Tag: Chris Stephens

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-01-29.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has made of the cost of (a) the replacement of and (b) planned privatisations within the HMRC IT Aspire contract.

Mr David Gauke

At the Public Accounts Committee hearing of 16 March 2015, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) advised that the transition cost for the entire business case will be about £600 million.

The Business Case setting out the options for the replacement of the Aspire contract is currently subject to formal governance processes, and as such HMRC cannot discuss future plans.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis claiming benefits whose claim (a) partly and (b) solely relates to that condition have had their benefits payments (i) reduced and (ii) ceased after medical reassessment undertaken on behalf of the Department due to that person being in remission from that condition.

Priti Patel

The information requested is not available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-06-13.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 38066, what the (a) number, (b) current responsibilities and (c) current locations are of any National Savings and Investment roles undertaken by employees of Atos which are planned to be off-shored.

Harriett Baldwin

NS&I and Atos regularly review the mix of where roles are undertaken so as to best meet the needs of the business. There are no current plans to move roles in the UK undertaken by employees of Atos off-shore.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 July 2016 to Question 42791, if she will publish the information her Department holds on registered social landlords for the provision of services to asylum seekers.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Home Office provides asylum seeker accommodation through contracts. Those providers have a range of landlords with whom they work to provide accommodation.

There are no plans to publish information regarding the detailed measures or key performance indicators of individual providers or their properties.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact assessment his Department has carried out on the effects of reductions in the universal credit work allowance on employees of his Department.

Priti Patel

The impact of the work allowance change cannot be considered in isolation – it is part of a broader package of measures announced at the Summer Budget, such as the increase to the personal tax allowance and introduction of the national living wage, which strengthens incentives to find work and better paid jobs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-01-29.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the replacement of the HM Revenue and Customs IT Aspire contract will be conducted; and whether it will be conducted in separate tranches.

Mr David Gauke

On 5 August 2015, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced the next step in its plans to transition from the Aspire contract. The Department is seeking to establish a truly world class IT operation that has the right mix of technology, processes and skills in a multi-sourced model to deliver its digital vision – and savings of up to 24 per cent on its £800m annual IT budget by 2020-21.

HMRC is making significant progress in preparing for the end of the Aspire IT contract in 2017. In December 2015, three services previously delivered by Capgemini were successfully brought under HMRC’s direct control.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to Answer Question 26990, tabled on 11 February 2016 by the hon. Member for Glasgow South West.

Nick Boles

I apologise to the hon Member for the delay. I will reply as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence given by Duncan McPhee to the Defence Committee on 7 June 2016, HC221, at Question 120, what discussions his Department has had with other public bodies on increasing the number of apprenticeships in the shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The number of apprenticeships in the shipbuilding industry is primarily a matter for the contractors concerned. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of apprenticeships in developing the essential skills needed by industry to deliver defence outputs. As one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the UK, the MOD plays an important role in helping the Government meet its commitment to reaching three million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020. We also work closely with colleagues across Government and industry to ensure that necessary defence skills are maintained. For example, as part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ‘Trailblazer’ programme, the Royal Navy is working with industry partners to develop new world-class apprenticeship standards for engineers working on shipbuilding and maintenance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what materials are available to his Department’s staff for the purposes of training on universal credit.

Damian Hinds

DWP staff have access to a comprehensive Universal Credit learning framework that is designed to build their core skills and knowledge to enable them to effectively undertake their role covering all national roll-out tranches of Universal Credit.

This includes:

• knowledge and skills modules ensuring each member of staff can support and coach individual customer’s needs, including those with complex circumstances / health and well being
• system practice that mirrors the full rollout of the Universal Credit system
• period of consolidation and on the job coaching to ensure the member of staff is fully competent

Each individual member of staff, dependant on their job role, individual experience and previous formal learning, will complete a Learning Needs Analysis that will determine the length of the Universal Credit learning, consolidation requirements and the learning they will undertake.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact assessment his Department has carried out on the effects of reductions in universal credit work allowance on workers under the age of 25.

Priti Patel

The impact of the work allowance change cannot be considered in isolation – it is part of a broader package of measures announced at the Summer Budget, such as the increase to the personal tax allowance and introduction of the national living wage, which strengthens incentives to find work and better paid jobs.