Rupert Lowe MP: written questions
1340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Businesses: VATTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56015More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the VAT registration threshold.
Answer: At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are kept out of the VAT system.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: VATTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56014More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the current VAT registration threshold on (small business (a) growth and (b) turnover management.
Answer: At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are kept out of the VAT system.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOff-payroll WorkingTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56012More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to enable contractors to determine their own IR35 status.
Answer: The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, were introduced in 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees, but through their own company, pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions as those w...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOff-payroll WorkingTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56011More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her her Department has made of the potential impact of off-payroll working (IR35) rules on (a) small business productivity, (b) contract availability and (c) self-employment rates.
Answer: The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, were introduced in 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees, but through their own company, pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions as those w...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOff-payroll WorkingTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56010More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) contractors and (b) freelancers have been subject to off-payroll working (IR35) rules in each of the last three tax years; and what estimate she has made of the revenue raised.
Answer: The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, were introduced in 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees, but through their own company, pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions as those w...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOff-payroll WorkingTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56009More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of off-payroll working (IR35) rules on the self-employed sector since December 2023.
Answer: The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, were introduced in 2000. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees, but through their own company, pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions as those w...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost to the public purse was of the production of his Department's Diego Garcia Military Base explainer video.
Answer: This video was produced in-house by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office communications team. There was therefore no additional cost to making the video.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: Territorial WatersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of total UK fish stocks by (a) tonnage and (b) species will remain subject to EU access under the agreement to extend EU access to British territorial waters to June 20
Answer: Annex 38 of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets out which quota and non-quota stocks are subject to access arrangements. The new access arrangements announced on 19 May will give the UK and EU access to the same fish stocks. UK and EU shares of...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: Territorial WatersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the potential financial impact of the extension of EU access to fish in British territorial waters to June 2038 on the fishing sector in each region.
Answer: The new UK-EU fisheries agreement announced on 19 May will continue the current access arrangements in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, under which the UK grants access to around 1,600 EU registered vessels to fish in UK waters, of which 154 vessels h...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: EU CountriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, what proportion of UK fish stocks will be subject to shared access with the EU under the ne
Answer: Annex 38 of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets out which quota and non-quota stocks are subject to access arrangements. The new access arrangements announced on 19 May will give the UK and EU access to the same fish stocks. UK and EU shares of...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: Government AssistanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, whether he plans to provide financial support to fishers impacted by the new 12-year access
Answer: Alongside a new twelve-year fisheries access agreement with the EU, we have announced a comprehensive twelve-year Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. Fishing and coastal communities will benefit from the £360 million investment to drive growth and boost the ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: ExportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) UK fish exports an
Answer: Over 70% of all UK seafood by value is exported to the EU. Removing the need for Export Health Certificates and border checks saves time and money – especially for fresh and live seafood that needs to reach markets quickly. This agreement has secured prac...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: EU CountriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, what discussions he has had with representatives of the fishing industry on the new 12-year
Answer: The Secretary of State and Fisheries Minister meet regularly with representatives from across the UK fishing industry. During meetings with fishing industry representatives the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is often discussed...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFisheries: Coastal AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of extending fishing access to British waters for EU vessels for a further 12 years on coastal communities.
Answer: The new UK-EU fisheries agreement announced on 19 May will continue the current access arrangements in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, under which the UK grants access to around 1,600 EU registered vessels to fish in UK waters, of which 154 vessels h...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordComplaints: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly make (a) false and (b) malicious complaints for (i) political and (ii) reputation
Answer: The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support tho...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCrown Prosecution ServiceAttorney GeneralTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52938More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of fast-tracking Crown Prosecution Service advice in (a) politically sensitive and (b) time-critical investigations.
Answer: It is vital that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is rightly operationally independent from Government, makes decisions as quickly as possible after a careful consideration of all relevant facts. As Solicitor General, I review and monitor CPS pe...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal InvestigationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that individuals who are subject to police investigations are provided with appropriate (a) legal and (b)reputational protections.
Answer: Those under police investigation are entitled to free, independent, legal advice at the police station, through the provision of criminal legal aid. Legal aid is a vital part of the justice system and enables individuals, who need it most, to have access ...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal InvestigationHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the merits of conducting a review into the (a) reputational and (b) mental health impact of being investigated for an offence without being charged.
Answer: The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support tho...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal InvestigationHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent the misuse of police time and resources through (a) unfounded and (b) politically motivated allegations.
Answer: The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support tho...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal Investigation: ReformHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing reforms to limit the use of police investigations in cases where there is (a) no corroborating evidence and (b) a s
Answer: The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support tho...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: ComplaintsHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of politically motivated police complaints on public confidence in the impartiality of the criminal justice system.
Answer: The Home Office is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine Policing’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, we expect the force to determine how best to support tho...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: ApplicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department holds information on the breakdown of applicants in social housing by first language.
Answer: My Department does not hold data on the number of applicants for social housing by first language.
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: English LanguageDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the proportion of Universal Credit recipients that are not proficient in English; and what support in learning English is provided.
Answer: The Department does not hold information about the proportion of Universal Credit recipients that are not proficient in English.Skills are essential to helping claimants get into and progress in work. Work Coaches offer all claimants a wide range of suppo...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrants: English LanguageHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse was for English language teaching for adult (a) migrants and (b) irregular migrants in the last five years.
Answer: Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery. The Government’s Immigration White Paper sets out plans for the new English Language requ...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Development: English LanguageHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on neighbourhoods where most residents do not speak English as a first language.
Answer: Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery. The Government’s Immigration White Paper sets out plans for the new English Language requ...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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