{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&_metadata=all&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&_page=0&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Julian+Sturdy&AnsweringBody.=Treasury&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2024-02-28T17%3A21%3A53.707Z", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1677808", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1677808/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Tax evasion is always illegal and HMRC\u2019s aim is for everyone to pay the tax that is legally due, no matter who they are. HMRC\u2019s role is to make it easy to get tax right for the compliant majority and make it hard for the dishonest minority to cheat the system.<\/p>
HMRC has achieved a long-term reduction in the UK\u2019s tax gap from 7.5% in 2005-06 to 4.8% (£35.8 billion) in 2021-22 (the latest estimate). The tax gap is composed of a range of customer behaviours: non-payment, use of avoidance schemes, legal interpretation, error, failure to take reasonable care, evasion, the hidden economy and criminal attacks on the tax system.<\/p>
<\/p>
Evasion is when people or businesses deliberately do not declare or account for what they owe. It made up 0.6% or £4.7 billion of the £35.8 billion.<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC works to prevent fraud, tackle avoidance and evasion by designing policies and processes which minimise risk, by promoting good compliance with the tax system through education initiatives and responding with a range of interventions, capabilities and sanctions given to them by Parliament, including the exercising of strong civil and criminal investigation powers.<\/p>
<\/p>
Since 2010, the Government has introduced over 200 measures to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, including 21 measures introduced since 2021 that are forecast to raise over £7 billion. Of these measures, 4 measures were announced at the Autumn Statement 2022 and are forecast to raise £5 billion in tax revenues over the next five years.<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC will continue to work hard, putting in place measures which mean we can go even further in reducing the tax gap, and making sure taxpayers and businesses meet their obligations and pay the tax they owe.<\/p>
<\/p>
Published information: \u2018Measuring tax gaps tables 2023\u2019 (Table 7.1) at gov.uk.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4407", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nigel Huddleston"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nigel Huddleston"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-19T16:04:47.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tax Evasion"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle tax evasion.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"} ], "uin" : "6786"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656051", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656051/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps income tax and NICs rates under review. Any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor at fiscal events in the context of the wider public finances.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "196631"} , {"_value" : "196632"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-09-06T16:13:56.113Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Taxation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to reduce taxes on lower earners.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"} ], "uin" : "196082"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1611698", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1611698/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is committed to the aim of ensuring that people, regardless of their background or income, have access to useful and affordable digital financial products and services.<\/p>
<\/p>
Access to a bank account is an important way to help achieve this. The government has legislated to require the nine largest personal current account providers in the UK to provide basic bank accounts, so customers are equipped with a bank card and can access digital banking and payment services. As of June 2022, 7.4 million basic bank accounts were open. In addition, like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services.<\/p>
<\/p>
To facilitate the adoption of digital services more broadly, the government is also supporting the roll-out of digital connectivity across the UK and improving access to digital skills training for adults.<\/p>
The government also recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK including those in vulnerable groups. The government is taking legislation to protect access to cash across the UK through Parliament as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Further details can be found on the Parliament website: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3326<\/a><\/p>"}
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, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arundel and South Downs"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Griffith"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help digitally enfranchise the elder generation and vulnerable groups as cash use becomes less accepted in society.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1584882", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1584882/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As technology and consumer behaviour changes, it should remain the choice of individual organisations as to whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card, based on their consideration of factors such as customer preference and cost.<\/p> <\/p> Nonetheless, the government recognises that many people continue to transact in cash across the UK and engages closely with financial regulators to monitor and assess trends relating to cash. Research published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2020 found that 98% of small businesses surveyed would never turn away a customer if they needed to pay by cash.<\/p> <\/p> The government is currently taking legislation to protect access to cash across the UK through Parliament as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022. The legislation will establish the FCA as the lead regulator for access to cash with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. This will support local businesses to continue accepting cash.<\/p> <\/p>