Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on (a) the issue of passports and (b) legal recognition for those who do not associate with a particular gender; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We understand the concerns of those people who do not associate with a particular gender. UK law recognises only male and female gender and to introduce a third category denoted by an ‘X’ would require a change in primary legislation. We would not envisage the passport being changed in isolation without legislative change, as there would be an impact on other areas such as sex discrimination, nationality, adoption, human embryology, immigration, and gender recognition. Such a change would need to be on the basis that it was required by law, that it provided additional benefits to the applicant, and that the high standards of public and personal safety achieved by the UK passport were not diluted. We continue to monitor the situation and work with colleagues and interested parties in the UK and internationally. However, there are no current plans to change domestic legislation to add to or remove the male and female gender, or to make this change to the passport process
Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what conditions are placed on jobseeker's allowance claimants who are in receipt of new enterprise grants.
Answered by Esther McVey
A person in receipt of a New Enterprise Allowance weekly allowance is no longer registered as unemployed. However, as a condition of receiving the allowance the recipient is required at the 6, 12 and 19 week stage to provide evidence of trading. If they are unable to do this the allowance may be withdrawn.
Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is provided to people on jobseeker's allowance who are setting up their own businesses.
Answered by Esther McVey
New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) is the main support provided by DWP to those who are setting up their own business. The scheme has successfully helped set up over 65,000 new businesses.
A participant accepted onto the scheme will receive support from a business mentor to help develop their ideas and through the early stages of trading. If their business plan is approved they may receive a weekly allowance over 26 weeks worth up to £1,274.
Participants may also apply for an unsecured loan through the Start-up loan scheme if they need start-up capital.
Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West to Question 217417, how many of the 215 people paid less than the living wage employed on two major contracts reside in Scotland.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
None.