Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will include in the statutory objectives of the Payment Systems Regulator powers to protect access to cash; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.
The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis.
Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Payment Systems Regulator on its review of cash infrastructure; and what the timeframe is for the publication of (a) further details on the review and (b) the review itself.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.
The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis.
Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214627 on State Retirement Pensions: Females, whether she plans to instruct her Department to re-open complaints relating to the equalisation of the state pension age in the event that (a) the matter is no longer the subject of legal proceedings and (b) there has been no legal determination on the issues which form the basis of the complaint to the Independent Case Examiner as set out in that Answer.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which forms the basis of this group of complaint, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department.
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, whether as a result of the ongoing judicial review into complaints in relation to the equalisation of state pension age, women that have lodged complaints that are being processed will have their complaints (a) paused or (b) closed until the judicial review is complete.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government and the various other bodies are acting no differently to all previous governments subject to a legal challenge on such an issue.
Following the High Court’s decision on 30 November 2018 to grant the claimants permission to proceed to a full judicial review hearing on the changes to State Pension age, the department has reviewed its handling of such complaints.
The department has concluded that the issue in the Judicial Review does impact on the ongoing complaints. Therefore, the DWP has decided to temporarily suspend action on current and future complaints on State Pension age matters until the final court decision in the judicial review. We do not think it is appropriate for the DWP to investigate a matter that is currently being considered by the High Court. An update explaining this will be added to the gov.uk website, and anyone who has an affected complaint we will notify. Matters that are unrelated to the judicial review will be progressed as normal under DWP’s complaints procedure.
This approach is consistent with the decision taken by the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman. Following the decision of the High Court to grant permission for a judicial review to go ahead on the changes to State Pension age, the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman’s office has confirmed that they will be taking no further action on current and future complaints they receive on changes to State Pension age until the court proceedings conclude.
The Independent Case Examiner provides an independent review of complaints which remain unresolved following a final response from the DWP. As such, the Independent Case Examiner has also considered its position in light of the High Court decision. The Independent Case Examiner Office has no role to play in matters which are, or have been, the subject of legal proceedings. As a result, following the High Court decision, the Independent Case Examiners’ Office took action to close all live State Pension age complaints, in line with its agreed operational parameters.
The table provides information on the number of cases closed at the Independent Case Examiner relating to State Pension age changes, and the rationale for closing them. The number rejected (b) may increase (complaints cannot currently be accepted due to the judicial review).
Reason for complaint closure | Number |
(a) Independent Case Examiner investigation report issued | 192 |
(b) Rejected (the complaint failed to meet the Independent Case Examiner acceptance criteria) | 1,598 |
(c) Withdrawn by complainant | 1 |
(d) Closed following the High Court decision to grant permission for a judicial review of the Department’s handling of the change to women’s State Pension age – it is not within the Independent Case Examiner remit to consider issues which are, or have been, subject to legal proceedings. | 2,505 |
In the event that the High Court makes no legal determination in respect of the complaint regarding State Pension age change, the Department will review its position once more and consider lifting the suspension.
At this point the Independent Case Examiner Office could, at the request of the Department, also re-open those complaints closed as a result of the judicial review. This would be on the understanding that: (a) the matter is no longer the subject of legal proceedings and (b) there has been no legal determination on the issues which form the basis of the complaint to the Independent Case Examiner.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the World Health Organization report, Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds, published in 2017.
Answered by Steve Brine
Public Health England (PHE) contributed to the revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) report, ‘Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds’. The recommendations in the report are in line with PHE advice and the recommendations of the 13th report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). The full COMARE report is available to view at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comare-13th-report
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will seek discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the Israeli Government's decision to restrict the ability of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to import vaccines.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We regularly raise the urgent need to ease all access and movement restrictions with Israeli authorities. The availability of some medical supplies and services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories can be restricted by Israeli security procedures. The UK Government supports a project that provides medical equipment and training to medical professionals in Gaza.
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, how many complaints he has received under the Green Deal Framework (Disclosure Acknowledgement Redress etc.) Regulations 2012; and on how many of those complaints he has issued a decision.
Answered by Claire Perry
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received ninety four cases under the Green Deal Framework (Disclosure, Acknowledgment, Redress etc.) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations). To date, three final decisions and intention notices for two other cases have been issued.
The Department is committed to resolving all these cases fairly and as quickly as possible. However, the complex and legal nature of the redress process prescribed by the Regulations and volume of information we receive from consumers means complaints take some time to resolve. In most cases we need to go back to the consumer to seek further information to determine whether a breach has occurred which has caused (or is likely to cause) the consumer to suffer ‘substantive loss’. We also have to allow for periods during which representations can be made.
The Department has obtained additional support to review cases in order to speed up the process and is aiming to address these appeals over the next few months.
The Department has separately put in place a process for redress at an earlier stage with the Green Deal Finance Company. This process relates to one particular Green Deal Provider, HELMS. Thus far, over 100 customers have received a settlement through that process.
Asked by: Ged Killen (Labour (Co-op) - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish its response to the call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy that closed on 5 June 2018.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Call for Evidence produced a wide range of evidence, which requires thoughtful consideration.
We have recently announced that the denominational mix of notes and coins would not change. Response to other matters will be made in due course.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188235 on Defence: Scotland and with reference to the Scottish Government's document entitled Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2017-18, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of disaggregating his Department's data on defence spending in Scotland to separate resource and capital expenditure.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We do not collate data on total Defence spending figures for Scotland (or any other part of the UK) and, therefore, it cannot be disaggregated to separate resource and capital expenditure.
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, whether her Department has plans to revise the payment dates for universal credit payments over Christmas and new year to allow claimants whose specified payment date is on or after 25 December 2018 to be paid more than one working day in advance of 25 December 2018.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Department has extensive experience of paying claimants over holiday periods and we have also paid Universal Credit to significant numbers of claimants over previous Christmas periods.
The Department will advance the timing of all payments for people affected by bank holidays, to make sure they have money over the festive period.
Universal Credit payments due to be received on 24, 25 and 26 December will be paid no later than 21 December.
Universal Credit payments due to be received on 30, 31 December and 1 January will receive payment no later than 31 December.
This information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-have-your-benefits-paid