Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
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 ensure that charity staff are paid at least the living wage.
Answered by Margot James
The National Living Wage is the minimum rate of hourly pay workers aged 25 and over are entitled to by law. Workers younger than 25 should receive at least the National Minimum Wage rate, which varies according to their age and whether they are an apprentice or not.
Everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW) should receive it. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigates every complaint it receives and workers can call the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Helpline (on 0300 123 1100) for information and guidance about the NMW, or visit their website (www.acas.org.uk).
The Government continues to invest heavily in minimum wage enforcement, increasing the budget to £25.3 million for 2017/18, up from £13 million in 2015/16 and is committed to driving compliance across all sectors of the economy.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reforming state aid rules when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is aware that the EU negotiating mandate explicitly refers to state aid in the context of any future trade agreement between the EU and UK. This future relationship is subject to negotiation.
While the Government cannot speculate on outcomes at this stage, any future regime will be based on the principles of open markets and fair competition. As my Right Hon Friend the Prime Minister made clear in her speech in Florence “it would be a serious mistake to try to beat other countries’ industries by unfairly subsidising one’s own”.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish Professor Tim Dafforn's review of entrepreneurship; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
Professor Tim Dafforn’s review of entrepreneurship is supporting the development of the Industrial Strategy white paper which will be published later this year.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to introduce a new workplace entitlement to volunteering leave for three days a year.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is keen to see greater corporate responsibility on the part of employers and to encourage the public sector, charities and businesses to consider their impact on society. Employer-supported volunteering can help to build stronger communities and a stronger economy, by helping charities and community groups to do more and by creating a more motivated and productive workforce. Many public sector organisations and businesses already run impressive volunteering programmes.