The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many international flights have been taken by (a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) special advisers of his Department in an official capacity since his Department was created.
Mr Robin Walker
The Government publishes information about flights and other expenses incurred on Ministerial and senior official overseas trips on a quarterly basis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2016-09-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that Teesside is not disadvantaged by the withdrawal of EU funding when the UK leaves the EU.
Mr David Gauke
To ensure stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure from the EU, the Chancellor has announced that structural and investment fund projects in the UK that are signed before the Autumn Statement will be guaranteed. In addition, projects where UK organisations bid directly and competitively for EU funding, such as Horizon 2020 funded projects, will be guaranteed by the UK Government if the bids are won before our departure.
Leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. Over the coming months, we will consult closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much his Department has spent on overnight hotel accommodation since it was created.
Mr Robin Walker
The Government publishes the relevant information on the costs of Ministerial and senior official hotel accommodation, as well as other expenses incurred on overseas trips, on a quarterly basis. Wherever possible Ministers and officials use overnight accommodation in UK Permanent Representations and Embassies to reduce the costs of travel abroad.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff, at what grades, his Department has recruited to work in the Permanent Secretary Office.
Mr David Jones
The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff in London, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and we are still growing rapidly. We are not in a position to give a final total nor a breakdown by directorate as recruitment is ongoing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many of his Department’s 24 vacant Deputy Director posts have been filled.
Mr David Jones
The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff in London, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and we are still growing rapidly. We are not in a position to give a final total nor a breakdown by directorate as recruitment is ongoing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff, at what grades, his Department has recruited in the (a) Market Access Budget, (b) Justice, Security and Migration, (c) Cross-Government Policy and Coordination, (d) Strategy and Planning, (e) Trade and Partnership and (f) Analysis Directorate.
Mr David Jones
The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff in London, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and we are still growing rapidly. We are not in a position to give a final total nor a breakdown by directorate as recruitment is ongoing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why cold calls regarding mortgages can be banned but not cold calls offering free pension reviews or unregulated pension investments.
Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) prohibition on cold calling applies to financial promotion of mortgages by FCA regulated firms. Under the FCA rules, regulated entities (including mortgage providers) are not allowed to engage in real-time financial promotion of mortgages and therefore no legitimate market for telephone promotion and sales exists.
The Government tightened controls on cold calling earlier this year, when amending the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), making it a requirement for organisations making direct marketing calls to display their Calling Line Identification (CLI). These controls need time to bed in before considering whether further changes, specific to pensions, are appropriate. If there is a case for change, the Government will take the necessary action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the percentage of pension scams in the UK that (1) originate overseas, and (2) are initiated by UK-based firms.
Lord Freud
The Government has not made an estimate of the geographic origin of pension scams. Scams are often complex in nature and those reported to Action Fraud as taking place in the UK may have originated elsewhere.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, are working but do not receive any credit towards their National Insurance state pension each year, due to being in one or more jobs that pay less than the lower earnings limit.
Lord Freud
DWP analysis suggests that at any one time around 10,000 men and 40,000 women have multiple jobs below the lower earnings limit (LEL) with combined earnings above it, but are not receiving any qualifying years towards the State Pension on those earnings.
DWP analysis estimates that of the women with multiple jobs below the LEL but total earnings above it, around 30% are getting a childcare credit for their State Pension. Others in this group may also be receiving credits through another route or be paying voluntary national insurance contributions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how women who are in multiple part-time jobs, none of which pay more than the National Insurance lower earnings limit, are able to claim credit for their state pension.
Lord Freud
DWP analysis suggests that at any one time around 10,000 men and 40,000 women have multiple jobs below the lower earnings limit (LEL) with combined earnings above it, but are not receiving any qualifying years towards the State Pension on those earnings.
DWP analysis estimates that of the women with multiple jobs below the LEL but total earnings above it, around 30% are getting a childcare credit for their State Pension. Others in this group may also be receiving credits through another route or be paying voluntary national insurance contributions.