Tag: Roger Godsiff

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-05-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to encourage all UK clothing companies which use suppliers in Bangladesh to join the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

Mr Alan Duncan

Over 160 companies, including many well-known British brands and retailers, have now signed up to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, a ground-breaking, legally binding agreement between international unions and clothing companies. Signing up to the Accord shows that they are serious about their responsibilities in ensuring the safety of all those people in Bangladesh that make their clothes.

DFID has used every opportunity, such as the Westminster Debate on 30 April, my recent visit to Bangladesh, communications around the Rana Plaza anniversary, and meetings with retailers and buyers to call for companies to take responsibility for the working conditions of all those that make their clothes and to contribute to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund for the victims of the factory building collapse.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to compensate people who have paid for an upgrade in their passport application as a result of delays in processing their original application.

James Brokenshire

Anyone who needs to travel within the next seven days and who has waited longer
than the standard processing time of three weeks, through no fault of their
own, will be able to upgrade their application without charge. After their
application has been through the proper checks, the processing, printing and
delivery of the new passport will be fast-tracked for free. This policy was
announced by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons on 12 June and will
not be applied retrospectively.

HM Passport Office’s policy on compensation is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-and-complaints-handling

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-05-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 in preventing the use of the English legal system by vulture funds to extract funds from developing countries.

Andrea Leadsom

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr Javid) on 6 January 2014, which includes information on the Government’s approach to promoting debt sustainability among low income countries.

The impact assessment for the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 indicates direct benefits to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) of between zero and £26m a year. The Government’s decision to make the Act permanent on 25 May 2011 was taken following consultation with relevant stakeholders; evidence from that exercise suggested that the Act had some benefit on HIPCs and no evidence was found of unintended or adverse effects.

The UK continues to be at the forefront of international efforts to promote responsible lending and borrowing practices, including our ongoing support for the IMF/World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework and OECD lending principles covering official export credits. The UK also supports the World Bank’s debt reduction facility, which enables countries to buy back their commercial debt at a deep discount with donor backing, and the African Legal Support Facility, which provides legal advice to countries facing litigation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the recent report from Mind entitled Fulfilling Potential? ESA and the fate of the Work-Related Activity Group.

Esther McVey

The Government has put in place a comprehensive system of support for disabled people and those with health conditions. We keep all our policies under review and are committed to improving further the employment support offered.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the use of wild animals in circuses.

George Eustice

We will introduce a Bill to end the use of wild animals in circuses when parliamentary time allows.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to make apprentices who earn below earning thresholds eligible for statutory sick pay.

Mike Penning

There is no intention to increase the financial burden on business and extend the qualifying rules for Statutory Sick Pay to bring apprentices earning below the lower earnings level into eligibility. An apprentice earning below the lower earnings limit will, in line with other employees on a low income, continue to have access to Employment and Support Allowance.