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1189017

registered interest
date	21/04/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of people who have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme being able to continue to work on critical elements of their employers' operations not related to income generation or trading; and when he plans to respond to the letter dated 31 March 2020 from the hon. Member for Edinburgh East on that subject.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
uin	38566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help those who otherwise would have been made unemployed and to provide support to businesses as quickly as possible. Allowing employers to move staff to part-time and claim the difference would be contrary to the policy goal and substantially increase the risk of fraud. It is also inconsistent with public health guidance for people to stay at home. However, there is flexibility in the scheme as employers can decide how many staff to furlough, and staff can be furloughed multiple times while the scheme is in operation, provided they are furloughed for a minimum of 3 weeks.<p> </p>The Honourable Member will appreciate that at this unprecedented time the Government is receiving very significant volumes of correspondence. HM Treasury officials are working to ensure that all Honourable Members receive a reply to correspondence as soon as possible.<p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 27/04/2020 08:22:54 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1190754

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Remote Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HMRC is not rolling out telephony homeworking first to employees already working from home; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	40674
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>HMRC’s frontline teams of key workers are doing a very important job to support the UK; protecting people’s livelihoods, keeping cash in businesses, helping people to stay employed and supporting families.</p><p> </p><p>The safety of their staff is HMRC’s top priority. Staff who do not need to be in the office are working from home, and HMRC are following public health advice to keep their offices safe where services cannot be delivered from home.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC took steps quickly to enable as many colleagues as possible to work from home at this time, expanding their remote working network, moving work around, and training hundreds of their customer advisers on webchat, which can be worked on from home. This means that about 75% of HMRC’s people are working at home.</p><p> </p><p>Working telephony at home has been largely untested and presents potential risks that need to be managed carefully. In March, HMRC started a small-scale trial to look at this, and to understand in detail aspects like the experience and wellbeing of colleagues doing it, the customer experience, how secure and suitable home environments are for this type of work, and what extra equipment and network capacity would be needed.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC’s original plan was to evaluate their initial small-scale trial of home telephony before looking at next steps. However, as HMRC prepared for a large surge in customer calls for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), HMRC decided that there was an opportunity to push the home telephony trial further and faster than planned. HMRC have now expanded the home telephony testing to about 7,000 colleagues, supporting CJRS and some of their business as usual lines.</p><p> </p><p>The findings from this trial will help HMRC to understand how far they can increase the number of roles that can be done from home at any one time.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC remain focused on and committed to keeping their people safe, whether in an office or at home, while also protecting their vital services to taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:38:59 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1190757

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which HMRC Regional Centre has construction work continued since the 17 March 2020; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	40675
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Construction or fit out work currently continues at HMRC’s Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham and Stratford construction sites, in line with the guidance issued to employers and businesses on COVID-19 from the UK Government.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC are working with contractors across all UK sites to ensure that where work is continuing they are working diligently in line with the Safe Operating Procedures as issued by the Construction Leadership Council, in conjunction with BuildUK.</p><p> </p><p>All sites listed have been assessed in relation to Government guidelines in response to COVID-19, and procedures put in place. This meant that work was suspended initially at most sites. Where work continues, it does so under close management, and the strict controls are regularly reviewed to ensure social distancing on site. Controls in place include a cap on the number of people allowed on site, introduction of one-way systems, use of stairs not lifts, and staggered break times.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:28:11 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1190758

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the amount of additional (a) staff and (b) labour required by HMRC to enable that organisation to implement the (i) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and (ii) Self-employment Income Scheme; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	40676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>HMRC have implemented the CJRS scheme with the resources already within HMRC. HMRC are determining the number required for the SEISS, but that will come from existing HMRC resource.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:31:30 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1193240

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will amend the Treasury Direction in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to enable directors who have furloughed themselves to undertake action beyond filing accounts.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	43678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>As noted in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance, company directors are bound by the Companies Act 2006 to fulfil their statutory duties. The Government aims to ensure that salaried directors can be furloughed and supported through this scheme, while still being able to meet their statutory duties. The guidance is clear that furloughed directors should do no more work than would reasonably be judged necessary to meet their statutory requirements, and that they should not do work of a kind they would carry out in normal circumstances to generate commercial revenue or provide services to or on behalf of their company.</p><p> </p><p>This scheme supplements the other significant support announced for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at <a href="http://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/" target="_blank">www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 15/05/2020 12:19:45 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1194284

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Remote Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of permitting HMRC staff to continue working from home after the covid-19 lockdown to minimise (a) redundancies and (b) excessive travel times to Regional Centres.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	45307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text HMRC have been clear that, if staff can move to a regional centre, transitional site or specialist site, and have the skills HMRC need, there will be a role for them. HMRC have a range of policies and support in place, including remote working, to facilitate this. HMRC are providing critical support to the country at this time, and they will seek to sustain any changes to their ways of working that are proven to lead to better outcomes in the long term for the vital public services that they deliver. answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 18/05/2020 16:00:09 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1194287

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the timeline for HMRC regional centres to come into operation.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	45308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>HMRC recognise that COVID-19 is having an impact on construction and fit-out of their new regional centres, and that this poses a risk to scheduled delivery timescales.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC’s initial planning has been on the basis that construction activity will be delayed by about three months, with a further month to re-mobilise fully. However, delays will vary by location. HMRC are working with developers and contractors to monitor the impact on delivery timelines, and to assess any changes over the coming weeks and months.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 18/05/2020 16:09:11 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1225705

registered interest
date	16/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the current lease arrangements are for HMRC Regional Centres throughout the UK; what the (a) duration and (b) end date is of each those leases; and which of those leases contain break clauses.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	75388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>HMRC’s Regional Centres will have leases of 25 years’ duration with most containing breaks at 20 years; all include the ability to assign or sublet should the need arise. End dates depend on when each one starts, which varies according to individual site construction and fit-out programmes and when they are completed.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC published their People and Equality Impact Assessments (PEIA) on GOV.UK on 17 July 2018. The PEIA sets out the action HMRC are taking to mitigate potential impacts of the Locations Programme, which includes additional support being put in place for employees. HMRC are currently undertaking the annual refresh of the document and will publish it when HMRC have been able to consider all necessary factors. In 2019, the annual update was published on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/people-and-equality-impact-assessment-for-hmrcs-locations-programme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/people-and-equality-impact-assessment-for-hmrcs-locations-programme</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 75391 question first answered 21/07/2020 15:50:32 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1225706

registered interest
date	16/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of staff throughout HMRC; and whether he plans to recruit additional staff to HMRC as a result of his summer financial statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	75389
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have a core role in supporting the Government’s fiscal and economic objectives. The Government ensures that HMRC are sufficiently resourced to deliver commitments made. As and when HMRC are asked to deliver new priorities, HMRC provide advice to ministers on the resourcing implications.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/07/2020 13:56:00 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1225707

registered interest
date	16/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Eat Out to Help Out Scheme: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential for fraudulent claims in relation to the Eat out, help out programme; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	75390
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government expects the vast majority of organisations to do the right thing, but it is recognised that within any scheme there is potential for fraud. HMRC have carried out a risk assessment of the scheme, which includes reviewing the potential for fraudulent claims.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC reserve the right to follow up on claims and take whatever action is necessary if people abuse the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (EOHOS). In line with the other payment-out regimes they administer, HMRC will undertake pre-payment authentication and risking in order to identify and block fraudulent EOHOS claims, and will carry out proportionate risk-based, post-payment compliance checks.</p><p> </p><p>Fraud and abuse of the scheme can be reported through HMRC’s online tax evasion reporting form, details of which can be found on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>All reports received by HMRC are subject to review and the appropriate and necessary actions are taken in response to the reports.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/07/2020 14:02:27 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens