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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 14 October 2024
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Displaying 686 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

I am sorry, but the question was about how it is being set up, not about local government utilising it. It is being set up in a way that means that the levy itself incurs VAT. Are you happy with that?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

I would have thought that that would have been run past your office, if it was being considered—but okay.

I will move on, as I am conscious of time. There has been a lot of focus on winter fuel payments, the decision by the UK Labour Government to means test and the implications for Scotland in relation to what is now a devolved benefit. Has the Scottish Government made a request to defer the block grant adjustment?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

I appreciate that. I accept that, if the block grant adjustment were to be deferred, the funding would still have to be paid back. That has been established. However, you are suggesting that you have not made a decision. Is there a timescale within which you have to make that request?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

That is helpful. You have not made a decision on it yet.

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

So money has already been spent and staff have already been taken on, although maybe not to the—

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

What were the estimated costs, and what has been spent already?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

It is not being spent on what it was intended for. To be clear, that is a political decision by the Government to spend it.

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

I appreciate that. When you talk about the winter fuel payments being made this year, are you talking about the reduced means-tested amount?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

So, not the full amount?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 8 October 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

By putting it on the businesses rather than on the individuals to pay that tax, the problem is that the businesses will therefore be liable. That will push a number of them over the VAT threshold, as well as—as I said—taxing them twice on it.

You confirm that no consideration is being given to changing that at the moment.