A key purpose of the Hartz reforms was to increase flexibility in the German labour market and reduce tax pressures on low-paid and temporary workers. It helped Germany stop a long-term increase in unemployment.<\/p>
<\/p>
The UK unemployment rate currently stands at 4.3%, a 42 year low. The UK ranks very well internationally on labour market flexibility. It is a key strength of our economy and has played an important role in achieving the near record employment levels that we currently enjoy.<\/p>
<\/p>
We also exempt many low-paid jobs from income tax. This government has increased the personal allowance, and as a result, 1.2m individuals will be taken out of income tax altogether by 2018-19 compared to 2015-16.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also introducing Universal Credit, a long overdue and necessary reform. It responds dynamically to changes in income and ensures that it always pays to work more.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-07T14:22:39.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Hartz Reforms on employment in Germany, what support his Department provides to people in marginal employment in the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/88", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sevenoaks"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Michael Fallon"} ], "uin" : "116301"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797368", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797368/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The childcare service helpline is run by National Savings and Investments (NS&I) who are HMRC\u2019s delivery partner for the service. They have recently increased the staff working on the helpline. HMRC are working with NS&I to deliver training and support to the childcare service helpline to improve the quality of service.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-07T14:25:17.17Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Day Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the problems with the Childcare Service helpline have been resolved.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4640", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Linden"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Linden"} ], "uin" : "116331"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797400", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797400/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Up to £1.5bn has already been allocated to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Whilst several representations were received for further funding, there are no plans to reopen the Payment Scheme or to allocate further funds to it.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4095", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Barclay"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Barclay"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-07T13:36:01.453Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations his Department received ahead of the autumn Budget 2017 on compensation for Equitable Life investors.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4656", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Layla Moran"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford West and Abingdon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Layla Moran"} ], "uin" : "116363"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797516", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797516/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
A significant proportion of the Treasury\u2019s work is in some way related to exiting the European Union and this fluctuates over time as it interacts with Treasury\u2019s other priorities.<\/p>
<\/p>
Many staff will work both on EU Exit and other priorities so it is not possible to accurately estimate the number of Treasury officials who will be engaged on EU Exit work at any one time.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "116666"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-07T15:40:51.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Treasury: Brexit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to the House of Lords European Union Committee on 31 October, how many civil servants his Department (a) has recruited and (b) expects to recruit to work on leaving the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/410", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jon Trickett"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemsworth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jon Trickett"} ], "uin" : "116479"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797582", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797582/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government undertook the last fundamental review of business rates in 2016 and announced major reforms worth approx. £9bn to businesses by the end of the parliament. At Autumn Budget 2017, the government delivered more support on business rates including businesses\u2019 top priorities to bring forward the switch to CPI indexation, revalue properties more frequently and to address the staircase tax. As a next step, the government is also reviewing the wider taxation of the digital economy. This includes ensuring international corporate tax rules deliver fair results across different businesses and that sellers operating through online marketplaces pay the right amount of VAT.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3935", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mel Stride"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Devon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mel Stride"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-05T16:00:03.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Non-domestic Rates"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "Whether his Department plans to review the business rates system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4639", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bim Afolami"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hitchin and Harpenden"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bim Afolami"} ], "uin" : "116545"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797622", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797622/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HMRC are already able to require a partnership carrying on a trade, profession or business to make a tax return. HMRC would require a partnership (including a Scottish Limited Partnership) to make a return where there is partnership income that is taxable in the UK in the hands of one or more of the partners. A return must include a statement of the amount of income or loss for that period, together with the allocation of the income or loss between the partners, including those overseas.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3935", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mel Stride"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Devon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mel Stride"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-05T16:03:23.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Scottish Limited Partnerships"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to requiring Scottish Limited Partnerships with offshore partners to file tax returns with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "116585"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797637", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797637/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested is not available. Information on money laundering can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655198/National_risk_assessment_of_money_laundering_and_terrorist_financing_2017_pdf_web.pdf<\/a><\/p> Information on tax gaps can be found at:<\/p>