Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the level of employment.
Answered by Baroness Morgan of Cotes
There are more people in work than ever before with the latest figures showing the fastest increase in employment since records began in 1971. Since the Coalition came into power employment has increased by more than one and half million and unemployment has fallen by over 300,000, with over 2 million private sector jobs created since early 2010. Over this period for every public sector job lost over 5 have been created in the private sector.The female employment rate is at its highest since records began in 1971.
By tackling the economy's problems head on and getting people back into work we are helping to boost living standards for hard working families.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress has been made on enabling the continuation of money transfer abroad from UK financial institutions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The UK Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The progress of the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances is on track and the group is next due to meet on 27 June 2014. Further information on the Action Group, including future meeting dates can be found on the group's web page: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
A key output of the group is improved guidance, both for financial institutions which provide banking facilities for MSBs and for MSBs themselves on how to comply with their anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations. These two key pieces of guidance were endorsed by the Action Group in its most recent meeting and are subject to normal approval processes.
The UK Government is liaising closely with the Somali Government on activity underway to ensure the continued flow of remittances from the UK to Somalia. The Ambassador of Somalia to the UK (or his representative) has attended all of the Advisory Group Meetings for the UK-Somali Safer Corridor. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and World Bank have also held bilateral meetings with the Ambassador.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with its Somali counterpart on ensuring that remittances can continue from UK financial institutions.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The UK Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The progress of the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances is on track and the group is next due to meet on 27 June 2014. Further information on the Action Group, including future meeting dates can be found on the group's web page: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
A key output of the group is improved guidance, both for financial institutions which provide banking facilities for MSBs and for MSBs themselves on how to comply with their anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations. These two key pieces of guidance were endorsed by the Action Group in its most recent meeting and are subject to normal approval processes.
The UK Government is liaising closely with the Somali Government on activity underway to ensure the continued flow of remittances from the UK to Somalia. The Ambassador of Somalia to the UK (or his representative) has attended all of the Advisory Group Meetings for the UK-Somali Safer Corridor. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and World Bank have also held bilateral meetings with the Ambassador.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the action group on remittances will next meet to consider the issue of money transfer abroad.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The UK Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The progress of the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances is on track and the group is next due to meet on 27 June 2014. Further information on the Action Group, including future meeting dates can be found on the group's web page: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
A key output of the group is improved guidance, both for financial institutions which provide banking facilities for MSBs and for MSBs themselves on how to comply with their anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations. These two key pieces of guidance were endorsed by the Action Group in its most recent meeting and are subject to normal approval processes.
The UK Government is liaising closely with the Somali Government on activity underway to ensure the continued flow of remittances from the UK to Somalia. The Ambassador of Somalia to the UK (or his representative) has attended all of the Advisory Group Meetings for the UK-Somali Safer Corridor. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and World Bank have also held bilateral meetings with the Ambassador.