Contributions
2,215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFuel Duty FreezeThe price of fuel has only a marginal effect on how much fuel people purchase. That means that fuel duty freezes have a limited effect on emissions. Fuel costs, however, are a…21 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis Government are investing in innovation in the tidal and marine sector. For example, we have invested in the marine innovation centre in Shetland, and I recently met a…21 May 2019HANSARDFuel Duty FreezeI take it from the hon. Gentleman that he supports increasing fuel duty. He asks who has that opinion. Actually, most economists agree that fuel consumption is highly…21 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)If my hon. Friend is referring to the benefits system, that is completely unrelated. Contractual benefits are liable to a tax liability in addition to that—perhaps I can provide…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)I understand that, although those sporting testimonial committees would want a degree of certainty that they were following the law, particularly if large sums of money were…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)It is a pleasure to return this afternoon, following my grilling by members of the Committee this morning, to explain the clauses in the Bill, starting—as you said, Sir Henry—with…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I have said on several occasions that the measure will raise about £200 million a year. Because it was a Budget measure, it has been included…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)I do not intend to repeat all the comments that I made earlier, which I think answered a lot of questions that were put to me. I will try to summarise some of the arguments made…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)We do not have any plans to do that, but this measure is designed with termination payments in mind. The Bill does not make any changes elsewhere—other than, obviously, to…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)Before I address amendment 2 and new clauses 2 and 5, it may help the Committee if I briefly explain the background to clauses 3 and 4. As we have heard at length over the course…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)I will ask my officials for a better answer, but my understanding is that this measure applies only to sportspersons. Although there might be arguments for it, it does not apply…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)No—with respect, I did not say that there would be zero income. I said that within the spectrum of zero to £3 million, the likely amount of revenue raised would be closer to zero…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)Let me respond to as many of those points as possible. We have had a discussion of the impact of these measures on charities. Without repeating myself too much, we expect this to…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)As a Wolves supporter, I am slightly bitter at the moment. To answer the point made by the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, without repeating comments already made today, I…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)I am happy to review the guidance and see whether we can give more examples. There are a number of examples within the guidance on a range of different issues, but if it would be…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)I will briefly describe the purpose of clause 5 before turning to the hon. Lady’s amendment. First, the clause confirms that the Bill applies across the whole of the UK. That is…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)That is absolutely right. As I have just said, we have no intention of changing the threshold. If a future Government wished to do so, that would need to be done through an…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)My hon. Friend makes an important point. Statutory redundancy pay is £15,000, so for these purposes, £30,000 appears generous. I have already made the international comparisons.…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) Bill (Second sitting)Absolutely. The figures reported by the Office for National Statistics this morning are further evidence of the jobs miracle we have seen since we came to power in 2010. It is…14 May 2019HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Termination Awards and Sporting Testimonials) BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. This is a small and narrowly drawn, but nonetheless important, Bill. It aims to provide a welcome simplification of the tax…30 Apr 2019