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1722617

registered interest
date	22/07/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Government Departments: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will take steps to help SMEs access new Government procurement opportunities.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Mr Luke Charters
uin	1064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2024 answer text <p>The Procurement Act 2023 introduces a range of reforms to make it easier for SMEs to access public sector supply-chains, and we will be ensuring that the powers in the Act are utilised to support the new government’s priorities. A new duty will require contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs, and to consider what can be done to overcome them. 30 day payment terms will apply throughout the public sector supply chain, regardless of whether they are written into the contract.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Government must lead by example and pay their suppliers on time. The most recent published payment data for the Cabinet Office shows 97% of all invoices were paid within 30 days, and 88% of all invoices were paid within 5 days. Further, all bidders for large government contracts must demonstrate prompt payment to their suppliers within an average of 55 days, regardless of whether it’s in a public supply chain or not, or risk being excluded from the procurement.</p><p><strong></strong><br><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Queen's Park and Maida Vale answering member printed Georgia Gould grouped question UIN 1065 question first answered 02/08/2024 12:47:35 answering member 5305
tabling member	5199

1722618

registered interest
date	22/07/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Government Departments: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that SME suppliers are paid on time.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Mr Luke Charters
uin	1065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2024 answer text <p>The Procurement Act 2023 introduces a range of reforms to make it easier for SMEs to access public sector supply-chains, and we will be ensuring that the powers in the Act are utilised to support the new government’s priorities. A new duty will require contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs, and to consider what can be done to overcome them. 30 day payment terms will apply throughout the public sector supply chain, regardless of whether they are written into the contract.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Government must lead by example and pay their suppliers on time. The most recent published payment data for the Cabinet Office shows 97% of all invoices were paid within 30 days, and 88% of all invoices were paid within 5 days. Further, all bidders for large government contracts must demonstrate prompt payment to their suppliers within an average of 55 days, regardless of whether it’s in a public supply chain or not, or risk being excluded from the procurement.</p><p><strong></strong><br><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Queen's Park and Maida Vale answering member printed Georgia Gould grouped question UIN 1064 question first answered 02/08/2024 12:47:35 answering member 5305
tabling member	5199

1723633

registered interest
date	25/07/2024
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Solicitor General, what steps her Department is taking to co-ordinate with other Departments on tackling fraud through the Serious Fraud Office.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Mr Luke Charters
uin	1867
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2024 answer text <p>I work closely with other government departments, including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, to support the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) mission to tackle fraud. My department will continue to support this mission through our superintendence of the SFO. I visited the SFO earlier this month to learn about their important work to deliver justice for victims of economic crime and protect the UK’s reputation as a safe place to do business.</p><p>The SFO works effectively with other law enforcement agencies through the National Economic Crime Centre to collectively co-ordinate the UK’s response to fraud. Earlier this year this co-ordination led to the National Crime Agency arresting four individuals following an SFO search of three sites in relation to an investigation into an alleged £140m investment fraud.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Sarah Sackman question first answered 02/08/2024 10:59:17 answering member 5204
tabling member	5199

1723637

registered interest
date	25/07/2024
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Renewable Energy: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the transition to clean energy on (a) businesses and (b) consumer energy bills.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Mr Luke Charters
uin	1871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2024 answer text <p>The Government believes that the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and take back control of our energy security.</p><p> </p><p>A renewables-led system is the cheapest foundation for a decarbonised grid, and scaling up home-grown renewables reduces the UK’s exposure to volatile global fossil fuel prices, which protects consumer energy bills against future price shocks of the kind which helped drive increases in the electricity price cap of over £1,300 for a typical household during Winter 2022/23.</p> answering member constituency Peckham answering member printed Miatta Fahnbulleh question first answered 01/08/2024 06:56:38 answering member 5099
tabling member	5199

1439447

registered interest
date	09/03/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Further Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of choice available for students of streamlining post-16 qualifications.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	137303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2022 answer text <p>The department is streamlining and improving the quality of the post-16 qualifications system at level 3 and below. We are strengthening the progression pathways, creating clearly defined academic and technical routes with high-quality qualifications leading to further study and/or skilled employment.</p><p>This clarity of purpose will help students to make good choices and see more easily how their study will help them to progress. At level 3, A levels and T Levels will be at the core of study programmes for most young people. For other students, a combination of A levels with other high-quality qualifications will be the right choice.</p><p>As set out in our plans for reform of level 3 qualifications, published in July 2021, students will continue to be able to study qualifications similar to current Applied General Qualifications (AGQs) as part of mixed programmes alongside A levels, where they meet new quality standards and support progression to higher education. For example, students can progress in areas such as engineering, applied science, and information technology. Students will also be able to study qualifications like AGQs as their full programme of study where there is no A level or T Level, in areas such as performing and creative arts, and sports science.</p><p>Qualifications that do not meet new standards or the criteria for funding will not be funded in future. In the department’s impact assessment published alongside its policy statement on level 3 qualifications last summer, we were clear that students taking qualifications that are not funded in future will benefit most from these changes, as they are more likely to be taking qualifications that do not deliver the skills employers need.</p><p>Students will have access to higher-quality qualifications in the future, including new T Levels. This will put them in a stronger position to progress onto further study or skilled employment. We also noted in our impact assessment that some students may find it more difficult to achieve level 3 in future. We are putting in place support for these students, such as the T Level Transition Programme and the pilot academic progression programme, with the aim of improving progression to level 3.</p><p>Alongside reforms to level 3 qualifications, the department wants to improve qualifications and study at level 2, level 1, and entry level. We are currently consulting on proposed reforms to level 2 and below, and the consultation remains open until 27 April 2022.</p><p>Alongside the consultation, the department published its initial impact assessment. This states that we would expect the impact of the proposals at level 2 and below to be generally positive for all students, through an improved qualification landscape that is high-quality and better equips students for progression into employment or further study at higher levels.</p><p>Our proposed reforms will result in a good choice of high-quality qualifications to meet student and employer needs. This will be easier for students and employers to navigate than the current offer of around 8,000 qualifications.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 18/03/2022 12:18:13 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1523436

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Older Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help older members of the workforce (a) adapt to and (b) retrain in an evolving job market.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	65718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2022 answer text <p>As part of the 23 September Growth Plan announcement, the Chancellor announced funding for additional work coach support to over 50s. This will mean more jobseekers across Great Britain receive intensive, tailored support at jobcentres to help them get into, and progress in work, boosting their earnings ahead of retirement.</p><p> </p><p>This funding builds on the existing Spending Review settlement of £20m over the next three years for a new enhanced offer for people aged 50 and over to remain in, and return to work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to adult education and training and the Department for Education has already put in place a wide range of programmes for adults to gain the skills they need for employment, ensuring they have the opportunities to study, upskill and reskill at different points in their life.</p><p> </p><p>We invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (£1.34bn in 2022/23), we are ensuring that apprenticeships are responsive to the different needs of individuals, employers, and the economy, including ensuring older people can access apprenticeships to re-train or upskill.</p><p> </p><p>We have also launched the £2.4b National Skills Fund, which is a significant investment to deliver new opportunities to generations of adults who may have been previously left behind. From 2025 will also introduce a lifelong loan entitlement, enabling more flexible and modular study across higher and further education.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 26/10/2022 16:57:35 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1523438

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Unemployed People: Cost of Living
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional steps his Department is taking to support people seeking jobs with the cost of living.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	65720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2022 answer text <p>With 1.25 million job vacancies across the UK, our focus is firmly on supporting people to move into, and progress in work. This approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment - particularly where it is full-time - in substantially reducing the risks of poverty.</p><p> </p><p>To help people into work across Great Britain, our Plan for Jobs is providing broad ranging support for all Jobseekers with our Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP), Job Entry Targeted Support and Restart scheme. We are extending the support jobcentres provide to people in work and on low incomes to help them to increase their earnings and move into better paid quality jobs. This new in-work progression offer started to roll-out from April 2022. Once fully rolled out, we estimate that around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support. This will be provided by work coaches and focus on removing barriers to progression such as support with childcare or addressing skills gaps.</p><p> </p><p>This new progression offer is in addition to a change the government made last month to the Administrative Earnings Threshold in Universal Credit. By raising the threshold on 26<sup>th</sup> September 2022, approximately 114,000 more UC claimants on the lowest incomes will benefit from regular work coach support. The then Chancellor announced that we would go further and raise the threshold again from January 2023 to expand this support to approximately 120,000 more people.</p><p> </p><p>This is on top of the support already provided by increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour and giving nearly 1.7 million families an extra £1,000 a year (on average) through our changes to the Universal Credit taper and work allowances</p><p> </p><p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>This also includes up to £650 in cost-of-living Payments (paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324) which have targeted support at around 8 million low-income households on means-tested benefits. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people have received a one-off disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 and pensioner households will receive a one-off payment of £300 through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment from November.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support we have provided an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m, running from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 26/10/2022 16:48:48 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1697587

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	House of Lords: Reform
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the number of sitting peers in the House of Lords.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	19612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>The House of Lords has a key role in scrutinising the executive and as a revising chamber. The Government has made no assessment of the merits of reducing the number of sitting peers and notes that unlike the Commons, peers are not full-time salaried legislators. It is important to focus on the number of peers who attend, and not just the number eligible to sit. Existing mechanisms allow sitting peers to retire or resign.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 28/03/2024 17:26:09 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

416412

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Hospitals: Parking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to tackle expensive hospital car parking charges since the publication of its ground rules in August 2014.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	8619
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>Decisions on hospital car parking, including charging, are taken locally as National Health Service organisations have the autonomy to make decisions that best suit their local circumstances. However the NHS patient visitor and staff car parking principles published by the Department on 23 August 2014 provide clear direction and leadership and require NHS organisations to publish details of their car parking arrangements including financial information relating to the charges and income which allows patients and the public to hold the NHS locally to account where unfair parking charges occur.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Information about the cost and availability of car parking across the NHS is published annually as part of two data collections - the Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment and the Estates Return Information Collection. This information is publicly available and will also help people hold their local hospitals to account.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 14/09/2015 15:58:32 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

422982

registered interest
date	21/10/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Clinical Commissioning Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on reform of the NHS funding formula to clinical commissioning groups.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	12812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2015 answer text <p>NHS England has responsibility for determining allocations to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, an independent advisory group, is undertaking a full review of the formula used to determine allocations for individual CCGs. The review is nearing completion and we expect their recommendations to be presented at the NHS England Board meeting in December</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 29/10/2015 16:25:35 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy