The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is an independent fiscal institution. Robert Chote\u2019s comments in the New Statesman relate to an OBR judgement set out in their November 2017 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The Government adopts the OBR\u2019s independent forecasts as the official forecasts for the UK and as such, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on Robert Chote\u2019s comments.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T12:49:28.247Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Trade with EU"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments made by Robert Chote, Chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility, in the New Statesman on 24 January, that most of the work that trade economists have done shows that the costs of leaving the single market and the customs union are greater than the benefits.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Birt"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Birt"} ], "uin" : "HL5585"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845386", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845386/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The United Kingdom and Japan have a strong existing bilateral trade and investment relationship. We have agreed that as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union we will work quickly to establish a new economic partnership between Japan and the UK based on the final terms of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The UK is clear that it wants a smooth and orderly transition to its new relationship with the EU and our key partners, including Japan. The UK welcomes the many high value and high profile Japanese investments in the UK, and will work closely with Japanese business and government to build on these investments in future<\/p>
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The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. Our programme of analysis is constantly developing and evolving, and included sectoral analysis.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T12:54:30.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Foreign Companies: Japan"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of (1) the potential impact on the UK economy if Japanese companies decided to relocate away from the UK following the UK\u2019s exit from the EU, and (2) any comments by the Japanese Ambassador on this issue.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Birt"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Birt"} ], "uin" : "HL5586"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845411", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845411/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HMRC uses a wide range of risk assessment and compliance responses to identify and tackle non-compliance. The introduction of a reverse charge can be effective in preventing certain types of VAT fraud. It is used selectively and targeted at the highest risks such as mobile phones and, most recently, telecommunications.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T13:02:37.197Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Metals: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government why reverse charge VAT has been applied to products such as mobile phones and gold, but not to scrap metal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2472", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} ], "uin" : "HL5611"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845412", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845412/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HMRC has identified metals as a common commodity used to perpetrate Missing Trader Intra Community (MTIC) fraud and will take all necessary and proportionate steps to tackle it. HMRC is committed to tackling tax fraud through the most effective means possible, and has successfully reduced fraud levels by a significant amount.<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC works closely with businesses to raise their awareness and understanding of risks, promoting good governance and risk assessment, in order to minimise the likelihood of them becoming involved in fraudulent supply chains.<\/p>
One of HMRC\u2019s approaches for tackling MTIC fraud is to continuously monitor traders in risk sectors. This enables HMRC to quickly identify suspect activity and make early interventions.<\/p>
HMRC also carries out criminal investigations and prosecutions in line with its published criminal investigation policy as part of this wide ranging programme of interventions to combat MTIC fraud.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T12:45:03.38Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Metals: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps HMRC is taking to tackle carousel or missing trader intra-community fraud in the scrap metal sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2472", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} ], "uin" : "HL5612"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845413", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845413/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HMRC meets with a variety of trade bodies as part of its general approach to assessing and tackling non-compliance, including the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA). This has included discussing ways in which HMRC can provide guidance to BMRA members about spotting VAT fraud.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T12:55:02.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Metals: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with scrap metal trade bodies about reverse charge VAT.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2472", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Faulkner of Worcester"} ], "uin" : "HL5613"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845414", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/845414/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "I refer the Hon Member to the answer that I gave on 4 December to the Rt Hon. Baroness Primarolo (HL3403). The information is also available in Chapter 2 of the \u2018Measuring Tax Gaps\u2019 publication.[1]
<\/p>