Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the maximum number is of (a) trains and (b) international trains which are able to stop at Stratford International station in each hour.

Claire Perry

The Department for Transport does not hold detailed information on the network capability and capacity of the stations on the HS1 network. HS1 Ltd, as the infrastructure manager, is responsible for producing the timetable for the line of route, within the technical and operational capability of the network. HS1 Ltd can be contacted at:

HS1 Ltd

12^th Floor, One Euston Square

40 Melton Street

London

NW1 2FD

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) employees and (b) employers have taken advantage of savings to National Insurance contributions from salary sacrifice schemes for occupational pensions in each of the last five years.

Damian Hinds

Department for Work and Pensions has published estimates on salary sacrifice available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-pension-provision-survey-2013 Estimates are not available for the number of active members who take advantage of these schemes or the loss to the National Insurance Fund.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 22791, what criteria are used by Work Coaches to assess a claimant’s financial capability.

Priti Patel

Work Coaches have the autonomy to tailor their discussions to meet the claimant’s needs and to determine the level of support and advice they require.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to how many (a) ducts and (b) poles built with BDUK funding BT is (i) obliged and (ii) not obliged to give Wholesale Open Access to other communication providers under the terms of the BDUK state aid permission.

Mr Edward Vaizey

BT and the other suppliers with funding from BDUK are obliged to provide wholesale access to all new ducts and poles built using the public subsidy, in line with the requirements of the BDUK European State aid approval.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation, published by his Department in December 2015, how his Department defines physical literacy.

David Evennett

We recognise that a number of definitions of physical literacy exist and are used in a variety of contexts within the sport and education sectors. Sport England and a number of national partners have developed the ‘Primary School Physical Literacy Framework’ – which can be found here – http://www.sportengland.org/media/332143/Physical-literacy-framework.pdf

It provides a useful reference to those who deliver PE and school sport and is designed to ensure that schools provide maximum opportunity for all pupils to develop their physical literacy. In this context, physical literacy can be described as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding that provides children with the foundation for lifelong participation in physical activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26584, on housing: young people, what conditions vulnerable young people have to meet in order to qualify as being in need of support.

Mr Marcus Jones

Young people’s eligibility for support with their housing costs is set out in the relevant benefit regulations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the additional (a) salary and (b) other costs which are incurred by schools in London, compared with those outside London; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

On Monday 7 March the Department published our consultation for a national funding formula, which is now open until 17 April. The consultation explains our proposals to use an area cost adjustment to reflect variation in labour market costs, given the significant impact of such costs to school spending. We are currently consulting on which methodology we should use to do this, and will bring forward our response in due course, once the consultation has closed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department provides for local authorities to share best practice on adult social work.

Alistair Burt

Raising the quality and consistency of social work practice remains a priority for the Department and for Government. We continue to provide local authorities with the tools and resources to enable them to share good practice.

Principal Social Workers are now in place in nearly every local authority and a number of National Health Service trusts, responsible for strong practice leadership in their organisations. They are supported by strong national and regional networks, with links to regional Association of Directors of Adult Social Services networks, helping to identify and share good social work practice. A statement on the role and the responsibility of local authorities to appoint a principal social worker in adult social care, has been included in revised statutory guidance accompanying the Care Act, which the Department published on 10 March.

In addition, the Department is working with Skills for Care and the Social Care Institute for Excellence to assist local authorities in the implementation of the Care Act and the sharing of best practice across the whole of the adult social care sector, including social work.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage older professionals to enter the teaching profession for the first time.

Nick Gibb

Career changers are an important source of new teachers and bring relevant knowledge and skills from their previous employment. The number of teachers returning to the profession has increased from 11,710 in 2011 to 14,100 in 2014.

In 2015/16, 21% of new entrants to initial teacher training (ITT) courses were aged 30 and above. Our marketing campaign, Your Future Their Future, uses a range of advertising to promote teacher recruitment. As part of this we run a month-long ‘New Year New Career’ sub-campaign in January of each year which is dedicated to attracting more career changers to teaching.

We provide specific support for career changers to make the transition to teaching and particularly for the subjects that are needed the most, which includes:

• The School Direct (salaried) route, which is specifically targeted at career changers with three years’ work experience and allows them to earn a salary whilst they train to teach.

• Working with 18 School Direct lead schools to develop and recruit to flexible School Direct (salaried) courses in mathematics and physics, starting in September 2016.

Career changers can access support including bursaries or scholarships of up to £30,000 tax-free; advice and guidance from the expert advisers on the Get Into Teaching Line; help with arranging school experience to assist with their ITT application; and access to our free Train to Teach events.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March to Questions 30367, on vocational guidance, whether he plans that Jobcentre Plus or the Careers and Enterprise company will contact those schools.

Priti Patel

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 March 2016 to question UIN 32032.