Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons (a) the Civil Service Widows Pension Scheme rules include the 1972 Section in which premium deductions are taken should an individual marry after retirement and (b) the premium deduction is not paid out to children following the death of the policyholder; and whether MyCSP retains premium deductions.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
(a) Widows/widowers/civil partners’ pension provisions exist in all parts of the Civil Service pension arrangements. The facility whereby a ‘premium deduction’ is taken from any refund of contributions payable to an unmarried member only exists in the 1972 Section (none of the other parts of the Civil Service pension arrangements provide refunds to unmarried members). The deduction is there to cover the scheme against the risk that the member marries/enters a civil partnership in retirement and then pre-deceases their spouse/civil partner, giving rise to a widow(er)/civil partner’s pension payable from the scheme.
(b) If the premium were to be repaid to the member’s estate should they subsequently die without marrying or entering a civil partnership, the amount of the premium would need to be significantly higher as it would only be retained by the scheme in circumstances where a spouse/civil partner’s pension was payable.
(c) The Civil Service pension arrangements are funded through the Civil Superannuation Vote. Contributions (both member and employer) are paid into the Vote, and benefits and refunds are paid out of the Vote. MyCSP are the scheme administrator. They arrange for refunds of contributions to be paid, where appropriate. But if a premium deduction is necessary, MyCSP do not retain that deduction themselves. It is retained in the Vote.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
What recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on public sector pensions of the ability of prison officers aged over 60 to meet the physical requirements of the job.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The normal age of 65 for prison officer retirement was first introduced by the last Labour government in 2007. Lord Hutton’s pensions review in 2015 considered the issue and did not recommend any special exemptions for prison officers. We are satisfied that this continues to be the case.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that survivors of abusive and violent relationships and their new partners can register to vote without being traced by their ex-partner.
Answered by Chloe Smith
In March this year, Parliament passed government proposals for changes to the anonymous voter registration system. The changes will make it easier for an estimated 12,000 survivors of domestic abuse living in refuges to register to vote anonymously, as well as those living elsewhere.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 122684, tabled by the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw on 15 January 2018.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the hon. Member to PQ 122684 answered on 12th March 2018.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the First Secretary of State, what the target time is for the Government to make payments to small and medium-sized enterprises; and (a) how many and (b) what percentage of payments by the Government met that target in 2017.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In March 2015 the Government restated its longstanding policy commitment to pay 80% of undisputed and valid invoices within 5 days with the remainder paid within 30 days.
Public sector buyers must publish annually on their payment performance. We do not hold centrally the performance data for 2017. However, data published in 2015-16 shows that by the final quarter all major departments, apart from one (at 76%), were meeting their 5 days target and that all departments were paying at least 96% of their invoices within the 30 day target, with several departments achieving 100%.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the First Secretary of State, what the target time is for the Government to make payments to small and medium-sized enterprises; and (a) how many and (b) what percentage of payments by the Government met that target in 2017.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In March 2015 the Government restated its longstanding policy commitment to pay 80% of undisputed and valid invoices within 5 days with the remainder paid within 30 days.
Public sector buyers must publish annually on their payment performance. We do not hold centrally the performance data for 2017. However, data published in 2015-16 shows that by the final quarter all major departments, apart from one (at 76%), were meeting their 5 days target and that all departments were paying at least 96% of their invoices within the 30 day target, with several departments achieving 100%.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to impose conditions on contractors taking over public contracts from Carillion; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Official Receiver is conducting an orderly liquidation of the company. Our priority is the continuity of public services. We have plans in place to ensure the continued delivery of all public sector services, and all staff engaged on these public sector service contracts will continue to be paid.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that any new contractors taking over Carillion’s public contracts honour existing sub-contracts for work (a) undertaken and (b) yet to take place.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Official Receiver is conducting an orderly liquidation of the company. Our priority is the continuity of public services. We have plans in place to ensure the continued delivery of all public sector services, and all staff engaged on these public sector service contracts will continue to be paid.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timetable is for securing new contractors to take over Carillion's public contracts.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Official Receiver is conducting an orderly liquidation of the company. Our priority is the continuity of public services. We have plans in place to ensure the continued delivery of all public sector services, and all staff engaged on these public sector service contracts will continue to be paid.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department made an assessment of the effect of Carillion's liquidation on the viability of the small businesses in its supply chain in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK before deciding not to support that company through the bail-out negotiations.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
If small subcontractors are providing public sector services then we are taking steps to ensure the continuity of those services.
If subcontractors are supporting private sector contracts then their future role depends on their customers.
The action we have taken is designed to keep vital public services running, rather bailing out a commercial company.
We are mindful of the concerns of Carillion employees in the private sector and resources are open to these workers and businesses affected by Carillion’s liquidation who are seeking further information, including:
Alongside this a network of 38 Local Growth Hubs, run in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is also on hand to help businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to access support.
This is a private sector company and taxpayers can’t be expected to bail out a private sector company.