Tag: Paul Blomfield

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, on BIS consultation, HCWS30, in which ways operating split-site and split-team working would put a strain on organisational effectiveness.

Joseph Johnson

Policy teams in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently split across multiple locations around the country with teams and management chains divided across this landscape.

As the Department becomes smaller, BIS needs a different model in which it is easier for all policy staff to operate without having to work around or compensate for the logistical challenges of a split site model. The Combined Headquarters model will mean all policy staff are co-located and within close proximity to one another and to Ministers. This will enable more face to face interaction between and within teams, within management chains and with Ministers.

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 proportion of the 1,500 roles will have ministerial exposure following the centralisation of policy functions in London.

Joseph Johnson

Co-locating policy teams with the Department’s Ministers and close to Parliament will provide opportunities for all staff to have more ministerial exposure, which helps improve understanding of government priorities.

The Department does not expect a set number of roles to be consistently exposed to Ministers whilst others are not. This will be dynamic as resource demands shift over time and will depend on policy priorities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39359, on Business, Innovation and Skills reorganisation, what problems Ministers have encountered engaging with officials of his Department not based in London.

Joseph Johnson

I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer he references, in particular:

“Operating across split sites, in the context of a smaller workforce overall, would make it harder to quickly redeploy people to a different team or policy area, or for someone to be able to respond to an unpredictable or unusual demand for more intensive engagement with Ministers or Parliament.”

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 her Department meets its positive obligation under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights to identify and take operational measures to protect victims of human trafficking held at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

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 recent discussions he has had at the UN on implementation of Security Council Resolution 47 on Kashmir.

Alok Sharma

The United Kingdom does not intend to support an international conference or a plebiscite on Kashmir in line with UN Security Council Resolution 47. I have not had any discussions at the UN on this issue. The longstanding position of the UK 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 2016-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2016 to Question 46806 on taxis: licensing, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in licence applications from Rossendale Borough Council between 2013 and 2015.

Andrew Jones

The legislation that provides for licensing of taxi and private hire vehicle services is enabling in its nature, giving local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards that they deem to be appropriate for their area. Rossendale Council has already made changes to the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle application process to address the rapid rise in the number of drivers they license. Wherever a driver has been licensed, the licensing authority that issue that licence must have confirmed that the driver is a “fit and proper” person.

To help licensing authorities set standards the Department for Transport issues Best Practice Guidance. In addition to this, the Government has also introduced an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill that will make statutory all aspects of the guidance that are related to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Both parts of the guidance will be consulted on publicly once the Bill has received Royal Assent.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to reduce the Gangmasters Licensing Authority’s Grant-In-Aid budget over the next 12 months.

Karen Bradley

Future levels of Government funding for all public bodies will be considered as part of the next Spending Review. We are committed to resourcing the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (the GLA) to ensure it delivers on its purpose of protecting vulnerable and exploited workers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 14607 and with reference to the consultation document entitled, Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market, published in October 2015, what research (a) has been commissioned and (b) will be commissioned better to understand the nature of labour market non-compliance.

Karen Bradley

Labour market enforcement bodies routinely collect operational intelligence on the nature of labour market non-compliance. The Government is consulting on the merits of establishing a Director of Labour Market Enforcement, whose proposed role would include making better use of such intelligence and commissioning further research, if needed, to better understand the nature of non-compliance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a response to each of the recommendations made in Stephen Shaw’s Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Cm 9186, before Report Stage on the Immigration Bill in the House of Lords.

James Brokenshire

The Government’s position on the Stephen Shaw review was set out in the Written Ministerial Statement laid on 14 January 2016.

The Government accepts the broad thrust of Mr Shaw’s recommendations. In particular the Government accepts Mr Shaw’s recommendations to adopt a wider definition of those at risk, including victims of sexual violence, individuals with mental health issues, pregnant women, those with learning difficulties, post-traumatic stress disorder and elderly people, and to recognise the dynamic nature of vulnerabilities. We will introduce a new “adult at risk” concept into decision-making on immigration detention with a clear presumption that people who are at risk should not be detained, building on the existing legal framework.

A more detailed mental health needs assessment in immigration removal centres, using the expertise of the Centre for Mental Health, will be carried out and is expected to report in March 2016. NHS commissioners will use that assessment to consider and revisit current provision to ensure healthcare needs are being met appropriately. The Government will also publish a joint Department of Health, NHS and Home Office mental health action plan in April 2016.

We will also be considering a number of operational recommendations made by Mr Shaw, on a case by case basis, taking account of available resources.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 24 February 2015 to Question 224081, on social services: pay, whether HM Revenue and Customs has completed its investigations into the six social care companies.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has investigated over 400 care sector employers involving 330 complaints from workers and 79 targeted using our risking tools. Non-compliance has been found in about a third of completed investigations, identifying over £436,000 arrears for nearly 3,000 care workers. HMRC’s investigations have assured the working practices of the social care providers who employ almost 20% of the total workforce in that sector.

HMRC has not completed all the investigations into the six social care companies. The Department does not discuss the results of specific investigations for reasons of confidentiality.