Simon Kirby: The Treasury does not have any premium rate telephone lines and therefore has not accrued any income in this manner in the last five years.
Simon Kirby: In line with the practice of successive administrations details of ministerial discussions are not routinely disclosed. The Government believes that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers in the UK. To this end, the Government is engaging with LINK and its members, including banks and Independent ATM Deployers, to ensure that...
Simon Kirby: In 2015 the Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) to ensure that payment systems work well for those that use them. Following Which?’s super-complaint about Authorised Push Payment (APP) Scams last year, the PSR has developed a programme of work to better protect consumers and increase awareness of payment scams. The banking industry will lead on the following work: ...
Simon Kirby: Diversity data for Senior Civil Servants can be found on page 79 of the HM Treasury annual report and accounts 2015 to 2016. The report can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-annual-report
Simon Kirby: The Government are taking action to give the United Kingdom the world-leading infrastructure that it needs. The Government-led £1.7 billion superfast broadband programme will extend coverage to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017.
Simon Kirby: I was going to make a joke about the Liberal Democrats, but as there are none in the Chamber I will merely reassure my hon. Friend that the Government have no current plans to introduce a robot tax.
Simon Kirby: We have significantly increased R and D tax credits; and, as a mathematician, I agree with the hon. Lady that maths is always important.
Simon Kirby: We are ambitious for a deal, and it is clear that it is in the interests of both sides to maintain reciprocal market access. The important thing, however, is the end result, rather than the mechanism.
Simon Kirby: We want to ensure that British companies have the maximum freedom to trade and operate within European markets, and financial services are one of the areas in which we will be seeking a bold, ambitious agreement.
Simon Kirby: I can reassure my hon. Friend that the Treasury is very much in listening mode. We definitely want the best possible deal and we are clear that it is the end result, rather than the mechanism, that is important.
Simon Kirby: I am pleased to say that the Government are taking action to support the level of real disposable income per head, which is forecast to be 2.8% higher by 2021 than it was in 2016.
Simon Kirby: Average earnings growth has now outstripped inflation for 27 consecutive months, and the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that real disposable income will be 2.8% higher in 2021 than it was in 2016.
Simon Kirby: Yes, it is good for jobs, the economy and, indeed, the Scottish whisky industry.
Simon Kirby: The Financial Conduct Authority has published a summary of the main findings of its skilled persons report on RBS’s global restructuring group. The FCA is carefully considering that, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment while the process is ongoing.
Simon Kirby: The “Breathing Space” proposals are being carefully considered by the Government and we will report on them shortly.
Simon Kirby: The Treasury does not hold an account with Uber for Business. Some Treasury staff may legitimately use Uber for business purposes and claim the expense. However, spend made with Uber for business, or any other transactions with Uber, is not held to that level of detail.
Simon Kirby: In its response to the Independent Review of the Money Advice Service (March 2015), the coalition government agreed to review the legal framework for debt administration, and to consider the impacts of additional statutory protections for consumers. The work on this review is ongoing. The government intends to report back shortly.
Simon Kirby: The Treasury is supportive of open banking standards, and other jurisdictions that wish to follow this initiative. The government has taken steps to explore how open data could be used and shared, in particular: In September 2015, the Treasury requested for the Open Banking Working Group (OBWG) to be set up, to explore how data could be used to help consumers transact, save, borrow, lend...
Simon Kirby: The government has committed to exploring whether some form of “breathing space” would be a useful and viable addition to the current range of debt solutions available to consumers and creditors. Work is continuing on this review, and the government plans to report back shortly.
Simon Kirby: The government will drive up the productivity and growth of every region by investing in their infrastructure, developing the skills of their people and supporting their companies. At Autumn Statement we announced that regions outside London and the South East will receive £1.3 billion from the Local Growth Fund to back local priorities and support new jobs.