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797547

	registered interest
	date	29/11/2017
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofcom and (b) the Phone-paid Services Authority on call connection service access to the helplines his Department provides.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	116510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>Before engaging with Ofcom or the Phone-paid Services Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions is initiating discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to discuss our approach.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 04/12/2017 17:43:26 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

797548

	registered interest
	date	29/11/2017
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services
	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 ensure that (a) the gov.uk website and (b) internet providers advertise the correct information about the cost of calls to his Department's helplines (i) before and (ii) after calls to those lines become free of charge.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	116511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>a) All information is controlled centrally and The Department for Work and Pensions regularly reviews and updates the data held on gov.uk to ensure it remains accurate.</p><p> </p><p>b) Where the department identifies that a website fails to publicise, or advertises incorrect call costs, the Department will make a referral to the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) to investigate and prosecute if appropriate following investigation.</p><p> </p><p>Both these activities will continue after freephone numbers are introduced across all the department’s customer phone lines.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 04/12/2017 17:45:18 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

797550

	registered interest
	date	29/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Government Departments: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Ofcom and (b) the Phone-paid Services Authority on call connection service access to helplines provided by (i) her Department and (ii) other UK Government Departments.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	116513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>We hold regular discussions with Ofcom and the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) in relation to the regulation of premium rate services.</p><p> </p><p>Where the PSA has reason to believe that providers of such services may be in breach of their Code of Practice, they may investigate and in serious cases will refer them to its Code Adjudication Tribunal, which has the power to impose sanctions and orders, including fines, refunds to consumers and suspending the service in question.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matt Hancock question first answered 04/12/2017 10:31:21 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

793097

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2017 to Question 111996 on Visas: Married People, what steps her Department are taking to ensure that sponsors of (a) spousal visa applicants and (b) EEA family permit applicants who reside in the UK are not subject to the charges £1.37 per minute by using the telephone helplines of UK Visa's and Immigration; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	114882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Where an application is made overseas UK Visas and Immigration have a chargeable call rates of £1.37 per minute, this charge is levied to fund the contact centre commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system.</p><p> </p><p>Where an application is made in the UK the customers will contact our in-country contact centre. The contact centres provide information about the Immigration Rules and the Points Based System requirements via a number of published customer enquiry line numbers. In 2014, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, UKVI changed all 0845 and 0870 prefix helpline numbers to lower call tariff rate 0300 prefix numbers. UKVI do not generate any income from these non-geographic numbers enquiry lines.</p><p> </p><p>UKVI have in place self selection pages on the Gov.uk website <a href="https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk</a> , as well as effective use of informative telephony message on our help lines to further ensure and assist customers wanting to contact UKVI. This initial triaging activity on our website ensures customers are provided with the correct point of contact within our business regarding their in country or overseas application enquiry.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 27/11/2017 09:58:13 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

793098

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Visas and Immigration: Email
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2017 to Question 111996 on Visas: Married People, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that sponsors of (a) spousal visa applicants and (b) EEA family permit applicants who reside in the UK are not subjected to charges of up to £5.48 for enquiries to UK Visa and Immigration by email; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	114883
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Where an application is made overseas UK Visas and Immigration have a chargeable email rates of £5.48 per email enquiry, this charge is levied to fund the contact centre commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Information is available online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Where an application is made in the UK the customers will contact our in-country contact centre. The contact centres provide information about the Immigration Rules and the Points Based System requirements via a number of published customer enquiry line numbers. In 2014, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, UKVI changed all 0845 and 0870 prefix helpline numbers to lower call tariff rate 0300 prefix numbers. UKVI do not generate any income from these non-geographic numbers enquiry lines.</p><p> </p><p>UKVI have in place self selection pages on the Gov.uk website (see link below), as well as effective use of informative telephony message on our help lines to further ensure and assist customers wanting to contact UKVI. This initial triaging activity on our website ensures customers are provided with the correct point of contact within our business regarding their in country or overseas application enquiry.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 27/11/2017 09:58:23 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

793099

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2017 to Question 111996 on Visas: Married People, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the advice his Department provides to sponsors of (a) spousal visa applicants or (b) EEA family permits residing in the UK to ensure that such people do not pay premium charges for using helplines; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	114884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Those who use the services overseas are predominantly prospective customers and in many case no application will be made and no application fee collected. Those that use the services from within the UK will very often already have an immigration status with UKVI, have already paid an immigration fee and will also pay for any additional applications.</p><p> </p><p>For UK Visas and Immigration in–country customers the contact centres provide information about the Immigration Rules and the Points Based System requirements via a number of published customer enquiry line numbers. In 2014, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, UKVI changed all 0845 and 0870 prefix helpline numbers to lower call tariff rate 0300 prefix numbers. UKVI do not generate any income from these non-geographic numbers enquiry lines.</p><p> </p><p>UKVI have in place self selection pages on the Gov.uk website (see link below), as well as effective use of informative telephony message on our help lines to further ensure and assist customers wanting to contact UKVI. This initial triaging activity on our website ensures customers are provided with the correct point of contact within our business regarding their in country or overseas application enquiry.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk</a></p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 27/11/2017 09:58:31 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

789194

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Interserve
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contingency plans his Department has put in place to protect his Department's staff who are subject to TUPE transfer, in the event that Interserve the contractor for cleaning, messengerial and other support functions, is unable to fulfil its contract; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	112868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>I can confirm contingency planning is a requirement for any major procurement and DWP is monitoring the situation. I can also advise that direct engagement between Interserve and the incumbent provider is under way regarding TUPE transfer to ensure the successful implementation and handover of service delivery.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 20/11/2017 16:19:58 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

789195

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Interserve
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department made of the financial sustainability of the company, Interserve, prior to awarding that company the contract for cleaning, messengerial and other support functions for his Department; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	112867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>I can confirm all companies bidding for departmental work under CCS frameworks are subject to a full and rigorous review of their financial capability. A financial assessment of Interserve was completed prior to awarding the DWP FM Contract.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 20/11/2017 16:46:49 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

789196

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Interserve
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department made of the suitability of Interserve as a fit and proper company before the award of the contract for cleaning, messengerial and other support functions; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	112853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>I can confirm an evaluation of Interserve’s capability and capacity to deliver DWP’s FM requirements was completed before the award of contract - and can further confirm the mobilisation of the Facilities Management contract is proceeding to plan.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 20/11/2017 16:40:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

788412

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2017
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 112013, on HM Revenue and Customs staff, how many employees were employed in the (a) High Net Worth Unit and (b) Affluent Unit on 31 March 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	112794
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has brought together its High Net Worth Unit and Affluent teams to form a single Wealthy team.</p><p> </p><p>As at 31 March 2016, the teams had approximately 775 full time equivalent staff engaged in customer compliance activity, of which 380 were employed in the High Net Worth Unit and 395 were employed in the Affluent Unit.</p><p> </p><p>As at 31 March 2017, the teams had approximately 1040 full time equivalent staff engaged in customer compliance activity, of which 522 were employed in the High Net Worth Unit and 518 were employed in the Affluent Unit.</p><p> </p><p>Staff across HMRC work on tax compliance, including with regard to the wealthy – this work is not the sole preserve of the Wealthy team. Around 26,000 full time equivalent staff work in HMRC’s Customer Compliance Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 20/11/2017 15:11:30 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens