Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his Department's policy to remove housing benefit from 18 to 21 year olds on their living standards.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
This policy will ensure young people in the benefit system face the same choices as young people who are in work but may not be able to afford to leave home.
By encouraging young people to stay in the family home, this policy will improve work incentives and, under the Youth Obligation, more young adults will move into work, improving their living standards.
Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on ensuring reductions in operators' production costs do not adversely affect the safety of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
I have had discussions with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials on the range of factors affecting offshore safety. HSE has confirmed that it is placing increasing emphasis upon maintenance standards as part of its interventions at offshore installations. I support this approach.
Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will investigate the circumstances surrounding the leak of natural gas at the Brae Alpha platform of 26 December 2015; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that a similar incident does not occur on that platform or any other offshore installation.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the circumstances of the leak of natural gas from the Brae Alpha platform on 26th December 2015. It will ensure any lessons to be learnt to prevent a recurrence are shared with the operators of this and other platforms in the sector. If necessary it can use its formal enforcement powers to address significant shortcomings in systems and arrangements to manage risks.