Contributions
577 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)I appreciate the points that the hon. Lady has raised. I reassure her that these are technical updates to consolidate the legislation, so that, for simplification purposes, we…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Clauses 98 to 107 and schedule 10 simply reproduce existing provisions for excise controls on anyone making wholesale transactions in duty-paid alcoholic products. As mentioned…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Let me again provide reassurance that we are not changing the definition of denatured alcohol, and we have no need to do so—this is a legislative update. However, the hon. Lady…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Clauses 90 to 97 reproduce the existing exemption from excise duty on denatured alcohol. The exemption will continue to operate in the same way as it does now. As mentioned during…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)I always take constructive feedback on presentation and talking up the policies we are implementing, so I completely accept that. For the record, we believe this is a really…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Let me respond to those questions in turn, but I will come to the post-duty point dilution last, if that is okay. I was asked about scrutiny in the first instance by the Labour…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Clauses 82 to 89 make changes to the approval and registration requirements for alcohol producers, ensuring that they are harmonised across all products. The new alcohol duty…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)There are penalties already in place if a person uses products or carries out activities that are not approved. The hon. Lady should take my assurance that these are carry-over…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)As I set out at the beginning, the changes are largely administrative. To answer the question directly, there is no change whatsoever in terms of how the provisions are…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments. Let me start by acknowledging the success of small brewers relief. We have seen the number of breweries increase six times…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Clauses 61 to 71 provide for transitional arrangements for small businesses that merge under the new small producer relief and provide definitions for terms used in the chapter.…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)I was waiting for that. The Treasury has two fiscal events in which the full House has the opportunity to scrutinise our decisions. That also gives the Treasury the opportunity to…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)All taxes are always under review, as the hon. Lady knows. The Treasury Committee, of which we were both members, plays a vital part in the scrutiny process—of course it does.…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)We all take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and of course we will allow appropriate time for scrutiny of the Bill and all the guidance in the appropriate way.16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)Let me answer the point about guidance. I assure the hon. Lady as well as the hon. Member for Aberdeen North that guidance will be issued very shortly. The hon. Member for Erith…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)It is a fair question. We are seeking to simplify the entire system of alcohol taxation, and in the round that is broadly what we are doing. However, we are conscious that certain…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. Clauses 44 to 46 and 49 introduce part 2 of the Bill, which delivers on the Government’s commitment to reform…16 May 2023HANSARDFinance (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)That was an extensive display of preparation and reading, and quite right too, because that is exactly what we are here to do—scrutinise the Bill. Let me try to answer some of the…16 May 2023HANSARD High Street Bank Closures and Banking HubsI accept the challenge, of course. The hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Marion Fellows) also asked me to comment on what support the Government are providing to post…11 May 2023HANSARD High Street Bank Closures and Banking HubsI am grateful to my right hon. Friend. The Government recognise and share the frustrations that she has voiced about the pace of the roll-out of the hubs. Those are commercial…11 May 2023