Category: Speeches

  • Mr George Galloway – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mr George Galloway – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr George Galloway on 2014-03-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of workers made unemployed, or displaced, as a result of immigration from countries outside the EU in the last year.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to "research
    the labour market, social and public service impacts of non-EEA migration; and
    to advise on the use of such evidence in cost-benefit analyses of migration
    policy decisions". The MAC’s report published in 2012 called ‘Analysis of the
    Impact of Migration’
    (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/25723
    5/analysis-of-the-impacts.pdf), suggested that "between 1995 and 2010 an
    additional 100 non-EU migrants were associated with a reduction in employment
    of 23 native workers".

    Recently, the Government published a report on the ‘Impacts of migration on UK
    native employment: An analytical review of the evidence’
    (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28708
    6/occ109.pdf). This report is a comprehensive review of the evidence around
    the displacement effect of migrants on UK native employment and builds on the
    MAC 2012 report.

    In addition, a report on the ‘Employment and Occupational skill levels among UK
    and foreign nationals’
    (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28250
    3/occ108.pdf) finds that over most of the last decade, employment levels in the
    UK rose faster among foreign nationals than among UK nationals. However, this
    pattern has reversed, and over the last year around 90 per cent of employment
    growth was accounted for by UK nationals.

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from local authorities about the extension of fines to letting agents who fail to publish their fees tariff in full.

    Kris Hopkins

    Requiring letting agents to be transparent about their fees will prevent the small minority of rogue agents from imposing unreasonable, hidden charges. This common sense approach avoids excessive state regulation which would just push up rents for tenants. This and mandatory membership of redress schemes will give local authorities the tools they need to weed out the cowboys that give agents a bad name; and drive up standards.

    We have not received particular representations from local authorities on this issue. We will undertake a New Burdens assessment in due course in the usual way.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many primary school places have been created as a result of the Priority School Building Programme since its introduction.

    Lord Nash

    261 schools were successful in their application to the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) and initial work has started with over 230 of these schools. Construction work has started at 24 schools and the first primary school is due to open in May 2014.

    The PSBP is aimed at addressing the condition needs of those schools most in need of urgent repair; it is not a programme aimed at increasing school capacity. However, where a school is seeking to expand and this is supported by pupil planning statistics, we are increasing the capacity of the schools.

    The PSBP will create approximately 9,300 new primary school places through the expansion of these schools beyond the existing capacity stated in their application forms.

    This number is subject to change. As part of the feasibility study undertaken for each school, we work with the school, local authority and other stakeholders to review pupil planning statistics for the area and confirm that the size of the school being rebuilt or refurbished is sustainable and also meets any demand for pupil places where possible.

    We are on track to complete all PSPB schools by the end of 2017. This is two years earlier than was planned when the programme was announced.

  • John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new houses are under construction in Bassetlaw district.

    Kris Hopkins

    The Department does not hold data centrally on the number of homes currently under construction. Data is recorded when a building is started, defined as the laying of the foundations and when the residence is completed, defined as when ready for occupation or supplied with a completion certificate. The length of time between these two points will vary and therefore we cannot know how many are currently under construction.

    Statistics on house building starts in Bassetlaw District are published in the Department’s live tables 253 (annually) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:

    http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

    “

  • Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what scrutiny the Major Projects Authority has given to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has been applying MPA assurance processes to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) including a Project Assessment Review and Gateway Reviews. Further information on the ESMCP Programme is available at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme

    Delivery Confidence Assessment ratings are supplied according to the MPA’s Transparency Policy which is on the Cabinet Office website. The policy allows for non-disclosure of information which should properly remain confidential, for example where it is market sensitive or necessary to safeguard national security.

    This will be in line with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-projects-transparency-policy-and-exemptions-guidance

    The DCA for ESMCP was not revealed in MPA’s first annual report last year in line with the above policy. The next annual report of the MPA is due to be published in May.

  • Stephen Phillips – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Phillips – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to work with counterparts in other EU Member States to encourage tourism to the UK from Europe.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    VisitEngland works closely with a network of National Tourism Organisations through the National Tourism Board Forum. Members include Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Malta, Denmark, Austria, Montenegro and Belgium. Activities of the forum include: regular meetings, sharing insights and best practice and marketing development.

  • Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of employees in his Department of each (a) Civil Service pay grade and (b) gender work (i) reduced hours, (ii) flexi-time, (iii) from home, (iv) a compressed working week, (v) job share, (vi) term-time only and (vii) part-time.

    Brandon Lewis

    The proportion of Department staff currently working reduced hours by Civil Service pay grade is as follows:

    Administrative

    Officer

    Executive Officer

    Higher Executive Officer

    Fast Stream

    % Part-Time

    8.7%

    11.4%

    10.3%

    2.1%

    Senior Executive Officer

    Grade 7

    Grade 6

    All Senior Civil Servants

    Total

    % Part-Time

    12.5%

    14.8%

    10.0%

    12.5%

    11.7%

    The proportion of Department staff currently working reduced hours by gender is as follows:

    Male

    Female

    Total

    % Part-Time

    2.7%

    20.3%

    11.7%

    With regards to flexi-time, the Department operates a Flexible Working Hours system of attendance under which managers may agree that staff work flexibly within certain set hours. This policy applies to all non-Senior Civil Service staff at all office locations and is subject to operational need.

    The Department does not hold a central record of staff working from home, a compressed working week, job share, and term-time only. These arrangements are agreed between managers and staff and may reflect very short term arrangements as well as those of a more enduring nature. As home working and compressed hours arrangements do not impact on pay or employment terms these arrangements are not recorded on the Department’s central HR system. Where job share and term-time arrangements have an impact on pay or employment terms and conditions these staff are recorded as part-time on the Department’s central HR system.

    The Department’s definition of part-time working is the same as reduced hours and so the above proportions still apply.

  • Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Damian Hinds on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in improving maternity and early years care.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    We have made improving maternity services a key objective in our Mandate to NHS England. Over the past two years we have also invested 35 million pounds of capital funding to improve the physical environment of over 140 maternity units.

    We have increased the numbers of midwives and health visitors. There are 1,700 more midwives and over 2,000 more health visitors than in 2010. In addition, there are more than 6,000 midwifery students in training. And we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015.

    We are expanding the Family Nurse Partnership programme – which provides dedicated one to one support to young, at risk first time mothers – to 16,000 places by 2015.

    We launched the NHS Start4life Information Service for Parents, a digital service for parent-to-be and new parents in May 2012. Take up has already exceeded the sign-up target of 300,000 parents by 2015 – as of 1 June over 339,000 parents had signed up to the service.

  • Stella Creasy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Stella Creasy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings officials in his Department have had with officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the implications of the Consumer Rights Bill for (a) childcare voucher users and (b) providers of childcare services; and what the Civil Service grades of officials present were.

    Elizabeth Truss

    We are not aware of any meetings between officials from the Department for Education and those from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) specifically on the implications of the Consumer Rights Bill for providers of childcare services.

    BIS consulted widely on consumer law reform in 2008 and 2012, and published a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in 2013. BIS has also completed full impact assessments for the provisions in the Bill.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-05-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure industry and academia in Northern Ireland are able to benefit from opportunities in support of national space security interests.

    Mr David Willetts

    It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.