The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on the development of an indicator on five year survival rates from all cancers to support early diagnosis and reduction of preventable mortality from cancer.
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 Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will commission an assessment of the causes of work-related stress.
Mike Penning
There is already a considerable amount of academic research – national and international – that has evidenced the primary causes of work–related stress. The Health and Safety Executive website provides details of a wide range of research commissioned over the past decade http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/research.htm
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the potential effect on gateline staffing levels at (a) Birmingham New Street, (b) Coventry and (c) all stations on the London Midland line of London Midland’s proposals to reduce the number of revenue protection staff.
Stephen Hammond
Staffing levels and to which role staff are allocated are matters for the train operator, as long as they continue to deliver the services that meet the requirements of the Franchise Agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she authorised the UK’s classification of (a) Google, (b) Facebook, (c) webmail services and (d) other companies that operate in the UK as external communications.
James Brokenshire
External Communication is defined within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the statutory Interception of Communications Code of Practice which was approved by Parliament and came into force on 1 July 2002. The Government has no present plans to amend the definition of external communication.
Under RIPA, interception warrants are issued by the Secretary of State.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to take mortgage payments into account when calculating pension credit.
Steve Webb
Pensioners who are entitled to State Pension Credit may receive an additional element called Support for Mortgage Interest. This makes a contribution towards the interest on eligible loans taken out to purchase the property, and specific loans for repairs and improvements which are necessary to maintain the home’s fitness for habitation
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that workers report work-related stress to their employers.
Mike Penning
Health and safety regulations already place a duty on employers to consult with all employees over issues that may affect their health and safety, including work-related stress.
My department will also introduce a new Health and Work Service to provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GPs to help individuals with health conditions, including stress and other psychological problems, to stay in or return to work. This service will provide a more effective system for employees to report work-related stress issues.
The service is due to begin by the end of 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the value of London Midland’s rolling stock maintenance contract with Siemens after the direct award of the franchise for the period September 2015 to June 2017.
Stephen Hammond
Negotiations for the direct award of the West Midlands franchise are yet to commence and the Department has not made any estimate on the value of London Midland’s contract with Angel Trains. It should be noted that the value of rolling stock contracts are a commercial matter between the operator and the rolling stock owner.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to change (a) the classification of external communications for the purposes of interception and (b) other aspects of UK surveillance law.
James Brokenshire
External Communication is defined within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the statutory Interception of Communications Code of Practice which was approved by Parliament and came into force on 1 July 2002. The Government has no present plans to amend the definition of external communication.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 8W, on employee ownership, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the qualifications and independence of the independent advisers provided by companies to advise employees on their employee shareholder employment status.
Jenny Willott
In order for an individual to become an employee shareholder, the individual must obtain advice from a relevant independent adviser on the terms and effect of the proposed agreement. An employee shareholder employment contract is of no effect if an individual does not get independent advice before the agreement is made. It is in the interest of the individual to understand the employee shareholder contract and its implications before they accept a job.
Advice must be given by a qualified lawyer, certified trade union member, certified worker at an advice centre or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives who is employed in a solicitor’s practice. The law does not permit advice from a person employed by the employer to count towards fulfilling the legal advice requirement.
The law is already clear in this area. Government has drawn on the same legal mechanism detailing the provision of advice which is set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to enable employers to handle cases of employees suffering from work-related stress or other psychological problems affecting their work.
Mike Penning
Health and safety regulations already place a duty on employers to consult with all employees over issues that may affect their health and safety, including work-related stress.
My department will also introduce a new Health and Work Service to provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GPs to help individuals with health conditions, including stress and other psychological problems, to stay in or return to work. This service will provide a more effective system for employees to report work-related stress issues.
The service is due to begin by the end of 2014.