Tag: Rebecca Long-Bailey

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for its plans to roll-out universal credit on a constituency-by-constituency basis; and whether that timetable includes internal deadlines for separate phases of that roll-out.

Damian Hinds

The next stages of the delivery of Universal Credit were set out by the Work and Pensions Secretary in a Written Statement to Parliament on 20 July. The rollout schedule from May 2016 through to March 2017 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539516/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule-phase-1-to-3-2016-to-2017.pdf

Further details of the sites rolling out from April 2017 will be announced later this year.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-12-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.125 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what estimate he has made of the number of single claimants under 35 without dependent children living in social housing who are receiving more than the local housing allowance in housing benefit in (a) total and (b) each local authority.

Justin Tomlinson

We estimate that there are approximately 80,000 single claimants under 35 without dependent children living in the social sector who currently receive more than the relevant local housing allowance rate. However, not all claimants in this category will be affected by the announced policy as it will only apply from April 2018, where a new tenancy is taken out or a tenancy is renewed after April 2016.

Tenants who take on a new tenancy or renew a tenancy will have the opportunity to consider whether they can afford to take on the property before committing to it. As such it is not possible to accurately estimate the proportion of single people without children that will be affected by this policy in 2018.

As the overall estimate is based on survey data, it is not possible to provide an estimate by Local Authority due to sample size issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2015 to Question 11834, whether he still intends to open the consultation on reform of support for those affected by contaminated blood products by the end of this year.

Jane Ellison

Reforming the current payment schemes is a priority and we are keen to get this right for those affected.

We do not have a firm date for the consultation at this time, but it will be announced as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-01-05.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Council of Economic Advisers (a) last met and (b) will next meet.

Harriett Baldwin

Members of the Government’s Council of Economic Advisers meet every day to discuss the design and formation of government policy. Details of the Council’s membership and remuneration are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-adviser-data-releases-numbers-and-costs-december-2015. The Council operates from HM Treasury. Running costs cannot be disaggregated from the department’s budget.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider including young adult carers in the vulnerable bursary criteria for the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

Mr Sam Gyimah

The Government recognises the extremely valuable service that young carers provide to their community as well as to their families.

Additional disadvantage funding is given to schools and colleges through Block 1 and 2 funding to provide extra educational and pastoral support for students whose education has fallen behind for any reason, such as having caring responsibilities.

The 16 to 19 vulnerable bursary targets specific groups of vulnerable young people whom we know experience financial hardship and we have no plans to change the qualifying criteria.

The 16 to 19 discretionary bursary is available to support any student who needs financial assistance to stay in education and we will strengthen the guidance provided to the schools and colleges that administer discretionary bursary funds to ensure the needs of young carers are recognised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-03-01.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has carried out an equality impact assessment on the draft Tax Credits (Income Threshold and Determination of Rates) Amendment Regulations 2016.

Harriett Baldwin

The Government carefully considers all relevant legal obligations – including the equalities duty – when formulating welfare policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-03-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 34 of the report, Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates, published on 16 March 2016, which producers will be exempt from the soft drinks industry levy.

Mr David Gauke

The levy will not apply to small operators under a certain volume threshold. We will consult on the level of the threshold and whether and how to apply a tapered relief.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-04-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many stakeholders responded to his Department’s informal consultation on the transitional arrangements for the removal of the Climate Change Levy exemption for renewably sourced electricity.

Damian Hinds

At Autumn Statement 2015 it was announced that a transitional period for electricity suppliers to apply the Climate Change Levy exemption on renewably-sourced electricity generated before 1 August 2015 would end on 31 March 2018. This followed an informal consultation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which received 18 written responses. In addition to these responses, HMRC held a number of meetings with organisations affected by the change.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-05-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to develop a bilateral programme of aid for Burundi similar to programmes for Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr Nick Hurd

There are no plans for DFID to re-open its bilateral aid programme in Burundi, which closed in 2012 following the 2010 Bilateral Aid Review. However, DFID had continued to provide support to Burundi through Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA), an independent agency promoting trade and regional economic integration, given that this is central to Burundi’s growth and prosperity. DFID has provided £10 million for TMEA work in Burundi since 2012. DFID has also supported Centrally Managed Programmes working in Burundi, covering areas such as food security and livelihoods.

The UK is responding to the ongoing political crisis, and was the second largest bilateral donor to the regional refugee appeal in 2015, after the US. £21.15 million was committed by DFID for refugee response in the region, including £14.25 million to support refugees in Tanzania and £6.9 million in Rwanda. Allocations for 2016 are currently being finalised, including for support within Burundi.

Additionally, DFID has provided technical support, in the form of secondment of experts, to support and strengthen the capacity of UN agencies working in Burundi. DFID has deployed a humanitarian adviser to the region in support of the response and to monitor funding provided so far. We continue to work closely with the FCO and international partners to monitor the situation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the number of acute adult psychiatric beds for patients.

Nicola Blackwood

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Commission on Adult Psychiatric Care – “Old Problems, New Solutions” highlighted a need to develop effective alternatives to inpatient care, rather than to increase the number of acute psychiatric beds.

We are investing over £400 million up to 2020 in crisis resolution and home treatment teams as a safe alternative to hospital. We invested £33 million in 2014/15 in early intervention in psychosis services and we have introduced waiting times for mental health to improve timely access to treatment, starting with psychological therapies and early intervention in psychosis.

However, we are clear that increasing effective alternatives must also ensure that a mental health bed is always available if someone needs it.