Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he has taken to prevent contractors offering insulation under the Affordable Warmth Obligation presenting this as a Government scheme.
Answered by Ed Davey
Government has set up the Energy Saving Advice Service (0300 123 1234) so people can receive independent advice about energy efficiency schemes. This service can also check eligibility for Affordable Warmth assistance and make a referral directly to an obligated energy supplier. ESAS agents explain the customer journey, making it clear to customers that ECO Affordable Warmth is an obligation that requires the largest energy suppliers to help households install energy saving improvements.
Energy suppliers and their partners may also contact people directly to identify eligible customers, including those who may benefit from insulation (and other measures) under Affordable Warmth. Businesses must adhere to the relevant regulations and codes of practice when promoting their services.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 592W, on developing countries, which organisations based (a) in the UK and (b) overseas, with which her Department has contracts, restrict employment in certain posts because they require a particular understanding of the faith-based values and beliefs of that organisation; and what proportion of such posts are so restricted in each such organisation.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
DFID works to ensure that organisations delivering contracts on its behalf do not discriminate. DFID is not aware of contracting any organisation that restricts employment to members of particular faiths.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which organisations funded by his Department restrict employment to members of particular faiths.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
All organisations funded by the Cabinet Office have to adhere to relevant employment legislation including the Equal Opportunities Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on funding organisations that restrict their employment to members of particular faiths.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
All organisations funded by the Cabinet Office have to adhere to relevant employment legislation including the Equal Opportunities Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's policy in funding overseas organisations that restict their employment to members of particular faiths.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
DFID works to ensure that organisations supported do not discriminate. All DFID funding is subject to pre funding Due Diligence, which includes an analysis of the robustness of the organisation's operational and commercial systems, processes and procedures, including compliance with relevant policies, legislation and regulations on discrimination.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which overseas organisations funded by her Department restrict employment to members of particular faiths.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
DFID does not fund any organisation that state they specifically restrict employment to members of particular faiths. However, we acknowledge that certain posts require a particular understanding of the faith-based values and beliefs of individual organisations.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the longest period waited was on the receipt of the necessary medical evidence, to restore a driving licence for those drivers who have temporarily had their licence suspended for medical reasons in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition affects their fitness to drive.
Each case must be fully assessed before determining whether sufficient medical evidence has been supplied. More information is needed in some cases and may involve detailed consultation with medical professionals.
Figures are not routinely kept of the amount of time an applicant may wait in these circumstances. An exercise in February 2014 suggested some customers may have waited up to 20 weeks. Once a decision has been made to re-issue the licence this is done immediately.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers who have provided the necessary medical evidence are waiting to have their driving licence restored following temporary suspension for medical reasons.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition affects their fitness to drive.
Customers applying in these circumstances are not easily identifiable. An estimate based on information available suggests around 9,000 applicants who have produced the necessary medical evidence are awaiting assessment. Once a decision has been made to re-issue the licence this is done immediately.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence have waitied before their licence is restored following suspension for medical reasons.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition affects their fitness to drive.
On average, drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence following revocation wait eight weeks before their licence is restored.
Asked by: John Denham (Labour - Southampton, Itchen)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of former BAE staff at the Portsmouth shipyard who have been recruited by overseas ship-builders.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The local taskforce is working to secure positive outcomes for all staff leaving BAE in Portsmouth. It is too early to draw conclusions.
We recognise the importance of manufacturing and engineering skills to the economy: these will be vital to building the Solent area's strengths in marine and maritime. BIS is working closely with industry, Job Centre Plus, and Portsmouth Council to support those employees impacted by BAE's decision to close its shipyard in Portsmouth.
The Southampton & Portsmouth City Deal announced a £1 million DWP Rapid Response Service that will support those recently made redundant. Government and local industry will invest £3m in a Marine and Maritime Employer Ownership for skills Programme, responding to the immediate skills needs in small and medium sized enterprises in the advanced manufacturing sector.
Additionally the existing UK wide Talent Retention Solution is available to help match skilled workers to engineering jobs in the UK and is currently advertising 693vacancies in the south of England on its website[1].
[1] Active TRS vacancies listed on 18 June 2014.