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  • Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether concessionary travel passes are available for drivers prevented from driving whilst their medical condition is being assessed.

    Andrew Jones

    The national disabled person’s concessionary travel pass is evidence based. Assessment of a person’s eligibility for a disabled person’s bus pass is conducted by local Travel Concession Authorities. Unless they deem the applicant to be automatically eligible, a pass will not be granted until evidence has been provided and where necessary an assessment has been completed. The Government issues guidance to assist them in doing this.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many times he has attended public meetings of the Welsh Affairs Committee since his appointment.

    Alun Cairns

    I have not been required to attend any meetings with the Welsh Affairs Committee since my appointment.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to encourage big businesses to promote gender equality and provide models for small and medium-sized enterprises to follow.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government is committed to full gender equality in the workplace, and we are introducing mandatory gender pay gap reporting for larger employers from April 2017.

    We will support all employers to do this with a £500,000 package including: UK wide conference events, free online software and targeted support for male-dominated sectors. Employers of any size can join the voluntary “Think, Act, Report” initiative which has around 300 members leading the way on gender equality.

    The Women’s Business Council has an SME representative to ensure good practice is promulgated throughout the wider business community, including a toolkit for businesses to support older women in the workplace.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions has the Government had with businesses on reducing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government is committed to ensuring equal opportunities, so that everyone can reach their full potential and is working with business to achieve this. The Government has done so in a number of ways, including: The Hampton and Alexander review of women on boards and the chair of the Women’s Business Council, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith will lead a review of issues faced by businesses in developing black and minority ethnic (BAME) talent, and access to the labour market.

    The Women’s Business Council, established in 2012, has produced a range of products to encourage older women to enter and stay on in the workplace. The Women’s Business Council has also been active in working with the finance sector to address some of the barriers facing some BAME women entrepreneurs. The Government has worked closely with employers to develop a range of measures that will help promote gender equality in workplaces and will require all companies with at least 250 employees to report their gender pay gaps. It is expected that employers will publish the required information from April 2017.

    This builds upon actions already undertaken by the Government including a series of equality roadshows with the British Chambers of Commerce. These roadshows highlighted the benefits and challenges of diverse workforces for business whilst helping the Government shape guidance for business on older workers, women and disabled people in the workplace to tackle discrimination.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-18.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the analysis by the Women’s Budget Group, that the distributional analysis that was produced alongside the Budget fails to adequately analyse the impact on women and men, either as individuals or across different types of households.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The government’s distributional analysis at Budget shows the proportion of tax paid and public services spending received by households. It shows that the richest fifth of households will be paying a greater proportion of taxes in 2019-20 than in the 2010-11 system as a result of government policy, while half of all spending on welfare and public services is still going to the poorest 40% of households.

    In contrast with the government’s approach, the analysis produced by the Women’s Budget Group focuses on immediate cash impacts and assumes that extra government borrowing can make everyone better off. This ignores the fact that borrowing needs to be paid for and harms our long term economic security.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people under the age of 25 in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Central constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government’s planned increase in the number of presenting officers at employment and support allowance and personal independence payments tribunal hearings.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department is increasing the attendance of Presenting Officers at appeals to help ensure the right decision is reached.

    We’ve estimated that it will cost approximately £22m to increase the number of Presenting Officers at ESA and PIP Tribunal hearings. The vast majority of the £22m, which will be spent over three years, will be used for Presenting Officer salary costs, with a small proportion for Learning and Development, communications and start up project costs.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have received demands to pay underpaid tax as a result of his Department not notifying HM Revenue and Customs when an employment and support allowance claimant is moved from the work-related activity group into the support group in each of the last three years.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not held.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants making the transition from employment and support allowance to jobseeker’s allowance have received a decision assurance call; and what the outcome was of each such call.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Caroline Ansell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Caroline Ansell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Ansell on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Life Chances Strategy will include the provision of funding to support positive family relationships; whether funding under that strategy will include families with teenage children; and if he will make a statement.

    Priti Patel

    This government believes that families play an essential role in improving the life chances of children of all ages. As the Prime Minister announced in his speech on 11th January, funding for relationship support is being doubled in this Parliament with an extra £35 million to support family relationships. More details will be set out in the forthcoming Life Chances Strategy.