Tag: Ian Austin

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Freedom to speak up?, the report by Sir Robert Francis QC, published on 11 February 2015, what timescale he has set for NHS trusts to appoint whistleblowing guardians.

Dr Daniel Poulter

On 11 February, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State accepted in principle all the recommendations made by Sir Robert Francis following his Freedom to Speak Up review. We will shortly be consulting on how best to implement these recommendations. In addition we plan to bring forward measures to provide legislative protection for whistleblowers applying for a job in the National Health Service. With Opposition support, this could be in place before Parliament is prorogued.

The implementation of Sir Roberts’ recommendations will see a programme of action to help foster an open and learning culture in the NHS backed by local freedom to speak up guardians and a new national whistleblowing guardian. Individual trusts may wish to begin implementing some of these recommendations right away. Local action and responsibility will be at the heart of bringing about a culture where reporting of concerns is valued and encouraged.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) staff in his Department and (b) members of the public who use his Department’s on-site nurseries.

Mike Penning

The number of DWP families who use the on site nurseries was provided in PQ195198:

10 Apr 2014, Column 320W, Nurseries: House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Apr 2014 (pt 0001)

37 members of the public use the Department’s on site nurseries.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to improve job security for people employed indefinitely on temporary or fixed-term contracts.

Jenny Willott

The Government is committed to achieving a labour market that is both fair and flexible, which gives employers the confidence to create jobs, and individuals the choice to find work that suits them and their circumstances.

Temporary, agency and fixed term contracts are an important, but relatively small part of our labour market, as they give companies flexibility in how staff are hired and workers flexibility in how they work. In February to April 2014 there were 1.673 million temporary employees – 6.5% of all employees. Of these, ONS estimate that 35.9% were working temporarily because they could not find a permanent job – down from 39.7% a year ago.

Under this Government employment growth continues to be exceptionally strong, with levels up by 345,000 in the past quarter, and 780,000 in the past year – a record. Overall, in the 12 months to April 2014:

· Employment increased by 780,000.

· The number of employees working full time increased by 441,000 and the number of people working part time increased by 17,000.

· The amount of people in self-employment rose by 337,000

· The amount of temporary employees was 1.67 million in the three months to April 2014, up 79,000 on the same period last year. The amount of employees working temporary jobs because they could not find permanent jobs fell by 33,000 over the past year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues to employers on helping employees with the cost of childcare.

Nicky Morgan

HM Revenue & Customs has published extensive guidance to help employers run successful childcare schemes, including the Employer Helpbook E18 ‘How you can help your employees with childcare’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people on (a) temporary and (b) fixed-term contracts in each of the last four years.

Mr Nick Hurd

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether employees of his Department’s Child Maintenance Group will be compensated for the loss of their childcare subsidy.

Steve Webb

Five Child Maintenance Group on-site nurseries are due to close on expiry of the contract at the end of September 2014. They are located at offices in Birkenhead, Dudley, Falkirk, Hastings and Plymouth.

Child Maintenance Group childcare subsidy was made no longer available to new entrants from 1 June 2012. This brings Child Maintenance Group into line with the Department’s policy on childcare subsidy.

As part of its remuneration package, the Department supports employees through a salary sacrifice scheme where employees can give up part of their salary in return for childcare vouchers. This scheme allows for significant savings through tax relief and gives parents support in order to make their own choices for childcare.

Employees affected by the closure of the five on-site nurseries have been offered a day’s special leave in order to look for suitable alternatives.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have waited longer than the advised waiting times for (a) new passport applications and (b) passport renewals in the last year.

James Brokenshire

The information is not available in the format requested. Information can be
provided for UK straightforward and non-straightforward applications as set out
below for 2013-14

Total number of UK applications received 2013-14 5,818,272

Processed outside published turnaround times
Straightforward (within 3
weeks)
401 (0.007% of applications received)

Non-straightforward (within 6 weeks)
29,331 (0.5% of applications received)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the cost of staff redundancies resulting from the closure of his Department’s on-site nurseries from September 2014.

Mike Penning

DWP has no staff redundancies as a result of the nursery closures and no associated costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent reports she has received of changes in the backlog for processing (a) new passport applications and (b) passport renewals.

James Brokenshire

Ministers receive regular reports on the performance of Her Majesty’s Passport Office.