The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the cost in each year between 2016 and 2021 of young parents under 25 years old, who are single claimants and care leavers, receiving the same rate of standard allowance in universal credit as single claimants who are parents aged 25 years old; and how many people this would affect.
Lord Freud
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison McGovern on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department makes available for people with mental health conditions who claim jobseeker’s allowance in getting them back into the workplace.
Priti Patel
Jobcentre Plus delivers a flexible support model for claimants: a core regime of regular face-to-face meetings, flexible work coach support and a menu of support options. This includes a personalised service tailored to the individual needs of the claimant, such as Mental Health conditions, and the local labour market. Additionally, the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service offers support to individuals with a mental health condition who are absent from work or finding work difficult.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprentices are required to achieve a Level 1 qualification, including mathematics and English, in order (a) to be entered for an Intermediate Level Apprenticeship and (b) for entries to be in accordance with the Specification of Apprenticeships Standards for England.
Nick Boles
In order to maximise accessibility, there are no centrally set entry requirements to start an apprenticeship. However, as apprenticeships are jobs with training, individual employers may set their own entry requirements for a specific apprenticeship.
The government does set requirements relating to training and achievement in English and maths during apprenticeships. This is because English and maths are fundamental to career progression and access to further learning.
All apprenticeship frameworks must comply with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE). Under SASE, English and maths qualifications are a mandatory component of all Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeships. However, all adult apprentices are assessed for prior learning, and people who start an apprenticeship with current English and maths qualifications at the right level need not repeat these.
We are reforming apprenticeships to ensure that they are based on standards designed by employers.The government sets minimum requirements for apprenticeship standards, though employers are able to go further in the standards they design. They are able to specify a higher level of English and/or maths achievement or to specify a particular qualification or qualifications where this is needed for a particular occupation or sector. . The minimum requirements are – passing level 1 English and maths and taking the test for level 2 before taking the end-point assessment for an intermediate apprenticeship; and passing level 2 English and maths before taking the end-point assessment for an advanced or higher apprenticeship.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 4 November (HL2983), what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Saudi Arabia, and (2) the United Arab Emirates, about their assistance in ensuring immediate humanitarian access for non-governmental organisations in Yemen, and what has been the outcome of those representations.
Baroness Verma
The UK continues to work with the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on improving access for humanitarian aid and workers. We are supporting the work of the UN Special Envoy to convene peace talks in the coming weeks and to negotiate a lasting ceasefire as the best way to improve humanitarian access.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2015-12-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how his Department and the Bank of England assess the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises which have received a loan through the Funding for Lending scheme.
Harriett Baldwin
The Bank of England does not lend directly to small and medium sized enterprises as part of the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS). Under the FLS, the Bank of England provides funding to UK banks and building societies participating in the scheme. The amount of funding participant banks and building societies are eligible to borrow from the Bank of England is determined by their net lending to certain sectors of the economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Black of Brentwood on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any assessment of the impact of the criminalisation of homosexuality by Commonwealth countries on economic development and business investment in those countries.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not carried out a specific assessment of the impact of the criminalisation of homosexuality on economic development and business investment in Commonwealth countries. However, we welcomed the reports of the Williams Institute of November 2014 and the recent report from the Human Dignity Trust of November 2015 which clearly set out the economic case for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
We are committed to combating discrimination and violence against Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) throughout the Commonwealth. We utilised every opportunity at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to highlight our belief that the Commonwealth must stand up for human rights, including LGB&T rights, around the world. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), made this clear during an intervention at the retreat and subsequently in his press statement. Additionally, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, the noble Baroness Verma, also spoke in favour of addressing LGB&T issues while chairing a session at the People’s Forum. We look forward to working with the new Commonwealth Secretary-General on this issue when she takes up her position in April 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Damian Green on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the responses to her letter of 24 November 2015 to all local council leaders on the Dispersal of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children; and if she will make a statement.
James Brokenshire
There have been a number of positive responses to the letter of 24 November, including concrete offers of support for Kent through the disperal of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. We are clear that local authorities with the capacity to support Kent should do so. The Immigration Minister and the Children’s Minister chaired a round table meeting on 15 December with council leaders and directors of children’s services to consider what more can be done , and longer-term options for the dispersal of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. We hope the arrangements will remain voluntary and more local authorities will come forward. However, we have taken a reserve power in the Immigration Bill to underpin the voluntary power and act as a backstop power to mandate dispersal if the voluntary arrangements do not work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Greengross on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many days were lost through the sickness of healthcare workers in each year between 2009 and 2014.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The number of days lost through the sickness of healthcare workers between 2009 and 2014 were:
|
England |
Full Time Equivalent Days Lost to Sickness Absence (includes non-working days) |
Full Time Equivalent Days Available (includes non-working days) |
Sickness Absence Rate |
|
2009-10 |
16,745,315 |
380,199,666 |
4.40% |
|
2010-11 |
15,947,054 |
383,278,845 |
4.16% |
|
2011-12 |
15,555,507 |
377,908,880 |
4.12% |
|
2012-13 |
15,947,518 |
376,187,354 |
4.24% |
|
2013-14 |
15,385,468 |
378,691,376 |
4.06% |
|
2014-15 |
16,423,722 |
386,388,483 |
4.25% |
Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre
The Government does not record the cost incurred by the National Health Service due to days lost through the sickness of healthcare workers.
Employers are responsible for reducing the days lost through sickness of their staff. The Department supports the NHS by commissioning NHS Employers to provide trusts with advice, guidance and good practice on improving NHS staff health and wellbeing which is available on an online only resource at:
NHS Employers is also working with NHS England and Public Health England on a £5 million initiative to improve NHS staff health announced in its Five Year Forward View. A copy of the ‘A healthy NHS workforce’ announcement is attached.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officials in her Department have been seconded from outside Northern Ireland in each year since 2010.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
Since 2010, my Department has had two seconded staff from outside Northern Ireland, one from 2010-2011 and one from 2013-2015. Additionally, the Northern Ireland Office also has 13 staff on loan from other Government departments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Oates on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost to (1) small businesses, and (2) personal taxpayers, of HMRC’s delays in answering telephone enquiries in terms of lost productivity.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
HM Revenue and Customs has not made such an assessment.