set up by the Government to ensure consumers are receive appropriate protection.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond the requirements set out in the FCA regulations, decisions around the pricing and availability of individual mortgage loans remain commercial decisions for lenders, and the Government does not seek to intervene in these decisions.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 12/02/2019 15:03:13 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4520 label Biography information for Matthew Pennycook

1055231

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the £650 million that HMRC has collected from employers since 2016 in relation to disguised remuneration schemes has come from (a) PAYE and national insurance contributions on loans made to employees under an employment benefit trust scheme and (b) penalties and fines due to the failure of employers to register those schemes under the disclosure of tax avoidance schemes process.
tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
uin	216968
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is working hard to help individuals get out of tax avoidance for good and is encouraging anyone who is concerned about their ability to pay what they owe, to contact them as soon as possible to discuss their position. In November 2017, HMRC set up a dedicated helpline for those wanting to settle their avoidance scheme use, and discuss payment options. HMRC will work with all individuals to reach a manageable and sustainable payment plan wherever possible.</p><p> </p><p>Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) liabilities fall on the employer in the first instance. The charge on DR loans does not change this principle and the employee will only be liable where the amount cannot reasonably be collected from the employer, such as where the employer is offshore or no longer exists. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has also introduced a simplified process for those who choose to settle their use of DR avoidance schemes before the loan charge arises. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can automatically agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC any information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to 7 years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Those who consider they need more than five (or seven) years to pay what they owe or who earn £50,000 or more should still come forward and talk to HMRC about payment terms. There are no defined minimum or maximum time periods for payment arrangements and HMRC can tailor any payment plan to their individual financial circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has introduced comprehensive double taxation provisions to ensure that no individual will pay income tax twice on the same income. More information is included in the DR Technical Note published by HMRC on 5 December 2016. Where employers have paid the income tax and NICs due on loans made through these schemes, the individual will not be liable to the loan charge.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the proportion of employers who paid their employees through an Employer Benefit Trust (EBT) arrangements and have paid the PAYE and NICs due is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>A list of scheme providers that have paid taxes on loans given to individuals through an EBT scheme cannot be released because of HMRC’s duty of confidentiality.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride grouped question UIN 216969 216970 216971 216972 question first answered 13/02/2019 13:30:31 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

1055232

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of employers who paid employees through an employment benefit trust scheme have paid the PAYE contributions deemed due.
tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
uin	216969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Disguised Remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is working hard to help individuals get out of tax avoidance for good and is encouraging anyone who is concerned about their ability to pay what they owe, to contact them as soon as possible to discuss their position. In November 2017, HMRC set up a dedicated helpline for those wanting to settle their avoidance scheme use, and discuss payment options. HMRC will work with all individuals to reach a manageable and sustainable payment plan wherever possible.</p><p> </p><p>Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) liabilities fall on the employer in the first instance. The charge on DR loans does not change this principle and the employee will only be liable where the amount cannot reasonably be collected from the employer, such as where the employer is offshore or no longer exists. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has also introduced a simplified process for those who choose to settle their use of DR avoidance schemes before the loan charge arises. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can automatically agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC any information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to 7 years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Those who consider they need more than five (or seven) years to pay what they owe or who earn £50,000 or more should still come forward and talk to HMRC about payment terms. There are no defined minimum or maximum time periods for payment arrangements and HMRC can tailor any payment plan to their individual financial circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has introduced comprehensive double taxation provisions to ensure that no individual will pay income tax twice on the same income. More information is included in the DR Technical Note published by HMRC on 5 December 2016. Where employers have paid the income tax and NICs due on loans made through these schemes, the individual will not be liable to the loan charge.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the proportion of employers who paid their employees through an Employer Benefit Trust (EBT) arrangements and have paid the PAYE and NICs due is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>A list of scheme providers that have paid taxes on loans given to individuals through an EBT scheme cannot be released because of HMRC’s duty of confidentiality.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride grouped question UIN 216968 216970 216971 216972 question first answered 13/02/2019 13:30:31 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

1055262

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Iron and Steel: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has made to support the Steel Industry once it loses access to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel as part of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	217095
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>If the UK leaves with a withdrawal agreement, we will continue to participate in EU programmes, including the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, during the implementation period.</p><p> </p><p>In the event the UK leaves the EU without an overall withdrawal agreement, the Government will guarantee the payment of awards for UK organisations which successfully bid directly to EU programmes, until the end of 2020, for the whole lifetime of projects agreed. This includes where a project continues beyond the end of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is continuing to work with the steel sector, unions and Devolved Administrations to develop a long-term viable solution for the UK steel industry.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 13/02/2019 15:18:31 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1055303

registered interest
date	05/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish his review of the costs of High Speed Two.
tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
tabling member printed	Dame Cheryl Gillan
uin	216895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>Government remains committed to delivering the HS2 programme in the most cost-efficient way possible and within the set funding envelope of £55.7bn.</p>We will conduct a departmental Spending Review later this year where all investments will be examined to ensure they are delivering good value for the public purse. answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 08/02/2019 12:07:39 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan

1054333

registered interest
date	04/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Local Government: Borrowing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are applied by the Public Works Loan Board when a local authority seeks to borrow to acquire commercial property for investment purposes.
tabling member printed	Lord Hollick
uin	HL13388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text Responsibility for local authority spending and borrowing decisions lies with locally-elected council Members, who are democratically accountable to their electorates. Local authorities are required to have regard to the Prudential Code and statutory guidance when they borrow from the PWLB or from any other lender, these are published by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and form the Prudential Framework. The main objective of the Prudential Framework is to ensure that the capital investment plans of local authorities are affordable, prudent and sustainable. Before it can advance a loan to a local authority, the Public Works Loan Board requires formal assurance from the authority that the loan is within their borrowing powers and the relevant legislation. answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/02/2019 13:37:54 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2732 label Biography information for Lord Hollick

1054334

registered interest
date	04/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Local Government: Borrowing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the extent and nature of the due diligence undertaken by the Public Works Loan Board before extending loans to local authorities to acquire commercial property for investment purposes.
tabling member printed	Lord Hollick
uin	HL13389
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text Responsibility for local authority spending and borrowing decisions lies with locally-elected council Members, who are democratically accountable to their electorates. Local authorities are required to have regard to the Prudential Code and statutory guidance when they borrow from the PWLB or from any other lender, these are published by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and form the Prudential Framework. The main objective of the Prudential Framework is to ensure that the capital investment plans of local authorities are affordable, prudent and sustainable. Before it can advance a loan to a local authority, the Public Works Loan Board requires formal assurance from the authority that the loan is within their borrowing powers and the relevant legislation. answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/02/2019 13:42:52 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2732 label Biography information for Lord Hollick