Blog

  • Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 174W, on universal credit, whether he has approved the Department for Work and Pensions’ business case for the implementation of universal credit.

    Esther McVey

    The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has approved the UC Strategic Outline Business Case plans for the remainder of this Parliament (2014-15) as per the Ministerial announcement (5th December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS) —link to WMS:

    http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131205/wmstext/131205m0001.htm#column_65ws

    “

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the (a) median and (b) mean value of top-up that the Government will contribute to each child under the tax-free childcare scheme.

    Nicky Morgan

    The government has published an Impact Assessment on Tax-Free Childcare here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-free-childcare-impact-assessment

    “

  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what digital-by-default Government services will be available by next year; and what support he plans to make available to older people and those who are not yet online.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    By March 2015, 25 major government services will be redesigned and rebuilt as digital-by-default making them simpler, clearer and faster to use. Full details are listed on gov.uk/transformation

    This Government’s approach is digital-by-default but not compulsion. We want to help get more people online, through our Digital Inclusion programme, but for those who cannot or will not we will always provide assistance, whenever they need it.

  • Kevan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Kevan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what rules and guidance there are on Cabinet Members discussing matters related to their ministerial portfolio with members of the public who are not their constituents at a constituency surgery or other constituency event.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of Ministers.

  • Stewart Jackson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stewart Jackson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths related to respiratory disease there were in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) the UK in each year since 2001.

    Mr Nick Hurd

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

  • Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 147W, on Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce, for what reasons the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce has been reconstituted; what the terms of reference and mandate for the new taskforce are; what the membership of that taskforce is; and when the minutes of the reconstituted taskforce will be made available.

    Mr Francis Maude

    Before 2010 there was no coordinated action to tackle fraud, error and debt across Government despite the significant losses to the Exchequer. In 2011 alone the Annual Fraud Indicator estimated Government annual losses from fraud and error were over £30bn. It is also estimated that between £7bn and £8bn per annum is lost through debts owed to Government not being pursued.

    This Government established the first cross-departmental taskforce to address this issue after the last General Election. In 2012-13 the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce reported savings and improved performance in detecting and preventing fraud and error of £6.5bn, and is overseeing initiatives to improve debt collection. Despite this progress we know there’s much more to do. The reconstituted taskforce is chaired jointly by the Cabinet Secretary and myself, and attended by senior Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, supported by industry sector experts, to ensure there is full alignment towards further reducing fraud and error losses and improving debt collection in benefits and tax credits.

    As was the case under previous administrations, minutes of internal meetings are not usually disclosed.

  • David Nuttall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    David Nuttall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Nuttall on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what changes his Department plans to bring forward to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

    Jo Swinson

    For the past ten months, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been discussing with industry, enforcement authorities and the fire services, a proposal to bring forward changes to the match and cigarette tests in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. We believe this would bring benefits to both businesses and consumers by reducing the levels of potentially harmful flame retardant chemicals generally used to meet the requirements of the match test, while also improving fire safety. Any such changes would be subject to formal public consultation.

  • Ian Murray – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ian Murray – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement regulations on UK public services and businesses as a result of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what UK Government policy is towards such regulations in international investment agreements.

    Michael Fallon

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into Investor State Dispute Clauses (ISDS), reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. There has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. ISDS provisions in investment and trade treaties can help to create a positive investment climate. The ISDS provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy and also provide transparency of process. A balanced ISDS clause in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to introduce a legal requirement for pubcos to offer a free-of-tie option in the public house sector.

    Jo Swinson

    The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, introduced to this House on 25 June 2014, does not include provision for mandatory free-of-tie. The Government recognises that some tenant groups and campaigners support this option, which might appear to offer a simple way of ensuring that tied tenants are no worse off than free-of-tie tenants. We looked carefully at this measure but have decided not to introduce it.

    The responses to the Government’s consultation on a Statutory Code and Adjudicator for the pubs sector raised concerns that mandatory free-of-tie would create uncertainty for pub-owning companies and have an unpredictable impact on the wider pubs sector which could even undermine the tied model. Even among the polarised views in the industry, there is strong support for the tie as a business model. What is important to the Government is that there are protections in place so that the tied model operates fairly. The reforms being taken forward in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will rebalance the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tied tenants, without threatening the balance of the wider industry.

  • Ms Diane Abbott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ms Diane Abbott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Diane Abbott on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been granted to businesses in Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Start-Up Loans programme commenced in September 2012, in that year there was 1 loan with a value of £5000 drawn down in Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. In 2013 there were 110 loans with a drawn value of £752,465 granted and 2014 to date there have been 53 loans with a drawn value of £259,065 granted.