Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government\u2019s top priority. Our no deal preparations will ensure the country is prepared for every eventuality. Extensive preparations have been underway for over two years and these are continuing.<\/p>
We have passed critical legislation, signed international agreements, recruited additional staff and guaranteed certain EU funding in a no deal scenario. Border Force is recruiting c.600 additional Border Force officers and HMRC have already hired over 2,300 extra staff for Brexit, including additional operational staff, like customs inspectors.<\/p>
In September 2018, and again in December and February, HMRC sent letters to the 145,000 VAT registered businesses who currently trade with the EU advising them what action they need to take on customs in the event of no deal.<\/p>
We have also published and updated 106 specific technical notices to help businesses, citizens and consumers prepare for a no-deal scenario.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3977", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Daventry"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Heaton-Harris"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-28T13:58:33.367Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps the Government is taking to prepare contingency plans for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"} ], "uin" : "909509"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Solar is a UK success story. Since 2010, solar capacity deployed has accounted for 81% of total capacity deployed under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme. Cost reductions have now enabled developers of large-scale solar PV to bring forward projects without Government subsidy, with two such sites having already deployed.<\/p>
<\/p>
On 8 January, Government published a consultation on the future for small-scale low-carbon generation. This can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-for-small-scale-low-carbon-generation<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-12T16:32:37.047Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Solar Power: Competition"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the competitiveness of solar power.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"}
], "uin" : "216978"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1030179", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1030179/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Universal Credit has had a positive impact since its start, as shown through published research and analysis. This research shows us that people are spending more time looking for work, applying for more jobs and even doing jobs they would not have considered doing before. Our Labour Market Impacts Analysis is available online at gov.uk.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T18:02:07.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "What assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of universal credit in helping people into work.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"}
], "uin" : "908382"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020130", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020130/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This Government is committed to fully involving Gibraltar as we leave the EU together. Most recently, DExEU Secretary of State, Steve Barclay, and I met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, on 5 December, and the Prime Minister met him on 15 November. We also meet regularly in the Joint Ministerial Council, our primary forum for engagement, which has met seven times since the referendum.<\/p> Chief Minister Picardo observed in his statement on 23 October that we have worked \u201chand in glove\u201d throughout the negotiations on Withdrawal. He described the deal as one which \u2018works for Gibraltar\u2019 and welcomed the \u201cunwavering commitment of the United Kingdom that it will negotiate future trade and other arrangements with the EU that work for all of the British family of nations, including Gibraltar.\u201d<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-06T14:11:34.413Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gibraltar: Politics and Government"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps the Government has taken to consult the Gibraltarian Government during negotiations for the UK to leave the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"}
], "uin" : "908051"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020396", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020396/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Disguised Remuneration schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. When taking into account the loan they received, loan scheme users have on average twice as much income as the average UK taxpayer.<\/p> <\/p> HMRC data indicates that fewer than 3% of those affected work in medical services (doctors and nurses) and teaching. Further information can be found in HMRC\u2019s issue briefing: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-issue-briefing-disguised-remuneration-charge-on-loans/hmrc-issue-briefing-disguised-remuneration-charge-on-loans<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> HMRC is working hard to help individuals to get out of tax avoidance for good. HMRC does not want to make anybody bankrupt and very few cases ever reach that stage.<\/p> <\/p> HMRC has simplified the process for those who choose to settle their use of avoidance schemes before the charge arises, so that those earning less than £50,000 a year and no longer engaging in tax avoidance can agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need for detailed supporting information. There is no maximum period within which an overall settlement can be agreed, and HMRC will deal with individual cases appropriately and sympathetically.<\/p> <\/p> Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals of over 650 million pounds. More than 90% of this amount was collected from employers, with less than 10% from individuals.<\/p> <\/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" : "2018-12-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "199329"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-14T13:52:55.757Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health Professions: Tax Avoidance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses that will be subject to the 2019 Loan Charge.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"}
], "uin" : "199328"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020397", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020397/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Disguised Remuneration schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. When taking into account the loan they received, loan scheme users have on average twice as much income as the average UK taxpayer.<\/p> <\/p>