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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire on 2 November 2015 to Question UIN 13524.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire on 2 November 2015, UIN 13524.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin

The Government is committed to continuing to support the credit union movement in making financial services more accessible.

The Government has taken significant steps to support the credit union movement in Great Britain. These include increasing the maximum interest rate that credit unions can charge on loans from 2% to 3% per month; investing £38m in the sector through the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Credit Union Expansion Project; ensuring that universal credit and pensions payments can be paid into any credit union account; providing £500,000 to help armed forces personnel access credit union services; and launching a Call for Evidence which allowed all credit unions, regardless of size or influence, the opportunity to contribute their vision for the future of the sector to the wider debate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with home social care providers on the effect of the national living wage on the financial position of those providers; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 October 2015 to Question 11609.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church Commissioners are taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of the Church of England; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Caroline Spelman

The Church of England’s work in support of credit unionshas been led by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings, chaired by Sir Hector Sants. Nationally, the Task Group has developed a number of strategic, church-led initiatives, including matching the resources of local churches with the diverse needs of local credit unions through the Church Credit Champions Network. To date, the pilot scheme has engaged over 200 churches, trained 150 Credit Champions and is on target to bring in 3,000+ new credit union members across London, Southwark and Liverpool dioceses, with plans to roll out to 30 more dioceses from next year.

The Church of England is also running the ‘LifeSavers’ programme which is piloting a holistic financial education programme linked to savings clubs in primary schools. This was trialled successfully in Church of England primary schools during 2015 and will be rolled out to a further 120 church and community schools from early 2016, helping to raise the profile of credit unions in these communities.

Locally, dioceses and churches are involved in a wide range of activities in support of credit unions, from running mass sign-ups and marketing campaigns and recruiting volunteers to the board of credit unions to hosting access points in church building and promoting payroll saving through links with local employers. According to a Church Urban Fund survey, 17% of Anglican parishes are actively involved in supporting credit unions in various ways. This activity has generated widespread coverage in national and local media, raising public awareness of credit unions. Further information is available on our dedicated website: www.toyourcredit.org.uk

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire (Ms Baldwin) on 2 November 2015, UIN 13524.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of the Law Officers’ Departments; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to question 13524 on the 2^nd of November by my Hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

I refer The Hon Member for Harrow West to the reply given by Her Majesty’s Treasury to PQ 13524 on 2 November 2015.