The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what visits each of the Ministers in the Government Equalities Office have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
Mrs Helen Grant
Details of Ministers’ visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what records his Department keeps of use of Government-funded credit cards by employees of Ofsted.
Mr David Laws
This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the waiting period will be before an individual qualifies for support through universal credit; and how long he expects it will take to calculate entitlement and process new claims for universal credit.
Esther McVey
The Chancellor announced in the 2013 Spending Review that a seven day waiting period is to be introduced into Universal Credit from April 2015.
Each claim for UC is assigned an assessment period. The payment due date is a fixed day of the month that falls 7 days after the end of the assessment period and on the same day of each subsequent month. Entitlement will be assessed so that payment should arrive in the claimant’s bank account on or before the payment due date.
If any claimant is in need of support during this time they are eligible to apply for a UC Advance (New Claim).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Cheryl Gillan on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, who has been appointed as a non-executive director of his Department since the publication of information on non-executive directors in his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13; what the date of each such appointment was; what annual fee is payable to each such person; what expenses and allowances each such person has claimed to date; and what other interests or employment each such person has.
Gregory Barker
Since the last annual report Martin Stewart has joined the Department as lead non-executive director on 3rd June 2013; and Tom Kelly joined on 3rd February 2014.
Martin Stewart is CEO of Eurotaxglass Ltd. He is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee on London 2017 Ltd, and Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of SIS Ltd.
Tom Kelly is currently the corporate communications director at Network Rail. He moves to become Strategic Communications Adviser for HS2 on 1st April 2014.
Their fees are £20,000 PA and £15,000 PA respectively. Neither has claimed expenses from the Department since taking up their role.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 47WS, on UK Green Investment Bank, whether the UK Green Investment Bank will be able to invest in green projects overseas.
Michael Fallon
The proposal is that the Green Investment Bank might help to invest funds allocated to the International Climate Fund in green projects in developing economies overseas. The £3.8bn that has been allocated to GIB remains available solely for investment within the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken in the last 12 months to reduce the burden of administration for the police.
Damian Green
This Government has acted so that the police focus on fighting crime and not processing paperwork. Our work which has already taken place to reduce bureaucracy could see up to 4.5 million hours of police time saved across all forces every year – the equivalent of over 2,100 officers back on the beat.
In the last 12 months we have established the Police Innovation Fund to support innovative delivery approaches to policing and free up officer time to fight crime. We have extended the use of police-led prosecutions, reducing bureaucracy for officers dealing with high-volume offences. We have also introduced an improved approach to dealing with Missing People so resources are deployed more intelligently.
We are producing digital case files to improve file build and reduce paperwork and we are supporting all forces to develop digital solutions so officers can submit information via mobile devices and not have to return to the station to fill in forms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support his Department makes available to encourage electoral registration for those who are not able to register online.
Greg Clark
People can continue to apply to register to vote on a paper form, available from their local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
EROs are encouraged to provide assistance for electors through both face-to-face contact and telephone communication, irrespective of the format of registration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups.
David Mundell
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on 26 March, Official Report, Column 300W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Robertson on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information he holds on the proportion of companies in (a) Glasgow North West, (b) Glasgow and (c) Scotland are ultimately owned by companies based in (i) Scotland, (ii) other parts of the UK, (iii) other countries in the EU and (iv) outside the EU.
David Mundell
According to Glasgow City Council figures (November 2013), there are approximately 18,000 businesses in Glasgow. The Scotland Office holds no information on the ownership nationality of companies located in neither Glasgow North West nor Glasgow.
However, across the UK as a whole, over 99% of private sector businesses will be small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and ownership for these is therefore highly likely to be based locally.
In 2013, registered private sector enterprises with ultimate ownership outside Scotland accounted for 3.1% of firms. These are disproportionately larger firms and so account for over 35% of employment. This suggests that 96.9% of businesses in Scotland have Scottish ownership, accounting for 64.8% of employment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form on 25 December 2013.
Esther McVey
Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.
Claimants with sincerely held religious beliefs can restrict their availability during religious festivals and holidays.