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 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.75 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, whether his Department has recruited an experienced, commercial specialist to lead the new nuclear enterprise sponsor team.

Mr Philip Dunne

Options for the new team continue to be developed and assessed. We expect to announce further details later this year once decisions have been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department’s policy is and what guidance it issues to civil servants on the acceptance and declaration of corporate gifts.

Mark Lancaster

The Department’s rules on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality state that every head of Division or Commanding Officer must maintain a hospitality log in which to record contact with persons, firms or organisations holding, or seeking to obtain, Government contracts. All offers of gifts, complimentary vouchers, other incentives, and hospitality made to Crown Servants whether accepted or declined must be recorded in the log. Senior management are responsible for undertaking regular reviews of the hospitality log. The guidance is set out in the "Defence Business Services Gifts, Reward, and Hospitality Policy" documents which are available on the Department’s intranet site.

The Department’s policy is based on the rules of standards and conduct found within the Civil Service Code and is consistent with approaches taken by other Government Departments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) nursing homes and (b) dual registered nursing homes there were in the North West of England in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The CQC has provided the following information.

Number of active nursing homes¹ in the North West region at end of 2012, 2013 and 2014 fiscal years

Date	Care homes with nursing service type only	Care homes with nursing service type and other service types	Total care home service with nursing locations
31 March 2013	566	79	645
31 March 2014	568	75	643
31 March 2015	570	77	647

¹Nursing homes are defined as “care homes with nursing service type only”. Dual registered nursing homes are defined as “care homes with nursing service type and other service types”.

Source: CQC database as at 7 April 2015

Note: Service types can change over time. The numbers provided are based on the service type(s) of the location as at April 2015 or date the location de-activated if inactive as at April 2015.

Local authorities in the North West Region: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Halton, Knowsley, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, St. Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington, Wigan and Wirral.

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, which improvements in performance in the delivery of the Successor submarine programme (a) have been achieved and (b) he expects to be achieved in the next 12 months.

Mr Philip Dunne

We are working closely with all of our key suppliers to ensure that they make improvements, where required, to deliver both the capability and the capacity we need to successfully deliver the Successor programme. This work builds on the efficiencies and improvements already made as part of initiatives such as the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme.

Discussions with our key suppliers are ongoing and it would not be appropriate for the Ministry of Defence to discuss this work publicly for commercial reasons.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the elements of the Successor programme has commenced production of manufacturing drawings; and when he expects all elements of that to have commenced such drawing.

Mr Philip Dunne

The production of manufacturing drawings is phased to support corresponding manufacturing activities and has commenced for long-lead elements of the Successor submarine including the propulsion plant and missile tubes.

Production of the majority of manufacturing drawings will not commence until after the next approval.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Ministry of Defence live ammunition ranges have safety wardens present on site.

Mr Julian Brazier

The following Ministry of Defence ranges have permanent dedicated wardens on site:

Otterburn Training Area	Northumberland.
Warcop Training Area	Cumbria.
Barry Buddon Training Centre	Angus, Fort George, Inverness, Hythe, Kent, Lydd, Kent.
Castlemartin Training Area	Pembrokeshire, Swynnerton, North Staffordshire, Lulworth, Dorset, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, Tain, Ross-Shire, Pembrey Sands, Carmarthenshire.
Kirkcudbright Training Centre	Kirkcudbrightshire.

The remainder of UK ranges are overseen by personnel who are responsible collectively for ensuring the ranges in a region are safe and fit for purpose. Irrespective of the presence of permanent wardens, each unit using a range is overseen by a qualified and experienced Range Conducting Officer, who ensures the safe operation for that exercise once the range has been handed over.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is an approved Outline Business Case for the investment proposals for the next phase of work on the Successor submarine programme.

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 next three stages are in the investment programme announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review for the Successor programme; and when he expects each of those stages will reach approval decisions.

Mr Philip Dunne

As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, we will further invest around £600 million in the design of the Successor submarine as we prepare to move to the demonstration phase. Options for the subsequent investment stages and their scope, time and cost are currently under consideration and will be subject to the formal approvals process

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for safety on live ammunition ranges of changes in the numbers of safety wardens present on site.

Mr Julian Brazier

The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing staffing levels on UK Defence Training Estate ranges and the implications for safety and I will update the hon. Member when this has been completed.