Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marcus Jones and Andrew Stephenson

Monday 24th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T7. Local business rates retention will be a great boost for many local councils. What discussions has my hon. Friend had with local authorities about 100% retention?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Marcus Jones)]

This is a reform for which local government has long campaigned and in which my hon. Friend has shown great interest. To deliver the commitment, we held an open consultation that invited councils and businesses to have their say and have established a joint steering group with the Local Government Association to consider the mechanisms needed to set up and run the new system.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marcus Jones and Andrew Stephenson

Thursday 25th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made a significant commitment in that area. Many of the country’s top employers, including the civil service, are committing to name blind recruitment processes, and UCAS will be making university applications name blind from 2017.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating the Government on introducing name blind recruitment in the civil service, the NHS, and other large graduate employers. Will he join me in encouraging other large companies across the UK to follow suit?

[Mr Jones]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We should certainly encourage companies across the country—not just FTSE 100 companies, which seem to be making significant efforts, but companies large and small—to look at diversity and how they can use it to improve their business.