Tag: Ian Murray

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the cost to business of the closure of the West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and Carlisle.

Claire Perry

Network Rail and the relevant passenger and freight train operators have been working collaboratively since the closure to provide the best practicable alternative travel options for the traffic which uses this part of the West Coast Main Line with the aim of minimising the adverse impact on users.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Scotland who reach state pension age in 2016-17 will receive less than the full flat rate of the new state pension.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department cannot model the impact of the new State Pension at a regional or country specific level. Results for the whole of Great Britain can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491845/impact-of-new-state-pension-longer-term-reserach.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outstanding (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment assessments for Scottish claimants there were in each of the last four quarters for which information is available.

Justin Tomlinson

The number of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) initial work capability assessments still in progress in Scotland as at the dates below were:

Quarter Total 31 December 2014 30,700 31 March 2015 28,800 30 June 2015 28,200 30 September 2015 27,500

Source: Data is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by the healthcare provider.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clearance levels are within expectations. The number of cases in progress in Scotland as at the dates below were:

30 April 2015 6,100

31 July 2015 6,800

31 October 2015 8,900

31 January 2016 13,000

Source: Data taken from the PIP computer system management information

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which overseas visits by hon. Members have been supported by his Department or by British embassies and consulates in (a) 2014, (b) 2015 and (c) 2016 to date.

Mr David Lidington

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-09-02.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of the planned closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Scotland on the administration of the Scottish rate of income tax.

Jane Ellison

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) plans to create two new regional centres in Scotland in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2019-20, accommodating between 5,700 and 6,300 full time equivalent posts by 2025. As work is transferred to the regional centres HMRC plans to close ten offices in Scotland by 2020. The changes are part of a ten-year transformation programme to deliver better public services at lower cost to the taxpayer. Scotland has 12 per cent of HMRC’s total workforce and that will not change with modernisation.

HMRC believes that its responsibilities will be unaffected by the changes. Staff are receiving guidance and training to deal with any enquiries relating to the Scottish rate of income tax, as with any other tax issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether powers not specifically reserved under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 will automatically revert to the competence of the Scottish Parliament after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Jones

The implications of the Repeal Bill for devolved statute will require consultation and discussion with all the Devolved Administrations. The Prime Minister made the the offer today of a new official forum, to be chaired by Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, to the leaders of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments to allow them to help shape the UK’s EU exit strategy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications of the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections and dissolution of the Scottish Parliament on the consultation period in respect of the Government’s proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and replacement by a British Bill of Rights.

Dominic Raab

We are committed to consulting fully on our proposals prior to the introduction of any legislation and will announce further details in due course.

We will adhere to any guidance published by the Cabinet Office in respect of the pre-election periods. We have already sought views and will continue to engage with the devolved administrations to deliver a modernised and reformed human rights framework for the whole of the United Kingdom.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of men in Scotland who reach state pension age in 2016-17 will receive the full flat rate of the new state pension.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department cannot model the impact of the new State Pension at a regional or country specific level. Results for the whole of Great Britain can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491845/impact-of-new-state-pension-longer-term-reserach.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of assessment reports conducted by contractors for Scottish claimants of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments were carried out by a qualified doctor in each of the last four quarters for which information is available.

Justin Tomlinson

All health professionals (HPs) undertaking assessments on behalf of DWP must be registered practitioners (occupational therapist, nurse, doctor, physiotherapist and paramedic) who have also met requirements around training, post-qualification experience and competence.

The number and proportion of Employment and Support Allowance assessments completed in Scotland by a doctor was:

April to June 2015 – 2,342 (19.4%)

July to September 2015 – 2,239 (18.6%)

October to December 2015 – 2,254 (18.7%)

January to March 2016 – 1,969 (14.2%)

Personal Independence Payment assessments in Scotland were completed by occupational therapists, nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics rather than doctors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential effect on (a) businesses and (b) the local community in Paisley of the decision to close the Post Office branch and replace it with a franchise.

George Freeman

Post Office Limited runs and operates its directly managed Crown post offices. Changes to its network and proposals to franchise of some of its Crown branches are the operational responsibility of the Post Office. The Post Office’s proposals for franchising some of its Crown branches are part of its work to ensure its branch network is sustainable in the long term and ensure that Post Office services remain on our high streets across the country. The change from a Crown to a franchise branch has been undertaken successfully in many locations across the UK and helps sustain Post Office services in these locations, and each change is subject to local consultation.

Over 97% of the UK’s post office network is run on a franchise or agency basis.