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  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2014-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department’s check-off system for employees’ trade union subscriptions.

    Jo Swinson

    I have not reviewed, and have no plans to review, this Department’s check-off arrangements.

    I have not reviewed these arrangements, as I believe that Trade Unions have an important role to play in creating a positive employment relations climate from which all organisations can benefit. I also believe that the check-off system does not create a distinguishable burden on the administration of the HR function in this Department.

  • Graham Stuart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Graham Stuart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stuart on 2014-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will provide additional financial support to disabled students following the removal of disabled students’ allowance.

    Mr David Willetts

    Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) has not been removed.

    The maximum amounts for DSA were announced in March 2014 and are being maintained at current levels for 2015/16.

  • Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Huppert on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on modernising marriage certificates.

    Sajid Javid

    I have discussed modernising marriage certificates with the Home Secretary and we are currently considering a range of options. The content of marriage registers has not changed since civil marriage was introduced in 1837, so it’s right that we look at whether it still meets our needs.

  • John Pugh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    John Pugh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effects of the distribution of cultural funds and subsidies throughout the regions of the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Funding decisions for the arts are made independently of Ministers by Arts Council England (ACE). Earlier this week, ACE announced an increase in the proportion of spend on regional arts and major partner museums.

  • Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Selous on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects superfast broadband to be fully rolled out in (a) England and (b) Central Bedfordshire.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    90% of the UK, including Central Bedfordshire will be able to receive superfast broadband by early 2016, rising to 95% by 2017.

  • Andrew George – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrew George – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew George on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had on proposed changes to the disabled students’ allowance.

    Mr David Willetts

    The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Disability, which I attend, has discussed the proposed changes to the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). The changes should improve the effectiveness of the scheme, and ensure that there is a proper balance between the responsibility of Higher Education Institutions to make reasonable adjustments and a central scheme, the DSA, that provides funding direct to students. The purpose of these allowances is not fundamentally changing.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to further the provision of high speed broadband in the Heart of the South West area.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Devon and Somerset has already received nearly £32 million to provide superfast broadband to 95% of premises by early 2016. We have recently announced a further £22.75 million to extend coverage to 95% by 2017 . Devon and Somerset will also be the location for one of the pilots looking at the potential to go beyond 95% coverage.

  • Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure gender equality in civil service salaries.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The median gender pay gap for full-time civil servants has narrowed since 2010 but we must continue to press to narrow the gap further, including by reminding departments of their clear legal obligations on equal pay and conducting equal pay audits. Salaries for new appointments must be justified on the basis of the skills and experience necessary to do the job. For staff below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), this is for individual departments to manage. For the centrally-managed SCS, pay proposals have regard to the impact on women.

    More widely, the Government is concerned that a long-standing majority of women in the overall civil service, does not translate into a similar proportion in the SCS. I have commissioned work to address this issue.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-30.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the income to the National Insurance Fund would be if all people over the state retirement age paid contributions.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) currently estimate that abolishing the national insurance exemption for people of pensionable age in 2014/15 would raise around £950m in NIC receipts.

    This figure is based on employee and self employed national insurance contributions (Classes 1, 2 and 4).

    The estimate is based on the latest available Survey of Personal Incomes (2011/12), which has been projected in line with Budget 2014 economic assumptions.

    The estimate also includes a behavioural adjustment to reflect changes in labour supply for this age group which are subject to some uncertainties.

  • Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average time was taken between an application being made and benefit paid for (a) attendance allowance, (b) bereavement benefits, (c) carer’s allowance, (d) disability living allowance, (e) employment and support allowance, (f) jobseeker’s allowance, (g) maternity benefits, (h) housing benefit, (i) council tax benefit and (j) pension credit in (i) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years including the most recent period for which figures are available.

    Mike Penning

    The information regarding when a benefit is paid is not available as this can vary from each claim depending on circumstances, payment type and frequency of payment.