Tag: Bridget Phillipson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a level transition for people moving from tax credits to universal credit in terms of the amount of benefits received; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel

We have put transitional protections in place to ensure that people on existing tax credits whose circumstances remain the same do not lose out in cash terms when they are transferred on to Universal Credit.

We will introduce regulations to give effect to these provisions in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2016 to Question 24228, on public transport: North East, what his Department’s role is in finalising monitoring arrangements.

James Wharton

The Government is working with local partners in the North East to design an implementation plan for the North East devolution deal. Officials based in Cities and Local Growth team will work with local places to monitor the progress of implementation. When the necessary statutory instruments are in place, the Mayor will decide how to monitor the area’s transport policy, and will be directly held to account by local constituents.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish its response to its public consultation on housing benefit reform and supported housing.

Justin Tomlinson

In conjunction with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Work and Pensions has recently conducted an evidence-based review of supported accommodation in GB and we expect to publish the report shortly. Alongside this work, as part of our policy review, we will continue to work with and listen to all relevant stakeholders, including the supported housing sector in order to develop a workable and sustainable funding regime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied child refugees are in the process of seeking asylum to be reunited with family members who are already in the UK, under the terms of the Immigration Act 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Between 12 May and 1 October 2016 over 50 children who meet the criteria in Section 67 of the Immigration Act were accepted for transfer. Over 35 have already been transferred to the UK and many more are in train.

The Government can only give figures for those who have been accepted for transfer to the UK; the number of unaccompanied child refugees in the process of seeking asylum in other Member States is a matter for that Member State.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2016 to Question 47490, whether during those discussions concerns were raised by Japanese investors and representatives of Japanese businesses about the UK’s decision to leave the EU; and whether any conditions were placed on continued Japanese investment in the UK.

Alok Sharma

During my discussions, Japanese investors and business raised issues broadly in line with those set out in the Japanese government’s paper of 2 September. As we prepare to negotiate our exit from the European Union, it would be wrong to set out our unilateral position in advance of these negotiations, or provide a running commentary on our discussions with individual companies. We will continue to work closely with Japanese investors and business to ensure we support an open and thriving economic partnership in the future.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-11-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2015 to Question 12715, what steps his Department plans to take to increase the number of (a) pupils from state-funded schools and (b) pupils from state-funded schools who receive free school meals who enter higher education.

Joseph Johnson

We have already taken significant steps to widen participation in higher education. In particular, from 2015/16, we have removed the cap on student numbers, enabling more people than ever before to benefit from higher education. We have also established a stronger framework with increased responsibility placed on providers to widen access. The Director of Fair Access has agreed 183 Access Agreements for 2016/17 containing an estimated £745m to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds – up from £404m in 2009/10.

The Green Paper Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice, CM 9141 sets out additional steps the Government plans to take to increase the proportion of students from disadvantaged background entering higher education including through the new guidance that we plan to issue to the Director of Fair Access, and through the social mobility taskforce being set up by Universities UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2015 to Question 18232, if he will make it his policy to include the monitoring of the use of public transport and investment in the North East’s bus and rail networks as part of the process of monitoring the North East Devolution Deal.

James Wharton

Monitoring arrangements for the North East Devolution Deal are still subject to ongoing discussions, and once agreed will form part of the North East Combined Authority’s Implementation Plan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data sets are maintained by NHS Property Services.

George Freeman

NHS Property Services currently holds data sets under three categories – Asset Management, Facilities Management (FM) and Finance.

The Asset Management data set holds information under 27 categories, including the Company’s legal agreements with landlords and tenants, site plans and schedules of occupation. The FM data set holds information under 13 categories, including cost breakdowns by property and basic building and utilities data. The Finance data set holds information under four categories, including a financial register of major assets above £5,000.

The Company currently has an on-going project to create a central database of all information relating to the portfolio. This is considered key to providing the detailed level of consistent data necessary to manage its spaces optimally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of capping housing benefit to the same level as local housing allowance on the number of specialist homes in (a) Sunderland, (b) the North East, and (c) England.

Justin Tomlinson

We recognise the importance of assessing the potential impact on specialist homes. However, as the policy is not yet fully developed we are unable to provide any Information relating to this at this time.

For this reason on 1 March 2016 we announced, via a Written Ministerial Statement, that the effect of the LHA cap for those living in social sector supported housing would be deferred by a year, pending the outcome of a review, This means that the measure will only effect those who have taken on or renewed a tenancy from April 2017 rather than April 2016.

We have done this because we understand the importance of ensuring that both those living in supported housing and those who provide this type of accommodation receive appropriate protections. This is why we are awaiting the outcome of a “Supported Accommodation” research project and subsequent policy review, to ensure support is focused on the most vulnerable and appropriate groups are safeguarded.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding the Government has committed to the Global Fund Investment Case, Fifth Replenishment 2017-19 for fighting infections.

James Wharton

The Fifth Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria took place on 15 and 16 September in Montreal, Canada.

At the conference, the Secretary of State announced an investment of £1.1billion in the Global Fund, including a commitment to double private sector contributions for tackling malaria, up to a maximum of £200million, and £90million linked to successful delivery against a performance agreement.

The UK’s investment will help to fund 40million bednets to tackle malaria; provide enough lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy for 1.3million people with HIV; and support the treatment of 800,000 people with tuberculosis. Overall, our investment will help the Global Fund to save 8million lives, avert 300million infections and help build resilient and sustainable systems for health.