Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-07-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with stakeholders on the implication of the outcome of the EU referendum for future levels of employment in the UK financial services industry.

Mr David Gauke

The Government is committed to the UK hosting the world’s most competitive international financial centre and securing a long-term economic relationship with the rest of Europe that provides for the best possible terms of trade in goods and services, including financial services.

The Chancellor and other Treasury ministers have met, and will continue to meet, a number of financial services stakeholders since the referendum. The impact of the referendum on the financial services industry was discussed at these meetings. Future employment in the UK financial services industry will be commercial decisions for individual firms.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the maximum duration is of an apprenticeship.

Robert Halfon

To ensure that apprenticeships are focused on providing sustained and substantial training, they must last for at least 12 months. We do not set a maximum duration centrally, but apprenticeships generally take between one and four years to complete.

The suggested duration of each apprenticeship is set by employers when designing the apprenticeship standard.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on maintaining current immigration controls for passengers using international high-speed rail services to and from the UK.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The UK is not part of the Schengen border-free zone and maintains its own border checks, retaining the right to check all arrivals, including EU citizens from continental Europe. The agreements that underpin juxtaposed immigration controls at international rail stations in France and Belgium are not directly affected by Britain’s membership of the EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many apprenticeships each government department will contribute to the Government’s target of three million apprenticeships by 2020.

Ben Gummer

It is the responsibility of individual departments to project their workforce, including apprenticeships.

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T​he Civil Service implemented a single apprenticeship target of a minimum 2.3% of the workforce in England as apprenticeships starts from 1 January 2016. To meet this, ​departments have agreed to achieve 2.3% of their workforce in England as apprenticeship starts. This is an annual target that will be measured by financial years based on headcount at the start of that reporting period.

We estimate that there will be at least 30,000 apprenticeship starts in England by the end of the Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment she has made of the pre-16 and post-16 attainment of pupils attending (a) high performing non-selective and (b) grammar schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

The Department produces data on the performance of both pre-16 and post-16 schools by their admissions arrangements at year 7. Pre-16 performance information is published in the “GCSE and equivalent results: 2015 to 2016 (provisional)”[1], statistical first release (SFR). Post-16 performance information is published in the “A level and other 16 to 18 results: 2015 to 2016 (provisional)”[2] SFR.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-2015-to-2016-provisional (Table 6b)

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2015-to-2016-provisional (Table 1b)

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-28.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data his Department collects on people who have exercised new pension freedoms who have not accessed the Pension Wise service.

Harriett Baldwin

The government committed to providing free, impartial guidance through Pension Wise, to help people make informed and confident decisions about how they use their defined contribution pension savings in retirement. It is available online, via the telephone and face to face. As of 29 October 2015, there were over 20,000 completed appointments for face to face guidance and 9,000 completed appointments for telephone guidance as well as over 1.7 million visits to the website.

Pension Wise runs exit surveys of those who have completed an appointment It is not mandatory for a user to complete an exit survey. The government is committed to being open and transparent with Pension Wise data and will be making core data readily available by placing it on the government performance platform this autumn. The data will be in the public domain and updated regularly. HM Treasury is working with Pension Wise delivery partners to provide the level of detail that we require for reporting purposes.

The Financial Conduct Authority, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, is monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and has committed to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively.

The government recognises that people may wish to consult different sources of information before reaching a decision about their retirement income. In addition to Pension Wise, The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) provides independent, impartial information and guidance about pensions, free of charge, to members of the public. The Money Advice Service also provides free and unbiased information and guidance on all money matters.

A number of pension providers offer financial guidance. Individuals can also access regulated advice from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly considering how financial advice could be made more accessible and affordable for consumers through the Financial Advice Market Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-29.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what alternative sources of advice there are for people exercising pension freedoms who do not access Pension Wise guidance.

Harriett Baldwin

The government committed to providing free, impartial guidance through Pension Wise, to help people make informed and confident decisions about how they use their defined contribution pension savings in retirement. It is available online, via the telephone and face to face. As of 29 October 2015, there were over 20,000 completed appointments for face to face guidance and 9,000 completed appointments for telephone guidance as well as over 1.7 million visits to the website.

Pension Wise runs exit surveys of those who have completed an appointment It is not mandatory for a user to complete an exit survey. The government is committed to being open and transparent with Pension Wise data and will be making core data readily available by placing it on the government performance platform this autumn. The data will be in the public domain and updated regularly. HM Treasury is working with Pension Wise delivery partners to provide the level of detail that we require for reporting purposes.

The Financial Conduct Authority, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, is monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and has committed to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively.

The government recognises that people may wish to consult different sources of information before reaching a decision about their retirement income. In addition to Pension Wise, The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) provides independent, impartial information and guidance about pensions, free of charge, to members of the public. The Money Advice Service also provides free and unbiased information and guidance on all money matters.

A number of pension providers offer financial guidance. Individuals can also access regulated advice from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly considering how financial advice could be made more accessible and affordable for consumers through the Financial Advice Market Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many advisers worked at Plaistow Jobcentre in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

Priti Patel

The information is in the table below:

Year	Number of Advisers that worked at Plaistow Jobcentre
2010/11	24
2011/12	26
2012/13	27
2013/14	23
2014/15	27

1. Source of management information: DWP Work Services Activity Based Management Tool

2. The management information is collated and reported for the period from April to March for each year

3. The numbers of advisers are expressed as Full Time Equivalents

4. The management information contained within this document does not form part of any official statistics and is intended for DWP internal use only.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people resident in the UK of working age who were born in Lithuania are (a) in the G8 Claimant Count, (b) in receipt of employment and support allowance and other incapacity benefits and (c) lone parents in receipt of income support.

Priti Patel

The information requested is not available however the department has published some statistics on working age benefit recipientsclaiming within 6 months of National Insurance Number (NINO) registration. This information is known as “Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP benefit claimants” and is included in the “Statistical Bulletin on National Insurance Number Allocations to Adult Overseas Nationals Entering the UK – registrations to February 2015”, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nationality-at-point-of-nino-registration-of-dwp-working-age-benefit-recipients-data-to-feb-2015

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to encourage educational establishments that cater for people between 16 and 18 years old to teach the dangers of problem gambling.

Edward Timpson

All 16-19 year olds are now offered study programmes that bring together the qualifications, English and maths, and work experience – the skills that will prepare them for employment or further learning. The study programme principles enable all students to take a programme that meets their needs and helps them progress to the next stage of their career, whether it be employment, an apprenticeship or further study.

We are also investing £5 million in character education and have awarded £3.5 million grants for 2015/16 to support 14 projects in character development. These include projects delivering competitive sport; volunteering and social action; links with local businesses and work experience. We have also made £1 million available to the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) to build evidence and expand research into the most effective ways that character can be developed. Character is the sum of qualities and attributes which enable young people to make the right choices, to withstand adversity, and pursue an aspirational life.