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166059

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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: Directors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what estimate her Department has made of the overall change in women's representation in boardrooms in the private sector in the UK between 1984 and 2014.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	215897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government supports Cranfield University which produces the Female FTSE report. This measures progress annually of the female representation on UK listed boards.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· In 1999 the proportion of women directors was 6.29%. This included female Executive Directors (EDs) at 2.02% and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) at 10.82%. In 2000 the proportion of female directors had fallen to 5.81%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>· In 2011 the Government established the Lord Davies Review when the number of women on FTSE boards was still only 12.5%.</p><p> </p><p>· The latest figures published in November show almost a doubling of these figures since 2011. Nearly 23% (249) of directors in the FTSE100 are now women. Of these 8.4% (24) are executive directors and 27.9% (225) are non-executive directors. There are now no all-male boards left in the FTSE100 and we are on track to meet the target set by Lord Davies of 25% women on boards by 2015.</p><p> </p><p>With the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Government also funds Cranfield University to monitor corporate governance practices in respect of whether companies are complying with the changes in the FRC code. The last report was launched by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 5 November. The report shows progress is being made in the FTSE 100 companies with 85% having a clear policy on boardroom diversity in comparison to 65% last year. The Government wants to see all companies addressing every point of the new Code in their reporting.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 12:48:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

166060

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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	Human Rights: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on protecting the rights of women and girls overseas.
tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
uin	215837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>We participate in the Commission on the Status of Women, which is the principal global event on women’s rights organised by the UN. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Minister for Women and Equalities, recently returned from the US where she had a meeting with the Executive Director of UN Women, and others active in the field, to discuss the forthcoming session, which will be held in March next year.</p><p> </p><p>In the summer we hosted two global events – a summit with a focus on preventing sexual violence in conflict, which generated strong international support; and a girl summit, which brought together a range of international stakeholders to accelerate momentum in tackling child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation<strong>. </strong></p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 10:35:54 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

157049

registered interest
date	20/11/2014
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	Part-time Employment: Females
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 provide (a) assistance and (b) guidance for employers to help them provide flexible and high quality part-time work for women with young children; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	215367
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>Flexible working is central to how the Coalition Government sees employment in the future. From 30 June this year, following a full consultation with businesses on how best to do so, we extended the right to request flexible working to all employees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also made it easier for employers to consider requests for flexible working by replacing the previous statutory process for considering requests with a duty on employers to consider requests in a ‘reasonable manner’. To support this Acas has published a statutory Code to help businesses understand how to handle requests. Further information is available from: <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616" target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616</a>.</p><p> </p><p>To support the creation of more high quality part-time jobs, we are working to encourage cultural change in flexible working, especially to encourage employers to think about flexible working when they recruit new employees. For example, the Government convened an employer-led group to make practical recommendations on how flexible working can be beneficial and how it can be built into employer’s recruitment. Following the recommendations of this group we are encouraging the use of the strapline “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” by employers when they advert jobs.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, on 10 June, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Pensions and my Hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) led a conference on flexible working for employers. The conference explained the benefits of flexible working and providing practical tips on getting it working within individual workplaces, including a practical session on successfully designing part-time jobs.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, to promote part-time work more generally, BIS, in partnership with the <strong>Business is Great</strong> campaign,<strong> the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) </strong>and<strong> PwC</strong>, sponsored a new initiative launched by Timewise in search of the UK’s most flexible small businesses that offer flexible work options to employees. The competition ran from 16 October to 24 November. The winner will be announced publicly by Friday 20 March 2015. The Government is also promoting flexible working and part-time working as part of the GREAT campaign to target business press. More detail on the GREAT campaign here: <a href="http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/flexibleworking/" target="_blank">http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/flexibleworking/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, Acas have produced guidance booklets for employers and employees on how to manage flexible working and a work-life balance. Further information is available from: <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1283" target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1283</a>.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 14:17:16 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

164117

registered interest
date	21/11/2014
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	Social Services: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2014 to Question 213960, what plans he has to meet the Minister of State for Care and Support to discuss minimum wage enforcement in the care sector.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	215559
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>While I have regular discussions on a wide range of issues with Ministerial colleagues I do not currently have any plans to meet formally the Minister of State for Care and Support to discuss minimum wage enforcement in the care sector. We do, however, also ensure that our officials work closely, along with HM Revenue and Customs, to improve compliance in the sector.</p><p> </p><p>To make the Social Care Commitment, employers must first commit to ensuring good employment practice. The terms and conditions of acceptance for the Social Care Commitment includes paying the National Minimum Wage as a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills monitors and reviews activity against the Service Level Agreement with HM Revenue and Customs throughout the year, and is considering what further targeted enforcement action might be appropriate to inform the next Service Level Agreement, which will commence in April 2015. As set out in my answer to PQ 213960 on 5 November 2014, action by HMRC continues to follow up on the previous targeted enforcement in the care sector, in addition to responding to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue &amp; Customs investigate all complaints.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 215560 215561 question first answered 28/11/2014 14:22:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

164118

registered interest
date	21/11/2014
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	Social Services: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2014 to Question 213960, where in the Social Care Commitment reference is made to employer compliance with minimum wage legislation.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	215560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>While I have regular discussions on a wide range of issues with Ministerial colleagues I do not currently have any plans to meet formally the Minister of State for Care and Support to discuss minimum wage enforcement in the care sector. We do, however, also ensure that our officials work closely, along with HM Revenue and Customs, to improve compliance in the sector.</p><p> </p><p>To make the Social Care Commitment, employers must first commit to ensuring good employment practice. The terms and conditions of acceptance for the Social Care Commitment includes paying the National Minimum Wage as a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills monitors and reviews activity against the Service Level Agreement with HM Revenue and Customs throughout the year, and is considering what further targeted enforcement action might be appropriate to inform the next Service Level Agreement, which will commence in April 2015. As set out in my answer to PQ 213960 on 5 November 2014, action by HMRC continues to follow up on the previous targeted enforcement in the care sector, in addition to responding to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue &amp; Customs investigate all complaints.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 215559 215561 question first answered 28/11/2014 14:22:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

164119

registered interest
date	21/11/2014
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	Social Services: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2014 to Question 213960, when the review of HM Revenue and Customs service level agreement for national minimum wage enforcement will be concluded.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	215561
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>While I have regular discussions on a wide range of issues with Ministerial colleagues I do not currently have any plans to meet formally the Minister of State for Care and Support to discuss minimum wage enforcement in the care sector. We do, however, also ensure that our officials work closely, along with HM Revenue and Customs, to improve compliance in the sector.</p><p> </p><p>To make the Social Care Commitment, employers must first commit to ensuring good employment practice. The terms and conditions of acceptance for the Social Care Commitment includes paying the National Minimum Wage as a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills monitors and reviews activity against the Service Level Agreement with HM Revenue and Customs throughout the year, and is considering what further targeted enforcement action might be appropriate to inform the next Service Level Agreement, which will commence in April 2015. As set out in my answer to PQ 213960 on 5 November 2014, action by HMRC continues to follow up on the previous targeted enforcement in the care sector, in addition to responding to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue &amp; Customs investigate all complaints.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 215559 215560 question first answered 28/11/2014 14:22:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

165976

registered interest
date	25/11/2014
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	Milk: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will hold discussions with the major supermarkets on measures to reduce the practice of suppressing retail milk price as a loss leader.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	215894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as the UK’s competition authority can carry out investigations where there is evidence of abuse of a dominant position or market abuse. Whilst the Government does not generally intervene in what businesses charge consumers for their goods and services we do recognise the concerns over the current pressures on milk prices. That is why my hon Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs brought forward and chaired a meeting of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum last week.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Members, which include retailer representatives, discussed the recommendations made in the recent independent review of the dairy industry voluntary Code of Practice, one of which was to explore the possibility of expanding adoption of the Code within the supply chain to include retailers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/11/2014 14:29:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell