Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the amount (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on procurement was paid to small and medium-sized enterprises (i) directly and (ii) through the supply chain in the last year for which figures are available.
Answered by Esther McVey
On 25 February the Government published on GOV.UK departmental spend data with SMEs, directly and through the supply chain, for 2013-4:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/central-government-spend-with-smes-2013-to-2014
This data shows that for 2013-14, 26.1% of government business went to SMEs, exceeding our aspiration of 25%.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of suppliers to his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are signatories to the Prompt Payment Code.
Answered by Esther McVey
The information is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprentices employed by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.
Answered by Esther McVey
Since 2010 the following number of apprenticeship places has been offered in DWP.
2010 – 75 apprentices
2011 - 108 apprentices
2012 - 237 apprentices
2013 - 262 apprentices
2014 - 395 apprentices
All DWP apprentices are aged between 18 and 24.
A further breakdown on age or previous employment without incurring disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 722W, what information his Department (a) holds and (b) has commissioned on the number of jobseekers moving into zero-hours contract jobs.
Answered by Esther McVey
Information on jobseekers moving into zero-hours contract jobs is not held nor has it been commissioned. Information published by the Office for National Statistics suggests zero-hours contracts make up a relatively small part of the overall labour market, accounting for about 2% of all people in work.
Jobseekers claiming Jobseekers Allowance are not required to apply for zero-hours contract vacancies, they will not be sanctioned as a result of not applying. UC claimants who refuse to accept a zero hours contract job offer, without good reason, can be subject to a sanction. However a UC claimant will not be sanctioned for refusing to take a zero hours contract with an exclusivity clause.
Universal Credit automatically adjusts benefit payments depending on the number of hours a person works – whatever the type of contract. Where Universal Credit claimants refuse to apply for role, including a Zero Hours Contract role when mandated to do so or refuse to accept a job offer, they can be sanctioned. People on Universal Credit will not be required to sign up to zero hours contracts which require exclusivity, so they will always have the opportunity to gain more hours elsewhere.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 722W, on conditions of employment, whether current guidelines allow claimants through Jobcentre Plus to be found zero-hours contract jobs which include exclusivity clauses.
Answered by Esther McVey
No claimants are required to sign up for zero hour contracts which require exclusivity.