Tag: Alison Thewliss

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.144 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 and to paragraph 2.16 of the Budget 2016, for what reason only £12 million of the £15 million annual fund has been committed.

Mr David Gauke

As announced at Autumn Statement 2015, the Tampon Tax Fund is a £15 million annual fund to support women’s charities, equivalent to the amount of VAT raised on sanitary products. The Chancellor announced initial donations at Autumn Statement totalling £5m. Further grants totalling £12 million have been announced at this Budget.

The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Bill to enable the zero rate of VAT for women’s sanitary products.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people under the age of 25 in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Central constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Mr Rob Wilson

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

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on which dates in 2015 enforced removals of people from Yemen who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum took place.

James Brokenshire

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 14 April 2016, Question number 33999.

There were no enforced removals of nationals from Yemen in 2015 who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote breastfeeding in the curriculum.

Edward Timpson

Where there is a demand from parents and pupils, schools can choose to teach about any topic of interest, including breastfeeding. For example, it can be covered in schools’ personal, social, heath and economic (PSHE) lessons. The suggested programme of study for teachers by the PSHE Association does not specifically cover breastfeeding, but it includes teaching about parenthood and the development of parental skills. Schools can expand on these topics if they wish, and include breastfeeding if there is a demand to cover it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue a response to the report Scientific and factual? A review of breastmilk substitute advertising to healthcare professionals, published by the First Steps Nutrition Trust.

Nicola Blackwood

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to issue a response to the report, Scientific and Factual by First Steps Nutrition. The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007 regulate the advertising of breast milk substitutes. These regulations are enforced by local authorities, who have been made aware of the report.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-01-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department had with financial institutions prior to the introduction of new rules for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas in January 2013.

Harriett Baldwin

The government has regular discussions with financial institutions on a number of issues, both prior and since January 2013.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria is applied when determining which charities should receive funding from the Tampon Tax Fund.

Mr David Gauke

‘Showcase’ bids were identified, with the help of departmental expertise, that were innovative, in line with the aims of government policy, and likely to provide strong value for money.

Additionally, in recognition of the very high level of interest received, the government has also allocated funding to the Women’s Fund for Scotland, Comic Relief and Rosa who have specialist experience in this area, to disburse funding to a range of grassroots women’s organisations. These funds mean further awards will be made to a high number of charities in this sector.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government’s planned increase in the number of presenting officers at employment and support allowance and personal independence payments tribunal hearings.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department is increasing the attendance of Presenting Officers at appeals to help ensure the right decision is reached.

We’ve estimated that it will cost approximately £22m to increase the number of Presenting Officers at ESA and PIP Tribunal hearings. The vast majority of the £22m, which will be spent over three years, will be used for Presenting Officer salary costs, with a small proportion for Learning and Development, communications and start up project costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value was of the cash commission paid to companies for clients’ completion of the Work Programme in each year from 2011 to 2016.

Priti Patel

Work Programme providers are not paid cash commissions and are not paid for individuals completing the programme. Providers are paid by results on the basis of a job outcome fee for supporting an individual into sustained employment and additional sustainment payments for keeping them in work longer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the number of people who have been displaced in Yemen in the last five months.

James Wharton

According to the United Nations, there were 2.2million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen in July 2016. This is an increase of 200,000 since April 2016. Yemen also hosts around 280,000 refugees, mainly from the Horn of Africa.