We are currently taking steps to improve the scheme and will continue to monitor its effectiveness so that it continues to meet its aim of providing a contribution towards the cost of a funeral. For example staff are working with the Bereavement Service, the main conduit of initial applications, to ensure where possible they collect all the required evidence and information at the earliest possible juncture, smoothing and improving the process for claimants. On-going improvements such as this ensure claims are dealt with in a timely and consistent manner and are in the best interests of those needing the scheme\u2019s support.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/220", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Webb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thornbury and Yate"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Webb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-16T12:41:43.79Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Funeral Payments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2014 to Question 216782, what steps his Department is taking to improve the administration process for funeral payments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4277", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Shields"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck"} ], "uin" : "218572"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169718", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169718/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As at 30 November 2014, 3100 staff were employed in the core-Department\u2019s buildings throughout the UK. Of these 2555 were core-BIS staff and 545 were UKTI staff.<\/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" : "2014-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-15T15:49:21.53Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Staff"} , "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, how many staff are employed in his Department's headquarter buildings.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1484", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Goodman"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bishop Auckland"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Goodman"} ], "uin" : "218299"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169730", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169730/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This year we have 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 and to improve compliance with the National Minimum Wage. We have also asked the LPC to consider whether there should be different rates of apprentice National Minimum Wage for apprentices of different ages and levels. The LPC will report back with their recommendations in February 2015.<\/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" : "2014-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-15T15:38:48.737Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices: Minimum Wage"} , "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, whether he plans to offer different rates of apprentice national minimum wage for apprentices of different ages and levels of experience.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dudley North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ian Austin"} ], "uin" : "218260"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169737", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169737/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd on 11 December 2014 to UIN 217676.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Francis Maude"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-15T15:27:22.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Iraq Committee of Inquiry"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with Sir John Chilcot on whether the report of the Iraq Inquiry will be published before the next General Election; what information his Department holds on the reasons for the time taken to publish that report; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3930", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Lucas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Pavilion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Lucas"} ], "uin" : "218267"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169738", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169738/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of the Transparency Agenda, all Government Departments, their agencies and public bodies now publish monthly statistics on their workforce. For the Cabinet Office, this is published on the Cabinet Office website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data<\/a> and on data.gov.uk at http://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-cabinet-office<\/a> .<\/p>