Tag: Chris Stephens

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will publish (a) a risk analysis, (b) an assessment of the planned transfer of staff, (c) the timetable for TUPE transfers and (d) the date of commencement of consultation with relevant trade unions in relation to the replacement of the HMRC IT Aspire contract.

Mr David Gauke

Through the Aspire Replacement Programme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has considered a wide range of risks that could impact the successful replacement of this contract. The Programme is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio. The governance bodies for the Programme include senior representatives from across HMRC, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, in addition to key external expertise from industry.

Due to commercial confidentiality, HMRC is not in a position to give more details of its plans at this stage.

HMRC has an ongoing two-way dialogue with relevant trades unions about all matters that affect the Department.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provisions his Department has in place to ensure that sufferers of multiple sclerosis do not experience a decrease in benefit payments as a result of experiencing a temporary period of remission in their condition.

Priti Patel

The assessments for Employment and Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment have been designed to take full account of fluctuating conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Neither assessment is a snapshot; they give people with fluctuating conditions the opportunity to explain how their condition varies over time.

All assessments are carried out by qualified health professionals who have broad training in disability analysis and are required to fully explore and report any fluctuations in a claimant’s condition(s).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-05-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) number, (b) current responsibilities and (c) current locations are of the roles which National Savings and Investment plans to move to Chennai.

Harriett Baldwin

NS&I has no current plans to move roles it has in the UK to Chennai.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the savings to the Exchequer resulting from the future transfer of responsibility for funding television licences for people over 75 from his Department to the BBC for (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow City Council and (c) Scotland.

Richard Harrington

The summer budget 2015 announced a number of fundamental changes relating to the BBC and free TV licences for those aged 75 and over. DWP will cease to fund free TV licences from 2019/20 and the BBC will absorb the cost of this and take responsibility for the policy which currently sits with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. It is estimated that the provision of free TV licences for 2016/17 will cost £629m and DWP will continue to make a transfer to the BBC during the phasing period, as set out in the table below.

	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21
HMG transfer for free TV licences (£m)	468	247	0

DWP resources currently assigned to the provision and collation of data relating to the free television licence scheme for people aged 75 and over is 12 staff days per annum. Any plans for the future role of employees and contractors will be determined following detailed discussions between my Department and the BBC nearer the time the BBC take full responsibility for funding and policy.

In 2014/15 the cost of providing free TV licences to those 75 and over in Scotland was £49m and it is estimated the cost for qualifying residents in Glasgow South West constituency and Glasgow City local authority area was £0.7m and £4m respectively.

The cost of the free TV licences to those aged 75 and over in Scotland for 2015/16 will be published on 21 September on the DWP website. Breakdowns by Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency use that Scotland expenditure estimate and are therefore not currently available.

Savings to the Exchequer resulting from the future transfer of responsibility for funding television licences for people aged 75 or over were set out in the summer budget 2015.

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 carers.

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, 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.