The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information since its establishment.
Matthew Hancock
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central on 19 October 2015 to UIN: 10764.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the estimated total cost to the public purse is of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information review of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Matthew Hancock
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central on 19 October 2015 to UIN: 10764.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the amount spent on consultancy support for Independent Shared Services Centres; and for what reasons the consultants were so engaged.
Matthew Hancock
No external consultancy support is funded by the Cabinet Office to the Independent Shared Services Centres directly to support operations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on legal advice relating to the Debt Market Integrator.
Matthew Hancock
The total spend on legal fees, including external legal advice, relating to the Debt Market Integrator for 2014/15 and 2015/16 is £3,123,332.
DMI has collected in excess of £22m up to end December 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to publish his response to the results of his Department’s consultation on tips, gratuities, service and cover charges; and whether he plans that that response will include proposals for reform of those payments.
Nick Boles
The Government received 183 responses to the investigation into tipping. We are looking closely at the evidence that was submitted and considering the available options. We will consider whether any further action is required and publish our response in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 10523, whether hon. Members of both Houses have the same levels of access to consolidated texts related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) as members of the (a) European Parliament, (b) German Parliament, (c) Scottish Parliament, (d) Welsh Assembly and (e) Northern Ireland Assembly; and what the Government’s policy is on the provision of a reading room for hon. Members of both Houses to scrutinise the consolidated texts of documents.
Anna Soubry
The European Commission shares classified documents relating to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with Members of the European Parliament via a reading room. Following pressure from Member States, the Commission and the US have agreed that national parliamentarians should have similar access to classified TTIP documents, including consolidated texts, via reading rooms in national ministries. Restrictions placed on these rooms include that they are only accessible to officials of Member State central governments and Members of Member State national Parliaments.
The UK intends to establish such a reading room in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This will give equivalent access to documents for hon. Members of both Houses to that afforded to Members of the European Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new businesses have been set up in Wealden constituency since May 2010.
Anna Soubry
There is no single data source that comprehensively measures all business start-ups within the UK. However, ONS has published statistics showing that there were 2,770 businesses newly registered for VAT or PAYE in the Wealden constituency between 2010 and 2014. Some newly registered businesses will have been trading for a number of years and other active businesses will not be covered because they are operating below the VAT and PAYE registration thresholds.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment of the ethical standards of debt collection agencies his Department undertakes before entering into a contract with such agencies.
Joseph Johnson
Any debt collection contracts let by the core Department would primarily use available framework contracts agreed by the Crown Commercial Service who are responsible for including any required assessment of ethical standards. However, if the need for a specialist debt collection contract should arise that could not be met by a framework contract, the Department’s tender and contract documentation would include further assessments as may be deemed necessary.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how his Department regulates the activities of debt collection agencies during the period that they are under contract with his Department.
Joseph Johnson
Should any direct contracts be let with debt recovery agencies, the scope and extent of any activity would be agreed as part of the contract negotiation and a process of routine monitoring put in place.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sammy Wilson on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people of working age with mental health problems have been assisted into work through his Department’s work programme in each of the last two years.
Priti Patel
The information requested is not available.