Tag: Natalie McGarry

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates he has made of expenditure on the state pension for people in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Glasgow and (d) Glasgow East constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson

Due to the geographical level of information requested it has been assumed that the question refers to benefit expenditure.

The information on requested is shown in the table below.

Tables show expenditure for Great Britain, not the UK, as expenditure in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive.

State Pension Expenditure £ million	2014/15
Great Britain	86,515.8
Scotland	7,323.8
Glasgow (City)	615.4
Glasgow East (constituency)	104.5

Benefit expenditure information is published and can be found using the following URL:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2015

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the humanitarian situation in predominately Kurdish areas of Turkey.

Mr David Lidington

The ongoing violence in the predominantly Kurdish areas of south east Turkey is extremely concerning. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continues to kill members of the Turkish police service and security forces in violent terrorist attacks. The Turkish Government has responded by striking PKK targets in Turkey and Northern Iraq. They have also launched large-scale security operations involving curfews in some towns and cities in order to clear them of suspected terrorists.

We are aware of reports of civilian casualties in the region, and a worsening humanitarian situation in certain areas in south east Turkey. The Turkish Government have said that 48 civilians lost their lives in clashes between 23 July and 23 December 2015. They also said that 93,000 people have fled their homes. We also understand that there have been investigations launched against elected officials and politicians. Any such investigations should be undertaken transparently and fully respect the rule of law.

We believe Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself against the PKK, whose attacks we condemn as we condemn all terrorism. Our thoughts are with the victims of these attacks, and the civilians who have been caught up in the violence. As in any conflict, civilian casualties should be avoided and human rights need to be fully protected. We have been clear, in public and private, that PKK violence must end and we support a return to the peace process, in the interests of Turkey and the region. We stand ready to help in any way we can.

We continue to monitor the situation closely. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge and our Ambassador to Turkey have emphasised to the Turkish government the need to respect human rights, avoid civilian casualties and return to the peace process. I raised these issues with my Turkish counterpart the last time we met in August 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the Government’s welfare reforms on deprivation in (a) Glasgow East constituency, (b) the city of Glasgow and (c) Scotland.

Damian Hinds

The Government set out our assessment of the impact of the welfare policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Act on 20 July 2015, with similar assessments for previous changes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which reports commissioned by his Department from external bodies between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2016 have not yet been published; when each report was commissioned for research; what the nature of the research commissioned was; from which external body or individual person the research was commissioned; what the value was of each such piece of research commissioned; on what date each report was received by his Department; for what reasons the research has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish each report.

Greg Hands

Between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2016 the Department for International Trade (former UK Trade and Investment, Business, Innovation and Skills Trade Policy Group and UK Export Finance) commissioned 21 studies to external organisations which have not yet been published. The table attached contains the details. Information with regards to the value of the project cannot be disclosed until the projects are completed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of the carer addition element of pension credit in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Glasgow and (d) Glasgow East constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson

The information requested, to answer the three questions above, is shown in the table below for February 2015, which is the latest data available.

Pension Credit Claimants with a Carer’s additional amount, by age and gender for Great Britain, Scotland, Glasgow City Local Authority and Glasgow East constituency – February 2015

All Persons
Age of claimant	Great Britain	Scotland	Glasgow City LA	Glasgow East Constituency
Total all Ages	209,740	22,340	3,490	750
60	–	–	–	–
61	10	–	–	–
62	3,340	360	70	10
63	7,510	730	140	30
64	8,310	900	150	40
65	8,120	850	130	30
66	8,610	920	160	40
67	9,090	970	170	40
Male
Age of claimant	Great Britain	Scotland	Glasgow City LA	Glasgow East Constituency
Total all Ages	132,540	13,330	1,970	400
60	–	–	–	–
61	–	–	–	–
62	2,010	190	40	–
63	4,750	430	70	10
64	5,430	540	80	20
65	4,870	490	70	10
66	5,170	520	80	20
67	5,460	540	90	20
Female
Age of claimant	Great Britain	Scotland	Glasgow City LA	Glasgow East Constituency
Total all Ages	77,200	9,000	1,520	350
60	–	–	–	–
61	–	–	–	–
62	1,330	170	30	10
63	2,760	290	60	20
64	2,880	360	70	20
65	3,260	360	60	20
66	3,440	400	70	20
67	3,630	420	80	20

Source: DWP, 100% data.

Notes:
1. "-" denotes nil or negligible; Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. STATE PENSION AGE: The age at which men and women reach State Pension age is gradually increasing. Under current legislation, State Pension age for women will equalise with State Pension age for men at 65 in 2018. Both men’s and women’s State Pension age will increase from 65 to 66 between December 2018 and October 2020. The Pensions Bill 2013-14 contains provision for a State Pension age of 67 to be reached by 2028. For more information see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207966/espa.pdf.
3. Parliamentary Constituency of claimant (Westminster) these constituencies are used for the Westminster parliament

4. Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:
http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the prospects for peace in predominately Kurdish areas of Turkey of the imprisonment and enforced suspension of moderate politicians in that region.

Mr David Lidington

The ongoing violence in the predominantly Kurdish areas of south east Turkey is extremely concerning. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continues to kill members of the Turkish police service and security forces in violent terrorist attacks. The Turkish Government has responded by striking PKK targets in Turkey and Northern Iraq. They have also launched large-scale security operations involving curfews in some towns and cities in order to clear them of suspected terrorists.

We are aware of reports of civilian casualties in the region, and a worsening humanitarian situation in certain areas in south east Turkey. The Turkish Government have said that 48 civilians lost their lives in clashes between 23 July and 23 December 2015. They also said that 93,000 people have fled their homes. We also understand that there have been investigations launched against elected officials and politicians. Any such investigations should be undertaken transparently and fully respect the rule of law.

We believe Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself against the PKK, whose attacks we condemn as we condemn all terrorism. Our thoughts are with the victims of these attacks, and the civilians who have been caught up in the violence. As in any conflict, civilian casualties should be avoided and human rights need to be fully protected. We have been clear, in public and private, that PKK violence must end and we support a return to the peace process, in the interests of Turkey and the region. We stand ready to help in any way we can.

We continue to monitor the situation closely. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge and our Ambassador to Turkey have emphasised to the Turkish government the need to respect human rights, avoid civilian casualties and return to the peace process. I raised these issues with my Turkish counterpart the last time we met in August 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent steps he has taken to decide the immigration system to be implemented upon the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker

My Department is working closely with the Home Office and other Government Departments to identify and develop options to shape our future immigration system, including considering how best to control the number of people coming to the UK from the following Brexit. We are already fully engaged with the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure a UK-wide approach to our negotiations. My ministerial collegues and I have also discussed the next steps with a range of organisations, including the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and key business groups.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-09.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy that all Government departments undertake a cross-cutting review on the effect of their policies on (a) inequalities in health and (b) deprivation in (i) Glasgow and (ii) Scotland.

Ben Gummer

All UK Government policies and legislation that extend to Scotland in reserved areas, as would be the case with Wales and Northern Ireland, are accompanied by the necessary economic and equality impact assessments, which are published.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women aged (a) 60, (b) 61, (c) 62, (d) 63, (e) 64, (f) 65, (g) 66 and (h) 67 were in receipt of carer’s allowance in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Glasgow and (iv) Glasgow East constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson

The information requested is shown in the table below as at February 2015, which is the latest data available.

Carer’s Allowance recipients, by age for Great Britain, Scotland, Glasgow City Local Authority and Glasgow East constituency – February 2015:

All Females

Age of claimant	Great Britain	Scotland	Glasgow City LA	Glasgow East Constituency
Total all ages	519,740	43,110	7,050	1,340
60	12,410	1,140	170	30
61	12,470	1,070	140	30
62	5,820	530	60	10
63	550	30	10	–
64	610	40	10	–
65	1,130	60	10	–
66	1,040	60	10	–
67	1,080	80	10	–

Source: DWP 100% WPLS.

Notes:
1. "-" denotes nil or negligible; Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. STATE PENSION AGE: The age at which men and women reach State Pension age is gradually increasing. Under current legislation, State Pension age for women will equalise with State Pension age for men at 65 in 2018. Both men’s and women’s State Pension age will increase from 65 to 66 between December 2018 and October 2020. The Pensions Bill 2013-14 contains provision for a State Pension age of 67 to be reached by 2028. For more information see https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207966/espa.pdf.
3. Parliamentary Constituency of claimant (Westminster) these constituencies are used for the Westminster parliament

4. Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:
http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the effect of government policy on the renewables industry in Scotland.

Anna Soubry

I work closely with my Ministerial colleagues at the Department of Energy and Climate Change to support growth in the renewables industry right across the UK, including in Scotland. We are determined to achieve higher levels of UK content in our energy infrastructure. Scotland has benefitted from over £6 billion of investment into the Scottish renewable energy sector since 2010.