Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will establish a team in his Department to champion the interests of universal credit claimants as recommended in the report entitled Waiting for Credit: the delivery of universal credit experienced by Citizens Advice Bureau claimants in England and Wales.

Priti Patel

We are committed to ensuring all claimants receive the best possible support. All policies are kept under review to ensure this is the case.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time was for a Disclosure and Barring Service check at (a) standard, (b) enhanced and (c) enhanced with list checks level to be conducted in each year since 2010.

Karen Bradley

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is funded through fees charged for disclosure certificates and from subscriptions to the DBS disclosure update service. DBS operates on a full cost recovery basis. There has not been a fee increase in four years and volunteers receive free checks.

The table below sets out the average time taken to process all three types of checks.

Timeframe	Standard Disclosures	Enhanced Disclosures	Enhanced Disclosures with List Checks
01st Nov 2010 to 31st Oct 2011	5.21	16.84	16.81
01st Nov 2011 to 31st Oct 2012	5.34	11.24	11.25
01st Nov 2012 to 31st Oct 2013	4.57	10.60	10.63
01st Nov 2013 to 31st Oct 2014	6.37	14.12	14.17
01st Nov 2014 to 31st Oct 2015	5.97	14.92	14.94

The fluctuations in processing times over the years relate to a number of factors, including changes in demand and demand forecasting, changes to IT systems and the performance of police forces for enhanced disclosures.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Disclosure and Barring Service checks for (a) standard and (b) enhanced exceeded the eight week target for issuing in the last 12 months.

Karen Bradley

Between 1 November 2014 and 30 October 2015, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) issued over 4.19 million certificates. Of these, 6 per cent of enhanced and 0.1 per cent of standard certificates were issued after eight weeks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on international services stopping at Stratford International station; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry

I recognise the international importance of the HS1 network in allowing high-speed rail services from London to reach Europe, whilst noting that no international services currently serve Stratford International station. Eurostar, in which the government recently sold its 40% stake, accesses the HS1 network on an open access basis and is not subject to the terms of a franchise agreement or a contract let by government. Government has no power to direct or specify that Eurostar stops at Stratford International station. A decision made by Eurostar not to serve Stratford International would be as a result of commercial imperatives and priorities, for example, the potential revenue derived from customers using the station or the increased journey time which a further stop would involve. It would not be appropriate for government to interfere with that decision-making process. I have not received any recent representations on this matter from potential or actual train operators; who in any event, should address their questions to HS1 Ltd, as the infrastructure manager, in the first instance; nor have I held any discussions with Eurostar on the matter of services to Stratford.

Regarding any aspirations of Deutsche Bahn to commence operation of international services from St Pancras International, this is rightly a matter for HS1 Ltd as the infrastructure manager, who I understand have held discussions with a number of potential new entrants, including Deutsche Bahn. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing commercial discussions between those parties.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2015 to Question 16608, how many potential overlapping payments between the Universal Credit Live Service and housing benefit have been identified since April 2013.

Priti Patel

The information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether universal credit applicants who are housing association tenants are informed upon application of the need for a letter from their landlord in order to receive housing cost assistance; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel

When someone makes a claim to Universal Credit they are advised of the verification needed to receive the Housing Element of Universal Credit. This is re-iterated when the claimant is contacted to book their initial interview at the Jobcentre.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a universal credit applicant who does not receive the housing part in their first payment due to lack of evidence provided in their application will receive a backdated payment upon receipt of the correct document.

Priti Patel

Once all the relevant information is received, a backdated payment of the housing element can be made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, following changes to universal credit taking effect in April 2016, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of children in poverty of the introduction of universal credit.

Priti Patel

The Government is committed to working to eliminate child poverty and improve life chances for children. Work remains the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives for parents to move into and progress in work. Evidence shows claimants move into work significantly faster and earn more than under the current system. In addition, from April 2016 Universal Credit provides for 85% of childcare costs meaning more support for hardworking families.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Prime Minister, whether it is Government policy to promote multiculturalism in the UK.

Mr David Cameron

We have been very clear: we are proud that Britain is one of the most successful multi ethnic, multi faith democracies in the world. The Government is clear that people have full freedom here to choose and practice their faith. It is right though to challenge the view held by some that we should encourage communities to develop separately and effectively live in a segregated way. The Government is committed to boosting integration in some of our most isolated communities, and to proudly promoting the British values that we all share.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to improve links between schools and elite sports organisations.

Edward Timpson

The national curriculum sets out the expectation that pupils should be provided with opportunities to engage in a broad range of competitive sports and activities.

Many national governing bodies of sports and elite sporting organisations offer a programme for schools, to engage children and young people in their sports. Through their school sports programme, the Premier League is currently working in over 4,000 schools to support the PE curriculum, provide sports clubs, and deliver enrichment activities. In October 2015, the Premier League announced that they will expand their schools offer to every primary school in the country within 6 years.

The Department funds ‘On the Front Foot’, a programme designed and delivered by Premiership Rugby to develop character and resilience in primary and secondary schools across the country. The programme delivers classroom based and physical activity character building programmes to 17,250 pupils.

The Football Association’s Skills programme is a nationwide football coaching programme working in over 1,000 primary schools a year, providing specialist football coaching for children and supporting teachers in their delivery of sport. Sessions are offered during PE lessons, extra-curricula clubs and holiday clubs.

The Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association support teachers with training, resource and equipment to help them deliver tennis in schools. Their aim is to increase access to tennis across schools, further and higher education through a wide range of programmes. They offer support to make tennis inclusive and accessible to all pupils. Over 60,000 primary, special and secondary school pupils take part in schools tennis competitions every year.

The Rugby Football Union works with hundreds of maintained schools as part of its ‘All Schools Plan’ to help more secondary school children play rugby. This was launched by the RFU and the Rugby Football Foundation in 2012, as part of the RFU’s Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy plans.

The School Games is the Government’s framework for competitive school sports. The programme provides a national final event where the most talented young people in the UK compete in 12 different sports. More than 150 of the athletes who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow had previously competed at the School Games and 59 athletes claimed 84 medals.