Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK spent more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel bills in each of the last five years.
Answered by Claire Perry
In England, approximately 2.36 million households spent more than 10 per cent of their full income on fuel bills in 2015. This is around 10.4 per cent of all households. In the North East, approximately 0.15 million households (13.3 per cent), spent more than 10 per cent of their full income on fuel bills. Data is only available at the regional level and is not broken down further to Local Authority level.
Fuel poverty is based on the low income high costs (LIHC) indicator. Data is for England rather than the UK. The number and proportion of households in fuel poverty for the requested areas can be seen in the table below.
|
| Jarrow Constituency | South Tyneside | North East | England |
2015 | Number of households | 4,500 | 8,400 | 151,900 | 2,502,000 |
Proportion (%) | 11.9 | 12.3 | 13.3 | 11.0 | |
2014 | Number of households | 4,100 | 8,000 | 139,500 | 2,379,000 |
Proportion (%) | 10.8 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 10.6 | |
2013 | Number of households | 3,900 | 7,600 | 134,900 | 2,347,000 |
Proportion (%) | 10.5 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 10.4 | |
2012 | Number of households | 3,800 | 7,200 | 129,000 | 2,360,000 |
Proportion (%) | 10.4 | 11.0 | 11.6 | 10.8 | |
2011 | Number of households | 3,700 | 7,100 | 141,700 | 2,433,000 |
Proportion (%) | 9.4 | 10.2 | 12.4 | 11.1 |
These figures are based on the fuel poverty dataset. The methodology for this can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-poverty-statistics-methodology-handbook
The sub-regional figures can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-2017
This is based on data the English Housing Survey which is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The methodology for this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/english-housing-survey-guidance-and-methodology.
Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support job creation schemes in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.
Answered by Margot James
Through the North East LEP Growth Deal we are supporting economic development with £379.6m of Local Growth Fund, including that for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, partly in your constituency. The North East LEP estimates that their Growth Deal will lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs.
In addition to this we have agreed two City Deals. One for Newcastle with a £90m infrastructure programme, and one for Sunderland and South Tyneside worth £87.5m, which Sunderland City council predict will create 5,200 jobs.
Across England, Growth Hubs provide businesses with access to tailored local advice and support to help them grow. Within the North East this has provided nearly 1,200 businesses with coaching and support.
It is also worth noting that there are over 55,000 more people in employment in the North East LEP area than the equivalent period in 2010.
Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to make the national living wage available to those aged 18 to 24.
Answered by Margot James
The National Living Wage is limited to those aged 25. The Government is setting minimum thresholds only and we recognise and commend those employers who seek to set higher rates of pay.
The current national minimum wage rates per hour for those who are not apprentices and under 18 years old is £4.05; 18 – 20 years old is £5.60; 21 – 24 years old is £7.05 and 25 years old or older is £7.50.
Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to address the regional productivity gap in the North East.
Answered by Margot James
The objective of Government’s Industrial Strategy is to increase productivity and drive growth across the United Kingdom. We have provided a framework to build on the strengths of different places and address the factors that hold others back. This will include investing in key infrastructure projects, increasing skill levels, and backing local innovation strengths.
In the North East the Industrial Strategy will build on the £379.6m million Local Growth Fund awarded to the North East LEP, which will bring an estimated 8,200 jobs and up to £300 million of public and private sector matched investment to the area.