Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh governments on infected blood (a) compensation and (b) interim payments.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to working with the Devolved Governments where appropriate to develop an effective response that delivers across the UK. The Inquiry has recommended that a compensation scheme be set up on a UK-wide basis and I know there is a common determination to provide appropriate redress for victims of infected blood across the United Kingdom. I will ensure that we engage with the Devolved Governments as appropriate in respect of the Government’s ongoing work to respond to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will convene a meeting with his counterparts in the devolved administrations to (a) discuss and (b) implement an infected blood compensation scheme.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to working with the Devolved Governments where appropriate to develop an effective response that delivers across the UK. The Inquiry has recommended that a compensation scheme be set up on a UK-wide basis and I know there is a common determination to provide appropriate redress for victims of infected blood across the United Kingdom. I will ensure that we engage with the Devolved Governments as appropriate in respect of the Government’s ongoing work to respond to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to seek legislative consent for infected blood (a) compensation and (b) interim payments from the devolved administrations.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to working with the Devolved Governments where appropriate to develop an effective response that delivers across the UK. The Inquiry has recommended that a compensation scheme be set up on a UK-wide basis and I know there is a common determination to provide appropriate redress for victims of infected blood across the United Kingdom. I will ensure that we engage with the Devolved Governments as appropriate in respect of the Government’s ongoing work to respond to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to provide (a) compensation and (b) interim payments to those who contracted Hepatitis B through infected blood.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Since October 2022, the Government has made interim payments of £100,000 to those infected with HIV and or Hepatitis C and bereaved partners registered with the existing Infected Blood Support Schemes, as recommended in the Infected Blood Inquiry’s first interim report. The Government is actively considering the recommendations of the second interim report, including the recommendation relating to those infected with chronic Hepatitis B, and is in the process of appointing clinical, legal and social care experts to advise on the Government’s response. The Inquiry’s recommendations are wide ranging and the Government position must be considered in light of the final report. The Inquiry will publish its final report on 20th May and I have committed to updating Parliament within 25 sitting days of its publication.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many appeals against Personal Independence Payment decisions were lapsed by her Department in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
A lapsed appeal is where DWP changed the decision in the customer’s favour after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at a tribunal hearing.
The table below provides information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeal registrations and lapsed appeals. Data is provided for appeals registered in the 2022/23 financial year, the latest full financial year that data is available.
Table 1: Appeals registered in 2022/23 and how many were subsequently lapsed
Appeals registered | Appeals lapsed |
81,000 | 18,000 (22% of appeals registered) |
Notes:
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an estimate of the number of violence-at-work incidents that have been reported at Govan job centre.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions record all reported violence-at-work incidents. In the current financial year, April – October 2023, Govan Jobcentre recorded 27 incidents.
In 2022/2023 financial year there were 19 incidents and in 2021/2022 financial year there were 20 incidents.
All incidents reported at Govan Jobcentre have been categorised as verbal or written with none being classed as physical incidents.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the most recent risk assessment on violence at work was conducted at Govan jobcentre.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions assess the risks around violence at work via the Jobcentre Claimant Facing Risk Assessment (JCFRA). Govan Jobcentre has a site-specific Jobcentre Claimant Facing Risk Assessment in place, and this was last reviewed 18th September 2023.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many full-time equivalent staff work in HMRC's national minimum wage compliance unit; and how many posts in that unit were unfilled as of 19 December 2023.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC enforces the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) in line with the law and policy set out by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the NMW receives it.
HMRC’s NMW compliance work is funded by DBT. The annual funding for minimum wage enforcement has doubled since 2015 (Table 1, link below) and this additional investment has enabled a significant expansion of resources dedicated to enforcing the minimum wage.
Data on the number of full-time equivalent staff (FTE) working in HMRC’s NMW team will change during the course of the year, and the final FTE position will be published as part of the Government Evidence on Enforcement and Compliance in 2024/2025.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many full-time equivalent staff are employed to investigate tax evasion in HMRC's Wealthy Team as of 19 December 2023.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon member to the answer on 11 May 2023 to UIN 183914 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament and the answer on 6 June 2023 to UIN 186796 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
For data on the full time equivalent (FTE) employees working in HMRC’s Wealthy Teams, I refer the hon member to the answer on 28 June 2023 to UIN 189356 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an estimate of the number of people that are required to make payments under the Loan Charge as of 19 December 2023.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that there are around 40,000 individuals and around 5,000 employers who have either failed to return the Loan Charge or have returned a figure that is not correct.
HMRC continues to support taxpayers to resolve their use of disguised remuneration schemes and get out of avoidance for good, including helping those who need extra support and providing additional time to pay where needed.