Contributions
1,239 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineThere are a variety of channels and tools, including my ministerial oversight. The Treasury Select Committee and other bodies also play an important part. I am not suggesting in…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineAs I mentioned a few moments ago, there has been a trial closure of telephone services. The recently reported results show that the trial worked quite well. As we heard overnight…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI give the right hon. Gentleman an assurance on the latter point. As I have outlined several times today, I think we can all recognise that the move to digital, where appropriate,…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineHMRC and I have heard and respect the views of the PAC and other bodies, including their recommendations and suggestions for improvement. Of course, many of these bodies suggest…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI need to correct the hon. Lady, as the vast majority of the points I raised could be handled online, including through the app. One of the things we must do is communicate far…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI mentioned in my opening comments—I will stress it again because it is important that nobody scaremongers about this—that it was never intended, and never would have been the…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. I reiterate that there is a very good reason why HMRC’s structure and relationship with Government is as it is, because it would be…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineVery simply, we have one of the lowest tax gaps reported in the world, at about 4.8%, precisely because of the clarity of the tax system and the efficiency of HMRC in gaining the…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI thank my hon. Friend and the Select Committee for their work in this area. I know that HMRC customer service has been an area of focus for her and others for some time, and we…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI am sure the hon. Member is aware that HMRC is a non-ministerial Department. Ministers set strategy and work closely with the Department on operations and communications. It is…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineAs I outlined a few moments ago, I think we can all appreciate that in order to serve customers, and particularly those who most need support, we need to ensure that those who do…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineI assure my right hon. Friend that we are having live conversations with HMRC about how it communicates with Members of Parliament on behalf of our constituents. Some Members tell…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineIt is important that HMRC commands respect—to a broad degree, it does—across the House and among our constituents, because that is how we can ensure that we comply with tax…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineMy hon. Friend makes the really important point that there are still people in this country, including in her constituency, who are not digitally aware or who are digitally…20 Mar 2024HANSARD HMRC Self-Assessment HelplineThank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the hon. Member for Ealing North (James Murray), and others, for raising the important issue of HMRC’s customer services and its plans to provide…20 Mar 2024HANSARDTax Policies: Impact on Living StandardsThanks to the combined impact of national insurance cuts and above-inflation increases to thresholds since 2010, an average worker on £35,400 in 2024-25 will pay over £1,500 less…19 Mar 2024HANSARDTax Policies: Impact on Living StandardsI am sure that if the hon. Gentleman looks carefully, he will see that the Government have demonstrated their commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in society. He will also…19 Mar 2024HANSARDTax Policies: Impact on Living StandardsI completely disagree with the hon. Gentleman’s explanation. Not only will I repeat that our constituents completely understand the difficult global circumstances, with the…19 Mar 2024HANSARDTax Policies: Impact on Living StandardsWe are immensely proud of our record since 2010: living standards have increased, and growth is now better than that of many other major economies. Our absolute commitment to…19 Mar 2024HANSARDTax Policies: Impact on Living StandardsAs I said, we are turning a corner and have therefore made measures to put money back into people’s pockets. I do not think it would come as a surprise to the hon. Gentleman’s…19 Mar 2024