HM Treasury<p>This Government's long term economic plan has kept interest rates at record lows for hardworking people across the country.</p><p> </p><p>Many lenders impose affordability stress tests on their mortgage lending decisions to ensure that the mortgage will remain affordable should interest rates rise. The Financial Conduct Authority's Mortgage Market Review rules, which came into force in April this year will require all mortgage lenders to conduct such a stress test.</p><p> </p><p>Although UKAR does not engage in new lending, UKAR runs a range of modelling scenarios to understand the potential effects of interest rate rises on customers. This work helps UKAR to identify customers who may be susceptible to higher interest rates and to engage with such customers at an early stage.</p><p> </p><p>UKAR assists all customers who wish to switch mortgage providers.</p><p> </p><p>NRAM and Bradford and Bingley are managed by UK Asset Resolution Limited (UKAR) which was established in 2010 to manage the disposal and rundown of outstanding assets at Bradford & Bingley and Northern Rock Asset Management in an integrated way, with a view to creating value for the taxpayer. UKAR is managed at arm's length from Government, on commercial principles.</p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not for the Chancellor to discuss detailed commercial matters with UKAR.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-13182196false2014-05-13T12:00:00.00Z142014-01-071House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with UKAR regarding the potential effect on customers of a rise in interest rates.falseKilmarnock and LoudounCathy Jamieson182195HM Treasury<p>This Government's long term economic plan has kept interest rates at record lows for hardworking people across the country.</p><p> </p><p>Many lenders impose affordability stress tests on their mortgage lending decisions to ensure that the mortgage will remain affordable should interest rates rise. The Financial Conduct Authority's Mortgage Market Review rules, which came into force in April this year will require all mortgage lenders to conduct such a stress test.</p><p> </p><p>Although UKAR does not engage in new lending, UKAR runs a range of modelling scenarios to understand the potential effects of interest rate rises on customers. This work helps UKAR to identify customers who may be susceptible to higher interest rates and to engage with such customers at an early stage.</p><p> </p><p>UKAR assists all customers who wish to switch mortgage providers.</p><p> </p><p>NRAM and Bradford and Bingley are managed by UK Asset Resolution Limited (UKAR) which was established in 2010 to manage the disposal and rundown of outstanding assets at Bradford & Bingley and Northern Rock Asset Management in an integrated way, with a view to creating value for the taxpayer. UKAR is managed at arm's length from Government, on commercial principles.</p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not for the Chancellor to discuss detailed commercial matters with UKAR.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-13182195false2014-05-13T12:00:00.00Z142014-01-071House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of an interest rate rise on customers whose mortgages are held by UKAR; and what support is available to assist such customers to switch providers.falseKilmarnock and LoudounCathy Jamieson182196HM Treasury<p>Since January 2011, central government departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the tenders issued and contracts they award with a value over £10,000 (excluding VAT) (www.gov.uk/contractsfinder).</p><p> </p><p>Public Procurement Regulations require that prescribed procurement procedures are used when procurements exceed the EU contract threshold values. This legal framework helps to ensure that public procurement is conducted in a fair and open manner both within the UK and across the EU.</p><p> </p><p>Less than two percent of all contracts were let under the restricted procedure in each of the last three years.</p><p> </p><p>In 2010/11 there was one contract let under the restricted procedure. This was for actuarial support to the independent commission on Equitable Life Payments that was set up by this government to recommend how best to fairly allocate funds provided for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme (ELPS) and had a contract value of £1million.</p><p> </p><p>In 2011/12 there were two contracts let under the restricted procedure. They were (i) Corporate Financial Advice framework contract (estimated contract value of £5 million over the 2 years but no guaranteed spend)and (ii) a contract for actuarial support for (ELPS) in making fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policyholders who suffered financial losses as a result of Government maladministration which occurred in the regulation of Equitable Life. The contract value was £5.4 million.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The information requested for the proportion and value of HM Treasury contracts that have been let via framework agreements and where a tendering process involving the use of a pre-qualification questionnaire in each of the last three years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-07false2014-05-07T12:00:00.00Z142014-01-091House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion and value of his Department's contracts have been let (a) under the restricted procedure, (b) by the open procedure, (c) via framework agreements and (d) via a tendering process involving the use of a pre-qualification questionnaire in each of the last three years.falseNottingham EastChris Leslie182696HM Treasury<p>100% of permanent and temporary staff at HM Treasury are paid the Living Wage or above.</p><p> </p><p>HM Treasury fully complies with EU procurement directives and awards contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer. Nevertheless, we have encouraged contractors to commit to paying a living wage and expect all employers to pay at least the national minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p>The Government supports businesses that choose to pay the Living Wage however the Government's main policy on wages is the National Minimum Wage, which has continued to protect the relative wages of the low paid. This is independently set by the Low Pay Commission at a level that maximises their wages without reducing employment prospect. It is for workers and employers to decide the level of wages above the minimum wage based on current circumstances. This includes the Government as a procurer and an employer. Over 95%, around 20 million employees earn above the minimum wage and the majority of public sector workers currently earn above the Living Wage.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-07false2014-05-07T12:00:00.00Z142014-02-041House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) contract staff in his Department as paid the living wage or above.falseBradford EastMr David Ward186697HM Treasury<p>I can confirm that Ministers have a total of 256.08 sq m of office space currently assigned to them.</p><p> </p><p>In total, there are 35staff working in ministerial offices, compared to 38 members of staff in 2009. This is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>Range B: 6</p><p>Range C: 8</p><p>Range D: 13</p><p>Range E: 5</p><p>Range E2: 2</p><p>SCS: 1</p><p> </p><p>These figures are based on the latest data available for staffing numbers for HMT Treasury as of May 2014.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-14false2014-05-14T12:00:00.00Z142014-02-121House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers.falseNorth DurhamMr Kevan Jones188327HM Treasury<p>Of the 495 cases submitted to the Independent Review Panel to date, 145 were classified as being about the level of payment received.</p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-08false2014-05-08T12:00:00.00Z14TreasuryCaTreasury2014-04-021House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many appeals have been made to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme on the level of compensation offered since the scheme began making payments.falseAltrincham and Sale WestMr Graham Brady194827HM Treasury<p>The IMF Board is expected to consider Ukraine's application for a financial assistance programme in April. The agreement of a programme and subsequent disbursement of funds is also dependent on the Ukrainian authorities adopting a set of reforms as set out by the IMF.</p><p> </p><p>The latest IMF statement, following staff level agreement with the Ukrainian authorities on a potential programme, can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2014/pr14131.htm" target="_blank">http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2014/pr14131.htm</a></p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-06false2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z14TreasuryCaTreasury2014-04-031House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's latest assessment is of the likely timeframe within which International Monetary Fund funds will be released for the Ukraine.falsePaisley and Renfrewshire SouthMr Douglas Alexander195125HM Treasury<p>The Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The Action Group on Cross Border Remittances has been established in accordance with the Written Ministerial Statement laid down in Parliament on 10 October 2013. The Action Group includes representatives for UK banks, the private sector, anti money laundering supervisors, civil society and international partners.</p><p> </p><p>Three Action Group meetings have taken place and a number of streams of work are underway; the Action Group is monitoring changes to the market, developing guidance for money service businesses (MSBs) and banks, promoting a shared understanding of risk and developing a ‘Safer Corridor' pilot for Somalia. We are also coordinating with international partners through the G20 framework.</p><p> </p><p>You may wish to keep up to date with the work of the Action Group by visiting its web page: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances</a></p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-05-08false2014-05-08T12:00:00.00Z14TreasuryCaTreasury2014-04-041House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 914W, on financial services, what progress has been made on the continuation of money transfer services by UK banks; what recent discussions he has had with international partners and regulators on this matter; and if he will make a statement.falseCardiff South and PenarthStephen Doughty195376HM Treasury<p>The Government legislated in the Banking Reform Act 2013 to require the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to introduce a cap on the cost of high-cost short-term credit, including payday loans, in order to protect consumers from excessive costs. In designing the cap, the FCA will take into account the interest rate and other fees and charges which may be incurred in relation to a high-cost loan.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the FCA's powers to cap the cost of credit in the Financial Services Act 2012, the Government gave the FCA specific powers to prevent a lender enforcing a credit agreement and recovering the debt, if the agreement contravenes its rules on the cost of credit. It can also require that any money or property transferred under the credit agreement must be returned.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA is currently conducting analysis to inform the design of the cap; it has committed to publishing its proposed rules which implement the cap in July. The FCA plans to publish final rules in the autumn and all lenders must be compliant with the cap by 2 January 2015. The Government supports the FCA's proposed timetable for implementing the cap: it allows the FCA appropriate time to conduct analysis, consult on its proposals and ensure that firms are fully compliant by January. It also allows the FCA to draw on the insight of the Competition and Markets Authority's study into payday lenders in designing the cap.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-04-29195597false2014-04-29T12:00:00.00Z14TreasuryCaTreasury2014-04-071House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make personal debt charged at an APR of over 30 per cent unrecoverable; and if he will make a statement.falseGreat GrimsbyAustin Mitchell195592HM Treasury<p>The Government legislated in the Banking Reform Act 2013 to require the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to introduce a cap on the cost of high-cost short-term credit, including payday loans, in order to protect consumers from excessive costs. In designing the cap, the FCA will take into account the interest rate and other fees and charges which may be incurred in relation to a high-cost loan.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the FCA's powers to cap the cost of credit in the Financial Services Act 2012, the Government gave the FCA specific powers to prevent a lender enforcing a credit agreement and recovering the debt, if the agreement contravenes its rules on the cost of credit. It can also require that any money or property transferred under the credit agreement must be returned.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA is currently conducting analysis to inform the design of the cap; it has committed to publishing its proposed rules which implement the cap in July. The FCA plans to publish final rules in the autumn and all lenders must be compliant with the cap by 2 January 2015. The Government supports the FCA's proposed timetable for implementing the cap: it allows the FCA appropriate time to conduct analysis, consult on its proposals and ensure that firms are fully compliant by January. It also allows the FCA to draw on the insight of the Competition and Markets Authority's study into payday lenders in designing the cap.</p><p> </p>South NorthamptonshireAndrea Leadsom2014-04-29195592false2014-04-29T12:00:00.00Z14TreasuryCaTreasury2014-04-071House of CommonsTo ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to limit the interest rate payable on payday loans; and if he will make a statement.falseGreat GrimsbyAustin Mitchell19559710015776