Tag: Chuka Umunna

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of vacancies currently available on Universal Jobmatch are employee only jobs.

Esther McVey

In answering question 195183 we have interpreted “employee only jobs” as meaning “employee owner status jobs.”

Universal Jobmatch revolutionises the way jobseekers look for work and it has already helped many jobseekers find the jobs they want. It is part of the government’s plan for providing easy online access to government services for all.

Universal Jobmatch has streamlined our existing services for employers and empowered claimants to take more responsibility for their jobsearch and get more targeted support from advisers.

It does not capture information on the number and proportion of zero-hours contracts or ‘employee owner’ status jobs.

Jobcentre Plus guidance stipulates that claimants should not be mandated to apply for a job offering a zero hours contract. It also states that no sanction action will be taken if claimants refuse or fail to apply.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence has taken place between (i) his Department, (ii) Royal Mail, (iii) banks acting as bookrunners, co-ordinators and lead managers and (iv) priority investors since the privatisation of Royal Mail took place; and if he will publish any such relevant correspondence.

Michael Fallon

Since the Initial Public Offering, my Department has had discussions with Royal Mail in our continuing role as a minority shareholder in Royal Mail.

There has been ad hoc contact with the Global Co-ordinators primarily to help with enquiries about the IPO but no formal correspondence.

It is not appropriate to publish correspondence relating to the above on the grounds that it relates to our shareholding or has been provided to help develop Government policy and to do so would inhibit the free and frank advice or exchange of views for the purposes of internal deliberation.

This Department has not had discussions or corresponded with the priority investors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 723W, on conditions of employment, how many and what proportion of vacancies available on Universal Jobmatch are zero-hours contracts jobs.

Esther McVey

In answering question 195183 we have interpreted “employee only jobs” as meaning “employee owner status jobs.”

Universal Jobmatch revolutionises the way jobseekers look for work and it has already helped many jobseekers find the jobs they want. It is part of the government’s plan for providing easy online access to government services for all.

Universal Jobmatch has streamlined our existing services for employers and empowered claimants to take more responsibility for their jobsearch and get more targeted support from advisers.

It does not capture information on the number and proportion of zero-hours contracts or ‘employee owner’ status jobs.

Jobcentre Plus guidance stipulates that claimants should not be mandated to apply for a job offering a zero hours contract. It also states that no sanction action will be taken if claimants refuse or fail to apply.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) between 19 and 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed at the Competition and Markets Authority.

Matthew Hancock

The Competition and Markets Authority employs no apprentices at this time.

As a supporter of apprenticeships, the Government launched the first Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme in 2013.

As at September 2013, the most recent date for which figures are available, the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme had 100 18-21 year old apprentices employed in permanent posts across government on the 2-year scheme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what due diligence was undertaken by officials in his Department in relation to the reliability of the gentlemen’s agreement on the holding of Royal Mail shares by priority investors.

Michael Fallon

There was no agreement – gentleman’s or otherwise – on the holding of Royal Mail shares by priority investors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) verbal and (b) contractual agreement was made with priority investors in relation to their shareholders during the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Michael Fallon

No verbal or contractual agreement of any description – including future intentions for shareholdings – was made between the Government and any investor in the Royal Mail Initial Public Offering (IPO). Any suggestion that there was a “gentleman’s agreement” is false.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what safeguards were (a) sought and (b) put in place to ensure that priority investors would continue to invest over a longer period of time in respect of the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Michael Fallon

More than 500 would-be investors in Royal Mail were approached in the lead up to the sale including potential long term institutional investors.

As is standard practice for any flotation, we did not seek to lock in any investors in as they would have paid less for a stock they could not trade.

We understand that the majority of the shares, other than those owned by government, the Royal Mail workforce and retail investors, are currently held by long term institutional investors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-03-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have moved off jobseeker’s allowance to jobs on zero-hours contracts in each month since May 2010.

Esther McVey

This data is not available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what correspondence there was between (a) the bank acting as financial adviser to the Government and (b) banks acting as bookrunners, co-ordinators and lead managers (i) with and (ii) on priority investors; and if he will publish any relevant correspondence.

Michael Fallon

The Department has not seen and does not hold copies of any correspondence between Lazard or the Syndicate of banks selling Royal Mail shares and the priority investors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Adonis of 3 June 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column 122WA, on government departments: secondments, of those secondments to his Department listed on that date, how many of these secondments related (a) wholly, (b) partly and (c) incidentally to the privatisation of Royal Mail; and how many of those secondments took place primarily for the purpose of helping with the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Michael Fallon

Of the secondees listed in the answer given to the noble Lord, Lord Adonis on 3 June 2013, two worked on the Royal Mail privatisation in the Shareholder Executive.