Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle low pay amongst workers aged 21 and below.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
Each year the Government asks the Low Pay Commission to recommend minimum wage rates for younger people that are as high as possible without damaging their employment prospects. All the National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers saw above inflation increases in April 2019. The Low Pay Commission will make recommendations for the April 2020 rates later in the autumn. Alongside changes to the minimum wage, the Government is taking action to support young people to gain the skills they need to succeed in the labour market, including the rollout of T Levels from September 2020, which will provide students with clear pathways to a well-paid skilled job.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect on food poverty levels of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has been clear that leaving the EU with a deal is its preferred option.
The Government has put in place contingency plans for a range of exit scenarios. These contingencies ensure that DWP can continue to provide our vital services and that individuals will continue to be able to access DWP benefits and services on the same basis as they do now.
The Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net through the welfare system. We continue to spend over £95 billion a year on benefits for people of working age. DWP continues to monitor the effects of EU exit on the economy. Rates of benefits continue to be reviewed in line with the relevant legislation for uprating.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Scottish economy in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Government delivered on its commitment to provide objective analysis to Parliament of how exiting the EU may affect the economy of the UK, sectors, nations and regions in the long run.
As we leave the EU the Scottish economy remains resilient, with near record high employment, unemployment at historic low rates, and above inflation rises in wages.
The Government would prefer to leave with a deal and will work in an energetic and determined way to get that better deal. However, if it is not possible to reach a deal we will have to leave with no deal, and the Government is committed to preparing for this outcome.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to raise awareness of the Warm Home Discount Scheme among people who are eligible to participate in it.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Department for Work and Pensions engage with participating energy suppliers to match the name and address details of those who fall within the “Core Group” of people automatically eligible for the Warm Home Discount and will write to them, either confirming, in the large majority of cases, that the discount will be paid automatically, or explaining that they need to verify their details with the Warm Home Discount helpline.
Notice is also provided to the public through GOV.UK, the website for the UK Government. For the “Broader Group” (those who may be eligible subject to an application) participating energy suppliers notify their customers in a variety of ways, including on their websites and some also choose to write to them or use referral bodies. Some organisations, such as Citizens Advice, also signpost eligible individuals to the scheme.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the BBC's decision to change the eligibility criteria for free TV licences on the incomes of over-75s households in the UK.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The future of the over 75 concession is the responsibility of the BBC, not Government. We are very disappointed with the BBC’s decision to restrict the concession to only those aged over 75 in receipt of Pension Credit.
The BBC published research from Frontier Economics in November 2018 which looked at the potential impact of changes to the concession on those aged 75 and over. This research is available here: https://www.frontier-economics.com/media/2896/bbc-licence-fee-report-nov-18.pdf
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to meet the Inclusive Transport Strategy target to develop a monitoring and enforcement framework for mandatory bus driver disability awareness training by spring 2019.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Department for Transport publishes annual bus statistics which include an assessment of the proportion of operators requiring relevant staff to undertake disability awareness training consistent with relevant legislation. The most recent release indicated that 98% of staff worked for bus operators that mandated this training. The Department continues to engage with industry and regulators to ensure a proportionate approach to enforcement is followed.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the supply of products to NHS Scotland.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government continues to engage with the Scottish Government, who have responsibility for NHS Scotland.
The UK Government continues to work at pace to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place, including working directly with suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to ensure there is a continued supply of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables when the UK leaves the European Union.
Additional freight capacity is being secured, which will support existing plans such as building buffer stocks of medicines and medical products, procuring additional warehouse capacity and supporting companies preparing for new customs and border requirements.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the benefits freeze on the wellbeing of universal credit claimants.
Answered by Will Quince
An Impact Assessment of the benefit freeze was published in 2015, this is available in the link below.
https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of food security in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Eustice
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to tackle homelessness among young people.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. That is why we introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act, the most ambitious reform to homelessness legislation in decades. The Act ensures that there are more opportunities to prevent or relieve homelessness including for young people.
Last summer we published the Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Strategy included a commitment to develop the Young Futures Fund a social impact bond programme aimed at supporting vulnerable young people who are homeless or rough sleeping. This will build on the success of the Fair Chance Fund (2015-2017), which supported over 1,900 homeless young people to improve their accommodation, employment and education outcomes.
We have also established the Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes dedicated youth homelessness advisors that work with local authorities to promote joint working across housing authorities and children’s services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities. Last year we also updated the provisions for 16-17-year olds who are homeless or require accommodation, setting out the respective duties of children’s services and housing services.