Tag: Mike Weir

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the pension schemes of abolished non-departmental public bodies in (a) identifying pensioners as they become eligible for payments and (b) ensuring that payments are processed and triggered for payment on the due date.

Justin Tomlinson

Departmental preparations for the reform of non-departmental public bodies take account of the Checklist for Departments published by the Cabinet Office, which includes advice on pensions.

In the past five years, the Department has reformed three bodies which employed staff.

In two cases, staff pensions were provided by the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which has established procedures in place for identifying pensioners as they become eligible, and ensuring that payments are processed on time:

The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission was abolished on 31 July 2012 and employed 7,652 full time equivalent staff, all of whom were civil servants;

The Independent Living Fund legally closed on 30 June 2015, however a small residual team of 15 staff was retained until 30 September to deal with any residual closure issues. It had previously employed 99.5 full time equivalent staff.

In April 2015, the Remploy business was sold to a new company outside Government control. The majority of its employees transferred to that company and left the Remploy Pension Scheme at the time. The pension scheme continues to be managed by its trustees and the scheme administrators, who remain responsible for identifying pensioners and ensuring they are paid appropriately once they become eligible. At 1 January 2016, the Remploy Pension Scheme had approximately 18,000 members, of whom over 9,500 were deferred members and thus potential future pensioners. From 1 April 2016, my Department is now the Principal Employer for this scheme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans his Department has to commission polling on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters before 18 September 2014; and what the (a) scope and (b) value of each such contract is.

Greg Clark

The UK Government regularly commissions independent research to inform and evaluate major policy programmes. Cabinet Office has contracted Ipsos MORI for the purposes of providing market research in relation to the Scotland Analysis Programme. Two formal tenders for this research were issued in March and August 2013 respectively and, as with other tenders for Government contracts, these processes were managed by the Government Procurement Service (now part of the Crown Commercial Service).

Cabinet Office has also contracted Engine Partners LLP for the purposes of providing communications support work in relation to the Scottish independence referendum. A formal tender for this work was issued in September 2013 and was managed by the Government Procurement Service.

As part of the Government’s commitment to transparency in expenditure information relating to the costs of both sets of work is publicly available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answers of 12 May 2014, Official Report, column 328W, on developing countries: marketing and of 21 June 2004, Official Report, coumn 1215W to question to 179188 on ACTIS/CDC, what the nature of the work conducted by Acanchi was; and how much was paid for that work.

Justine Greening

CDC is a public limited company with an independent management and Board. DFID is not involved in CDC operational matters and therefore does not hold the information requested.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date of commissioning, (c) date of polling and (d) cost of polling commissioned by his Department on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters since May 2011.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office has not commissioned any polling on attitudes in Scotland toward Scottish independence and related matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans his Department has to commission polling on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters before 18 September 2014; and what the (a) scope and (b) value of each such contract is.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office has no plans to commission any polling on attitudes in Scotland toward Scottish independence and related matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date and (c) cost of contracts for public relations services commissioned by his Department from (i) Engine Partners and (ii) other public affairs and public relations consultancies since May 2011.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office has not entered into any contracts for public relations services with (i) Engine Partners and (ii) other public affairs and public relations consultancies since May 2011.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the findings of all market research on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters commissioned by his Department since May 2011.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office has not commissioned any market research on attitudes in Scotland toward Scottish independence and related matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-05.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many internal reports, briefings or analysis papers HM Revenue and Customs has produced on the taxation arrangements for bareboat charters in the oil and gas sector since 2007; and what the findings were of each such report.

Nicky Morgan

HMRC produces reports, briefings and analysis on the tax system as a matter of course.

More information can be found in the Budget 2014 document and the accompanying publications.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-16.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the total cost was of production and delivery of the booklet, What staying in the United Kingdom means for Scotland; and what proportion of such costs relate to (a) research, verification and co-ordination, (b) writing, editing, sub-editing and proofing of the text, (c) photography, design, artwork and licensing, (d) printing, (e) distribution and delivery and (f) related communications, administration and public affairs support.

Greg Clark

The total cost to-date of What Staying in the United Kingdom Means for Scotland is £723,501 (plus VAT).

Each booklet cost around 30p to design, produce, print and deliver to every household in Scotland. As is standard practice, detail and spending data will published in the Cabinet Office transparency returns.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the total costs incurred (a) in his Department and (b) in the Government of the creation and production of the booklet, What staying in the United Kingdom means for Scotland.

David Mundell

The total UK Government cost to-date of ‘What Staying in the United Kingdom Means for Scotland’ is £723,501 (plus VAT).

This works out at the equivalent of 30p per household for the entire process of design, production and delivery. Further detail will be published in the usual fashion in the Cabinet Office transparency returns.

The Scotland Office incurred no costs in the production or creation of the booklet. Staffing costs were taken from existing Scotland Office budgets.