Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the regulation of the bailiff industry, following the call for evidence that the Government announced in Autumn 2018; and what options for regulatory reform the Government is considering in that sector.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
In a statement on 22 July, the Government set out its initial response to the call for evidence on the enforcement agent reforms.
We intend to make body-worn cameras mandatory for private enforcement agents and the complaints system more effective. We are also considering strengthening regulation of the industry.
My officials have since met a range of interested parties. We hope to set out our proposals for further reform as soon as possible.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of taxpayers working for a single employer under a Loan Charge scheme who would not have had the choice of being employed directly by that employer.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Disguised remuneration (DR) schemes are contrived arrangements that use loan payments in place of ordinary remuneration, usually through an offshore trust, with the purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice. HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) position is that they are no different to income, and that they are and have always been taxable.
The Government has heard claims that some individuals were compelled to use DR schemes, but HMRC have not seen cases that support this claim.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, which of the 48 remaining orders and notices listed on the Order Paper for Monday 30 September 2019 will be carried over into a subsequent session of Parliament following any prorogation of the current session.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer the Hon member to paragraph 8.6 of Erskine May, which sets out the effect of prorogation on business. Erskine May is now available online and paragraph 8.6 can be viewed at https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/6499/effect-of-prorogation/. Any primary legislation that has been subject to a carry-over motion agreed by the House will be carried over into the second session.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Impact Assessment entitled, Introducing a deposit return scheme on beverage containers included an assessment of the changes proposed to the waste regime that were included in the strategy entitled, Our waste, our resources.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she had made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the Impact Assessment, Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme on beverage containers, published on 15 February 2019.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) costs and (b) benefits to local government finances of the introduction of a deposit return scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to inform local authorities of changes to financing waste collection as a result of the policies contained in the document entitled, Our Waste, our resources: a strategy for England.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will take steps to ensure that people who present as homeless to a local authority are found accommodation in that local authority area.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
We are clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, we are aware that it is sometimes necessary to place households in accommodation outside of the local area. This is set out in legislation and guidance which local authorities must have regard to.
The guidance is clear that where possible the authority should seek to retain established links with schools, doctors, social workers and other key services and support.
If a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to minimise disruption to schooling, healthcare and other support. In July the previous Homelessness Minister, Heather Wheeler MP, wrote to all local authorities to remind them of the need to send notifications when placing families out of their area.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will review the cost of train fares.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government understands the concern about the cost of some rail fares and the impact that this can have on people’s budgets. This is why the Government has ensured that regulated rail fares can rise by no more than inflation for the last six years. The Williams Review is considering how to enable a railway that is able to offer good value fares for passengers, while keeping costs down for taxpayers.
Asked by: Sandy Martin (Labour - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department will take to ensure the timely publication of (a) GCSE and (b) other test results by multi-academy-trust run schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Results for academies in multi-academy trusts (MATs) are published in the same way as other schools via the school and college performance tables. Results can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables.
Key stage 4 results – which include GCSEs – will be published in October 2019 (provisional) and January 2020 (revised). Key stage 2 results will be published in December 2019, and 16-18 in October 2019 (provisional), January 2020 (revised) and March 2020 (additional measures).
The Department also publishes MAT performance measures alongside school-level performance measures. MATs must have at least three schools that have been with the MAT for at least three years to be included in the measures. Key stage 2 MAT measures will be published in December 2019, KS4 in January 2020, and 16-18 in March 2020.