Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Steve Baker
I recently visited the Women’s Aid Federation NI in Belfast, to hear directly about this important issue. It is disappointing that Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK without a dedicated strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and I note the significant work currently underway in the Executive Office to develop a Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls. It is vital that the Northern Ireland Executive is restored to approve and implement this strategy.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the provision of public services of the absence of an agreed budget in Northern Ireland.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Agreeing a budget will be an important priority for the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that public services continue to be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.
If a Budget Act is not passed before the start of the new financial year, powers are available to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance to continue funding public services.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
In light of the Government’s manifesto commitment to achieve three million new apprenticeship starts in England by the end of the Parliament, the Cabinet Office will be centrally collecting data on apprenticeships to allow the Civil Service to report on its contribution towards the national target.
One apprenticeship has been created in my Department to date. This is based in London and commenced in February 2016. I am therefore unable to comment on whether the apprentice will later secure a job in the Civil Service.
As my department has 42 staff based in England this meets the apprenticeship target set by the Civil Service.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to tackle low pay in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Ben Wallace
This Government is committed to delivering a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.
That is why we have introduced the new National Living Wage of £7.20 which will benefit 100,000 people in Northern Ireland and increase annual wages by up to £900.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon Member for Glasgow North.