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Written Question
Kickstart Scheme: Sole Traders
Monday 23rd November 2020

Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sole traders have successfully applied for Kickstart funding via a Kickstart gateway.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

We are not yet able to break Kickstart data down by sector or employer type.

Written Question
Kickstart Scheme: Sole Traders
Thursday 19th November 2020

Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether sole traders are eligible to apply for Kickstart funding via a Kickstart gateway.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

Sole traders can apply to the scheme through a Kickstart Gateway. Although if they are not registered with Companies House and/or do not have the systems to pay participants through PAYE, they will need to work with a Gateway which is able to put the participant on the Gateway’s PAYE system.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 28 Mar 2019
Supporting Disabled People to Work

"As a former disabilities Minister—I had other roles within the Department as well; it was not just disabilities, but that was the lead issue—I say to those on the Front Bench, and I hope the Prime Minister is listening, that we should have a Minister for this role as soon …..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Supporting Disabled People to Work
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"I was the Minister responsible for taking the Mesothelioma Act through Parliament and, despite the restrictions I was under, Paul was an enormously useful knowledge base. At times I went back to my civil servants and said, “No, I have facts from people who were involved in this.” That was …..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"I rise in support of both these statutory instruments, which are sensibly being taken together, not least because we can now talk about the need to compensate people because of two basic products: coal and coal dust; and asbestos. This country got its wealth from coal, as men went down …..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"rose—..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"I just thought that it would be important to the House to put this on the record: I am sure that the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr Skinner) never thought that he would agree with me...."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"Well, he has actually.

This is why this House is so important. We can come together and say what is right, what is wrong and what can be done. If we come together to put a little bit of pressure on the Minister—not so much at the Dispatch Box today …..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 06 Feb 2019
Social Security

"The Minister is being very generous and the House is listening very carefully because this is such an important debate. This House is not going to turn down the uprating—never would. But we could actually have a proper debate on this subject through the Backbench Business Committee or in Government …..."
Mike Penning - View Speech

View all Mike Penning (Con - Hemel Hempstead) contributions to the debate on: Social Security
Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Disclosure of Information
Tuesday 22nd January 2019

Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-disclosure agreements her Department entered into in 2005.

Answered by Justin Tomlinson

On 1st February 2015 guidance was implemented by the Cabinet Office explaining the principles and process to be followed when considering the use of settlement agreements when terminating employment resulting in the requirement to seek Ministerial approval.

DWP would use confidentiality clauses only with great exception and after obtaining appropriate approval. We have no record of DWP ever having requested, let alone received, such approval.

During the period 2005 to February 2015 records covering the use of any such agreements are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.