We are committed to supporting all workers across the UK and have recently brought forward several reforms which will help protect workers in the retail and distribution sector.<\/p>
<\/p>
In April 2022 we made sure 2.5 million people received a pay rise raising the National Minimum and National Living Wages. This was the largest ever cash increase to the National Living Wage and will put over £1,000 a year into a full-time workers\u2019 pay packet, helping to ease cost of living pressures.<\/p>
<\/p>
Additionally, on 6 July we brought forward legislation to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses, which restrict staff from working for multiple employers, to contracts where the guaranteed weekly income is equivalent to or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Hunt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Loughborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Hunt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-26T13:10:38.757Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Distributive Trade: Conditions of Employment"} , "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, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to protect workers' rights in the retail and distribution sector in response to the Taylor Review.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "39815"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490499", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490499/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department recognises the issues faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people, and how schools and others can make a positive difference.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department has invested in research into academic progress over the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years with Renaissance Learning and the Education Policy Institute. The department\u2019s data and research consider the impacts on pupils with particular characteristics, as well as considering regional disparities and area-level deprivation.<\/p>
The department knows one of the most significant factors affecting pupil attainment, which cuts across all ethnicities, is economic disadvantage. That is why we have consistently targeted support at the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, with schools continuing to receive additional funding through the pupil premium.<\/p>
<\/p>
Total pupil premium funding will increase to over £2.6 billion this financial year (2022/23), from £2.5 billion last year. On top of this funding, schools serving pupils from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds are likely to attract funding through additional needs factors in the schools national funding formula (NFF), specifically through the mobility factor.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department is also working closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and will learn any lessons from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Education Area pilots in a number of areas in England.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-27T16:25:09.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupils: Travellers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the educational attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39847"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490500", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490500/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.<\/p>
The department has conducted several analyses into disparities in exclusion rates. The Timpson Review of School Exclusions (2019) illustrated that there is no substantial difference in permanent exclusion rates when comparing all ethnic minority children as a whole with white British children.<\/p>
The Timpson Review also found that Gypsy and Roma pupils and Irish Traveller boys are more likely to be suspended than their white British peers, even when other factors are controlled for, such as poverty, special educational needs and absence. The Timpson Review noted that the impact of in and out-of-school factors will differ for each child and local context means there will be different patterns across the country.<\/p>
The department\u2019s updated Suspension and Permanent Exclusion guidance, published 13 July 2022, sets out that schools, local authorities, and local partners should work together to understand what lies behind local trends. Local leaders should use this understanding to plan and put in place additional and targeted actions based on their own context. If they identify any gaps, they should act to ensure those who work with children have the training, services and support they need to address them.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4756", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Brendan Clarke-Smith"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bassetlaw"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Brendan Clarke-Smith"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-27T09:08:48.35Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupil Exclusions: Travellers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the factors that contribute to school exclusion rates of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39848"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490501", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490501/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK responded quickly to the earthquake that struck Afghanistan on 22 June, disbursing £2.5 million in full to the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Red Cross to provide life-saving shelter, medication, water and sanitation assistance to affected communities. The delivery of life-saving assistance through this funding is contributing to a collective response which has reached 138,000 people to date.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Graham Stuart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beverley and Holderness"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Graham Stuart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-08-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-08-01T08:36:45.973Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Afghanistan: Earthquakes"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of the provision of £2.5 million of aid to people in Afghanistan affected by the earthquake in that country in June.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39849"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490502", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490502/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As the UK sports councils concluded when they published transgender inclusion guidance for domestic sports last year, balancing transgender inclusion, safety and fairness at all times is not possible in every sport. When it comes to competitive sport, the government believes that fairness has to be the primary consideration. That is why in June 2022 the Culture Secretary convened a meeting of our domestic governing bodies to urge them to follow a policy that competitive women\u2019s sport must be reserved for people born of the female sex. Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.<\/p>
The Government is clear that a way forward is needed that protects and shows compassion to all athletes, whilst being clear that the integrity of competition must be maintained. We want to ensure that everybody in this country has the opportunity to play and enjoy sport.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4407", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nigel Huddleston"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nigel Huddleston"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-28T15:03:40.943Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sports Competitors: Transgender People"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help ensure that people born male who are transitioning their gender cannot participate in female competitive sports.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39850"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490504", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490504/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Government works closely with the devolved administrations on supporting the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the whole of the UK. UK government officials are currently working with Northern Irish counterparts on a bid into the On-street Residential Charging Scheme. In addition, £3.27m from the Levelling Up Fund will expand and enhance the EV charging network in the country.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4593", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Trudy Harrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Copeland"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Trudy Harrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-25T09:04:58.523Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electric Vehicles: Charging Points"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has held with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on taking steps to increase the installation of charging points to support drivers switching to electric vehicles.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39851"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490505", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490505/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The prevalence of any alleged discrimination by employers because of religion or belief is not routinely monitored by government. However, there are clear provisions set out in the Equality Act 2010 which prevent employers from discriminating against an employee, or a prospective employee, because of religion or belief (including any lack of religion or belief).<\/p>
The Government sponsors the Equality Advisory & Support Service, which is a free service offering help and advice to anyone who feels that they have suffered discrimination, and the EASS statistics for contacts to the service relating to religion or belief discrimination within employment over the last five years are:<\/p>
| Year<\/td> | Number of contacts<\/td> | % of all contacts to the service<\/td><\/tr> |
| 2018<\/td> | 150<\/td> | 0.83%<\/td><\/tr> |
| 2019<\/td> | 179<\/td> | 0.97%<\/td><\/tr> |
| 2020<\/td> | 110<\/td> | 0.71%<\/td><\/tr> |
| 2021<\/td> | 193<\/td> | 1.17%<\/td><\/tr> |
| 2022 (to date)<\/td> | 59<\/td> | 0.84%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> The year 2021 saw an increase in contacts, partly due to a number of people claiming that it was their philosophical belief to object to having a vaccination against Covid. Such concerns would be registered by the service under the \u2018religion or belief\u2019 protected characteristic category.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4372", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Amanda Solloway"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derby North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Amanda Solloway"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-22T13:22:12.487Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Religion"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of religion and belief discrimination in the workplace.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "39852"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490506", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490506/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As of 19 July 2022, 125 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 have been confirmed in poultry and other captive birds in the UK (103 cases in England, 5 cases in Wales, 11 cases in Scotland, 6 cases in Northern Ireland).<\/p> <\/p> In addition, through the Animal and Plant Health Agencies wild bird surveillance scheme as of 19 July 2022, there have been 1422 findings of avian influenza in wild birds, in 343 locations involving 61 bird species in 78 counties. This includes carcases collected and submitted to APHA for testing up to the 8 July 2022. Findings of avian influenza in wild birds have predominantly been of the HPAI H5N1 strain with a single finding of HPAI H5N8.<\/p> <\/p> We have a robust response in place in line with international best practice and continue to work with stakeholders to keep up to date with the latest evidence and any further steps that we can take.<\/p> <\/p> |