The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to legislate to change non-binding shareholder votes in relation to executive pay in public companies to binding votes if they pass the 50 per cent threshold.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce an enforceable regulatory regime of any type to tackle nuisance calls, texts and other forms of marketing for claims management companies.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government is taking forward a range of measures to tackle nuisance calls, which will increase consumer protection and choice by strengthening the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) ability to take enforcement action against organisations that break the law.
Specific actions include requiring direct marketing callers to display calling line identification; strengthening the ICO’s direct marketing guidance; and exploring the extension of the ICO’s powers of compulsory audit to more of the organisations that generate nuisance calls.
The Government also intends to establish a tougher regulatory regime for Claims Management Companies (CMCs) by transferring responsibility for claims management regulation to the Financial Conduct Authority; re-authorising all CMCs under a more robust process; and holding managers of CMCs personally accountable for the actions of their businesses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-01-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many regulation-making powers are contained in the Trade Union Bill.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Trade Union Bill contains 12 regulation making powers. Details are set out in the Delegated Powers memorandum, updated ahead of introductions in to this House in November 2015. A summary is attached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support annual executive pay votes by shareholders, and whether they intend to legislate to stop three-year votes on that issue.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage better customer service in insurance companies that allow for consumers to make free claims.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules.
The FCA’s Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS) sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms in relation to their business which aim to ensure consumers are treated fairly. This includes provisions relating to the handling of claims by insurers. ICOBS states that insurers must handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions in his role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.
Lord Freud
In one sense, all DWP staff support the Accounting Officer through their individual responsibilities to work confidently within the system of control for which the Accounting Officer is ultimately responsible, to ensure the effective operation of a major government department, which will make some £136.4 billion in welfare payments this year.
More narrowly, the Accounting Officer is directly supported in his role by his Finance Director General, the 40 Senior Civil Servants that comprise that DG’s senior management team; and – in turn – by other colleagues when they handle issues which require explicit Accounting Officer involvement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many proceedings have been brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each year since its enactment; what was the total amount pursued; and what has been the amount actually recovered.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
More money has been recovered from criminals under this Government than in any equivalent period previously. The Serious and Organised Crime Strategy sets out the steps we will take to attack criminal finances and further improve performance.
The table below details the number of cases brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act together with the amounts set on orders that the courts issued and the amounts recovered. The amounts recovered in a given year do not necessarily relate to orders made in that year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-05-07.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which official, with what job title, is responsible and accountable for departmental management information in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Baroness Warsi
Iain Walker, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Finance Director, is responsible and accountable for departmental management information. This is in line with the Read report of June 2013 which recommended “the most senior Finance Officer in each department should own and be held accountable for departmental management information.” Management Information is also addressed in both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Departmental Improvement Plan; and its Permanent Under Secretary Governance Statement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Attorney General’s Office and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness
The Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol), which provides legal services to a number of government departments and bodies, conducted an annual client satisfaction survey in January 2014 The outcome of the survey was reported to the TSol Board and is one of the measures agreed with TSol by HM Treasury.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are conducting a survey of victims of crime who had received the revised victim communication and liaison scheme which is currently being piloted by three CPS Areas. The survey is still ongoing but will feed into the evaluation of the pilots later this year.
There have been no other external customer, user or satisfaction surveys conducted by the Law Officers’ Departments during the past 12 months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions an action under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has also been investigated by HM Revenue and Customs to ensure that tax has been paid by the individuals concerned.
Lord Deighton
Actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) (POCA) could include a variety of different provisions within the Act. For instance, the use of POCA investigative powers, a prosecution for a POCA money laundering offence, the use of criminal confiscation following conviction, the use of POCA civil recovery procedures or financial intelligence received by way of the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) regime.
Where a law enforcement agency has suspicions of tax evasion it is up to that agency to refer the matter to HMRC to review and investigate as appropriate, using civil or criminal powers. HMRC does not keep a record of how many such referrals are made to them.
Where HMRC is the investigating agency conducting the POCA actions, they routinely also assess the correct tax position and seek to recover outstanding amounts