Blog

  • Carolyn Harris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Carolyn Harris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-10-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to categorise bookmakers as high risk in the draft regulations transposing the fourth Money Laundering Directive into UK law.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Fourth Money Laundering Directive extends its scope to cover all gambling providers. However, the Government can exempt providers of certain gambling services from the requirements laid down in the Directive on the basis of proven low risk.

    We will be publishing a consultation towards the end of the year asking stakeholders to submit evidence on which sectors of the gambling sector can be proven to be low risk as part of the transposition process and will legislate accordingly.

  • Chris Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Green on 2015-10-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people with savings and (b) home ownership.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Government is committed to helping people to own their own home and supporting savers of all incomes and at all stages of life. We have introduced the Personal Savings Allowance, which will take 95% of individuals out of tax on their savings, and created the Help to Buy scheme. This has already helped over 100,000 people purchase a home – 240 in Bolton West – and for those saving for their first home, we have introduced the Help to Buy ISA which will be available from December.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish guidance for Jobcentre Plus staff Managing Customers’ Self-Harm and Suicidal Declarations; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

    Priti Patel

    A copy of the current guidance was placed in the Library on 20th July 2015.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on people on the autism spectrum of removal of the additional payment in the employment and support allowance’s work related activity group.

    Priti Patel

    The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. These are available on the Parliament website: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html

    “

  • Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people on the autism spectrum are in full-time employment; and what steps the Government is taking to support people on the autism spectrum into stable and well-paid employment.

    Priti Patel

    Government does not collect data specifically on employment rates for people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC).

    The Government is acting to raise awareness regarding employment of people with autism and to support them to take up employment. The Government’s Autism Strategy, and the updated Statutory Guidance published in March 2015, sets out in detail how Government will support the autism agenda nationally.

    The Autism Strategy can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/think-autism-an-update-to-the-government-adult-autism-strategy

    The Statutory Guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-autism-strategy-statutory-guidance

    “

  • Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will initiate a review of the welfare support available to homeless people.

    Priti Patel

    There are no plans to initiate a specific review of welfare support available to homeless people as our ongoing policy work takes account of different vulnerable groups, including homeless people.

  • Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rupa Huq on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to support British Airways pensioners since 14 September 2015; and what steps he has taken to encourage British Airways to fulfil its undertakings to pay RPI increases to both British Airways and New Airways Pension Schemes.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Government appreciates the strength of feeling among British Airways Pensioners regarding increases to their pensions. However, the level of pension increases provided by the British Airways Pension Schemes mean that the schemes are meeting the minimum increases required by law. Anything above this level is a matter for the trustees.

    In responding to the motion to adjourn on 14 September, the Government made it clear that it is not appropriate for Ministers to comment on, or intervene in, the decisions of individual pension schemes.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is given to staff in his Department’s Personal Independence Payment Directorate on dealing sensitively with disabled people; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that training.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department is committed to dealing with disabled claimants sensitively, adjusting to individual needs where appropriate. All frontline DWP staff are provided with Disability Awareness training on induction into DWP. This includes Equality and Diversity Essentials, Introduction to Mental Health Conditions and Supporting Vulnerable People, with some courses being tailored to Telephony staff. All staff can also access dedicated internal web pages that provide further guidance and details of additional training and support for working with vulnerable claimants. Following training, there is a consolidation process to ensure that it has been successful and a robust quality checking regime in place.

    Additional training and consolidation on dealing with claims from disabled people is provided to staff processing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims within the benefit specific training modules. Including dedicated learning on Special Rules for Terminally Ill including the dedicated SRTI claims line. All these build on the skills developed in the previous learning, supported by access to medical advice where needed.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his letter of 9 September 2015 to the hon. Member for Leeds North West, what additional training and guidance has been given to staff administering disability living allowance.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Between July and October 2015, training was delivered to all DLA Child decision makers on the award duration in progressive neurological conditions with special reference to Batten Disease. Guidance has also been updated to reflect the training.

  • Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what response her Department has received to the consultation on regulations on the gender pay gap.

    Caroline Dinenage

    This government is committed to closing the gender pay gap in a generation by addressing the underlying causes of the gender pay gap, including the gender bonus gap. Our consultation on Closing the Gender Pay Gap closed on 6 September, and received nearly 700 responses. Over 200 employers and business organisations responded, including the CBI, whose members employ around a third of the private sector workforce. We have announced that this will apply to large employers and to large public bodies. We will be working with employers on how this will be implemented as they will be required to publish information showing the differences in pay between men and women.