Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the the level of statutory paternity pay for self-employed (a) mothers and (b) fathers.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
There have been a number of meeting between BEIS and DWP Ministers and officials to discuss parental pay for the self-employed.
Whilst the Government is committed to supporting all working parents, including self-employed parents, we have focussed on policies for employed parents as, generally speaking, they have less autonomy and flexibility over when they work and when they take time off work.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queen’s Speech, we will be bringing forward legislation to upgrade workers’ rights where it is right for the UK.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support is being provided to elderly or frail Barclays customers to withdraw cash once their ability to use the Post Office facility is withdrawn.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
On 8th October 2019 the Post Office announced a new Banking Framework agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. 27 high street banks signed up in full, but Barclays had uniquely opted out of cash withdrawal services. Whilst this was a commercial decision for Barclays to make, the Government remained concerned about the implications of their decision, especially for vulnerable customers.
We are pleased that on 25th October after significant encouragement for the bank to reconsider, Barclays announced their decision to reverse their initial decision to opt out of cash withdrawals under Banking Framework 2. This will ensure that all in the communities around the UK, in particular the elderly or frail have access to withdraw cash.