{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&_metadata=all&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2014-10-29&answeringDeptSortName=Business%2C+Innovation+and+Skills&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Jo+Swinson", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229041", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229041/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
All of the increased resources in the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate have been allocated to front line posts<\/p>
We have recruited two additional EAS Inspectors and an Operations and Prosecutions Manager, all of whom carry warrant cards and carry out both complaint investigation and targeted enforcement operations in high risk areas.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T14:19:32.773Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2015 to Question 228233, how the increased resources for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in this financial year have been allocated.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "228734"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229043", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229043/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The resources in Employment Agency Standards (EAS) have doubled this year and will increase again in the next financial year.<\/p>
All of the staff in the EAS Inspectorate carry out both complaint investigation and targeted enforcement operations in high risk areas.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:01:24.933Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2015 to Question 228233, what additional staffing the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has allocated to conduct targeted enforcement action in high risk areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "228735"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229045", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229045/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Across the agencies visited in Sheffield in February, the following potential breaches of the Conduct Regulations were found:<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 5 \u2013 Cannot make the provision of work-finding conditionally upon buying goods or services supplied by the agency<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 10 \u2013 Transfer fees for a temporary worker moving to a permanent position with a hirer or third party<\/p>
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Regulation 13 \u2013 Information to be given in writing about goods or services provided by the agency<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 14 \u2013 Terms to be agreed with a work-seeker<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 15 \u2013 Specific information to be contained in the terms agreed under Regulation 14<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 17 \u2013 Terms to be agreed with the hirer<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 18 \u2013 Information to be obtained from the hirer in relation to the work to be undertaken<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 19 \u2013 Confirmation to be obtained about a work seeker<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 21 \u2013 Confirmation of information to be passed to both the work-seeker and hirer about each other<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 24 \u2013 Covers where a work seeker is required to travel and/or live away from home to undertake an assignment, and loans<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 28 \u2013 Confidentiality and use of the information provided to the agency by the work-seeker<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 29 \u2013 Maintenance of records to show compliance with these Regulations<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 32 \u2013 Changes that need to be made to terms to reflect the fact that the work-seeker is incorporated<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
There was also one potential instance of charging for work finding services which is a breach of Section 6 (1) of the Employment Agencies Act 1973.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:03:26.69Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment Agencies: Inspections"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2015 to Question 228233, which potential breaches of the (a) Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 and (b) Employment Agencies Act 1973 were identified in the inspections of employment businesses conducted by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in February 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "228736"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229047", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229047/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The most common breaches of the obligations under the Conduct Regulations are:<\/p>
<\/p>
Regulation 12 - Withholding payment for work undertaken<\/p>
Regulation 13 \u2013 Information to be given in writing about goods or services provided by the agency<\/p>
Regulation 14 \u2013 Terms to be agreed with a work-seeker<\/p>
Regulation 15 \u2013 Specific information to be contained in the terms agreed under Regulation 14<\/p>
<\/p>
The most common breach of the obligations under the Employment Agencies Act is charging for work finding services which is a breach of Section 6 (1) of the Employment Agencies Act 1973.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:01:59.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment Agencies: Inspections"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2015 to Question 228233, what the most common breaches of obligations under the (a) Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 and (b) Employment Agencies Act 1973 identified by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate are.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "228737"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229049", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229049/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The resources in EAS have doubled this year and will increase again in the next financial year. Since November 2014, three staff who were on loan to HMRC have returned to EAS.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are currently undertaking a recruitment exercise to further increase EAS resources and the remaining EAS staff on loan may apply to return if they choose.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T13:02:33.25Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2015 to Question 228233 and the Written Statement of 4 November 2013, Official Report, 1WS, if he will ensure that staff seconded from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) to HM Revenue and Customs will be returned to EAS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "228738"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229054", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229054/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since making the Reports on Payments to Government Regulations and the introduction of the Financial Conduct Authority rules in December 2014 the government has continued to have discussions with all stakeholders. The most recent meeting between the department, civil society and industry representatives was held in February 2015. I have since spoken to representatives from the Publish What You Pay coalition.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government takes extractive transparency very seriously. To support compliance the department has made information available on the gov.uk website. This includes a schema for delivering reports and step by step guidance on how to fill in the report format, both agreed with industry and civil society.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government expects companies to comply with the requirements of the Regulations, which set out the enforcement and penalty regime for any company that fails to comply in part or in full.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Reports will be published on the Companies House website in 2016, when all interested parties will be able to consider the reports and their accuracy.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-26T14:19:32.867Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "EU Law"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had on the EU Accounting and Transparency Directives; and what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with those Directives.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4128", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chuka Umunna"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Streatham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Chuka Umunna"} ], "uin" : "228761"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229056", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/229056/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are committed to improving compliance with the National Minimum Wage. We do not currently have plans to publish guidance for individual sectors; however we will carefully consider the Low Pay Commissions (LPC) recommendations.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
We continue to work with the LPC and HMRC to ensure we provide clear and comprehensive information on the minimum wage rules, particularly in those sectors with complex ways of working. We will work with our stakeholders, including the entertainment industry, to make further improvements to the clarity of National Minimum Wage guidance and consider whether sector-specific guidance is necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
To date, we have improved the clarity of the National Minimum Wage regulations by consolidating the numerous amendments made since 1999 and making it easier for employers to understand the rules. These will come into force on 6 April.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
We have listened to stakeholders and have recognised that employers and workers also value official guidance. We have published detailed guidance on calculating the National Minimum Wage which is available on Gov.uk. This guidance aims to equip employers with the information they need to ensure they pay their workers the statutory minimum.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have also improved the information available on gov.uk on the National Minimum Wage rules, including:<\/p>
<\/p>
· The current and future National Minimum Wage rates<\/p>
<\/p>
· The Worker checklist<\/p>
<\/p>
· Work experience and internships<\/p>
<\/p>
· The increased penalty for breaching National Minimum Wage<\/p>
<\/p>
· The revised Criteria for Naming and shaming employers who breach National Minimum Wage legislation.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
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<\/p>