Tag: Kate Hollern

The parliamentary question asked by Kate Hollern, the Labour MP for Blackburn, in the House of Commons on 6 March 2023.

Kate Hollern (Blackburn) (Lab)

14. What estimate he has made of levels of unemployment in towns and cities. (903881)

The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)

The January Office for National Statistics labour market statistics publication shows that payroll employment reached a new record high of 30 million in January 2023. That is, of course, higher than at any stage under the last, or any, Labour Government.

Kate Hollern

We hear of a record number of vacancies, yet so many who are looking to get into work are out of work. In Blackburn, the claimant count among 18 to 24-year-olds is at 7.9%, against a national rate of 4.6%. What is the Minister doing to bring down barriers to work such as unaffordable childcare, transport, a failed apprenticeship scheme and a levelling-up agenda that is just not meeting the skills agenda?

Guy Opperman

The hon. Lady should be aware that last Tuesday there was a jobs fair in her constituency. There were 59 exhibitors, and 900 customers attended the event. They provided fantastic feedback on the support and interventions given. If she did not attend that particular jobs fair, she might want to go to “March into manufacturing” on 21 March, an upcoming jobs fair in her patch.

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)

We started the sitting with a non-party political point, so may I continue in that mode? I absolutely agree that those on the Opposition Benches want to reduce the level of unemployment. Unfortunately, their policies do not follow. Does the Minister agree that every single Labour Government have left unemployment higher than when they came to office?

Guy Opperman

Yes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, what the stages will be in the staged investment programme for the Successor submarine programme; and what the estimated timetable for each of those stages is.

Mr Philip Dunne

In line with normal Ministry of Defence processes, a business case for the additional investment referred to in the Strategic Defence and Security Review is going through the formal approvals process.

Options for the subsequent investment stages, including scope, time and cost are currently under consideration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the forecast expenditure is on the Successor programme within his Department’s 10 year equipment plan.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Successor submarine programme remains in the Assessment Phase. I am withholding internal Ministry Of Defence forecasts on future programme expenditure as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the Department’s commercial interests.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-04-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to require all primary and secondary schools to become academies.

Nick Gibb

Ensuring that all schools are academies by 2022 gives schools and local authorities six years notice to plan and make the right decisions for their pupils and communities.

This is a fully funded policy with over £500 million available this Parliament to build capacity, in support of a high-quality, fully academised school system.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK and (b) other maritime patrol aircraft are currently based at RAF Lossiemouth; and how much longer he anticipates this will be the case.

Penny Mordaunt

There are no Maritime Patrol Aircraft currently based at RAF Lossiemouth.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Philip Dunne) to question 17832 from the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) on 3 December 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26801, if he will create a central register of contracts and contract information for the Successor submarine programme.

Mr Philip Dunne

There is no intention to create a central register as described.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many small and medium-sized businesses were direct suppliers to his Department during the years (a) 2015-16, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2013-14.

Mr Philip Dunne

Small businesses are an important source of innovation and flexibility, as both direct and indirect suppliers, to meet our defence and security requirements. The estimated number of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) directly supplying the Ministry of Defence (MOD) during financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15 is provided below. The figures for 2015-16 are not yet available.

MOD Direct Expenditure with SMEs	Estimated Number of SME Suppliers
2013-14	7,000
2014-15	5,400

The MOD spent 19.4% (direct and indirect) of its procurement budget with SMEs in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. The MOD has a new 25% target for SME procurement spend by 2020.

The information has been taken from the Department’s published Official Statistics on Trade, Industry and Contracts which summarises MOD contracting with industry. Further information about MOD expenditure with SMEs is available on the Gov.UK website at the respective links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-industry-trade-and-contracts-2015 and https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-industry-trade-and-contracts-2014

The MOD does not hold information on the number of SMEs providing indirect supplies through the supply chain.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) range and (b) maximum flying time of the Boeing P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft is.

Mr Philip Dunne

Range and endurance will vary significantly depending upon the profile of the mission being flown, however the P-8A Poseidon’s range and endurance may be characterised as 4,000 plus nautical miles and over eight hours of endurance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) scope, (b) value and (c) cost overrun from the original value are of contracts awarded to BAE Systems for the Successor submarine programme.

Mr Philip Dunne

Contracts awarded to BAE Systems for the Successor programme relate to design services, long lead procurement and facilities upgrades. The total value of these contracts amounts to some £1.4 billion.

Spend to date, on these contracts, is within agreed contract limits of liability.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which contractors his Department has a contract with either directly or indirectly by sub-contract which is valued at £10,000 or more; and what the (a) value and (b) timetable is of each such contract.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Ministry of Defence currently has around 4,000 contracts with suppliers of all sizes. I am withholding the full list of contracts as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. Under the Transparency Agenda, details of contracts awarded over £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder, which can be located at the link: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder