Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many companies based in Scotland that were affected by Carillion’s collapse took up the support services of (a) help and flexibility with tax and (b) special support from banks, how now entered (a) administration (b) liquidation.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
We have put processes in place to help companies who are impacted by Carillion’s insolvency including extra support from the banks and time to pay taxes.
We have set up a taskforce to advise on the impact on small businesses and employees affected by Carillion insolvency. It will act as a means for government to communicate to those affected by Carillion’s liquidation, assess wider economic impacts and consider how to ensure that employees are provided with the right support to maximise rapid re-employment.
Lenders have made a fund of £900m available to support small businesses exposed to Carillion’s liquidation - and a Government taskforce has been set up to monitor and advise on mitigating the impacts of Carillion’s liquidation on construction firms, particularly SMEs and those working in the sector.
The British Business Bank through its Enterprise Support Scheme will guarantee loans of up to £100m through its partner banks, which can be used to support overdraft borrowing and refinancing of existing debt.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Oral Statement, 15 January 2018, Official Report, column 624, on Carillion, how many people based in Scotland who contacted the Carillion helpline established through Jobcentre Plus, have gained (a) further employment, (b) training and (c) educational courses.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In Scotland, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) co-ordinates the response to redundancy situations through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). DWP Rapid Response Service (RRS) is a key partner. DWP officials have been liaising with Scottish counterparts as necessary to provide support to affected employees.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Oral Statement of 15 January 2018, Official Report, column 624, on Carillion, how many calls the Carillion helpline established through Jobcentre Plus, has received from people based in Scotland.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Carillion staff with employment concerns are able to access targeted support from DWP's Rapid Response Service (RRS) via Jobcentre Plus's network of local offices and its national helpline. Given the RRS is a general redundancy service, information on calls specific to Carillion workers is not held centrally.
The RSS provides advice and support to employers and employees facing the potential threat of redundancy. The Service is co-ordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) and is managed by Jobcentre Plus. “The Rapid Response Service (RRS) is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers which include local training providers, employers, HMRC, Money Advice Service and the skills bodies. Where no partner support is available, the Rapid Response Service budget (part of the Flexible Support Fund) may be used to fill gaps in provision.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund on disinvestment from fossil fuels.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I have had no such discussions. Investment decisions within the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund are a matter for the Trustees who receive professional advice regarding decisions on the management of scheme assets. Details of the schemes investments are set out each year in a published Annual Review.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he plans to review the operation of the English Votes for English Laws Standing Orders.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government undertook a technical review of the Standing Orders relating to English Votes for English Laws in October 2016. A report was subsequently published on 30 March 2017 in which the Government concluded that the procedures introduced by English Votes have shown to be working well and do not require substantive change at this time. However, Parliament and the Government will continue to work together in monitoring the operation of the procedures.
A copy of the report can be found at the below address:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-votes-for-english-laws-review
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the share of income of the top one per cent of earners in Scotland was in each year since 1990.
Answered by Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department provides to other departments on the publication of OGC Gateway Reviews.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Requests for Major Projects Authority reports are considered on a case by case basis, with the underlying understanding that reviews need to take place within a safe space, without the expectation of imminent publication, to be sufficiently probing and effective.