Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of changes in real weekly earnings for (a) all workers, (b) male workers, (c) female workers, (d) part-time workers, (e) full-time workers, (f) male part-time workers, (g) male full-time workers, (h) female part-time workers and (i) female full-time workers as defined in the recent Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings in each parliamentary constituency between April 2013 and April 2014.
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: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with larger construction firms on the effect of late payments on small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.
Answered by Nick Boles
I refer the Hon Member to the response to his written question UIN 212762 on 6 November 2014.
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employment in each parliamentary constituency earned less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage in (A) 2013 and (B) 2014 to date.
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: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate, based on the annual survey of hours and earnings published on 19 November 2014, the number and proportion of (a) people, (b) men and (c) women in (i) work, (ii) full-time work and (iii) part-time work in each (A) local authority area and (B) parliamentary constituency earning less than the UK living wage in 2014 to date.
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: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made in the last 12 months to the government of the People's Republic of China on organ harvesting practices in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are aware that organs removed from executed prisoners are used for human transplantation purposes in China. Chinese law requires that prisoners give prior consent for their organs to be used in this way.
In March 2012, the Chinese government announced plans to phase out the use of organs from executed prisoners for transplant and to create a national organ donation system. We continue to encourage China to make further progress in this respect, including by sharing best practice.
We most recently raised allegations of forced organ removal and the treatment of detainees in China at the UK China Human Rights Dialogue in May 2014. We also highlight our concerns publicly in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy (www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk).
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been spent on science and research and development through local enterprise partnerships in each region of England; and how such spending compares with equivalent spending in (a) the EU and (b) the G20.
Answered by Greg Clark
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and their local partners have strategic direction over £20 billion domestic and EU funding between now and 2020/21. Strengthening research, technological development and innovation is a key objective of the European funds, and LEPs can advance growth-oriented science and research projects for investment through the Local Growth Fund. The Government does not at this early stage of these programmes hold data on the amount spent by LEPs on science, research and development, or on international comparators.
Additionally we recently agreed a City Deal with Glasgow and the Clyde Valley that will see UK Government make significant investments in science and innovation. This includes £16 million to support a Stratified Medicine: Imaging Centre of Excellence at the new South Glasgow Hospital site, £1.2 million towards the establishment of MediCity Scotland, and £1.67 million towards a centre for Business Incubation and Development.
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to disabled students' allowances on supporting disabled individuals into work.
Answered by Greg Clark
The purpose of Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is to support disabled students in their higher education studies. Disabled students will continue to receive support through DSAs but students should expect more help through their institution in discharging its statutory responsibility.
The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Disability has been established to ensure disabled people are included in society and have opportunities to realise their aspirations, including a consideration of how disabled students can best be supported into work.
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his statement of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 1WS, on higher education (student support), what reports he has received on the potential effect of changes to the disabled students allowances that provide assistive technology.
Answered by Greg Clark
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ officials have met representatives of the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) and other stakeholders to discuss the potential effect of changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances on the provision of assistive technology. The Written Ministerial Statement of 12 September 2014 confirms that we will continue funding for assistive technology.
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's proposed changes to Disabled Students' Allowances on access by disabled students to assistive technology.
Answered by Greg Clark
The Government will continue to provide assistive technology for students under the Disabled Students’ Allowances.
Asked by: William Bain (Labour - Glasgow North East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's proposed changes to Disabled Students' Allowances on rates of entry by disabled people to further and higher education.
Answered by Greg Clark
The Government does not believe that these changes will affect rates of entry by disabled students to higher education, as the necessary support will continue to be provided.