Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34910, what the completion rate is for recruits who start on an apprenticeship.

Penny Mordaunt

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is able to provide the following information on completion rates for Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships in the Armed Forces by Academic Year for 2011-12 and 2012-13. For information on completion rates for apprenticeships in 2013-14 and 2014-15, I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

	Level 2 Apprenticeships – 1 August 2011- 31 July 2012	Level 2 Apprenticeships – 1 August 2012- 31 July 2013	Level 3 Apprenticeships – 1 August 2011- 31 July 2012	Level 3 Apprenticeships – 1 August 2012- 31 July 2013
Army	4,507	3,116	1,682	1,763
Royal Navy	2,182	2,006	339	334
Royal Air Force	764	693	665	618
Total	7,864*	5,891*	3,134*	2,893*

*total numbers include apprenticeships completed by Service personnel and MOD civilian staff.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals were employed by the European Commission in each year since 2010.

Mr David Lidington

Whilst the European Commission provides staffing numbers by nationality they do not break them down between permanent and temporary agents. In total the numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Commission in each year since 2010 is:

April 2010: 1284
April 2011: 1162
April 2012: 1134
April 2013: 1079
April 2014: 1053
April 2015: 1008

The latest figure available is for Feb 2016 and is 982.

UK representation has been falling across EU institutions as UK officials retire and are not replaced by the same number of new UK entrants. The Government is committed to reversing this picture, recognising that this will require a sustained effort. The EU Staffing Unit, established in April 2013, promotes EU careers across the UK and supports candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many UK nationals (a) entered the EU Concours examination and (b) passed that examination in each year since 2010.

Mr David Lidington

We do not hold complete information on the number of applicants and successes across all competitions. We are aware of 7,761 UK applicants across all competitions, of whom 188 were successful, since the new EU recruitment process launched in 2010.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the level of income that the Health and Safety Executive will receive from commercial sources in each year up to 2019-20.

Justin Tomlinson

HSE estimate the total level of income from commercial sources will be £17m in 2016/17. Future year income estimates will be determined as part the business planning process and included as part of the published Business Plan.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department provides to multi-academy trusts to ensure governance and leadership structures are able to support effective expansion.

Edward Timpson

Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) have an important role to play in encouraging and supporting high performing schools to extend their influence by growing Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and recruiting new sponsors to their region. The RSCs support schools and other organisations to become sponsors and grow effectively by offering practical one-to-one advice and facilitating supportive networks between MATs. They are also able to commission additional support for trusts where that is required, for example, from local Teaching School Alliances.

As set out in our White Paper Educational Excellence Everywhere, in the future MAT support will be system-led, and there will be a role for larger and more experienced trusts in supporting growing trusts as they develop. The Department is taking a number of steps to support MATs with leadership and governance, including:

• a MAT CEO development programme;

• redesigning a National Professional Qualification in leadership; and

• funding the academy ambassadors programme that has resulted in over 240 experienced business leaders providing support to MATs by joining trust boards as non-executives.

We are committing funding for 5 years to provide long term stability to help many more volunteers find a school or MAT that is looking for someone with their skills.

The Government has allocated £300 million that will be available to support schools to convert and, in particular, support sponsors to turn around failing schools. A further £300 million will be available to support strong and effective multi-academy trusts to grow and improve.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications of market uncertainty following the EU referendum for progress in meeting her target for creating new apprenticeships.

Robert Halfon

Some market and economic volatility can be expected as the process for leaving the EU unfolds. In recent years, however, the UK has been the fastest growing economy in the G7 and one of the strongest major advanced economies in the world. The Government has already outlined how this strength means that we are as well-placed as any economy could be to meet any economic challenges that lie ahead.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps her Department has taken to roll out superfast broadband; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock

Superfast broadband rollout continues at pace, with coverage currently around 91% and on track to reach 95% by the end of 2017.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of an appeal being cancelled at (a) First-tier Tribunal and (b) Upper-tier Tribunal due to documents from the Home Office not being submitted before the hearing date in each of the last three years.

Sir Oliver Heald

The First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chambers) are administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

HMCTS does not routinely estimate the cost of the cancellation of individual postponement and adjournments because the Tribunal will, wherever possible, replace a cancelled hearing with cases that are available in reserve.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships were started by (a) former free school meals pupils and (b) pupils who were not formally free school meal pupils in the last three years.

Robert Halfon

Data on whether apprenticeships were started by former free school meals pupils or those who were not formerly free school meals pupils is not collected.

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 the (a) demographics, (b) pension pot size and (c) decisions taken after the consultation of people accessing 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.