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1199334

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Customs Intermediaries: Recruitment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government how many of the 50,000 additional UK customs agents required after the end of the transition period have been recruited so far; and how many have completed their training.
tabling member printed	Baroness Randerson
uin	HL5073
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a well-established industry of customs intermediaries which serve British businesses trading outside the EU. The sector is varied and made up of a number of different business models including specific customs brokers, freight forwarders and fast parcel operators; all of which will require varied numbers of staff. Government support of £34m has been designed flexibly to meet the needs of the sector to build capacity by covering training and IT innovation, as well as recruitment.</p><p> </p><p>This funding has led to almost 20,000 applications for customs training courses with providers. These courses will teach all the necessary skills required to handle customs declarations, and include the online UK Customs Academy founded by HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC do not employ customs agents/customs intermediaries directly and the 50,000 figure is an industry calculation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:57:25 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4230 label Biography information for Baroness Randerson

1199336

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Airports: Business Rates
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a business rate relief scheme for airports in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Randerson
uin	HL5075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday have also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 11:33:12 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4230 label Biography information for Baroness Randerson

1199339

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Aviation: Meetings
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government how many meetings have taken place between Treasury ministers and representatives of (1) UK airlines, (2) UK airports, and (3) aerospace manufacturers, in the last three months.
tabling member printed	Baroness Randerson
uin	HL5078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of stakeholders across sectors as part of ongoing policy development and implementation.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers and officials from the Department for Transport are in regular contact with airlines, airports and unions to understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on the sector and its workers.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 15/06/2020 13:10:23 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4230 label Biography information for Baroness Randerson

1199388

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Ministers of Religion
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to include ministers of religion in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL5086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The design of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), including the eligibility requirement that an individual’s trading profits must at least equal to their non-trading income, means it is targeted at those who are most reliant on their self-employment income.</p><p> </p><p>Where ministers of religion are paid through PAYE, they may be eligible to be furloughed and receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme. They may also be eligible for the other elements of the unprecedented financial support provided by the Government. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support increased levels of Universal Credit, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 11:10:55 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1199404

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Directors: Government Assistance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing a scheme to provide financial support to directors of small businesses who pay themselves through a dividend; and what steps they have taken since the Prime Minister committed to look into the options for that group of people on 27 May.
tabling member printed	Lord Allen of Kensington
uin	HL4891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Those who pay themselves a salary through their own company are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is available to employers, including owner-managers, and individuals paying themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible. Where furloughed directors, including companies with a sole director, need to carry out particular duties to fulfil their statutory obligations, they may do so provided it is no more than would reasonably be judged necessary for that purpose.</p><p> </p><p>Dividends are not covered by the CJRS or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity.</p><p>The Government has worked with stakeholders and carefully considered the case for providing a new system for those who pay themselves through dividends. However, targeting additional support for those who pay their wages via dividends is much more complex than existing income support schemes. Unlike announced support schemes, which use information HMRC already hold, such a scheme would require owner-managers to make a claim and submit information that HMRC could not efficiently or consistently verify to ensure payments were made to eligible companies, for eligible activity.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has heard the suggestion made that HMRC could adopt a ‘pay now, claw back later’ approach. However, such an approach would be highly resource-intensive to ensure appropriate compliance, and there is a high risk that incorrect or fraudulent payments could not be recovered, ultimately at the cost of UK taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further extension or changes to the SEISS or CJRS. However, other support is available. The CJRS and SEISS continue to be just two elements of a comprehensive package of support for individuals and businesses. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, increased levels of Universal Credit, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 14:56:14 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4304 label Biography information for Lord Allen of Kensington

1199419

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 20 May (HL4003), whether "until July" indicates that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be in place in its current form up to and including 30 June; and whether "after July" indicates that they will introduce more flexibility to the furlough scheme from 1 July.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain in its current form until 30 June, with flexible furloughing introduced from 1 July.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have previously been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim a CJRS grant for their normal hours not worked. From 1 July, employers will also be able to agree any working arrangements with previously furloughed employees.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June, and from 1 July the scheme will only be available to employers that have previously used the scheme in respect of employees they have previously furloughed. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full three-week period prior to 30 June. This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time was 10 June, in order for the current three-week furlough period to be completed by 30 June.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:48:02 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1199420

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Conditions of Employment: Pay
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 26 May (HL4404), what support they will offer those people who have not been furloughed but have taken a voluntary temporary reduction in pay; whether they expect those for have taken voluntary temporary pay reductions to have entered into written agreements with their employers; and if not, what evidence they will require before these people can access any support.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Workers whose earnings fall due to a reduction in their work hours may become eligible for support through the welfare system, including through Universal Credit (UC). Existing UC claimants will normally receive a higher award as a result of a fall in earnings. For employed claimants this will be updated automatically using information from the PAYE system.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has announced a significant package of temporary welfare measures to support those on low incomes through the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing the UC standard allowance by £20 per week.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:52:33 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1199422

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Ministerial Powers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that both HMRC and the Treasury agree the wording of ministerial directions before they are issued to (1) avoid confusion, and (2) obviate the need to subsequent corrections.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Treasury has recently issued a number of Directions under Section 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020. These set out that HMRC are responsible for the payment and management of the amounts paid out under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). These are distinct from Ministerial Directions, which are formal instructions from Ministers to proceed with a spending proposal where the Permanent Secretary has written to their Secretary of State expressing their concerns.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to the recent CJRS and SEISS Treasury Directions, as with all other aspects of tax policy, Treasury and HMRC officials work closely to deliver the priorities of Ministers.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:53:10 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1199426

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Companies: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prioritise companies which support UK environmental and climate targets for financial support administered as part of COVID-19 support programmes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
uin	HL5014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced in decades. Alongside the focus on supporting the economy, the Government continues to take its environmental responsibilities very seriously.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s support for business includes paying workers’ wages through the furlough scheme, deferring tax payments, over [£27] billion of government-backed loans and [£18.9] billion of corporate financing through the Bank of England. We will assess the impacts of potential interventions against their contribution to our environmental goals, including our climate change and air quality targets.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:51:56 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1199438

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Economic Situation: Isles of Scilly
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic resilience of the Isles of Scilly.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL5060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that every region and community, including the Isles of Scilly, will be feeling the impacts of this crisis and we are working to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on local communities across the United Kingdom.</p><p>The Government has provided an unprecedented national package of support; supporting businesses, protecting jobs, and providing our public services with the resources they need to cope with the current economic emergency. These measures are helping the most vulnerable people and business across all parts of the country.</p><p>We are working closely with local areas to make sure that individuals and businesses in all regions are directed to the right support during this difficult period.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 15/06/2020 13:10:02 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten