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Written Question
Apprentices: Technology
Monday 23rd May 2016

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to encourage apprenticeships in cyber studies.

Answered by Matt Hancock

Government has supported a Cyber Higher Apprenticeship programme delivered by the Tech Partnership with Training Provider QA, creating more than 250 new roles across industry for school leavers. New Cyber Intrusion Analyst and Cyber Security Technologist Trailblazer Apprenticeships have been developed which are now available to Employers and Apprentices. We have also integrated a cyber stream into the Fast Track Civil Service Apprenticeship scheme, offering 50 new roles across government with another cohort joining this year. Additionally, GCHQ has its own apprenticeship scheme incorporating cyber security. Since 2012, over 170 new apprentices have either graduated or joined the tailored two year foundation degree course.

As announced by the Chancellor in November 2015, we are working with Employers to develop a Cyber Security Higher Apprenticeship pilot scheme that will address cyber skills gaps in three critical sectors: Transport, Finance and Energy. These apprenticeships will combine relevant cyber content, with sector-specific training. Industry in each sector will play a leading role in defining the additional course content. We will launch a targeted marketing campaign to encourage businesses and young people to consider a cyber apprenticeship with opportunities being advertised shortly.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 11 Apr 2016
Panama Papers

"Will my right hon. Friend clarify again the fact that tens of millions of our fellow citizens benefit from tax-exempt investments, as most pension schemes do not pay tax on their investment income, which directly benefits hard-working people saving for, and receiving, pensions?..."
Lord Soames of Fletching - View Speech

View all Lord Soames of Fletching (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Panama Papers

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Mar 2016
European Council

"All Conservative Members were delighted to hear the Prime Minister reaffirm with vigour and confidence his determination to continue as a great reforming Government with the successful central themes of his Administration. Will he review whether there is a need to add to the deployment of HMS Enterprise in Libyan …..."
Lord Soames of Fletching - View Speech

View all Lord Soames of Fletching (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Council

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 03 Feb 2016
UK-EU Renegotiation

"Among the other important measures successfully negotiated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, I welcome in particular the recognition of the Union’s need to become more competitive and explore the untapped potential of the single market, and indeed to press on with vital trade negotiations with the United …..."
Lord Soames of Fletching - View Speech

View all Lord Soames of Fletching (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: UK-EU Renegotiation

Written Question
Zero Hours Contracts
Thursday 14th January 2016

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been employed on a zero-hours contract in (a) Mid Sussex constituency, (b) West Sussex, (c) the South East and (d) the UK in each year since 2008.

Answered by Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.


Written Question
Statistics of Trade Act 1947
Tuesday 1st December 2015

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what datasets are collected under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

Answered by Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.


Written Question
One Public Estate Programme
Wednesday 11th November 2015

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the One Public Estate programme; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Matt Hancock

In 2013, the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association came together to launch the One Public Estate programme, a pioneering initiative designed to support central and local government to work collaboratively on land and property solutions.

It brings together all public sector bodies within a locality to work together in developing a radically new approach to managing their land and property. By pooling data on their asset holdings and developing joint plans to share property and release surplus land and buildings for other uses, the programme is designed to:

  • Deliver significant savings for the taxpayer,
  • Provide better, more integrated local services, in places which are more convenient for users; and
  • Release land and property which can be reused for housing and new enterprise, boosting local jobs, growth and house-building.

Two years on, the programme has already shown that, with small levels of investment and support, a great deal can be achieved. The 12 pilot areas that joined the programme in year 1 expect to cut running costs in the order of £21 million and to raise £88 million in capital receipts by 2018, as well as creating 7,500 new homes and 5,500 new jobs.

An additional £6m was announced at Summer Budget to expand the programme, with larger partnerships of councils and more ambitious schemes. 126 councils, working in 29 partnerships, have applied to join a third phase of the programme.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Sep 2015
Syria: Refugees and Counter-terrorism

"May I welcome the statement that my right hon. Friend has made this afternoon? Does he agree that it is, in effect, the only way to uphold international law and to show real compassion, by acting in the way that he proposes in the countries that are lodging the greatest …..."
Lord Soames of Fletching - View Speech

View all Lord Soames of Fletching (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Syria: Refugees and Counter-terrorism

Written Question
National Security
Tuesday 21st July 2015

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will assess the vulnerability of the UK to economic and financial warfare when developing the National Security Strategy.

Answered by Oliver Letwin

The 2015 National Security Strategy, informed by the National Security Risk Assessment, is considering a wide range of risks including those to our economic and financial security.


Written Question
Productivity
Thursday 18th June 2015

Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to improve the UK's productivity statistics.

Answered by Rob Wilson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.