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  • Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Callum McCaig on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the provisions in the Trade Union Bill on industrial relations within the civil service.

    Matthew Hancock

    Modernising the law governing Trade Unions will improve industrial relations. We have already seen the benefits in the Civil Service of reforming facility time, where we have delivered a saving to the taxpayer of over £52million, and the majority of departments have removed the outdated system of collecting union dues by check off. These benefits will now be delivered across the public sector.

  • Bob Blackman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Bob Blackman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to support charities during this Parliament.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    In the last five years the number of registered charities has increased by over 2,000, and the sector’s annual income has grown by over £10bn.

    Looking ahead, the Government’s priority is supporting a strong, independent, transparent and accountable voluntary sector. Plans will include a focus on outcomes based commissioning, restoring public trust in fundraising and strengthening the Charity Commission to protect charities from abuse through the Charities Bill.

  • Simon Burns – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Simon Burns – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Burns on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to implement efficiency savings across government departments.

    Matthew Hancock

    In May 2010 the deficit between government revenue and public spending was the largest percentage of GDP of any developed country. As part of our long-term economic plan to ensure the country lives within its means, we took action to drive efficiency from day one.

    By 2014/15 the Government had saved £18.6 billion through efficiency and reform, and tackling fraud, error and uncollected debt (against a 2009/10 baseline). At a very conservative estimate this is equivalent to £850 for each working household across Britain.

    The £18.6 billion saving includes £6.1 billion by improving how government buys goods and services and £1.5 billion by transforming how government works, including putting services and transactions online and rationalising the government’s property portfolio – releasing government land, by moving to shared property and using less office space, enables land to be released which can be put to better economic use.

  • Vicky Foxcroft – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Vicky Foxcroft – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vicky Foxcroft on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to improve the morale of staff within the civil service.

    Matthew Hancock

    It should be a source of pride that the Civil Service has successfully changed the way it operates and become more efficient – it is now delivering far more, for less, than it did before 2010. It is a tribute to the dedication and work of individual Civil Servants that job satisfaction remains high and wellbeing has increased.

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

    Matthew Hancock

    We are committed to the Freedom of Information Act. An independent commission was established review the workings of the Act. The Government will consider the Commission’s report when it is received.

  • Martin Vickers – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Martin Vickers – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin Vickers on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all young people who wish to participate in the National Citizen Service are able to do so.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    We are committed to expanding NCS, which is why the Chancellor announced our ambition that 300,000 young people participate in NCS every year by 2019/20 so that they can learn new skills and give back to their communities.

    We take great care to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, can take part, providing bursaries and additional support where necessary.

  • Oliver Heald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Oliver Heald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Heald on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all young people who wish to participate in the National Citizen Service are able to do so.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    We are committed to expanding NCS, which is why the Chancellor announced our ambition that 300,000 young people participate in NCS every year by 2019/20 so that they can learn new skills and give back to their communities.

    We take great care to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, can take part, providing bursaries and additional support where necessary.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) disabled people and (b) families with children will experience a reduction in universal credit in 2016-17 as a result of changes to the work allowance in (i) Oldham Local Authority area, (ii) Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency and (iii) Oldham West and Royton constituency.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

  • Neil Gray – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Neil Gray – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Gray on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reductions in housing benefit announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 on claimants who receive housing benefit for housing that has been purpose-built for disabled people.

    Justin Tomlinson

    This policy was introduced because in some areas the increases in social rents have outstripped the increases in private rents.

    This policy will cap social sector rents at the relevant Local Housing Allowance rate for the area, but will only apply from April 2018 where a new tenancy is taken out or a tenancy is renewed after April 2016. By only applying the cap when a new tenancy is taken on or an existing tenancy is renewed will mean that claimants will have the opportunity to consider whether they can afford to take on the property before committing to the tenancy.

    The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme will be available for those living in accommodation that has been purpose built or significantly adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person, in the same way as it is for those who receive a reduction in their eligible rent for the removal of the spare room subsidy.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long it takes for the average claimant to receive a first payment of universal credit from the time they became unemployed in those areas where universal credit has been introduced.

    Priti Patel

    Universal Credit entitlement is assessed and paid in arrears. Payment is made on a fixed date 7 days after the end of the monthly assessment period.

    Where a claimant’s earnings or income is insufficient to meet their living costs and in order to safeguard against financial hardship before the first UC payment, an advance payment of up to 50% of their UC award may be made.

    Personal Budgeting Support advice is also available to all claimants.