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168464

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Forced Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify the role of teachers in monitoring girls at risk of being forced into under-age marriage.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL3494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>All school staff have a responsibility to identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff then have a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with other services as required. Those responsibilities, which apply to the risk of forced marriage as to any other form of abuse, are set out in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ statutory guidance for schools and their staff which the Government published in April 2014.[1]</p><p>The statutory guidance contains links to more detailed guidance on specific risks, including multi-Agency guidelines on forced marriage.[2] The chapter of those guidelines which focuses on schools, colleges and universities indicates: what teachers should look out for, such as changes in behaviour or attendance or the early marriage of a sibling; how they can support girls, by giving access to support and advice; and what they should do if they suspect a girl is being forced into marriage, including activating local child protection procedures.</p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education</a></p><p>[2] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322307/HMG_MULTI_AGENCY_PRACTICE_GUIDELINES_v1_180614_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322307/HMG_MULTI_AGENCY_PRACTICE_GUIDELINES_v1_180614_FINAL.pdf</a></p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 10/12/2014 17:11:53 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

168480

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	British Transport Police: Scotland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to Recommendation 67 of the Smith Commission Report and its implications for the British Transport Police.
tabling member printed	Lord Harris of Haringey
uin	HL3510
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The UK Government has welcomed the Smith Commission Agreement and has committed to delivering draft clauses by 25 January 2015. The Government will now prepare draft clauses in order that the Agreement can be implemented. This includes the recommendation to devolve the functions of the British Transport Police. We are considering how these can best be devolved whilst ensuring that the security of the railway, its passengers and staff, is not compromised. Once the functions of the British Transport Police have been devolved it will be for the Scottish Government to decide how to police the railway network in Scotland.</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 15/12/2014 12:19:59 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
tabling member	2671 label Biography information for Lord Harris of Haringey

168558

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Older Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many people worked in his Department after their 65th birthday in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	217630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>Over the last 12 months a total of twenty-five permanent staff over the age of 65 have worked in the Attorney General’s Office, Treasury Solicitor’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.</p><p>In December 2013 and January 2014 the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had 4 permanent members of staff who worked after their 65 birthday. From February 2014 the SFO had 5 members of staff who worked after their 65 birthday.</p><p>During the period 1 December 2013 – 30 November 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service employed 76 people who were aged 65 or over.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland question first answered 15/12/2014 12:33:50 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

168559

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Legal Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how much has been paid by the Treasury Solicitor's Department in legal costs relating to the case of the Public Law Project v. The Secretary of State for Justice ([2014] EWHC 2365 (Admin)).
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Sarah Teather
uin	217667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The only sums paid to date by the Treasury Solicitor’s Department are disbursements in the sum of £61,229.59. There are additional disbursements paid by the Ministry of Justice direct.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland question first answered 15/12/2014 12:42:24 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	1170 label Biography information for Sarah Teather

168561

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what his policy is on the future of the National Fund; whether he has considered the early application of the Fund to reduce the national debt; what other options for the future of the Fund he has considered and (a) dismissed and (b) kept under consideration; and what donations have been made to the Fund in each of the last 30 years.
tabling member constituency	Lewes
tabling member printed	Norman Baker
uin	217758
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>There has been correspondence between the Charity Commission, the trustees and the Attorney General’s Office over the National Fund.</p><p>The Fund is operated in accordance with its rules and section 9 of the Superannuation and Other Trust Funds (Validation) Act 1927. It is accumulating as the original donors intended.</p><p>Options are being considered for the future of the Fund, consistent with its object of extinguishing or reducing the national debt. These include a possible application to the court for directions. The consideration of these options includes looking at the history of donations to the Fund. Whilst this work is on-going, it would not be appropriate to comment further.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland question first answered 11/12/2014 16:01:37 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	28 label Biography information for Norman Baker

168563

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Education Funding Agency: Skills Funding Agency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has now made of the potential efficiency gains that could result from a merger of the Education Funding Agency and Skills Funding Agency.
tabling member constituency	Lewes
tabling member printed	Norman Baker
uin	217761
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) constantly keeps its delivery arrangements under review to ensure that funding of skills programmes is efficient and effective, as well as responsive to policy priorities to increase take-up of apprenticeships and traineeships for young people.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Skills Funding Agency works closely with the Education Funding Agency on the funding of Further Education college provision and funding of apprenticeships and traineeships for 16-19 year olds. We have recently appointed Peter Lauener as joint Chief Executive of both agencies to make the most of the clear synergies between the two agencies. This exemplifies the commitment we have to promoting joined up Government. The Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency share a number of services to ensure they function as efficiently as possible.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Skills Funding Agency has recently been through significant restructuring exercises reducing staffing levels by 50% and administration budget by 37%. In addition the regional office structure was reduced from 54 offices to six offices.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 11/12/2014 16:23:44 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
tabling member	28 label Biography information for Norman Baker

168565

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to improve apprentice National Minimum Wage enforcement.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	217685
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to the National Minimum Wage and is absolutely clear that everyone who is entitled to it should receive it. Any worker who thinks they have been underpaid should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC investigates every complaint made to the helpline and calls from apprentices are prioritised for consideration.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware that non-compliance involving apprentices is an issue and we are taking action. We are:</p><p> </p><p>· Ensuring that all training providers [in England] deliver on existing obligations to inform employers and apprentices of their NMW requirements.</p><p> </p><p>· Improving guidance and information more generally, to ensure we have clear and comprehensive information on the minimum wage rules. In England the National Apprenticeship Service includes information on the NMW in its information pack for employers taking on an apprentice.</p><p> </p><p>· Encouraging workers to call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline if they think they are not getting what they are legally entitled to through our communication campaign which began in Sept 2014.</p><p> </p><p>· Writing to level 2 &amp; 3 apprentices in England informing them of their NMW entitlement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have also asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to consider whether we can simplify the apprentice rate structure so that it is as clear and simple as possible, in order to support those employers who take on apprentices. The LPC will report back with their recommendations in February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to take a tough approach towards all employers that do not comply with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, including through making their non-compliance public. 55 employers, including some who underpaid apprentices, have been named so far and between them they owed workers a total of over £139,000 in arrears.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has also increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the unpaid arrears owed to workers and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. This came into effect on 7 March 2014. We are introducing primary legislation so that the penalty can be calculated on a per worker basis which will substantially increase the penalty for some employers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There have been no prosecutions since 2010 involving apprentices. Prosecution is reserved for the most serious cases. The Government usually pursues other means, which are more effective, to achieve the key goals of getting workers paid their arrears of wages and deter employers from being non-compliant. For example, the Government policy on the naming scheme and the increase in the NMW civil penalty will have considerable reputational and financial consequences for employers who are non-compliant with the NMW. However, HMRC will refer suitable cases to prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217684 217744 question first answered 11/12/2014 16:21:02 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

168567

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Furniture
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many desks are in his Department's main building; how many such desks are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; and what the cost is per desk of leasing.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	217688
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The main building for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is 1 Victoria Street, London. This is a building which the Department leases and as such leases the workstations within together with partner organisations. BIS Core occupy a total of 2,601 workstations within this building at a cost of £6067.89 per FTE.</p><p> </p><p>Any space within the building is sub-let via a Memorandum of Terms of Occupation agreement and is charged per square metre, not per workstation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 12:34:13 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

168569

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 5 of his Department's publication, National Minimum Wage, Interim government evidence for the 2015 Low Pay Commission report, published in October 2014, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the rate of non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices; and what steps he plans to take to increase the rate of compliance with the apprentice NMW.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	217744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to the National Minimum Wage and is absolutely clear that everyone who is entitled to it should receive it. Any worker who thinks they have been underpaid should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC investigates every complaint made to the helpline and calls from apprentices are prioritised for consideration.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware that non-compliance involving apprentices is an issue and we are taking action. We are:</p><p> </p><p>· Ensuring that all training providers [in England] deliver on existing obligations to inform employers and apprentices of their NMW requirements.</p><p> </p><p>· Improving guidance and information more generally, to ensure we have clear and comprehensive information on the minimum wage rules. In England the National Apprenticeship Service includes information on the NMW in its information pack for employers taking on an apprentice.</p><p> </p><p>· Encouraging workers to call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline if they think they are not getting what they are legally entitled to through our communication campaign which began in Sept 2014.</p><p> </p><p>· Writing to level 2 &amp; 3 apprentices in England informing them of their NMW entitlement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have also asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to consider whether we can simplify the apprentice rate structure so that it is as clear and simple as possible, in order to support those employers who take on apprentices. The LPC will report back with their recommendations in February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to take a tough approach towards all employers that do not comply with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, including through making their non-compliance public. 55 employers, including some who underpaid apprentices, have been named so far and between them they owed workers a total of over £139,000 in arrears.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has also increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the unpaid arrears owed to workers and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. This came into effect on 7 March 2014. We are introducing primary legislation so that the penalty can be calculated on a per worker basis which will substantially increase the penalty for some employers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There have been no prosecutions since 2010 involving apprentices. Prosecution is reserved for the most serious cases. The Government usually pursues other means, which are more effective, to achieve the key goals of getting workers paid their arrears of wages and deter employers from being non-compliant. For example, the Government policy on the naming scheme and the increase in the NMW civil penalty will have considerable reputational and financial consequences for employers who are non-compliant with the NMW. However, HMRC will refer suitable cases to prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217684 217685 question first answered 11/12/2014 16:21:02 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

168574

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many employers have been prosecuted for non-payment of the apprentice National Minimum Wage in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	217684
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to the National Minimum Wage and is absolutely clear that everyone who is entitled to it should receive it. Any worker who thinks they have been underpaid should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC investigates every complaint made to the helpline and calls from apprentices are prioritised for consideration.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware that non-compliance involving apprentices is an issue and we are taking action. We are:</p><p> </p><p>· Ensuring that all training providers [in England] deliver on existing obligations to inform employers and apprentices of their NMW requirements.</p><p> </p><p>· Improving guidance and information more generally, to ensure we have clear and comprehensive information on the minimum wage rules. In England the National Apprenticeship Service includes information on the NMW in its information pack for employers taking on an apprentice.</p><p> </p><p>· Encouraging workers to call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline if they think they are not getting what they are legally entitled to through our communication campaign which began in Sept 2014.</p><p> </p><p>· Writing to level 2 &amp; 3 apprentices in England informing them of their NMW entitlement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have also asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to consider whether we can simplify the apprentice rate structure so that it is as clear and simple as possible, in order to support those employers who take on apprentices. The LPC will report back with their recommendations in February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to take a tough approach towards all employers that do not comply with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, including through making their non-compliance public. 55 employers, including some who underpaid apprentices, have been named so far and between them they owed workers a total of over £139,000 in arrears.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has also increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the unpaid arrears owed to workers and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. This came into effect on 7 March 2014. We are introducing primary legislation so that the penalty can be calculated on a per worker basis which will substantially increase the penalty for some employers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There have been no prosecutions since 2010 involving apprentices. Prosecution is reserved for the most serious cases. The Government usually pursues other means, which are more effective, to achieve the key goals of getting workers paid their arrears of wages and deter employers from being non-compliant. For example, the Government policy on the naming scheme and the increase in the NMW civil penalty will have considerable reputational and financial consequences for employers who are non-compliant with the NMW. However, HMRC will refer suitable cases to prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 217685 217744 question first answered 11/12/2014 16:21:02 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield