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433138

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2015
	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
	hansard heading	Construction
	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 he is taking to support the creation of painting and decorating opportunities in the construction sector.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Late payment remains an important issue for small businesses in the UK. The Government is taking significant steps to assist small businesses to recover late payment debts.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Through the Enterprise Bill, currently before Parliament, we will legislate to establish a Small Business Commissioner to help small business resolve disputes with large companies, tackling, in particular, late payment. The Commissioner will act as a disincentive to unfavourable payment practices, and build the confidence and capabilities of small businesses to help them to assert themselves in contractual disputes and negotiate more effectively with larger businesses.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">This is part of a package of measures to tackle late payment. We have also legislated for new transparency measures in the public and private sectors. This will allow full public scrutiny of payment performance.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">We have also strengthened the Prompt Payment Code to ensure it is a recognised and demonstrated beacon of best practice, and we recently consulted on proposals to give representative bodies wider powers to challenge grossly unfair payment practices.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Government promotes fair payment practices in construction through legislation (the &quot;Construction Act&quot;), the use of public procurement (promoting prompt payment to Tier 3 and the use of Project Bank Accounts), and by working with the industry through voluntary measures (such as the Prompt Payment Code and the Construction Leadership Council's Payment Charter).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Payment Charter includes a commitment of zero retentions by 2025. To support this work, the Government recently announced a review of the practice of cash retentions under construction contracts.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Tackling late payment is about creating a responsible payment culture where larger companies recognise the benefit of having a sustainable and robust supply chain, and smaller businesses feel able to challenge poor behaviour. Once implemented, the Government is confident that these measures will lead to significant changes in the UK's payment culture.</del></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Opportunities in painting and decorating will be created through the steps Government is taking to increase demand in the construction industry, including its support for housebuilding in England.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Last week the Chancellor announced that the public housing budget for England is to double to over £2 billion per year, and the Housing Bill sets out plans to build 1 million homes in England by 2020.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To deliver Government ambitions for construction it is vital to attract new people to the industry. The government is committed to significantly increasing the quantity and quality of all apprenticeships in England to 3 million starts by 2020; the construction industry will have a significant part to play in achieving this target.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">However, skills policy (including apprenticeships policy) is a devolved matter and, in Northern Ireland (NI), is the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Learning.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Minister of Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, published <em>Securing our Success, </em>a new NI Strategy on Apprenticeships in June 2014. This Strategy aims to reform the system of apprenticeships in NI, introducing them in a much broader range of occupational areas and establishing them as an attractive route to gaining higher level qualifications including at degree level and above.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Construction Skills Network Report for NI suggests that there will be an annual recruitment requirement of 100 painters and decorators over the next five years, within a total requirement of 1,490 construction trades each year.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Construction Industry Training Board NI has a role to encourage the adequate training of those employed or intending to be employed in the construction industry and to improve the skills and productivity of the sector. NI’s six Further Education Colleges provide professional and technical training for the painting and decorating trades.</ins></p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 06/01/2016 15:08:11 question first ministerially corrected 11/01/2016 16:04:15 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles previous answer version 37693 answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

78787

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2014
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Kincora Children's Home
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will commission a Northern Ireland-based inquiry on child abuse at Kincora; and if she will include it in either the current inquiry in Northern Ireland or the national inquiry into abuse in care homes.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	206425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Horrific offences took place at Kincora Boys Home in Belfast which were the subject of criminal prosecutions and a judge-led inquiry.</p><p>The new inquiry announced by my Rt hon Friend the Home Secretary on 7th July is currently being set up and its terms of reference are yet to be determined. My Rt hon Friend and I will consider carefully the representations made to it regarding its remit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 22/07/2014 11:06:47 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

422341

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2015
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Electronic Surveillance: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make extra funding available for digital technology so that full monitoring of dissident Republicans can be maintained.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	12489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2015 answer text <p>This Government has put considerable effort into ensuring the Police Service of Northern Ireland is properly resourced to tackle the terrorist threat. We have provided £231million between 2011 and 2016, and this support has been crucial in helping to ensure that the PSNI’s investigative and operational capacity is effective.</p><p>As the Government’s Northern Ireland Manifesto at the election stated, we will always give the fullest possible backing to the PSNI.</p><br /> <br /> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 26/10/2015 11:49:27 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

91323

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2014
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Insurance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive about measures to bring the level of car insurance premiums in Northern Ireland in line with those in the rest of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	208768
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>This issue has not been raised with me.</p><p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently investigating the private motor insurance market across the UK and is due to report its conclusions shortly. Early in its investigation, the CMA considered the Northern Ireland motor insurance market and did not find signs of a failure of competition specific to that market.</p><p>The CMA noted that a number of recent initiatives in Northern Ireland could have an effect on premiums, including a new arbitration procedure for smaller claims and a graduated driving licence aimed at reducing the riskiness of young drivers.</p><p>Government measures have already removed a number of unnecessary costs from the system in England and Wales, and we are implementing further reforms to tackle exaggerated whiplash claims, inducement advertising by solicitors and fraudulent insurance claims. The Government fully expects the insurance industry to continue to meet their commitment to pass on the savings from Government reforms to their customers through lower premiums.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 26/09/2014 11:51:33 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

386751

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2015
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Insurance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on measures to bring the level of car insurance premiums in Northern Ireland in line with those in the rest of the UK; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	4853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>This issue has not been raised with me by Executive Ministers.</p><p>The Competition and Markets Authority has investigated the private motor insurance market across the UK including Northern Ireland and published its final report in September 2014. Measures to be introduced include a ban on agreements between price comparison websites and insurers which prevent insurers making their products available more cheaply elsewhere.</p><p>In March 2015, the Competition and Markets Authority published its final Order setting out how changes resulting from its investigation will be introduced.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 07/07/2015 09:50:48 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

388332

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2015
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Terrorism: Republic of Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the government of the Republic of Ireland on the On the Runs scheme in that country; and what information she holds on how many letters of comfort were issued by that government.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	5903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2015 answer text <p>In the course of my duties I have regular contact with Ministers from the Irish Government.</p><p>In relation to the On the Runs (OTRs) scheme, I set out the Government’s position fully in my statement to the House of Commons on 9 September 2014. I made it clear that the scheme was at an end, and that there was no basis for any reliance on letters received by so-called OTRs under the scheme. There is no amnesty, immunity or exemption from prosecution. If the Government in 2010 had been presented with a scheme that amounted to an amnesty, it would have stopped it.</p><p>The Northern Ireland Office does not hold information on correspondence issued by the Irish Government. Whilst clearly a matter for the Irish Government, I understand that in response to recent media articles, the Irish Department for Justice and Equality have stated that “there is not, and never has been, in operation (in the Republic of Ireland) any form of amnesty for persons wanted for the commission of terrorist offences.”</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 13/07/2015 15:10:59 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

101499

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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, if he will take further steps to provide support to people who wish to work beyond pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	212274
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>To help older people to stay in employment up to and beyond state pension age, the Government has abolished the default retirement age and extended the right to request flexible working. People over State Pension age continue to be exempt from paying employee National Insurance Contributions on any employment earnings.</p><p> </p><p>This Government has also given people more freedom in how they draw their pension pots to smooth the transition to retirement and increasing the options for combining employment and pension income.</p><p> </p><p>And from later this year Fit for Work will provide occupational health assessment and general advice for employees, employers and GPs to help individuals with a health condition to stay in or return to work.</p><p> </p><p>To promote wider cultural change in the perception of employing older workers and of working in later life, the Government has appointed Dr. Ros Altmann as a Business Champion for Older Workers.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 03/11/2014 15:44:03 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

165960

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	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	Marriage Guidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to support husbands and wives with relationship problems to enable families to stay together.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	215885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>This Government attaches a high priority to supporting couple relationships and committed a dedicated fund of £30 million for relationship support over the Spending Review period (2011-2015).</p><p> </p><p>We are funding a range of services through a number of expert providers to deliver relationship support provision, including preventative support targeted at couples at risk of family breakdown; activities to encourage the take-up of relationship support; and counselling for couples who may be experiencing difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>We have also introduced a Family Test which will mean that all new relevant domestic policies will need to be assessed for their impact on the family.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 11:49:44 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

65099

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2014
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	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 enable elderly people to claim their benefits manually without requiring an online application.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	203215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The main benefits claimed by elderly people are State Pension, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Housing Benefit. Claims for State Pension can be made online, by telephone or by letter. Claims for Pension Credit can be made by telephone or by paper application.</p><p> </p><p>Claims for Attendance Allowance are made by paper application. For Carer's Allowance, claims can be made either on line or through a paper application. Claims for Housing Benefit can be made by paper application and in certain circumstances by telephone. In addition, people over women's State Pension age receive a Winter Fuel Payment, which in most cases does not need to be claimed since the Department already holds the information necessary to make the payment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 07/07/2014 13:29:57 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

229345

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Parks
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the National Trust on the preservation of public parks.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	228925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on-line as part of our transparency agenda. They are available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data</a><br><br></p><p> </p><p>Through the Community Right to Bid, introduced as part of the Localism Act 2011, communities and local groups can protect local assets, such as parks, playing fields and allotments, by nominating them to be listed by the local authority as an Asset of Community Value. If the listed asset comes up for sale, local community groups can ‘pause’ the sale for a period of time in order to raise the finance to make a bid to buy it.</p><p> </p><p>In February, the Department held a green spaces seminar to explore barriers to pursuing innovative solutions to protecting green spaces and to consider what actions central government might usefully take to help remove some of these. The National Trust attended this seminar and presented the approach they are exploring in partnership with Sheffield City Council to create an endowment fund for the city’s parks. This work is being pursued as part of the £1 million Rethinking Parks project initiated by Nesta, Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 26/03/2015 08:50:59 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon