Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the increase in state pension age on women resident in Scotland who were born in the 1950s; and when the last such discussion was.
Answered by David Mundell
I and my officials have regular engagement with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of important matters, including the State Pension. The hon Member will be aware of the parliamentary debate that took place on 1 February where my hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Shailesh Vara) set out the Government’s position on this issue.
State Pension age changes are part of a wider package of reforms being implemented by this Government. All women affected by faster equalisation under the Pensions Act 2011 will reach State Pension age after the introduction of the new State Pension. The new State Pension will benefit many women who have been historically worse off under the current system, with 650,000 women receiving £8 more per week (on average) in the first 10 years, due to the new State Pension valuation of their National Insurance record.
Encouraging and enabling those who can work to work for longer is a Government priority. In work, out of work and disability benefits are available for those individuals who are unable to work. Those who have caring responsibilities may be eligible for National Insurance credits towards their State Pension.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the screening of asylum seekers in Scotland.
Answered by David Mundell
UK and Scottish Government officials have regular discussions regarding immigration matters, including screening of asylum seekers in Scotland.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will take steps to provide compensation for people in Scotland who have lost out financially as a result of the increase in the women's pension age.
Answered by David Mundell
In-work and out of work working age benefits are available for those who have not yet reached State Pension age.
The women affected by the Pensions Act 2011 will reach State Pension age after the introduction of the new State Pension, which will be more generous for those historically worse off under the current system.
Further, a £1 billion concession was made, limiting the delay that anyone would experience to their State Pension age to 18 months, relative to the Pensions Act 1995 timetable. This mitigated the effect of the changes for those most affected by the Pensions Act 2011.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when Ministers in his Department last met Citizens Advice Scotland; what was discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
I last met Citizens Advice Scotland on 3 August 2015 in Edinburgh. We discussed a range of matters, including the implementation of the Smith Commission Agreement.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which local authorities in Scotland on what dates he (a) has visited and (b) plans to visit.
Answered by David Mundell
a) I have visited the following local authorities in Scotland:
b) I plan to visit the following local authorities in Scotland in early 2016 (dates to be confirmed):
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many recruitment and employment agencies his Department has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office used two recruitment agencies to source staff since 2010-11.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7427, what discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the implications of holding a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU within eight weeks of elections to the Scottish Parliament.
Answered by David Mundell
The UK Government has held discussions with representatives from the Devolved Administrations throughout the renegotiation process and the UK’s renegotiation is a standing agenda item at the Joint Ministerial Committee’s Europe meetings.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the referendum must follow a renegotiation of the UK’s relationship with the EU. Timing will therefore depend on progress of the renegotiation. The Government has made no decisions on the date, except to specifically rule out holding it on 5 May 2016 and 4 May 2017, to avoid coinciding with the various elections, including elections in Scotland, which are scheduled to take place on those days.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18729 and the oral contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 6 January 2016, Official Report, columns 274-5, whether he has discussed the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme in Scotland with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Answered by David Mundell
Further to my answer of 10 December 2015, UK and Scottish Government officials are discussing the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme and broader welfare reforms, including the implications for Scotland in the context of the devolution of welfare powers in the Scotland Bill. In due course, I would expect these issues to be discussed by the Joint Ministerial Welfare Group, which I co-chair with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights and is attended by DWP and HM Treasury Ministers.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he next plans to publish a Single Departmental Plan for his Department.
Answered by David Mundell
Single departmental plans for 17 Government Departments will be published in January 2016. The Scotland Office and other territorial offices are not required to produce single departmental plans.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7426, how many events have been hosted by non-government bodies at Dover House since 21 July 2015.
Answered by David Mundell
There have been seven events hosted at Dover House by non-government bodies at Dover House since 21 July 2015