Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margot James and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 8th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Margot James]

Northern Ireland’s outdoor geographic coverage is better than the UK average, but I recognise that indoor coverage is poor compared with the rest of the country. The new code reforms will help, alongside our desire to extend geographic mobile coverage to 95% of the entire United Kingdom.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Are 10 megabits enough?

[Margot James]

My right hon. Friend refers to the universal service obligation that will guarantee 10 megabits per second. According to Ofcom, that is enough for multiple usage in the home, and for downloading film and video.

Taylor Review: Working Practices

Debate between Margot James and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Margot James]

As I have said, many individuals want to work in the flexible way that is afforded by zero-hours contracts, and almost 70% of people on those contracts are happy with their hours. As I have also said, we must take steps to promote the value of good work as an opportunity for the third who are not, whether they are in Wales or the rest of the United Kingdom.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

The Minister tells us that 20% of such people are students and that 70% are satisfied. Can she complete the hat-trick by telling us what the mean weekly earnings for someone on a zero-hours contract actually are?

[Margot James]

I am afraid I will have to write to my right hon. Friend with that answer.