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1083728

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Females: Local Government Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the implications for Government policies of the conclusions of the report from the Women's Budget Group, Triple Whammy: The impact of local government cuts on women, published on 7 March 2019 which found that changes to local authority funding disproportionately affects women.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	229706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>I regularly discuss gender equality with all my Cabinet colleagues. The recent Local Government Finance Settlement delivered a real-terms increase in funding for local government in 2019-20.</p><p>The Public Sector Equality Duty is a duty that requires all public bodies, including local authorities, to proactively have due regard to advancing equality of opportunity between people from different groups and I would expect them to do so when considering their spending decisions.</p><p>More broadly, we are continuing to develop the upcoming gender equality &amp; economic empowerment strategy with Ministers across government to address the persistent gendered economic barriers women – and men – face.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 12/03/2019 15:21:49 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1108752

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay: Public Sector
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps he is taking to tackle gender pay disparity in the public sector.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	239194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>We introduced ground-breaking regulations in 2017 requiring large employers, including over 1,600 public bodies, to publish their gender pay gaps annually. The rate at which the gender pay gap will narrow is dependent on a large number of complex factors, but this Government is working hard to close the gap as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>In order to support employers to address their gender pay differences, we have published evidence-based guidance on practical actions they can take to close the gap, alongside help to diagnose the causes of their gaps and develop effective action plans.</p><p> </p><p>We have been working with Government departments and representative bodies to understand the underlying causes of the gender pay gap in different public sector workforces, and to consider what measures will have a positive impact. We have also engaged directly with employers in the public sector, through events and interactive webinars. We will continue to build the evidence base in order to support employers to continue to take the right action.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 08/04/2019 16:19:29 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109921

	registered interest
	date	05/04/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Periods: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the provision of (a) inclusive and (b) positive education about periods and the human body in schools.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	241411
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>The Minister for Women and Equalities recently announced a new Taskforce that will bring together representatives from all sectors to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions to period poverty. Preparation for this has included discussions with a number of Ministerial colleagues.</p><p> </p><p>The Taskforce will present the opportunity for discussions on education around menstruation. The government is making Health Education compulsory in all state-funded schools, alongside Relationships Education for all primary pupils, and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for all secondary pupils from September 2020. As part of this subject, all pupils will be taught about menstruation and menstrual wellbeing at a timely point.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 10/04/2019 16:41:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138065

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of obligating all major employers in the UK to publish their gender and ethnicity pay gap data.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	275700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>Since introducing regulations in 2017, organisations with 250 or more employees are required to publish gender pay gap data on an annual basis. This has sparked a national conversation, as well as prompting conversations in boardrooms across the country. The unparalleled level of transparency brings to light where inequalities exist, and is inspiring action from employers to bring about change.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have consulted on how best to implement mandatory ethnicity pay reporting, including questions on the main benefits for employers in reporting ethnicity pay information and which employers it should apply to. They received over 300 detailed responses to the consultation and will set out next steps in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/09/2019 16:59:07 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138423

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Business: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to increase diversity across all levels of FTSE 100 companies.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	276168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is working with the business community through the Business Diversity and Inclusion Group to coordinate action to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Government has commissioned and supports several business-led, independent reviews on promoting diversity. These include the Hampton-Alexander Review which has a 33% target for women on boards and in senior leadership positions across the FTSE 350 by 2020. Also the Parker Review to increase the ethnic diversity of FTSE 350 boards by 2024.</p><p>These reviews form part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy which aims to build an economy that works for all.</p><p>Women hold a higher percentage of senior leadership positions than ever before with 32.3% of women on FTSE 100 boards.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/07/2019 09:25:18 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1086729

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that HMRC uses the rule of law rather than an opinion of fairness to determine what is payable for the loan charge.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	230655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>Parliament has legislated the charge on Disguised Remuneration (DR) loans following the normal Parliamentary process.</p><p>DR schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration, with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.</p><p>The charge on DR loans, legislated in Finance Act 2017, is a charge on DR loan balances outstanding at 5 April 2019. Its announcement at Budget 2016 provided scheme users with a three-year period to repay their DR loans, or to agree a settlement with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before the charge takes effect.</p><p>HMRC’s role is to tackle avoidance and evasion, making sure people pay their fair share of tax and securing funding for our vital public services. Parliament has given HMRC the powers it needs to challenge businesses and individuals who do not pay their fair share, and it uses them responsibly and subject to appropriate checks and balances.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 14/03/2019 16:21:33 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109913

	registered interest
	date	05/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on levels of transparency of making public the loans made by UK Government and its EU partners to the Global South.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	241410
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>The main UK government agencies involved in lending to developing countries are: UK Export Finance (UKEF) and (historic loans only) the Department for International Development (DfID). Both publish details of the guarantees and loans they provide in their Annual Report and Accounts, which are published on their websites. Where UKEF provides financing for public borrowers or guarantors in developing countries, it is subject to OECD Sustainable Lending Principles.</p><p> </p><p>The UK strongly believes that transparency of loans is an important driver of debt sustainability. Given the complex international nature of sovereign debt, we continue to believe that internationally-agreed approaches are the most effective way to improve sovereign debt transparency and sustainability. We are working with our EU partners, and others, through the G20 to ensure the ongoing implementation of the G20’s agreed Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing for official creditors in 2017.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 10/04/2019 16:12:07 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1110727

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Soft Drinks: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy since it was introduced in April 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	242732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2019 answer text <p>Since its inception, the SDIL has been leading the way in sugar reduction programmes, and over half of sugary drinks have been reformulated, effectively removing 45 million kilogrammes of sugar every year from diets.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 12/04/2019 13:35:23 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1121422

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Non-domestic Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing business rates with a transaction tax on retail sales in order to support the UK's high streets.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	244033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>Business rates raise £25 billion in England annually, and are an important source of funding for key local services.</p><p> </p><p>The Government concluded a fundamental review of business rates in 2016. Some respondents suggested alternative taxes, but there was no consensus and respondents were clear that these alternatives were not without their own issues.</p><p> </p><p>Respondents agreed that property based taxes were easy to collect, difficult to avoid, stable and clearly linked with local authority spending. Following stakeholder responses, the Government decided to keep business rates as a property tax.</p><p> </p><p>To support the high street, at Budget 2018 the Government announced Our Plan for the High Street – a package of support worth £1.6 billion.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 24/04/2019 12:04:06 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1121732

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	House Insurance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the 10 April 2019 Insurance Age article entitled Citizens Advice slams home insurers in dual pricing report, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the finding that home insurance companies make over half of their profits from people defined by the regulator as potentially vulnerable.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	245669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is focussed on ensuring that the insurance industry functions well for everyone.</p><p> </p><p>To that end, Government welcomed the launch of the FCA’s General Insurance Pricing Practices Market Study in October 2019. The Market Study is investigating consumer outcomes from insurers’ pricing practices; it is looking specifically at the potential harm suffered by the vulnerable long-standing customers that Citizens Advice refers to in its press release of 10 April 2019. As a part of the Market Study the FCA will consider all potential remedies that may be required to make the market work well for consumers.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA is empowered to address misconduct, and where this has occurred it can undertake investigations and impose financial penalties or order firms to cease certain activities.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is monitoring the outcome of this Market Study and is prepared to ask the FCA to take further action if required.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 25/04/2019 08:49:18 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly