Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate has she made of the number of women who have seen an increase in the age threshold at which they can claim their state pension as a result of the Government's reforms to the equalisation of the state pension age.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The decision to equalise the State Pension age for men and women dates back to 1995 and has been supported by Coalition, Labour and Conservative governments since then.
The Office for National Statistics publishes annual mid-year population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries. These detail persons by single year of age and sex. The most recent data is for mid-2017 and was released in June 2018. It can be found at the below link:
The State Pension age is currently 64 years and 9 months for women and 65 for men. Female State Pension age will reach 65 in November 2018. State Pension age for women and men will then start to increase to reach 66 by September 2020.
The State Pension age timetable, showing when people with different dates of birth reach State Pension age, is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310231/spa-timetable.pdf
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has undertaken a recent review of international best practice in relation to the criminalisation of prostitution; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Home Office has examined different legislative approaches to prostitution around the world, however, we have not yet seen unequivocal evidence that any approach is better at tackling harm and exploitation – and that remains our priority.
The Government recognises the strong arguments for commissioning a research project into the prevalence and nature of prostitution in England and Wales and believes that such an evidence base is vital prior to considering any further changes to policy and legislation.
The University of Bristol has been granted £150,000 to carry out this research.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of businesses on UK high streets that have closed in the last 12 months.
Answered by Jake Berry
High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future. We want to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time.
This is why we have announced that the Department will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at the future of our high streets. We are establishing an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival.
In the last 12 months, 51,504 businesses on UK high street closed. Over the same period, 42,166 new business units opened. This is based on Local Data Company Data, which looks at openings and closures of individual units rather than businesses. We do not currently hold data on business closures.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants received voluntary redundancy under the 2016 terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme before those terms were quashed by judicial review and the 2010 terms were reinstated.
Answered by David Lidington
350 individuals received and accepted an offer of Voluntary Redundancy under the 2016 Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposed extension of IR35 off-payroll tax rules to the private sector with the recommendations of the 2017 Good Work: Taylor review of modern working practices.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is currently consulting on non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules (known as IR35). As part of the consultation, officials are meeting a wide range of business leaders, representative bodies and other stakeholders.
Once the consultation finishes on 10 August 2018, the Government will consider responses received, including comments raised at meetings with stakeholders, and will issue its response in due course.
The Government is fully aware of the links between the off-payroll working rules and the Taylor review of modern working practices. It has recently consulted on whether and how employment status rules might be reformed in the longer-term.
Any potential impact on businesses will depend on the outcome of the ongoing consultation.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the validity of the concerns of the CEO of Contract Calculator on the extension of the IR35 off-payroll tax rules to the private sector.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is currently consulting on non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules (known as IR35). As part of the consultation, officials are meeting a wide range of business leaders, representative bodies and other stakeholders.
Once the consultation finishes on 10 August 2018, the Government will consider responses received, including comments raised at meetings with stakeholders, and will issue its response in due course.
The Government is fully aware of the links between the off-payroll working rules and the Taylor review of modern working practices. It has recently consulted on whether and how employment status rules might be reformed in the longer-term.
Any potential impact on businesses will depend on the outcome of the ongoing consultation.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential increased cost of hiring contractors as a result of the extension of IR35 off-payroll tax into the private sector.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government is currently consulting on non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules (known as IR35). As part of the consultation, officials are meeting a wide range of business leaders, representative bodies and other stakeholders.
Once the consultation finishes on 10 August 2018, the Government will consider responses received, including comments raised at meetings with stakeholders, and will issue its response in due course.
The Government is fully aware of the links between the off-payroll working rules and the Taylor review of modern working practices. It has recently consulted on whether and how employment status rules might be reformed in the longer-term.
Any potential impact on businesses will depend on the outcome of the ongoing consultation.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February to Question 128285 on Green Deal Scheme, what progress the Government has made on improving and revitalising the Green Deal; what progress his Department has made on considering the results from the call for Evidence on the Green Deal Framework; and what the timetable is for consultations on potential reforms to the Green Deal.
Answered by Claire Perry
We began a fundamental review of the Green Deal Framework by publishing a Call for Evidence in October 2017. The Department has reviewed responses to the Call for Evidence and we plan to publish a summary of responses shortly. We will then consider the next steps for the review of the Framework, including the timetable for when we would consult on more significant proposals.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 158812 on Civil Servants: Redundancy, what obligations the Government has to those people that left on a payment under the 2016 Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Government has reviewed all exits under the 2016 Civil Service Compensation Scheme and where appropriate has made additional payments so that the same total amount has been paid as would have been under the 2010 Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has instituted an inquiry into leaked correspondence in the last month; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 2018 to Question 159554 to the hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith).