Tag: Neil Coyle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-04-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment claimants have had their claim re-assessed more than six months before the end of their initial award period in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department does hold the requested information and it could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

For all PIP claimants with a fixed term award, except where the claimant would be expected to have little or no functional limitation within a two year period, a review date is set when the award is made. This review date is based on advice from a health professional and is communicated to the claimant when the award is made. A review process is then initiated on this date. In all such cases the review process is initiated a year in advance of the award end date.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he plans to take to involve small and medium-sized enterprises in the proposed digital apprenticeship system.

Nick Boles

We are developing the digital apprenticeship service to support apprenticeships in England. It will help all employers to select an apprenticeship framework or standard, choose a training provider, choose an assessment organisation and post apprenticeship vacancies. By 2020, all employers will be able to use the service to pay for training and assessment for apprenticeships and we will help smaller employers to prepare for this.

We continue to work with a wide range of employers to develop, test and improve the digital apprenticeship service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce knife crime.

Sarah Newton

Tackling knife crime is a priority for the Government. On 23 March this year, we published the Modern Crime Prevention Strategy which sets out a range of measures to strengthen our response to knife crime including working with the police and industry to ensure there are effective controls on the sale of knives to under-18s.

We have also passed legislation to ban the sale and importation of ‘zombie knives’ which came into force in August. We are encouraging the police to undertake a series of coordinated weeks of action to tackle knife crime under the Operation Sceptre banner.

This includes targeting habitual knife carriers, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers, and use of surrender bins. The next operation will take place the week of 17 October.

We are also working with Crimestoppers and other potential organisations in delivering knife crime prevention messages to young people. In July 2015, the Government also introduced the sentencing provision that anyone caught in possession of a knife for a second time will now face a mandatory minimum custodial sentence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many psychiatric assessments have been requested by judges in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-02-22.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people who want to work full-time who are in part-time rather than full-time work.

Damian Hinds

The recent performance of the labour market speaks for itself, the unemployment rate is at a 10 year low and the employment rate is the highest since records began. Over the last year nearly 3 out of 4 jobs created have been full time jobs. Through Universal Credit and the National Living Wage we are ensuring it always pays to increase your hours, and our childcare offer of 30 hours means more families are able to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which non-governmental organisations have been involved in developing training materials for the training and accreditation of work coaches.

Priti Patel

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is a registered centre for endorsed learning accreditation and has been delivering endorsed learning programmes for a number of years.

The accredited learning for Work Coaches builds on the qualifications developed for the Operational Delivery Profession, in association with City and Guilds and the Chartered Management Association.

DWP currently has a contract with Pearson Education Ltd to accredit the Work Coach learning journeys and to secure standards for those qualifications they certificate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the sustainability of tenant management organisations.

Brandon Lewis

Government allocated £1 million for support to tenant empowerment in 2015/16. Sustainability of tenant management organisations is determined by the management agreements they make with local authorities and the allowances they receive based on the service provided. Legislation is in place to provide for the Right to Manage and the Right to Transfer. Government has been working with the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations to produce sector led guidance to support operational Tenant Management Organisations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Government will retain the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers in 2017-18.

Nick Boles

The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) is available until the end of the 2016/17 academic year to businesses with fewer than 50 employees, who have not employed an apprentice in the last 12 months. Eligible employers can receive a £1,500 grant per apprentice (aged 16 to 24) for up to five new apprentices undertaking an apprenticeship framework.

Further details on how small businesses will be supported to take on apprentices from April 2017 will be published at the end of June.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cycling and walking investment strategy will include investment for the proposed cycling and pedestrian bridge linking Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf.

Andrew Jones

The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy sets out the Government’s plans for increasing cycling and walking in England. It is a high level document, with a long term ambition up to 2040, supported by a target and a number of objectives.

The Strategy outlines how Government will work with local bodies and business to develop expertise and support, the tools and policies Government will deliver to support them in increasing walking and cycling in local communities, and how this work will enable progress towards our national objectives and target. It does not set out details of individual schemes as that is a matter for local bodies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2015-12-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many of the organisations awarded funding from the Community Transport Minibus Fund in March 2015 have received (a) a vehicle and (b) that funding.

Andrew Jones

In March 2015, 310 organisations were announced has having successful bids under the Community Transport Minibus Fund. The specific requirements of each organisation were then individually assessed.

76 of those organisations whose vehicle requirements are very specific have been identified for grant funding. 47 have received a 10% deposit for their vehicle and of those, 6 have received the full balance as their vehicle is ready for delivery.

A procurement competition is currently open to provide a further 210 vehicles through Crown Commercial Services’ vehicle conversion and vehicle purchase frameworks, to ensure value for money.

The remaining vehicle requirements are being discussed individually as they are either outside the scope of the fund or their requirements have change.