Tag: Paul Blomfield

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, HCWS30, what assessment he has made of the business need for the roles based at (a) the Sheffield office at St Paul’s Place and (b) the London office at 1 Victoria Street.

Joseph Johnson

Detailed planning within business areas is continuing in order to assess for which roles there is a permanent business need, and which are either no longer needed or only needed in the short term.

Based on current estimates the Department expects less than half of the policy roles currently outside London to transfer and be backfilled permanently, as part of the overall reduction in policy roles from 2000 to 1500.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to issue statutory guidance for identifying and supporting victims as set out in section 49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Karen Bradley

Guidance for identifying and supporting victims will be published once the National Referral Mechanism pilot has concluded. The guidance is being developed in consultation with NGOs and frontline agencies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41904, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that her Department meets its non-refoulement obligation in respect of victims of human trafficking held at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, and that no victims of human trafficking at risk of re-victimisation, torture or degrading treatment at return are subjected to deportation.

Mr Robert Goodwill

No one who is found to be at risk of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment on return to their country will be deported from the UK. There are processes in place for those held in Immigration Removal Centres to claim asylum if they believe they are at risk of such treatment.

Home Office staff working in all Immigration Removal Centres, including Yarl’s Wood, are trained as First Responders to identify signs that individuals may be potential victims of trafficking or slavery. Where an individual is identified as a potential victim, they will be referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for assessment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Commonwealth Secretary General on the situation in Kashmir.

Alok Sharma

I have not discussed Kashmir with the Commonwealth Secretary General. The long standing position of the United Kingdom is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-10-24.

To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps the Crown Prosecution Service has taken to set out its approach to prosecuting hate crime.

Robert Buckland

We are committed to tackling hate crime in any form. The cross Government Hate Crime Action Plan, published in July 2016, focuses on reducing hate crime, increasing reporting and ensuring that all criminal justice partners and key stakeholders deliver the appropriate outcomes for victims.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2015 to Question 10040, whether she plans that the Protocol to the 2014 Forced Labour Convention will be ratified before the end of 2015.

Karen Bradley

The Government intends to ratify the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention. We are taking forward the formal ratification process and we expect this to be complete within three months.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 92 of the consultation document entitled, Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market, what the existing offences under employment law within the Director of Labour Market Enforcement’s remit are to which the proposed new offence of aggravated labour law breach would apply.

Karen Bradley

The Government is seeking views in the consultation “Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market” on proposals to strengthen powers to deal with those who deliberately and persistently commit breaches of labour legislation. We will set out our proposed approach to the new offence in the response to the consultation early next year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with motor neurone disease who have been awarded the daily living component of personal independence payment scored all of their points due to aid and appliances

Justin Tomlinson

For Motor Neurone Disease, the number of individuals awarded the Daily Living component of PIP who scored all of their points due to aids and appliances is 50.

This data relates to the period April 2013 to 30^th September 2015, and includes Normal Rules awards only.

DWP are currently running a consultation to seek views on how support can best be provided to help meet the costs of disability which are faced by people who are currently awarded points due to aids and appliances. The department is keen to hear views from all interested parties, especially disabled people and disability organisations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reduction in numbers of complaints made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline since 2010.

Nick Boles

No assessment has been made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of complaints made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline since 2010.

Since 1 April 2015, the Acas Helpline has, in addition to its usual services, been answering queries previously handled by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. No formal assessment has been made at this time of the outcomes for workers, but we continue to work closely with Acas and four enforcement bodies to ensure the service is bedding in effectively and delivering the right outcomes for the public.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department’s press release of 5 February 2016, New National Minimum Wage offenders named and shamed, whether HM Revenue and Customs follows up successful investigations into companies found not to have complied with national minimum wage legislation with additional investigations into whether other employees of the same company were also not in receipt of the national minimum wage.

Nick Boles

This Government is absolutely clear that anyone entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and, from April 2016, the National Living Wage, should receive it. The Department for Business, Innovations and Skills (BIS) are responsible for the policy on NMW compliance and enforcement, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enforces the NMW Act on BIS’s behalf.

HMRC responds to all worker complaints. Where NMW arrears are identified, HMRC ensures the employer corrects the position for all their workers and pays any outstanding arrears. HMRC carries out follow-up checks to ensure arrears have been paid. If subsequent issues are found HMRC will investigate and, if arrears are identified, take further action.