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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the incidences of non-payment of wages to seafarers working in (a) UK and (b) Europe.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The United Kingdom has ratified and transposed into domestic law the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) which includes provisions on the payment of wages.

    For UK registered ships other than those which are subject to the MLC, section 30 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 makes provision for the late payment of wages, and interest is payable on late sums under specified circumstances.

    Enforcement is carried out by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyors (and any surveyors nominated by the MCA to carry out surveys and inspections) on UK registered ships in routine surveys and inspections, and, where applicable, on non-UK registered ships during port State Control inspections.

    We are not aware of any incidents of non-payment of wages on board any UK registered vessels.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has planned over the next six months with maritime trades unions on the recommendations of his Department’s Maritime Growth Study published in September 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Government regularly meets with unions on maritime matters. They were fully engaged in the Maritime Growth Study, contributing through interview, workshops and written submissions to the evidence gathering process that informed the Study. Representatives of the unions also attended the publication event for the Study report on 7 September. We will continue to engage with unions and keep them fully informed and involved as we take forward any recommendations.

  • Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of changes in the level of scam activity associated with pensions following the introduction of pensions freedoms.

    Harriett Baldwin

    Figures from Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime, show that there were 261 crime reports from 1st April to 30th August 2015 classified as Pension Liberation Fraud. The average number of reports per month has declined so far this financial year, with an average of 52 reports per month compared to an average of 79 crime reports for financial year 2014/2015.

    However, it is too early to tell what impact the freedoms have had on prevalence of fraud. These figures relate to “reported fraud” only – figures taking account of “actual fraud” will take much longer to flow through.

    Monitoring the market for scams and misselling is the responsibility of the regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Pensions Regulator. The FCA, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, has specifically committed to monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively. The Government remains in close contact with the regulators, and other organisations such as industry trade bodies, on these issues.

    Pension Wise, the Government’s free and impartial guidance service, also helps individuals understand how to spot and avoid scams. Where its users are at risk or have been scammed, they are referred to the appropriate organisations, such as Action Fraud.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in each Office for National Statistics age group were diagnosed with melanoma in each of the last five years.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to publish the details of commercial arrangements with and training offered by the College of Policing to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Mike Penning

    The College of Policing sets standards of practice and is the professional body for those working in policing. In common with other organisations, the College does not routinely publish details of commercial contracts and has no plans to do so. In relation to international assistance, the College works closely with the Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other partners across government. It provides as much information as possible under the Freedom of Information Act, including the total income it has received from international activity.

  • Keith Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Keith Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are currently detained in UK prisons for cannabis-related offences.

    Andrew Selous

    As at 30 June 2015 (latest date for which information is available), the number of offenders in prisons in England and Wales for cannabis related offences was 1,363.

    Information on Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive respectively.

    These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the Barnett consequentials for Wales resulting from public expenditure on High Speed 2.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Ministers in the Department for Transport are in regular contact with the Welsh Assembly on a variety of matters. However, Ministers have not received representations from the Welsh Government regarding HS2 and Barnett consequentials.

    Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-january-to-march-2015

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  • Dr Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Dr Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Paul Monaghan on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what measures he has put in place to ensure that the Royal Mail Universal Service obligation remains active and in force across Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency; and what information his Department holds on planned closures of post offices in that constituency.

    George Freeman

    Royal Mail, as the designated Universal Service Provider for the United Kingdom, is required under the Universal Service Obligation (USO) to deliver the universal service to all communities – urban and rural – throughout the UK – and that includes the communities of the constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

    However, some postcode areas around the country, which may include addresses in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, are subject to local exemptions under the USO. Such exemptions are only allowed where geographical conditions or other circumstances are considered to be exceptional by Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services. These exceptions are carefully monitored by Ofcom and are subject to an established appeals process. Quality of service targets for all postcode areas are published quarterly by Royal Mail.

    Post Office Limited (POL) has no planned post office closures in the constituency. There is one possible planned change in Brora where there is a consultation underway to move the local post office to a new location in the community.

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the Eleventh Report of the Treasury Committee, Conduct and competition in SME lending, Session 2014-15, HC 204, published on 10 March 2015.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Parliament, and its then Treasury Select Committee, dissolved shortly after this report was published and HM Treasury was not able to prepare a response before dissolution.

    HM Treasury is considering the Committee’s recommendations and will be responding to the new Committee in due course.

  • Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of the university maintenance grant on student numbers.

    Joseph Johnson

    I refer the hon Member to my answer to question 6380

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