{"value":{"id":60445,"askingMemberId":3929,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","uin":"199536","questionText":"To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken through taxation to encourage the tourism industry in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.","answeringBodyId":14,"answeringBodyName":"HM Treasury","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":1529,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","answerText":"<p><strong>This Government is committed to helping UK businesses, including those in the tourism industry grow and create jobs.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>In relation to taxation, we are taking action to reduce the employer NICs burden on small businesses and have created the new Employment Allowance which is simple to administer, permanent and available to all business and charities in the UK, this is reducing their employer NICs bill by up to £2,000 each year. As a result, 450,000 employers will pay no NICs at all in 2014-15. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>At this year's budget, the Government again took action to support the pub industry, reducing a pint by a penny for the second year in a row. Following last year's beer duty cut, the British Beer and Pub Association reported that 89% of their members reduced or froze their prices, 76% of their members increased investment, and 51% of their members employed more staff. Also at this year's budget we have taken action to stop the previous Government's alcohol duty escalator and freeze the duty on ordinary cider and on spirits, as well as limiting the increases on wine duty to inflation.</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>The Government is also taking targeted action where appropriate. For example, between 2011 and 2015 the Government is investing £50 million (with a further £50 million match-funded by the private sector) into a tactical campaign via VisitBritain, so it can work with the industry to market what the UK has to offer.</strong></p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Tourism: Taxation","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/60445","method":"GET"}]}