Tag: Roger Godsiff

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.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken in response to the recent violence in the Central African Republic.

Mark Simmonds

The UK is working closely with international partners to ensure an effective and co-ordinated international response to the current humanitarian and security crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UK will continue to work with the AU and UN to ensure the effectiveness of the AU mission as well as the effective deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation. The UK has also provided airlifts to help with deployment of the EU security mission (EUFOR); has provided a planning officer to the Operational Headquarters; and is providing a share of EUFOR’s common costs as well as engaging with EU Partners on EUFOR’s approach and rules of engagement. We remain the second largest provider of humanitarian aid, having given £23 million since the crisis began. I last discussed with interim President Catherine Samba-Panza on 23 May.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will increase the minimum rate of pay for apprentices from £2.68 per hour to £2.96 per hour.

Jenny Willott

This Government is fully committed to the National Minimum Wage set by the independent Low Pay Commission at a level that maximises the wages of the low paid without damaging their employment prospects by setting it too high.

We ask the Low Pay Commission to consider the evidence and recommend the National Minimum Wage rates, to achieve this.

This Government has accepted an above inflation increase in the NMW including an increase in the apprentice rate from £2.68 to £2.73. The increase will come into effect on 1 October 2014 and will provide low paid workers with the biggest cash increase in their pay packets since 2008.

The Low Pay Commission has judged that a higher increase in the minimum wage would risk damaging employment prospects for the lowest paid.

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, if he will make it his policy to check all lorries containing live animals for export at UK ports.

George Eustice

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) takes a risk based approach to vehicle inspection in relation to exports of livestock for slaughter. The Government has no plans to change this approach.