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  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he was first made aware of the fact that job losses were likely at TATA Steel in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire; and what assessment he has made of the economic effect on (a) the local community and (b) the supply chain of those job losses.

    Anna Soubry

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills were given final details of the planned closures and associated redundancies on 8 October on a commercially sensitive basis. Our main priority now is to support the workers and the families of those who have lost their jobs. We have established a local task force led by Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, to consider what action needs to be taken to support the local economy and related supply chain following this announcement and the Government stands ready to provide help.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the cost of (a) fully mothballing the SSI Steel site in Redcar and (b) safely cleaning up the site to prepare it for redevelopment.

    Anna Soubry

    We know the SSI Redcar plant lost over £600 million in over three years. When the company went into liquidation, the Official Receiver bought supplies to keep certain operations, such as the coke ovens, going in the hope of finding a commercial buyer.

    Unfortunately, no commercial buyer could be found to maintain operations at the plant. While this was deeply disappointing, with such large losses and debts, and the price of steel produced at SSI expected to stay depressed for some considerable time, it was perhaps not surprising.

    It is too early to say what the costs of preparing the site for redevelopment will be. This will depend on the state the site is left in following liquidation, the future use of the site and any private sector interest in it, which could generate value to offset redevelopment costs.

    The Government is providing the Official Receiver with the funds and support necessary to deliver a safe liquidation of SSI.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he was first made aware of the fact that Caparo Industries was facing significant difficulties and was likely to enter administration.

    Anna Soubry

    We received confirmation of these developments when PwC announced on 19th October 2015 that a team of Administrators, partners and directors from PwC had been appointed Joint Administrators over certain companies within the Caparo Industries group.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the £80 million package announced to help the local community after the closure of the SSI Plant in Redcar will be used to pay statutory redundancy pay; and how much of the remaining sum will be allocated from other funds for employment support already in operation.

    Anna Soubry

    There is some flexibility to meet statutory redundancy payments from the package, but the majority of the fund will go towards supporting training, small businesses and the local economy. Ministers were clear on the components of the package when they first briefed the local taskforce earlier this month. The task force has already submitted proposals for elements of this funding to support economic regeneration in the area which the Department is now considering.

  • Angela Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Angela Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions he has discussed the Energy Intensive Industry Compensation Package with the European Commission in the last six months; and what forthcoming meetings he has with the European Commission.

    Anna Soubry

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke with Competition Commissioner Verstager on Friday 23 October, to raise the issue of state aid clearance for our proposed package of support for energy intensive industries. Further discussions are planned this week, and next month. In addition, my officials have been in regular contact with the European Commission throughout this process, and have met with the Commission’s case handler to help progress clearance of the support package.

  • Liz Saville Roberts – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Liz Saville Roberts – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department will make available the first draft of the Cabinet Office’s Welsh Language Scheme as required by the Welsh Language Act 1993.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Welsh Language Act does not require government departments to prepare Welsh Language Schemes.

    The Government Digital Service works closely with the Wales Office to ensure that that the Welsh language content on GOV.UK is underpinned by high quality user research that provides a simpler, clearer and faster service for users. It also gives government departments and other organisations which publish material on GOV.UK the ability to publish Welsh-language content in line with the requirements of their individual Welsh Language Schemes.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts Government departments hold with Interserve PLC and Developments.

    Matthew Hancock

    Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Since 1 April 2015, wider public sector bodies, including local authorities, have also been required to publish details of contracts above the value of £25,000 on Contracts Finder.

    Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: http://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive

    Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

    “

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to issue guidance that staff employed by contract cleaning companies in government departments should not be disciplined for seeking a living wage; and if he will include this in future contracts.

    Matthew Hancock

    We are the first Government ever to deliver a National Living Wage. From April 2016, every employer in the country will pay the National Living Wage, including all Government contractors, for workers aged 25 and above.

    Consequently, we have no plans to issue the specified guidance.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in his Department are engaged in planning steps to secure trade and other beneficial economic exchanges in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis. Departments are appropriately resourced to support the Government’s priorities in Europe.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that paper forms are more readily available to people who do not have computers who are required to fill in annual tax returns; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    I can confirm that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) customers can continue to choose whether to file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns on paper or online. If a customer receives a Notice to File a SA tax return (SA316) but wishes instead to complete a paper SA return they can still do this. HMRC provides the customer with a Self Assessment Helpline number (0300 200 3310) on which they can talk through their needs with an adviser, and at their request HMRC will send out a paper return.