Tag: Frank Field

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences for experimentation with animals the Animals and Science Committee granted in the most recent year for which data is available.

Mr John Hayes

The Animals in Science Committee (ASC) are responsible for providing impartial, balanced and objective advice to Ministers relating to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The Committee is not responsible for granting licences. Under Section 9 of ASPA, the Secretary of State may consult the Committee regarding licence applications. Current policy requires referral of the following categories of project licence application:

• the use of wild-caught non-human primates;

• the use of cats, dogs, equidae or non-human primates in severe procedures;

• use of endangered species;

• projects with major animal welfare or ethical implications;

• projects involving the use of admixed embryos falling into category 3 of the Academy of Medical Science report on Animals Containing Human Material and category 2 where the predominance of an admixed embryo is unclear or uncertain;

• projects which may invoke any of the ‘safeguard clauses’ in the Directive with respect to the purpose of primate use, proposals for the use of a great ape, or proposals to cause long-lasting pain, suffering or distress that cannot be ameliorated; or

• projects of any kind raising novel or contentious issues, or giving rise to serious societal concerns.

In 2014, the most recent year for which we have data available, the ASC provided advice on four project licences. These were subsequently granted by the Home Office. The numbers of licences the ASC provided advice on in 2015 will be published in the ASC Annual Report later this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of people who were interviewed under caution (a) for all offences and (b) for sexual offences were subsequently charged in each of the last three years.

Mike Penning

The Home Office does not hold the data requested.

The Home Office collects data from police forces on the number of offences that resulted in a charge but does not collect data on the number of interviews held under caution.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the likely change in the number of (a) children and (b) working-age adults who will be in households with net equivalised income below 60 per cent of the median (i) before and (ii) after housing costs, not including the effect of transitional protection for claimants migrated onto universal credit, in 2020-21 as a result of changes to universal credit work allowance announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

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 which were updated for the Autumn Statement. This included the increase to the personal tax allowance and introduction of the national living wage. Taken together, these reforms are designed to support people into employment and then enable them to progress in work and generate more income for themselves.

Universal Credit is a key element of these reforms. It is designed to ensure that work always pays. The single taper rate means people have a clear incentive to work, and to work more.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to reply to the letter of 15 February 2016 from the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead regarding free school meals.

Mr Sam Gyimah

The Secretary of State has received the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead’s letter of 15 February 2016 about free school meals and will respond shortly, and within the normal timeframe for correspondence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to phase out the use of an 0345 number for the universal credit helpline and replace it with a freephone number.

Priti Patel

DWP have no plans to phase out the 0345 number. The Department is transforming the way it delivers its services embracing new digital channels and technology. The main route to access Universal Credit is online and research shows that around 90% of claimants make their claim online.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her policy that all children in households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.

Mr Sam Gyimah

We will continue to ensure that all children from the poorest families benefit from a free school meal. The introduction of Universal Credit and simplification of the benefits system mean that the eligibility criteria for free school meals will need to be updated. The Department for Education is continuing to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on this. In the meantime, while this work is on-going, any child whose parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pieces of recording equipment are available in each region of the UK for the purposes of recording work capability assessments.

Priti Patel

Centre for Health and Disability Assessments offer audio recordings to customers who request them in advance, or on the day, and recording machines are now available at every assessment centre. For every 10,000 Work Capability Assessments completed the Department receives an average of 66 requests for an audio recorded assessment.

There are currently 24 audio-recording machines in Scotland and the North East; 43 in North and Central England; 39 in Wales and the West, and; 22 in London and South England, totalling 128 for Great Britain.

(Source: Centre for Health Disability Assessments)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people working for his Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Ben Gummer

Cabinet Office has no one paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Crown Commercial Service, which is an agency of the Cabinet Office, has seven staff who are paid less than the national living wage and one person paid less than the London living wage but none are on zero-hours contracts. One agency staff member working in the Cabinet Office is paid less than the national living wage but none are on zero-hours contracts.

In line with the practice of previous Administrations we do not require companies contracted to the Department to pay the living wage to the staff they employ. There are currently 63 individuals working in the Cabinet Office for companies contracted to the Department that are paid less than the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, and 14 are on zero hours contracts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people working for his Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Caroline Nokes

The Government introduced the National Living Wage on 1 April 2016. This will put over £900 more a year in the pockets of full-time workers compared to the current National Minimum Wage.

The Department ensures that all direct employees are paid at least the mandatory National Living Wage set by the Government, regardless of age. Similarly all agency staff and those on outsourced contracts are paid at least this rate. The Department reviews pay annually, setting pay at rates that will attract and motivate appropriate numbers and sufficient talent to fulfil its duties to some 22 million customers.

None of our employees nor those working for our contractors are on zero hours contracts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-10-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, by when his Department plans to report its funding on a proposed breathing space mechanism for problem debt.

Simon Kirby

The Government is exploring whether some form of “breathing space” would be a useful and viable addition to the range of formal and informal debt solutions available to consumers and creditors. Officials in HM Treasury and the Insolvency Service have been asked to discuss this issue with stakeholders and the Government will report back this autumn.