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19326

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2013
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, his Department made in each year since 2010; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
	tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
	uin	174860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice has reduced the overall cost of air travel by almost half since 2009, and our total spend on all travel has fallen by more than 40 per cent in the same period – a saving of more than £9m.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, this year, the Justice Secretary toughened up the rules to ban first and business class travel for Ministers and officials in the department other than in exceptional circumstances where this is required to meet business need.</p><p> </p><p>Overseas travel makes up a small proportion of the Department's overall travel requirement. Flights and travel by Eurostar are booked through our contracted supplier, and whilst the MoJ records data on transactions, it does not hold details of the cost or destination of individual trips centrally. The cost of breaking down all travel in the ways requested would be disproportionate, as managers across the Department would have to create a breakdown of every trip taken, itemised by the different kinds of expenditure.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie

48718

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether he has given advice to the Government on whether the removal of President Yanukovich was in accord with the provisions of Article III of the Constitution of Ukraine.
	tabling member constituency	Gainsborough
	tabling member printed	Sir Edward Leigh
	uin	196900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers may or may not have advised or have been requested to advise on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside Government.</p> answering member constituency North East Hertfordshire answering member printed Oliver Heald question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald
	tabling member	345 label Biography information for Sir Edward Leigh

47492

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to improve levels of customer service in UK businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Well-functioning, competitive markets encourage growth by creating incentives for firms to become more efficient and innovative to compete for customers including through better service quality. Markets can only be fully competitive if consumers are active and confident, meaning that they are willing to challenge firms to provide a better deal, switch between suppliers, and take up new products.</p><p> </p><p>That is why this Government has undertaken the most fundamental reform to the competition and consumer landscape in decades to make the UK's already world class market framework fit for the future. That has included establishing a new Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), streamlining the landscape of Government-funded consumer organisations to put Citizen's Advice at its centre, and overhauling the UK framework of consumer rights through the Consumer Rights Bill.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47737

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will introduce financial support for individuals who have worked previously but do not qualify for statutory paternity leave and pay because they have recently started in their new position.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	195838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to introduce financial support for individuals who do not qualify for statutory paternity leave and pay because they do not have the required length of service.</p><p> </p><p>Paternity leave and pay was considered as part of a broader examination of family-related leave which led to the introduction of Shared Parental Leave and Pay through the Children and Families Act 2014.</p><p> </p><p>It is important to maintain the right balance between the needs of employees to take leave and the needs of employers to have certainty when recruiting and hiring new staff. Paternity leave and pay can be taken immediately from the birth of a child to allow the father to care for the mother and the newborn. This means that unlike annual leave, where the exact dates of the absence can be agreed in advance, paternity leave dates are subject to change.</p><p> </p><p>The 26 week service qualification period allows employers to plan effectively to cover an employee's absence during the paternity leave period, which would not be possible if the employee had just been recruited.</p><p> </p><p>Unlike paternity leave, maternity leave is a day one right to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby. In order to qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, a mother must have 26 weeks qualifying service (the same requirements as for paternity pay). Those mothers who do not have the requisite service for statutory maternity pay may be entitled to Maternity Allowance. This is because the benefit system recognises pregnant women and new mothers have a specific need for protect their own health and safety, and the health of their child, by allowing them to take time off work. There is no equivalent paternity allowance or adoption allowance, as there are not equivalent health and safety reasons to do so.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to a review of the changes to employment law enacted by the Children and Families Act after 2018.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

48113

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	196195
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Staff are encouraged to help reduce waste in the Department by avoiding printing documents unless completely necessary and by reusing or recycling stationery where appropriate. The default setting on BIS printers is to print in black and white and to print double sided. This uses less energy and ink and cuts down on the demand for paper and reduces costs.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for John Redwood

48120

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many disqualification reports were submitted by each Official Receiver's office in the year ending 31 March 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	196334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Detailed in the following table is the office breakdown for the number of disqualification reports submitted in the year ended 31 March 2014.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>OR Offices</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of reports submitted</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Anglia</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central Midlands</p></td><td><p>25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands &amp; S Yorks</p></td><td><p>29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greater Manchester</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Humber and E Yorks</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kent</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London - Essex</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London - Herts, Bucks</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mid West and N Wales</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Central</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Wales</p></td><td><p>26</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Surrey and Sussex</p></td><td><p>24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West England</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>289</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>PIU</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North</p></td><td><p>71</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South</p></td><td><p>36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>107</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

48125

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the annual (a) total cost and (b) cost per (i) female and (ii) male employee of maternity and paternity leave.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	196413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government carried out an analysis of the costs and benefits of providing leave for mothers and fathers in the impact assessment which accompanied its consultation on the administration of shared parental leave which was published in February 2013. This can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/110692/13-651-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-impact-assessment2.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/110692/13-651-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-impact-assessment2.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The impact assessment reflects the fact that there are costs for both the Exchequer and business associated with the taking of maternity and paternity leave. Business costs include, for example, where employers provide occupational maternity or paternity schemes which go beyond the statutory minimum, and the costs associated with recruiting staff to cover a period of absence.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to Exchequer costs, the Government collects data on the total amount of statutory paternity pay and statutory maternity pay paid to employees by employers and uses this to estimate the numbers taking paternity/maternity leave and the size of average, or average weekly, claims. These figures represent the cost to the Exchequer rather than business as statutory payments can be reclaimed by the employer. The latest available figures for the costs to the Exchequer are as follows:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Maternity pay and maternity allowance</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of claimants commencing in year 2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total claimed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average claim (2010/11)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Maternity Pay</p></td><td><p>355,000</p></td><td><p>£2.2 billion</p></td><td><p>£5,890</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Source: Expenditure is from employer returns to HMRC and is the average amount recovered by employers. Average claim and spells commencing is based on L2 data (a 1% sample of HMRC National Insurance Contribution records). </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average number of claimants at any one time: May 2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total Expenditure: 2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average weekly claim: May 2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Maternity Allowance</p></td><td><p>57,400</p></td><td><p>£395 million</p></td><td><p>£117.57</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Source: A combination of DWP accounting data and 5% Administrative Data. Further figures on Maternity Allowance are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/maternity-allowance-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/maternity-allowance-quarterly-statistics</a></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><ol type="1"><li><strong>SMP</strong><strong>Expenditure is subject to change due to late returns submitted by employers to HM Revenue and Customs.</strong></li><li><strong>Maternity allowance weekly amounts are the average in payment at the end of May 2013.</strong></li><li><strong>Maternity allowance claimants exclude a small number of clerical cases and only include those with a successful claim to Maternity Allowance. </strong></li></ol><p><strong>Paternity pay</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of claimants</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total claimed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average claim</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13 </strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay</p></td><td><p>208,600</p></td><td><p>£50.3 million</p></td><td><p>£241.25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Additional Statutory Paternity Pay</p></td><td><p>3,867</p></td><td><p>£5.8 million</p></td><td><p>£1,218</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Note: All figures are estimates using the HMRC CANDIF database. Figures are calculated using a 2% or 3% scan of employer National Insurance returns and scaling the results up to create a 100% estimate. Scan conducted in January 2014.</strong></p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

47470

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what appeals process is in place for alternative providers which unsuccessfully applied to have courses designated under the new specific course designation arrangements; and whether any alternative providers have successfully so appealed.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
	tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
	uin	195760
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Applications for specific designation under the new specific designation arrangements are decided by the Secretary of State. There is no appeals process.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
	tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

47878

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in establishing the effect of school reporting metrics on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as a destination.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195984
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195985 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47879

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in increasing the number of higher apprenticeships in the professional and business services sector.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright