Asked by: Andy Burnham (Labour - Leigh)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the five most common causes of death among (a) women and (b) men in each age group in Greater Manchester were in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Andy Burnham (Labour - Leigh)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in each age group in (a) Leigh constituency and (b) Greater Manchester are employed on a zero-hours contract.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Zero hours contracts do have a part to play in a modern, flexible labour market – because, for a small proportion of the workforce, that may be the kind of contract that is right for them. On average, people on zero hour contracts work 25 hours a week and nearly 70 per cent of people on zero hours contracts do not want more hours, according to ONS figures. I would note that many Labour councils have used such contracts.
Notwithstanding, the Government's review of modern employment practices (chaired by Matthew Taylor) will consider zero hour contracts and make recommendations about how to maintain flexibility while supporting job security, workplace rights, opportunities for progression and representation for the growing number of people who do not have traditional employment relationships.
Asked by: Andy Burnham (Labour - Leigh)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in each age group in (a) Leigh constituency and (b) Greater Manchester are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
I would add that the Government's National Living Wage was introduced in April 2016 for all working people aged 25 and over, and is set at £7.20 per hour. We have asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the National Living Wage rate that should apply from April 2017, towards a target 60% of median earnings by 2020. By then, around 2.9 million people are expected to have had a pay rise, thanks directly to the National Living Wage. The Government recognises the important work undertaken by the Living Wage Foundation and we encourage employers to pay above the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage where it is affordable to do so.