HM Treasury Ministers and officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in other government departments on a range of issues, including business rates.<\/p>
<\/p>
Since Budget 2016, we have announced cuts worth more than £13bn to businesses over the next five years, including switching to CPI indexation, and making Small Business Rate Relief more generous so that 655,000 of the smallest businesses pay no rates at all. The government also introduced a £3.6bn transitional relief scheme to support ratepayers facing bill increases as a result of the 2017 property revaluation.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Budget 2018 announced a new business rates retail discount, cutting bills by a third for eligible businesses. As is set out in guidance, music venues may be eligible for the discount where they are broadly similar in nature to those properties listed as eligible. It is for local authorities to make that judgement.<\/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" : "2019-01-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "208216"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-17T16:24:04.847Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Music Venues: Non-domestic Rates"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) he has and (b) officials of his Department have met with (i) his and (ii) their counterparts in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to discuss extending business rates relief to small music venues.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"} ], "uin" : "208217"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1016464", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1016464/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are no plans to establish a Public Inquiry on the conduct of the EU referendum. The EU referendum was carried out based on legislation passed by Parliament and almost three quarters of the electorate took part. The EU referendum provisions were carefully scrutinised and ratified by Parliament. In line with the precedent for referendums, there was a six week period in which the formal result and administration of the EU Referendum could be challenged by judicial review. We treat the integrity and security of our democratic processes extremely seriously.<\/p>
<\/p>
If offences are alleged, it is right that they are investigated thoroughly by the appropriate agencies. That is what is happening at the moment and those agencies and investigations are independent of government.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1609", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chloe Smith"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Norwich North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chloe Smith"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-04T12:24:02.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Membership of EU: Referendums"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will establish a public inquiry (a) to examine matters relating to campaigning and foreign influence in the EU referendum campaign that are not currently being examined by the police, the National Crime Agency or the Information Commissioner; (b) to consider the consequences of potentially irregular and unlawful conduct during the EU referendum campaign; and (c) to make recommendations for appropriate action.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"} ], "uin" : "196772"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1012489", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1012489/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Details of Ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk. Details about such meetings, including minutes are confidential - to allow full and frank discussions between parties. Ladbrokes Coral (who have since been acquired by GVC Holdings PLC) were one of the attendees at a roundtable with the former Minister for Sport and Civil Society on 7 March 2018 to discuss the Consultation on Proposals for Changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures.<\/p>
<\/p>
The current Minister for Sport and Civil Society and I have not met representatives of GVC Holding PLC since being appointed.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1560", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kenilworth and Southam"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jeremy Wright"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T15:02:39.233Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "GVC Holdings"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the (a) dates and minutes of meetings and (b) correspondence between the Government and GVC Holdings PLC in the last 12 months; and whether the timing of the vote on the FOBT Statutory Instrument was raised in either case.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"} ], "uin" : "194691"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/942600", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/942600/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Gambling Commission requires all operators licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 to make a contribution towards the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm. It does not specify how much this should be, nor which organisations should be supported.<\/p>
<\/p>
GambleAware is the leading charity commissioning research, education and treatment, and currently asks operators to donate a minimum of 0.1% of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY). Most do, with GambleAware receiving £9.4m in 2017/18. Industry also made donations to other bodies supporting research, education and treatment, bringing industry\u2019s collective support for RET to above 0.1% of its GGY.<\/p>
We considered research, education and treatment as part of our Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility and published our response on 17 May. The Review looked at protections across the gambling industry and support for those who experience harm, including the arrangements for funding support.<\/ins><\/p> We want to see an effective and sustainable voluntary system, with improved coordination and better understanding of what measures are most effective to ensure future funding increases will be spent in the most effective way. Our response outlined a number of initiatives for improving the current system, increasing access to services and strengthening the evidence base. The Government does not consider that introducing a statutory levy is necessary or appropriate at this stage.<\/ins><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3950", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chatham and Aylesford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tracey Crouch"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/942600/answer/previousversion/70502", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3950", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chatham and Aylesford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tracey Crouch"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-19T12:10:11.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-19T13:05:29.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gambling"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory contributions for the (i) research, (ii) education and (iii) treatment of gambling disorders.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"}
], "uin" : "164309"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/746161", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Leader of the House"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/746161/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I have been informed by the Clerk of the House as Accounting Officer that the Democratic Unionist Party does qualify for Short money as an opposition party under the terms of the Resolution of the House of 26 May 1999.<\/p> Following the General Election of 8 June 2017, the full year Short Money allocation for the Democratic Unionist Party is:<\/p> Main Budget: £222,305.00<\/p> Travel Budget: £4,925.14<\/p> There is no Ministerial responsibility for Short money, which comes under the auspices of the Members Estimate Committee, for which I act as spokesperson.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-03T14:54:45.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "34"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Leader of the House"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-06-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Democratic Unionist Party: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Leader of the House, what the allocation of Short Money to the Democratic Unionist Party is.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"}
], "uin" : "1655"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/723227", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/723227/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-04-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/723227/answer/previousversion/46572", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-04-27T09:46:50.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-04-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Self-employed: Married People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many couples there are in the UK where both partners are self-employed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"}
], "uin" : "71669"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/715133", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/715133/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not centrally held and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> More broadly, I would note that the Government is aware of concerns regarding the increase in the size of the private hire market and the impact of new and innovative ways of working on traditional business models. The Government supports choice for consumers and wants to see both taxis and private hire vehicles prosper.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-04-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-04-18T12:00:31.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Taxis: Greater London"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether representations were made by or on behalf of the former Prime Minister to the former Mayor of London on the regulation of the taxi and private-hire industry in London.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Bromwich East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Watson"}
], "uin" : "69746"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/709953", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/709953/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has put in place a £3.6 billion package of transitional relief to help businesses facing an increase in business rates. The Budget on 8 March set out a further package to support businesses that may have difficulty paying business rates, including a £1000 discount for eligible pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000. My Department will shortly publish a consultation setting out proposals for the eligibility criteria for this discount. Additionally, £110 million will be available to assist those ratepayers losing small business rates relief or rural rate relief as a result of revaluation.<\/p> The Government is also making available a £300 million discretionary relief fund over the next four years to enable local authorities to help individual businesses that are facing increased rates bills. Decisions on how this discretionary fund should be distributed will be for local authorities. A consultation on this scheme is available at:<\/p>