Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NAO report Investigation into supply chain finance in the NHS, HC 734, published on 29 October 2021, what the costs have been to NHS Trusts which used the Earnd of switching to alternative salary advancement initiatives.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
As detailed in the National Audit Office (NAO) report, of the seven National Health Service trusts reported on by the NAO as having used the EARND scheme, two were reported as having lost money totalling £21,429. NHS England was not aware of any other NHS trusts losing money through the EARND scheme.
The identities of the seven NHS trusts were anonymised in the NAO report and therefore it is not possible to provide information on the costs to these trusts of using alternative salary advance schemes since the date of the report.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any NHS suffered a financial shortfall from the Earnd scheme following the failure of Greensill Capital.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
As detailed in the National Audit Office (NAO) report, of the seven National Health Service trusts reported on by the NAO as having used the EARND scheme, two were reported as having lost money totalling £21,429. NHS England was not aware of any other NHS trusts losing money through the EARND scheme.
The identities of the seven NHS trusts were anonymised in the NAO report and therefore it is not possible to provide information on the costs to these trusts of using alternative salary advance schemes since the date of the report.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2023 to Question 6145 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, whether she has made an assessment of the likelihood of success of the claim.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Administrators of Greensill Capital have previously indicated they expect to make distributions to unsecured creditors, including the claim by the Redundancy Payments Service. The Administrators confirmed to the Redundancy Payments Service on 8 January that the quantum and timing of any distribution is uncertain.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2023 to Question 6145 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, if she will make an estimate of the amount that will be returned to the Redundancy Payments Service.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Government's Redundancy Payments Service is currently unable to make an estimate of the amount that will be received from the Administrators of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Ltd.
The last Administrator's Progress Report covering the period 8 March 2023 to 7 September 2023 confirmed the timing and amount of funds payable to creditors was uncertain. A copy of the Administrator's Progress Report is available to view at Companies House.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to recover funds paid from the public purse to former employees of Greensill Capital Management Company.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Government's Redundancy Payments Service seeks to recover all monies paid out from the National Insurance Fund to the employees of an insolvent company. The Redundancy Payments Service submitted a claim to the Administrators of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Ltd on 27 April 2023 for £2,004,511.
Any funds available for distribution in an insolvent company will be paid out by the Administrators in accordance with the statutory order of priority for creditor payments. Funds received by the Redundancy Payments Service will be repaid to the National Insurance Fund.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests plans to publish an update to Lord Cameron's entry in the List of Ministers’ Interests
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The latest List of Ministers’ Interests was published on 14 December and can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Fifth Special Report of the Treasury Committee of Session 2021–22 entitled Lessons from Greensill Capital: Responses to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2021–22, HC 723, whether the Financial Conduct Authority has implemented the recommendations in that report.
Answered by Bim Afolami
This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2021 to question 183281 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) statutory redundancy pay, (b) statutory holiday pay, (c) statutory notice pay and (d) the protective award settlement paid by from the public purse to former Greensill Capital employees since the collapse of that company.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) is dealing with two cases: Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Limited and its subsidiary, Greensill Capital (UK) Limited.
In respect of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Limited the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) has paid out the following statutory payments to date:
In respect of the subsidiary company, Greensill Capital (UK) Limited, to date no claims have yet been received and no payments made.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for bringing into force legislative provisions relating to safe access zones for abortion clinics.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Public Order Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 2 May. Implementation of the Public Order Act measures is staggered.
The Government respects the will of Parliament and is working to commence Safe Access Zones as soon as is practicably possible. We have been considering what needs to be done to ensure Safe Access Zones can be implemented as effectively as possible, with law enforcement agencies having a clear and consistent understanding around enforcement, and abortion service providers and protestors being clear as to what is expected under the new law.
The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to assist public sector organisations to support workers using their own cars for work.
Answered by Gareth Davies
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle, including public sector workers. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses). The AMAP rates are not mandatory, and employers can choose to pay more or less than the AMAP rate. It is therefore ultimately up to employers to determine the rate at which they reimburse their employees, including public sector employers. In considering changes to the AMAP/simplified motoring expenses rates, the Government has to balance support for individuals with the responsible management of public finances, which fund our essential public services.
However, the Government recognises that transport is a major cost for individuals and families. At Spring Statement 2022 the Government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre. In order to continue supporting all motorists, it will extend the 5p fuel duty cut, which is worth £100 to the average driver over the next year.
Like all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review, and any changes will be announced at a future fiscal event.