Contributions
741 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUnder-25s: Working Conditions and PayI point out that some of the highest unemployment rates are among that age group so our priority is to make sure that young people are able to gain secure work and experience. In…12 Feb 2019HANSARDSmall BusinessesThe hon. Lady is quite right. In October last year, we announced that we will bring forward legislation regarding tipping in the next Session. We are committed to doing that. It…12 Feb 2019HANSARDSmall BusinessesIn the past five years we have halved late payments and through our call for evidence we are looking at what more we can do to end the scourge of late payments affecting small…12 Feb 2019HANSARDSmall BusinessesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. North Devon is a wonderful part of the country. The tourism sector is particularly important for our economy, providing 1.6 million jobs across…12 Feb 2019HANSARDSmall BusinessesI am glad the hon. Gentleman has raised this issue. We engage with the small business community, the wider business community and all business representation organisations on a…12 Feb 2019HANSARDParental Leave: Children with Severe IllnessesThe Government are committed to supporting working families. We are conducting a short and focused review of the provisions for parents of premature, sick and multiple babies,…12 Feb 2019HANSARDParental Leave: Children with Severe IllnessesI thank the hon. Lady for allowing me to talk about this issue. A short internal review has been carried out by my officials and I expect to receive information on that shortly. I…12 Feb 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for that question. Let me be clear: pregnancy and maternity discrimination is unacceptable and illegal. That is why, last month, the Government announced a…12 Feb 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI would love to come to Penzance if time permits—it is an area of the country I would love to visit—and I will continue to work with my hon. Friend to deliver post office services…12 Feb 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise the distress felt by constituents in cases of insolvency and where companies cease to trade. The redundancy payment service, operated by the Insolvency Service, has…12 Feb 2019HANSARDUnder-25s: Working Conditions and PayThrough the good work plan, the Government are strengthening employment rights for all workers. We are introducing measures that will support innovative businesses, while ensuring…12 Feb 2019HANSARDRural Post OfficesThe right hon. Gentleman is quite correct: the Post Office is at the forefront of looking at new ways in which it can modernise and increase the services delivered through our…12 Feb 2019HANSARDSmall BusinessesMy hon. Friend raises a really important question. There have been several criticisms of the FRC, which is why the Secretary of State commissioned Sir John Kingman to lead a…12 Feb 2019HANSARDNon-disclosure Agreements: RegulationThe Government share the concern that non-disclosure agreements have been used to hide workplace harassment and discrimination, or to intimidate victims into silence. That is…07 Feb 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI would first like to point out that our franchise programme with the Post Office is not a closure programme, but a sustainability programme. On the franchising with WHSmith for…07 Feb 2019HANSARDNon-disclosure Agreements: RegulationI thank my right hon. Friend, the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, for highlighting the issue; she is quite right. It is true that there has been a tailored review of…07 Feb 2019HANSARDNon-disclosure Agreements: RegulationNon-disclosure agreements have a legitimate place in the workplace and can cover matters other than harassment or discrimination. For example, they have a legitimate use in the…07 Feb 2019HANSARD Unpaid Work TrialsI will carry on, because I want to give the hon. Member for Glasgow South time to wind up at the end. HMRC investigators consider work trials on a case-by-case basis. They explore…05 Feb 2019HANSARD Unpaid Work TrialsFrom the feedback I get from business, and from some of the work that I know is going on, I would say absolutely yes. We are enforcing and doubling investment, and we are making…05 Feb 2019HANSARD Unpaid Work TrialsI will make some progress. I encourage any worker who has concerns about unpaid work trials to call ACAS for free confidential advice, or to contact HMRC via its online complaints…05 Feb 2019