Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average amount of annual housing benefit payments per applicant was in (a) Glasgow North constituency, (b) the city of Glasgow and (c) Scotland in each year since 2010.
Answered by Steve Webb
The information is in the tables below.
Table 1: Housing Benefit expenditure, £millions | ||||||
| Nominal | Real terms 2014/15 prices | ||||
Expenditure £m | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland |
2010/11 | N/A | 337.0 | 1,660.6 | N/A | 361.7 | 1,782.4 |
2011/12 | 31.4 | 338.3 | 1,727.7 | 33.1 | 356.7 | 1,821.8 |
2012/13 | 32.9 | 347.7 | 1,788.8 | 34.1 | 360.7 | 1,855.3 |
2013/14 | 33.6 | 347.7 | 1,770.2 | 34.2 | 354.1 | 1,802.8 |
Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract and Local Authority subsidy returns.
Notes:
1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only.
2. Housing Benefit expenditure by Parliamentary Constituency is not available prior to 2011/12.
3. Figures at 2014/15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Autumn Statement at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383988/GDP_Deflators_Autumn_Statement_December_2014_update.xls
4. Information for the city of Glasgow and Scotland is available in the “Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority from 2000/01 to 2013/14” tables at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014
Table 2: Average annual Housing Benefit payment per applicant | ||||||
| Nominal | Real terms 2014/15 prices | ||||
| Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland |
2010/11 | N/A | £3,670 | £3,470 | N/A | £3,940 | £3,730 |
2011/12 | £3,630 | £3,680 | £3,550 | £3,830 | £3,880 | £3,740 |
2012/13 | £3,740 | £3,760 | £3,640 | £3,870 | £3,900 | £3,770 |
2013/14 | £3,800 | £3,760 | £3,610 | £3,870 | £3,830 | £3,670 |
Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract
Notes:
1. All amounts in this table have been rounded to the nearest £10
2. Housing Benefit information by Parliamentary Constituency is not available prior to 2011.
3. Figures at 2014/15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Autumn Statement and published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383988/GDP_Deflators_Autumn_Statement_December_2014_update.xls
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much housing benefit was paid to applicants in (a) Glasgow North constituency, (b) the city of Glasgow and (c) Scotland in each year from 2010 to 2014.
Answered by Steve Webb
The information is in the tables below.
Table 1: Housing Benefit expenditure, £millions | ||||||
| Nominal | Real terms 2014/15 prices | ||||
Expenditure £m | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland |
2010/11 | N/A | 337.0 | 1,660.6 | N/A | 361.7 | 1,782.4 |
2011/12 | 31.4 | 338.3 | 1,727.7 | 33.1 | 356.7 | 1,821.8 |
2012/13 | 32.9 | 347.7 | 1,788.8 | 34.1 | 360.7 | 1,855.3 |
2013/14 | 33.6 | 347.7 | 1,770.2 | 34.2 | 354.1 | 1,802.8 |
Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract and Local Authority subsidy returns.
Notes:
1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only.
2. Housing Benefit expenditure by Parliamentary Constituency is not available prior to 2011/12.
3. Figures at 2014/15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Autumn Statement at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383988/GDP_Deflators_Autumn_Statement_December_2014_update.xls
4. Information for the city of Glasgow and Scotland is available in the “Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority from 2000/01 to 2013/14” tables at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014
Table 2: Average annual Housing Benefit payment per applicant | ||||||
| Nominal | Real terms 2014/15 prices | ||||
| Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow North | City of Glasgow | Scotland |
2010/11 | N/A | £3,670 | £3,470 | N/A | £3,940 | £3,730 |
2011/12 | £3,630 | £3,680 | £3,550 | £3,830 | £3,880 | £3,740 |
2012/13 | £3,740 | £3,760 | £3,640 | £3,870 | £3,900 | £3,770 |
2013/14 | £3,800 | £3,760 | £3,610 | £3,870 | £3,830 | £3,670 |
Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract
Notes:
1. All amounts in this table have been rounded to the nearest £10
2. Housing Benefit information by Parliamentary Constituency is not available prior to 2011.
3. Figures at 2014/15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Autumn Statement and published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383988/GDP_Deflators_Autumn_Statement_December_2014_update.xls
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Insolvency Service plans to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the administration of Citylink.
Answered by Jo Swinson
In the first instance, it will be for the appointed Administrators to investigate the events leading up to the collapse of Citylink. The Administrators also have a statutory obligation to report confidentially to The Insolvency Service about the conduct of the directors. If misconduct is alleged the Secretary of State then has a discretionary power to seek the disqualification of the directors where it is believed to be in the public interest
The Insolvency Service also has discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct enquiries on behalf of the Secretary of State where it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of any company, including those not subject to formal insolvency. Any individual or organisation with evidence of misconduct should send full details of their complaint and all the supporting evidence to: Intelligence Hub, Investigations and Enforcement Services, The Insolvency Service, 3rd Floor Cannon House, 18 Priory Queensway, Birmingham B4 6FD (email: intelligence.live@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has powers to use information arising from such enquiries, to seek the disqualification of the directors of the company, petition the court to wind up the company or bring criminal proceedings.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department (a) first became aware of the possible administration of Citylink and (b) was advised by Citylink or its advisers that the company might be placed into administration.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Department was contacted by Better Capital on 23rd December 2014 and informed that they intended to put City Link into administration the following day.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department was first made aware that there would be insufficient funds from the administration of Citylink to pay statutory redundancy payments to that company's former employees.
Answered by Jo Swinson
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was notified of the impending administration of City Link Limited on 23 December 2014.
It is typical that an insolvent company has insufficient money to pay their creditors in full (including employees). This is why there are special arrangements for employees who are made redundant under the insolvency provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to ensure that they receive a basic minimum of the debts owed by the employer from the National Insurance Fund.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what equality impact assessment in relation to gender his Department carried out on the proposal to limit the new postgraduate student loan finance to students under 30.
Answered by Greg Clark
A preliminary equality impact assessment undertaken by the Department suggests there is little difference between the proportions of men and women undertaking postgraduate taught courses under 30 and those who are older, or in their propensity to study part-time. We will gather further evidence as part of the consultation before finalising the terms of the postgraduate taught loan.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of part-time UK postgraduate students of each gender were (a) under 30, (b) between 30 and 40 and (c) over 40 years of age on entry in each of the last three years.
Answered by Greg Clark
The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects and publishes data on entrants at UK Higher Education Institutions. The proportion of entrants to part-time taught postgraduate qualifications by gender and age in the last three academic years is provided in the table.
Statistics on entrants at UK Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2015.
Proportion of UK Domiciled entrants to part-time (1) Postgraduate Taught Qualifications (2) by Age and Gender
UK Higher Education Institutions
Academic Years 2010/11 to 2012/13
Academic Year 2012/13
| Under 30 | Between 30-40 | Over 40 | Total |
Female | 61% | 54% | 60% | 59% |
Male | 39% | 46% | 40% | 41% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Academic Year 2011/12
| Under 30 | Between 30-40 | Over 40 | Total |
Female | 61% | 54% | 60% | 58% |
Male | 39% | 46% | 40% | 42% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Academic Year 2010/11
| Under 30 | Between 30-40 | Over 40 | Total |
Female | 62% | 55% | 63% | 60% |
Male | 38% | 45% | 37% | 40% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency
Notes: Percentages have been rounded, therefore the sum of components may not add up to the total.
1. Domicile refers to the student’s postcode or permanent address prior to entering their course
2. Entrants refers to those in their first year of study
3. Age of student as of 31st August
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on tied pub tenancies and the provisions of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill in the last month.
Answered by David Mundell
This is a devolved matter and my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has not had discussions specifically on the issue of pub tenancies with Scottish Government Ministers.
The Government has kept in consistent contact with the Scottish Government on the provisions of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential for UK pension funds to invest in public infrastructure projects.
Answered by Danny Alexander
Institutional investors, including pension funds, are a promising source of investment in UK infrastructure. Institutional investors are particularly relevant for infrastructure as they are looking for longer term investments to match defined liabilities that are realised when claims are made for pension or insurance purposes.
The government is encouraging greater involvement of institutional investors in UK infrastructure. The Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP) was announced in 2011 to help make infrastructure investment more accessible to pension funds. Earlier this year, 7 pension funds agreed to invest £100 million each. In February 2014 the PIP launched its first equity fund with a cap of £500 million, of which £250 million was committed, and has made a number of investments. The government also set up the Insurers’ Infrastructure Investment Forum to give members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) a direct communication link to government, exploring ways to maximise opportunities for insurance fund managers to invest in UK infrastructure. In December 2013, six insurers – Aviva, Friends Life, Legal & General, Prudential, Scottish Widows and Standard Life – said they will work alongside partners with the aim of delivering £25 billion of investment in UK infrastructure in the next five years.
Asked by: Ann McKechin (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the infrastructure projects prequalified under the UK Guarantees scheme have received financing since the inception of that scheme.
Answered by Danny Alexander
Six guarantees and one stand-by facility, with a capital value of over £3 billion, have been issued to projects through the legislation underpinning the UK Guarantees Scheme.
Twelve additional projects that were previously prequalified reached financial close without using the scheme.
A list of prequalified projects and those issued guarantees can be found at the following link: