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170297
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Scottish Power more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he received reports from the MacDonald Partnership in relation to mis-sold Scottish Power Power Plan warranties; what the titles of such reports were; and when he plans to respond to those reports. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 218595 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-17more like thismore than 2014-12-17
answer text <p>The initial report from Mr MacDonald was received on 17 July 2014 for review by the Insolvency Service. Further information including another more detailed report was received from him during September and October 2014, and these again have been reviewed by the Insolvency Service. The reports are confidential.</p><p> </p><p>The reports themselves do not require a direct response but I can confirm that the Insolvency Service has completed its review of this material and is in communication with Mr MacDonald.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-17T11:11:20.067Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-17T11:11:20.067Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
170289
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Minimum Wage more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that interns used for full-time work are paid at least the National Minimum Wage; and if he will make a statement. more like this
tabling member constituency Warrington North more like this
tabling member printed
Helen Jones more like this
uin 218759 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>The term “intern” is not defined in any legislation: entitlement to the minimum wage depends on whether or not an individual is a worker. If an internship meets the legal definition of a worker, then they must be paid at least the minimum wage from the start.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Given this dependency on employment status, it is vital that employers and workers understand how this is determined. We continue to carry out targeted awareness raising initiatives with interns and HMRC have been working with employers to identify potential non-compliance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Complaints from interns about non-payment of the minimum wage are prioritised by HMRC for investigation and HMRC will investigate every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the helpline on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Determining an individual’s employment status can be complicated. This is why the Business Secretary announced a review of employment status in October this year, to help ensure an employment status framework in the UK that meets the needs of everyone. This is an internal review and will present findings to ministers early next year.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:13:10.193Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:13:10.193Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
432
label Biography information for Helen Jones more like this
170298
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Scottish Power more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings he has had with his ministerial colleagues on what steps to take in response to allegations that Scottish Power mis-sold cashback warranties in the 1990s. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 218620 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>No meetings have been held between myself, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills or other ministerial colleagues concerning this matter. The Secretary of State and I have both met with the Insolvency Service for briefing on their conclusions following review of material submitted by liquidators of two companies involved in administering the cash-back warranty scheme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:11:50.527Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:11:50.527Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
170299
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Scottish Power more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how he plans to keep the people who lost money following the failure of firms involved in Scottish Power's cash back warranty scheme updated on progress on the review of whether there will be a further investigation of that matter. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 218621 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Investigations conducted under section 447 Companies Act 1985 are confidential, therefore it is not possible to announce whether or not such an investigation is taking place, or to report on the investigation outside of strict statutory gateways.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Whether or not an investigation under section 432 Companies Act 1985 is being undertaken is something which can be announced, and I am able to confirm that such an investigation will not be commenced at this stage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Because the liquidation of the companies involved in the scheme is still under way, I do not propose to make a public announcement about the outcome of any review. However the creditors of those companies will receive reports from the liquidators if they are to be paid further dividends.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:10:36.33Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:10:36.33Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
170300
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Company Investigations more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Insolvency Service plans to conduct any inquiries under sections 432 or 447 of the Companies Act 1985 in the next six months. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 218622 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>For the financial year 2014-15 The Insolvency Service anticipates conducting between 140 and 160 investigations under section 447 Companies Act 1985. This is part of the normal function of the Insolvency Service so I can confirm that investigations will be conducted using this power in the next six months, though it is not possible to say how many.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The circumstances giving rise to an investigation using section 432 Companies Act 1985 are much less common, and I cannot at present state whether any such investigations will be commenced within the next six months.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:08:00.46Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:08:00.46Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
170301
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Minimum Wage more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217684, how many employers have been fined for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage at the rate introduced in March 2014. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield Central more like this
tabling member printed
Paul Blomfield more like this
uin 218677 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>The Notice of Underpayment issued to an employer by HMRC following the identification of underpayments of the National Minimum Wage does not differentiate between underpayments to workers and apprentices. Non-compliance involving apprentices is not restricted to the Apprentice National Minimum Wage; some non-compliance will occur where an apprentice is entitled to the relevant age rate (where they are aged over 19 and have completed their first year).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not possible to provide information on the number of employers who have faced a penalty for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage since March 2014, as HMRC do not hold this information. Nor is it possible to provide details of the number of naming cases involving underpayments to apprentices. We can confirm that every employer that has been named has faced a financial penalty. These penalties will have related to pay reference periods falling before and after 7 March 2014 and so will have been calculated at the previous and current rates.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2014/15, the National Minimum Wage enforcement budget was increased by £1.2m from £8m to £9.2m. There are currently 189 staff across HMRC contributing to enforcing NMW, including people who work in legal advice, debt management, technical support and criminal investigation, amongst others. This includes an additional 26 inspectors recently recruited following the in-year 14/15 funding increase. Within this overall resource, we do not specify an amount that should be allocated to enforcing the apprentice National Minimum Wage. HMRC are required to respond to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition to this, complaints from apprentices are prioritised and fast-tracked.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone who is concerned that they have been underpaid the National Minimum Wage should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline for free and confidential advice on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
grouped question UIN
218678 more like this
218679 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.337Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.337Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4058
label Biography information for Paul Blomfield more like this
170302
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Minimum Wage more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217684, how many of the 55 companies named for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage had underpaid apprentices; and how many of those 55 companies have been fined for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield Central more like this
tabling member printed
Paul Blomfield more like this
uin 218678 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>The Notice of Underpayment issued to an employer by HMRC following the identification of underpayments of the National Minimum Wage does not differentiate between underpayments to workers and apprentices. Non-compliance involving apprentices is not restricted to the Apprentice National Minimum Wage; some non-compliance will occur where an apprentice is entitled to the relevant age rate (where they are aged over 19 and have completed their first year).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not possible to provide information on the number of employers who have faced a penalty for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage since March 2014, as HMRC do not hold this information. Nor is it possible to provide details of the number of naming cases involving underpayments to apprentices. We can confirm that every employer that has been named has faced a financial penalty. These penalties will have related to pay reference periods falling before and after 7 March 2014 and so will have been calculated at the previous and current rates.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2014/15, the National Minimum Wage enforcement budget was increased by £1.2m from £8m to £9.2m. There are currently 189 staff across HMRC contributing to enforcing NMW, including people who work in legal advice, debt management, technical support and criminal investigation, amongst others. This includes an additional 26 inspectors recently recruited following the in-year 14/15 funding increase. Within this overall resource, we do not specify an amount that should be allocated to enforcing the apprentice National Minimum Wage. HMRC are required to respond to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition to this, complaints from apprentices are prioritised and fast-tracked.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone who is concerned that they have been underpaid the National Minimum Wage should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline for free and confidential advice on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
grouped question UIN
218677 more like this
218679 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.477Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.477Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4058
label Biography information for Paul Blomfield more like this
170303
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Minimum Wage more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217684, what (a) funding and (b) staffing has been allocated to enforcement of the apprentice National Minimum Wage. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield Central more like this
tabling member printed
Paul Blomfield more like this
uin 218679 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>The Notice of Underpayment issued to an employer by HMRC following the identification of underpayments of the National Minimum Wage does not differentiate between underpayments to workers and apprentices. Non-compliance involving apprentices is not restricted to the Apprentice National Minimum Wage; some non-compliance will occur where an apprentice is entitled to the relevant age rate (where they are aged over 19 and have completed their first year).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not possible to provide information on the number of employers who have faced a penalty for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage since March 2014, as HMRC do not hold this information. Nor is it possible to provide details of the number of naming cases involving underpayments to apprentices. We can confirm that every employer that has been named has faced a financial penalty. These penalties will have related to pay reference periods falling before and after 7 March 2014 and so will have been calculated at the previous and current rates.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2014/15, the National Minimum Wage enforcement budget was increased by £1.2m from £8m to £9.2m. There are currently 189 staff across HMRC contributing to enforcing NMW, including people who work in legal advice, debt management, technical support and criminal investigation, amongst others. This includes an additional 26 inspectors recently recruited following the in-year 14/15 funding increase. Within this overall resource, we do not specify an amount that should be allocated to enforcing the apprentice National Minimum Wage. HMRC are required to respond to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition to this, complaints from apprentices are prioritised and fast-tracked.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone who is concerned that they have been underpaid the National Minimum Wage should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline for free and confidential advice on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
grouped question UIN
218677 more like this
218678 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.637Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T12:16:41.637Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4058
label Biography information for Paul Blomfield more like this
170286
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Written Questions more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department from the Q&A system in the (a) 12 months and (b) five years since 4 June 2014; what additional ICT systems or improvements to existing systems his Department has introduced or plans to introduce that would not have been feasible without the Q&A system; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the system has made it easier to answer questions from hon. Members on time. more like this
tabling member constituency Newcastle upon Tyne Central more like this
tabling member printed
Chi Onwurah more like this
uin 218770 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2015-01-02more like thismore than 2015-01-02
answer text <p>No financial estimate of savings has been made since the introduction of the Q&amp;A system. However, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has seen a reduction in paper usage and BIS staff no longer have to physically deliver PQ answers to hon. Members and the House authorities. These obvious savings will continue.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS changed its IT platform for managing PQs to eCase last summer. This would have happened regardless of the introduction of the Q&amp;A system.</p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2015-01-02T11:52:42.76Zmore like thismore than 2015-01-02T11:52:42.76Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
4124
label Biography information for Chi Onwurah more like this
170304
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept id 26 remove filter
answering dept short name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Innovation and Skills more like this
hansard heading Postal Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the financial sustainability of the Universal Postal Service in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21, (c) 2021-22, (d) 2022-23 and (e) after 2023. more like this
tabling member constituency Knowsley more like this
tabling member printed
Mr George Howarth more like this
uin 218700 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2015-01-02more like thismore than 2015-01-02
answer text <p>Parliament has given Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of a universal postal service and to have regard for its financial sustainability.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom have a detailed monitoring and forecasting regime in place to assess the health of the universal postal service on a monthly basis and if the evidence suggests the need for a further review – which can be carried out at any given point in time - Ofcom would not hesitate to do this.</p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire more like this
answering member printed Jo Swinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2015-01-02T14:02:44.907Zmore like thismore than 2015-01-02T14:02:44.907Z
answering member
1513
label Biography information for Jo Swinson remove filter
tabling member
481
label Biography information for Sir George Howarth more like this