Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using post offices to (a) onboard and (b) support people impacted by (i) identity and (ii) digital exclusion in the context of mandatory digital identity.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government will launch a full public consultation on the design of the new Digital ID, and have already started to engage with a range of expert organisations.
At the heart of this will be the largest ever digital inclusion programme ever delivered in this country, to ensure everyone can access this new free ID and benefit from it.
We are considering options like a digitally enabled physical alternative for those without access to technology, as well as in-person onboarding support for those who struggle to engage digitally. This may include Post Offices but that decision has not yet been made and will depend on several different factors.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of Government Car Service cars were manufactured in the UK.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
40 cars were manufactured in the UK which represents 37% of the current Government Car Service fleet.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in his Department is made by a British manufacturer.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
A small amount of crockery and tableware has been purchased locally using departmental funds. No central record is maintained of these purchases. To determine the country of origin of all such items would require a check of all items in use. The cost of this would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £850.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of credit unions in (a) providing affordable credit and (b) promoting financial resilience, in the context of the forthcoming National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year to improve access to financial products and the financial resilience of households in the UK. The strategy will address a range of barriers to financial inclusion, including a key focus on how to improve access to credit. This will seek to build on the government’s recognition of the key role credit unions play in serving underserved groups.
The government has made clear its strong support for the credit union sector, recognising the value that credit unions bring to their members in local communities across the country in providing savings products and affordable credit.
HM Treasury is delivering on measures announced by the Chancellor in last year’s Mansion House speech to support credit unions and the wider mutuals sector, including: concluding a call for evidence on potential reforms to credit union common bonds, supporting the industry-led Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council, and commissioning the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to publish a report on the mutuals landscape by the end of 2025.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department plans to take to support credit unions, in the context of the forthcoming National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year to improve access to financial products and the financial resilience of households in the UK. The strategy will address a range of barriers to financial inclusion, including a key focus on how to improve access to credit. This will seek to build on the government’s recognition of the key role credit unions play in serving underserved groups.
The government has made clear its strong support for the credit union sector, recognising the value that credit unions bring to their members in local communities across the country in providing savings products and affordable credit.
HM Treasury is delivering on measures announced by the Chancellor in last year’s Mansion House speech to support credit unions and the wider mutuals sector, including: concluding a call for evidence on potential reforms to credit union common bonds, supporting the industry-led Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council, and commissioning the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to publish a report on the mutuals landscape by the end of 2025.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when her Department plans to publish the National Financial Inclusion Strategy; and what (a) themes and (b) policy measures it will include to (i) address financial exclusion and (ii) improve people's financial resilience.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has committed to publish a national Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year to improve access to financial products and the financial resilience of underserved groups in the UK.
The strategy will address key barriers to financial inclusion, with a focus on: (i) digital inclusion and access to banking; (ii) savings; (iii) insurance; (iv) credit; (v) problem debt; and (vi) financial education and capability. Across these areas, the themes of accessibility, mental health, and economic abuse have also been considered in recognition of the particular challenges individuals can face in relation to these issues.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made in reviewing responses to the call for evidence on reforming the credit union common bond in Great Britain; and when she plans to publish proposed next steps.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recognises the role that credit unions play in providing savings and affordable loans to their members, serving local communities throughout the country. This is why the government is taking steps to ensure credit unions are fully supported to grow and scale into the future.
This includes exploring legislative reform to the credit union common bond, to ensure it remains fit for purpose. We launched a call for evidence at last year’s Mansion House on the potential reform, which closed in March this year.
Responses to the call for evidence are being carefully considered and the government will provide an update on this work in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department is made by a British manufacturer.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department is made by a British manufacturer.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra purchases crockery and tableware through a contract let under the previous Public Contracting Regulations 2015. We cannot confirm the proportion made by a British manufacturer, as this was not stipulated in the contract but it could be in future contracts.
The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.
The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British businesses bidding for work.
The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products.
Alongside this, the National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this Government’s Industrial strategy and the sectors vital to our economic growth.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in (i) his Department, (ii) Courts and Tribunals and (iii) the Prison estate is made by a British manufacturer.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
All tableware (including plates, bowls, cups and cutlery) used in HM Prisons are made from polypropylene and polycarbonate plastics for safety reasons. They are manufactured in house in our plastics injection moulding workshops. The items form part of the equipment issued to prisoners for their personal use and are washed and reused by the individual after each meal.
It is important to note that despite being made of plastic they are multi-use and are washed and reused time and time again. Each of the items are 100% recyclable.
The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.
The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British businesses bidding for work. The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products.
Alongside this, the National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this Government’s Industrial strategy and the sectors vital to our economic growth.