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1245078

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	Credit Unions: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will hold discussions with the Welsh Government on encouraging employers in Wales to offer payroll deductions to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	106215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2020 answer text <p>Credit unions play a vital role in the financial wellbeing of their communities, providing an ethical home for their members’ savings, and affordable loans to those who may otherwise have to resort to high-cost lenders. The Government is committed to seeing a strong and resilient credit union sector. That is why the Chancellor announced at Budget 2020 that the Government will bring forward legislation to enable credit unions to offer a wider range of products and services.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have frequent discussions with the Welsh Government and other UK Government Departments on a wide range of issues, including how best to support households with the cost of living.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire answering member printed Simon Hart question first answered 26/10/2020 12:04:22 answering member 3944 label Biography information for Simon Hart
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1256003

registered interest
date	26/11/2020
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	Wales Office: Credit Unions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he plans to require his Department and its agencies to provide a payroll deduction service to allow staff to save more easily with a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	121139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2020 answer text <p>The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales (OSSW) is not an employer and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides employment services on our behalf. The MoJ does not actively promote credit unions and such schemes are usually promoted by the trade unions.</p><p> </p><p>The MoJ offers financial wellbeing support and advice to staff as part of its wider employee benefits offer.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Monmouth answering member printed David T C Davies question first answered 02/12/2020 13:38:06 answering member 1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1401767

registered interest
date	11/01/2022
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	Wales Office: Consultants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department has held (a) any financial or consultancy contracts and (b) meetings with representatives of (i) Clifford Chance LLP, (ii) FTI Consulting and (iii) Fenchurch Advisory Partners in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	101603
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2022 answer text <p>The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has not held any financial or consultancy contracts or meetings with representatives of Clifford Chance LLP, FTI Consulting or Fenchurch Advisory Partners in any of the last five years.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Monmouth answering member printed David T C Davies question first answered 19/01/2022 11:44:30 answering member 1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1550000

registered interest
date	08/12/2022
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	Wales Office: Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff in his Department have been allocated to deal with issues related to international trade in (a) each of the past five years and (b) the next two years; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	106311
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2022 answer text <p>The number of staff allocated to deal with issues related to international trade at the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales in each of the last five years is set out below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial year </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>No. of staff allocated</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020/21</strong></p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021/22</strong></p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Department currently has 2 members of staff allocated to deal with issues related to international trade and has no plans to change this allocation in the next two years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Monmouth answering member printed David T C Davies question first answered 15/12/2022 10:13:35 answering member 1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1141474

registered interest
date	23/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Institutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to bring forward a review of legislation for Co-op societies, Credit Unions and Community Benefit Societies as proposed by the Financial Conduct Authority in its 22 July 2019 report Alternatives to high-cost credit.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	280908
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>In 2014, the Government undertook a call for evidence to understand the appropriate steps that could be taken to support the credit union sector. Subsequently, the maximum interest a credit union can charge on loans was raised from 2% to 3% per month, and the upper limit on the geographical common bond was raised from 2 to 3 million people.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to be open to considering the case for further reform. ABCUL, the sector’s largest trade body, is currently carrying out a sector-wide consultation which is due to conclude later this year. HMT will consider its conclusions in the development of future credit union policy.</p><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018, the Government also announced a package of measures to support the availability of affordable credit, including:</p><p>o A £2 million affordable credit challenge fund, harnessing the UK’s FinTech sector to address challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions.</p><p>o A change in the regulatory boundary of credit broking to make it easier for registered social landlords such as housing associations to refer their tenants to social and community lenders.</p><p>o A prize-linked savings pilot scheme, to encourage the growth of the credit union sector and encourage consumers to build up their personal savings. We hope credit unions will be able to use the deposits gained from their participation in the scheme to increase their overall lending.</p><p>o A feasibility study to design a pilot for a UK No-Interest Loans Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 03/09/2019 08:11:12 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1141875

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Aviation: Alternative Fuels
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2019 to Question 277102 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing tax (a) incentives and (b) disincentives to accelerate the switch to alternative aviation fuels.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	281560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>In line with international conventions to which the UK is party, the government does not charge fuel duty on commercial aviation fuel, therefore alternative aviation fuels cannot currently be supported through the tax system.</p><p> </p><p>Biofuels are supported outside of the tax system through a market-based certificate trading mechanism called the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which has a sharp environmental focus.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 05/09/2019 15:57:25 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1144727

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Credit Unions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to expand the credit union sector; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	286605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The government is committed to supporting credit unions, which contribute to the diversity of the UK’s financial services sector and provide vital services to financially under-served communities.</p><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a pilot of a new prize-linked savings scheme offered through credit unions. This will support the credit union sector through increased membership, awareness and deposits, as well as encouraging participants to build up savings to help them cope with financial shocks.</p><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018 the Chancellor also announced a new £2 million challenge fund to promote innovative solutions from the UK’s Fintech sector to address challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2019 the Government made it easier for Registered Social Landlords to refer tenants to social and community lenders, including credit unions. This should help encourage Registered Social Landlords to grow and develop existing new partnerships with credit unions.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 09/09/2019 11:38:02 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1146046

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Off-payroll Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the number of contracting roles that will be lost to the UK economy as a result of the roll-out of the off-payroll rules.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	290598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The off-payroll working rules (sometimes known as IR35) have been in place since 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees pay broadly the same amount of tax and NICs, regardless of the structure they work through. They do not affect the self-employed.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 the Government reformed the way the rules operate in the public sector in order to address widespread non-compliance. Evidence shows that compliance is improving, without reducing the flexibility of the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>Budget 2018 announced that the reform would be extended to all sectors, but not until April 2020, giving businesses more time to prepare. The Government has consulted extensively on the reform and HMRC are rolling out guidance as well as an education and support programme.</p><p> </p><p>On 11 July 2019, HMRC published a Tax Information and Impact Note setting out the costs to business and individuals of the reform. This can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 290599 question first answered 04/10/2019 13:30:31 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1146047

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Off-payroll Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on pay rates of the roll-out of the off-payroll rules.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	290599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The off-payroll working rules (sometimes known as IR35) have been in place since 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees pay broadly the same amount of tax and NICs, regardless of the structure they work through. They do not affect the self-employed.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 the Government reformed the way the rules operate in the public sector in order to address widespread non-compliance. Evidence shows that compliance is improving, without reducing the flexibility of the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>Budget 2018 announced that the reform would be extended to all sectors, but not until April 2020, giving businesses more time to prepare. The Government has consulted extensively on the reform and HMRC are rolling out guidance as well as an education and support programme.</p><p> </p><p>On 11 July 2019, HMRC published a Tax Information and Impact Note setting out the costs to business and individuals of the reform. This can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 290598 question first answered 04/10/2019 13:30:31 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1147600

registered interest
date	01/10/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Treasury: Jainism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will invite representatives of the Jain community to national events organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	292804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>Britain’s Jain community makes a positive contribution to life in this country. This Government values its contribution immensely and is always keen to work with the Jain community on matters that are important to them, and we will continue to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 08/10/2019 12:30:30 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas