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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that pregnant women that have been furloughed and are receiving 80 per cent of their normal pay are not disadvantaged in qualifying for Statutory Maternity Pay because of a reduction in their...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that pregnant women that have been furloughed and are receiving 80 per cent of their normal pay are not disadvantaged in qualifying for Statutory Maternity Pay because of a reduction in their...
Asked by
Anna McMorrin
(Labour)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 April 2020
For answer on
27 April 2020
Answered on
27 April 2020
The Government is committed to making sure that all employees are supported at this time. We are currently considering how the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme interacts with existing employment rights to family-related payments, including Statutory Maternity Pay, to ensure that the scheme works for parents.
Subjects
Maternity pay; Coronavirus job retention scheme
Date
27 April 2020
Reference
37831
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend and I entered Parliament together in 1983, as indeed did you, Mr. Cook, so it is a great pleasure after all these years to take part in a formal parliamentary occasion in his constituency. I thank him also for the welcome we had from the Mayor of Middlesbrough.
The situation at Corus is the largest single issue facing the region. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the situation relates not only to the principal employment base, but to the supply chain that sits alongside the industry, not least at Tees port, as the steel works are the principal part of its work load.
In answer to my hon. Friend’s question, I am in touch with the company at every level, through officials—there are rules of propriety about these things, as he will know—and with the Departments that have an interest in the situation, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, which is looking at the impact on the labour market of any potential redundancy round, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Government’s plan is essentially to try to get the company through the economic downturn until the world market price comes closer to the price of production at the plant. That way, it will have a fighting change for survival, and all our energies are focused on that.
I am open to any ideas that we have not yet thought of, but, believe me, absolutely everything that could have been thought of, including bringing forward public procurement that would involve steel, has been explored. The company has told me that the best thing I can do for it is to try to get the construction sector moving again in western Europe, particularly in the UK, so that demand for the product will increase, followed by the price, and it will be able to earn its way through the difficulties. My hon. Friend and I have known each other long enough, so if he has an idea that he thinks has not been explored, he should tell me what it is and I will ensure that it is taken forward within Government. Nobody misunderstands the seriousness of the situation on Teesside.
When I last met formally the leaders of the 12 local strategic authorities in our region, the leader of Redcar council raised the situation in formal representations to the Government, stressing its seriousness, and asked for the support of the other leaders. One really encouraging sign—this is not a party political point—is that the leaders of every local authority in the region readily agreed and were able to speak on behalf of the region with a united voice for local government, drawing the same support for Redcar and Corus and supporting the policy of trying to get the plant through these challenging times.
My hon. Friend and I entered Parliament together in 1983, as indeed did you, Mr. Cook, so it is a great pleasure after all these years to take part in a formal parliamentary occasion in his constituency. I thank him also for the welcome we had from the Mayor of Middlesbrough.
The situation at Corus is the largest single issue facing the region. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the situation relates not only to the principal employment base, but to the supply chain that sits alongside the industry, not least at Tees port, as the steel works are the principal part of its work load.
In answer to my hon. Friend’s question, I am in touch with the company at every level, through officials—there are rules of propriety about these things, as he will know—and with the Departments that have an interest in the situation, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, which is looking at the impact on the labour market of any potential redundancy round, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Government’s plan is essentially to try to get the company through the economic downturn until the world market price comes closer to the price of production at the plant. That way, it will have a fighting change for survival, and all our energies are focused on that.
I am open to any ideas that we have not yet thought of, but, believe me, absolutely everything that could have been thought of, including bringing forward public procurement that would involve steel, has been explored. The company has told me that the best thing I can do for it is to try to get the construction sector moving again in western Europe, particularly in the UK, so that demand for the product will increase, followed by the price, and it will be able to earn its way through the difficulties. My hon. Friend and I have known each other long enough, so if he has an idea that he thinks has not been explored, he should tell me what it is and I will ensure that it is taken forward within Government. Nobody misunderstands the seriousness of the situation on Teesside.
When I last met formally the leaders of the 12 local strategic authorities in our region, the leader of Redcar council raised the situation in formal representations to the Government, stressing its seriousness, and asked for the support of the other leaders. One really encouraging sign—this is not a party political point—is that the leaders of every local authority in the region readily agreed and were able to speak on behalf of the region with a united voice for local government, drawing the same support for Redcar and Corus and supporting the policy of trying to get the plant through these challenging times.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
It is a great pleasure and honour for us to have you here as Chairman, Mr. Cook, and to have this Grand Committee sitting in Middlesbrough. May I build on the questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland and for Stockton, South on the future of Corus? As the Minister knows from our 30 years of working together, we used to have a whole series of industries in the region: steel, chemicals and shipbuilding. We have seen them all diminish over the years. The steel industry is our area’s last major industry. I know that he has been working very closely with One NorthEast and the Corus response group to see what they can do. My hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland indicated that 1,920 staff might be made redundant if—and I do not believe it for a moment—the steel mill closed. Is the Minister aware that other members in the local community—ancillary workers—are also dependent on the continued production of steel? He did not mention that he is having talks with the noble Lord Mandelson, who has put forward a series of proposals to assist the automobile industry.
The Minister mentioned the parent company, and I invite him to make strenuous and direct efforts to talk with that company directly, because as we have seen on Teesside, the more remote the parent company becomes from the source of the work, the less easy it is for us to retain influence in its affairs. When British Midland operated out of Teesside airport, it was a local business and we could talk to Sir Michael Bishop, its owner, but as soon as it was bought by Lufthansa, we lost it and it disappeared from the airport. We fear that a remote parent company might not take fully into account the needs of our community and the desire to maintain steel industry production here. Mr. Cook, you will be aware of the efforts that are made by Members to keep the industry open—you, too, have made great efforts in that regard—and it remains primordial for this area that the steel mill at Redcar is made safe.
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c6-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the wholehearted efforts that he has put in to back the range of economic development projects and schemes in his constituency of Easington, which have had an impact on what has been a seemingly intractable labour market problem in east Durham. I was going to say something and still will say something in my speech about the film studio scheme, which I have visited—I met the promoters—and which I think has a real chance of success. I am a big supporter of it, as my hon. Friend knows. I have made representations on behalf of the project both to the Treasury and to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and I would love to see it come to fruition. It, too, could have an impact on the labour market of Easington, and more generally of Sunderland and east Durham, that would endure for generations to come. It is exciting and innovative, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the energy that he has put into it.
I also pay tribute to One NorthEast—our regional development agency—which has taken up a number of projects that might seem a bit quirky or non-mainstream but which have come to fruition and achieved success in our region and have strengthened as well as diversified our employment base.
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the wholehearted efforts that he has put in to back the range of economic development projects and schemes in his constituency of Easington, which have had an impact on what has been a seemingly intractable labour market problem in east Durham. I was going to say something and still will say something in my speech about the film studio scheme, which I have visited—I met the promoters—and which I think has a real chance of success. I am a big supporter of it, as my hon. Friend knows. I have made representations on behalf of the project both to the Treasury and to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and I would love to see it come to fruition. It, too, could have an impact on the labour market of Easington, and more generally of Sunderland and east Durham, that would endure for generations to come. It is exciting and innovative, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the energy that he has put into it.
I also pay tribute to One NorthEast—our regional development agency—which has taken up a number of projects that might seem a bit quirky or non-mainstream but which have come to fruition and achieved success in our region and have strengthened as well as diversified our employment base.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
John Cummings
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
My right hon. Friend the Minister has visited Easington on several occasions. In particular, he has visited Seaham and seen at first hand the immense progress made there in the development of Fox Cover, Spectrum and Dawdon industrial estates and the huge investment in Seaham docks. On the horizon, he is also aware of the possibility of a massive investment in a film studio and a centre of creative arts.
I am aware of the work that the Minister is carrying out in making representations to the appropriate Departments, such as the Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, on behalf of east Durham. Can he offer assurances that his efforts will not be diminished in future by the present economic problems that we all face, and that he will continue to exert pressure and influence on the Treasury and other Departments to ensure that innovative enterprise is given every assistance to provide much-needed employment to east Durham in future years?
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c8-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
Yes, I have. My hon. Friend is right. He puts his finger on what is probably the largest single industrial problem facing our region. The situation at Corus is well understood by officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and by the regional economic development agency. I am in regular contact, through officials, with both the management and the trade unions at Corus. Absolutely every idea that could be explored through the Government, to help Corus get through this very difficult situation, has been explored. My understanding of the current situation is that there is sufficient work for the plant until the end of October, with the prospect of further orders. Discussions between the parent company, the plant management and the trade union side continue. We are working very closely to try to help not just the plant—that would be justified in itself—but the community to get through what is going to be a very difficult time.
Yes, I have. My hon. Friend is right. He puts his finger on what is probably the largest single industrial problem facing our region. The situation at Corus is well understood by officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and by the regional economic development agency. I am in regular contact, through officials, with both the management and the trade unions at Corus. Absolutely every idea that could be explored through the Government, to help Corus get through this very difficult situation, has been explored. My understanding of the current situation is that there is sufficient work for the plant until the end of October, with the prospect of further orders. Discussions between the parent company, the plant management and the trade union side continue. We are working very closely to try to help not just the plant—that would be justified in itself—but the community to get through what is going to be a very difficult time.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Ashok Kumar
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
Has the Minister discussed the future of the steel industry in the north-east? Given the difficulty that we are facing, involving nearly 2,000 jobs directly and 20,000 jobs overall, what discussions has he had with the chair of One NorthEast, and has he explored the possibility of giving state aid for laid-off staff in support of short-time working? It is a policy we need to explore. We cannot run away from it. Some European countries are supporting the steel industry. Has he had any discussions on the matter?
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I regularly meet representatives of pensioner organisations in our region, and I am more than happy to do so again. I cannot commit myself to a particular date and time, because managing my own diary is one of the many things that I am not allowed to do. However, if I can, I will. If I cannot come to the specific event to which my hon. Friend refers, I am more than happy to meet representatives to discuss the issues. I met representatives of the national convention on their recent lobby of Parliament.
I regularly meet representatives of pensioner organisations in our region, and I am more than happy to do so again. I cannot commit myself to a particular date and time, because managing my own diary is one of the many things that I am not allowed to do. However, if I can, I will. If I cannot come to the specific event to which my hon. Friend refers, I am more than happy to meet representatives to discuss the issues. I met representatives of the national convention on their recent lobby of Parliament.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
David Anderson
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Minister for that response, and it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Cook. I would particularly like to welcome the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed; it would be nice if he was on the North East Regional Committee with us as well.
I appreciate the Minister’s response. Like him, I have been working on this subject over the summer, including with the National Pensioners Convention, which is very concerned about the impact of the recession on older people in the area. Will you come with me...
Thank you, Mr. Cook. I was rushing and am out of the habit. I ask, through you, Mr. Cook, whether the Minister will agree to meet the National Pensioners Convention in our area, in particular the regional secretary, Mr. Bob Pinkerton, who lives in Blaydon.
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; North East
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c3-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
The Government are not in favour of savage cuts—that is the policy of another political party—and, yes, we stand by the commitment that we have given.
The Government are not in favour of savage cuts—that is the policy of another political party—and, yes, we stand by the commitment that we have given.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Chris Mullin
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
May I ask the Minister whether the Government are still committed to restoring the link between pensions and earnings? I think our commitment is to put it in the next manifesto and hopefully implement it in 2012. Does that still stand good in the light of the discussion about savage cuts?
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; North East
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
We also have some exciting projects, to which I intend to refer in a few moments. Perhaps the biggest opportunity is in Sunderland and east Durham, with the investment in the Nissan battery plant and the opportunity to bid—it must be fought for among the Nissan worldwide family of car plants—to build the first electronic cars. I would think that there is a 95 per cent. chance that that work will come to Durham. That would put the Nissan plants in Sunderland and Durham at the very heart of what I am certain will be a world-beating industry for the next generation and the generation beyond. It will expand on to the continent. The Nissan work force will train here and then set up sister plants in western Europe. The intention is to launch in the United States as well, but to do the training in our region. It is tremendously exciting.
Alongside that is the development of a new offshore wind power industry in my constituency, which is next door to that of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Tyneside. For those who are not familiar with the industry, the fabrication opportunities are like fabricating the Eiffel tower over and over—I do not mean with all the nice lifts, curlicues and so on; I am just describing the scale of the structure—and then putting something the diameter of the millennium wheel on top. It is huge and continuing fabrication work that will employ thousands of people once it is under way. To have that effectively new industry in the old shipyards is tremendously exciting. For youngsters thinking of a career in engineering, there could be no finer opportunity.
There are other exciting projects as well, all to do with climate change. We are ideally placed for a carbon capture and storage scheme due to our proximity to the North sea. A whole series of plants is planned for Teesside, again focusing on renewable energy. One will turn heavy oils into something commercially usable, another will focus on biofuels and there are smaller schemes related to the new technology. The region is designated as a low-carbon economy area. That is not just something done by officials; we have practical projects ready to go and enormous enthusiasm for them in the region. I think that that is the right way for us to work ourselves out of the economic downturn and provide jobs that our people can do enthusiastically.
We also have some exciting projects, to which I intend to refer in a few moments. Perhaps the biggest opportunity is in Sunderland and east Durham, with the investment in the Nissan battery plant and the opportunity to bid—it must be fought for among the Nissan worldwide family of car plants—to build the first electronic cars. I would think that there is a 95 per cent. chance that that work will come to Durham. That would put the Nissan plants in Sunderland and Durham at the very heart of what I am certain will be a world-beating industry for the next generation and the generation beyond. It will expand on to the continent. The Nissan work force will train here and then set up sister plants in western Europe. The intention is to launch in the United States as well, but to do the training in our region. It is tremendously exciting.
Alongside that is the development of a new offshore wind power industry in my constituency, which is next door to that of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Tyneside. For those who are not familiar with the industry, the fabrication opportunities are like fabricating the Eiffel tower over and over—I do not mean with all the nice lifts, curlicues and so on; I am just describing the scale of the structure—and then putting something the diameter of the millennium wheel on top. It is huge and continuing fabrication work that will employ thousands of people once it is under way. To have that effectively new industry in the old shipyards is tremendously exciting. For youngsters thinking of a career in engineering, there could be no finer opportunity.
There are other exciting projects as well, all to do with climate change. We are ideally placed for a carbon capture and storage scheme due to our proximity to the North sea. A whole series of plants is planned for Teesside, again focusing on renewable energy. One will turn heavy oils into something commercially usable, another will focus on biofuels and there are smaller schemes related to the new technology. The region is designated as a low-carbon economy area. That is not just something done by officials; we have practical projects ready to go and enormous enthusiasm for them in the region. I think that that is the right way for us to work ourselves out of the economic downturn and provide jobs that our people can do enthusiastically.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Chris Mullin
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
Have my right hon. Friend’s discussions with One NorthEast or anywhere else in the region included consideration of what can be done to promote the region as a centre of green technology? It seems to me that we have the skills and some of the manufacturing capacity here to take advantage of what is surely the future.
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c7-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government have a number of schemes to address fuel poverty, some of which are universal, so the pensioners he speaks of will have access to those. On the specific case to which he referred, the devil is in the detail. I am more than happy to sit down with him to work through the details of the case and see what representations we can make to my colleagues in government, particularly in the relevant Departments, on behalf of our region.
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government have a number of schemes to address fuel poverty, some of which are universal, so the pensioners he speaks of will have access to those. On the specific case to which he referred, the devil is in the detail. I am more than happy to sit down with him to work through the details of the case and see what representations we can make to my colleagues in government, particularly in the relevant Departments, on behalf of our region.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Beith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
I, too, am very pleased to be in Middlesbrough under your chairmanship, Mr. Cook, and I am pleased to receive such an interesting welcome from the mayor and the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Anderson).
May I direct the Minister’s attention to the fuel poverty plight of pensioners in rented property, particularly in rural areas? They are unable to access the Government schemes. The landlord is supposedly responsible for the central heating systems, or indeed their absence, and the pensioners cannot get dual fuel tariffs because they are in areas not served by gas. They are still suffering the fuel poverty that the Government are trying to address.
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; North East
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I meet regularly with the chair and chief executive of One NorthEast. My recent discussions have focused on the regional response to the recession and long-term economic growth in the region. My latest meeting was on Wednesday 16 September when I met the board of One NorthEast, the leaders of the 12 strategic local authorities and the Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination, my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton).
I meet regularly with the chair and chief executive of One NorthEast. My recent discussions have focused on the regional response to the recession and long-term economic growth in the region. My latest meeting was on Wednesday 16 September when I met the board of One NorthEast, the leaders of the 12 strategic local authorities and the Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination, my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton).
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
David Clelland
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
What recent discussions he has had with the chair of One NorthEast on regional policy in the north-east.
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I have had a number of discussions with ministerial colleagues on levels of pensioner poverty in the north-east. My most recent discussion was with the Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), following her visit to the region. I have since organised 19 constituency surgeries in east Newcastle, where I have been accompanied by an official from the Department for Work and Pensions and one from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. That was part of a benefits take-up campaign, which is a DWP marketing campaign supported by the local pension service, and which has been ongoing in our region since March 2009.
I have had a number of discussions with ministerial colleagues on levels of pensioner poverty in the north-east. My most recent discussion was with the Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), following her visit to the region. I have since organised 19 constituency surgeries in east Newcastle, where I have been accompanied by an official from the Department for Work and Pensions and one from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. That was part of a benefits take-up campaign, which is a DWP marketing campaign supported by the local pension service, and which has been ongoing in our region since March 2009.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; North East
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
There is a continuing dialogue between me as the regional Minister and Transport Ministers across a range of transport issues affecting the north-east of England, including the development of the A1 north of Newcastle. There is dialogue at official level between the devolved authority, the regional government office and the Department for Transport.
There is a continuing dialogue between me as the regional Minister and Transport Ministers across a range of transport issues affecting the north-east of England, including the development of the A1 north of Newcastle. There is dialogue at official level between the devolved authority, the regional government office and the Department for Transport.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Beith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
What recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues and Scottish Executive Ministers on development of the A1 between Newcastle and the east of Scotland.
Subjects
Scotland; North East; A1
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c9
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. It involves a complex set of circumstances, which I have looked at very closely. I have been in contact with the processing industry and individual company representatives. It is effectively a private sector supply chain issue. Each private sector interest in the chemical sector on Teesside has a slightly different take on it. What I have said to the industry, collectively, is that if it can come up with a private sector-led solution to the issue—my hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that Dow is at the heart of it—I will do everything that I can to ensure that the Government come to the table with a reasonable and proportional support package, provided that the solution has a reasonable chance of getting us through the difficulties. However, it does have to be private sector-led. Thought is being given to that and, in fairness, the private sector has been looking at that for the past three years. My hon. Friend, by the sense of urgency that underpins my her question, is doing the right thing by her constituents, because we do not have another three years. We need a timely solution to the problem and that means now, or as quick as we can.
My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. It involves a complex set of circumstances, which I have looked at very closely. I have been in contact with the processing industry and individual company representatives. It is effectively a private sector supply chain issue. Each private sector interest in the chemical sector on Teesside has a slightly different take on it. What I have said to the industry, collectively, is that if it can come up with a private sector-led solution to the issue—my hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that Dow is at the heart of it—I will do everything that I can to ensure that the Government come to the table with a reasonable and proportional support package, provided that the solution has a reasonable chance of getting us through the difficulties. However, it does have to be private sector-led. Thought is being given to that and, in fairness, the private sector has been looking at that for the past three years. My hon. Friend, by the sense of urgency that underpins my her question, is doing the right thing by her constituents, because we do not have another three years. We need a timely solution to the problem and that means now, or as quick as we can.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Dari Taylor
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
I want to pursue the issue of state aid. We are well aware that the Spanish and Italian Governments find ways around state aid. We know that Artenius, a Spanish company on the River Tees with a serious threat notice above its head, has been given £15 million from its regional government in Spain. We know that the Italian Government and their regional governments are doing the same. The company Dow produces a product that influences every chemical manufacturer on the Tees and in Great Britain. We want to know why it is not only struggling to get private money, but seemingly struggling to obtain Government money to survive. If Dow, Artenius and Corus all go down, we are in serious trouble on the Tees. Should we, too, put state aid and its regulations to the side?
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c5-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I agree with that. There are added dimensions, and we need to have discussions with others about the A1 south. A road leading north from Yorkshire is, for the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, a gateway to our region. There are sensitivities regarding that, just as there are with east-west links. In principle, I certainly agree with my hon. Friend that improvement of the road links and the east-west corridor is as important as north-south links. In the longer term, east-west links may turn out to be more important than they are now, but they are at least as important as north-south links.
I agree with that. There are added dimensions, and we need to have discussions with others about the A1 south. A road leading north from Yorkshire is, for the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, a gateway to our region. There are sensitivities regarding that, just as there are with east-west links. In principle, I certainly agree with my hon. Friend that improvement of the road links and the east-west corridor is as important as north-south links. In the longer term, east-west links may turn out to be more important than they are now, but they are at least as important as north-south links.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
David Clelland
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
I support the measures to be taken to improve the A1 north of Newcastle and eventually to continue the dual carriageway right the way from Newcastle up to Edinburgh, but as my right hon. Friend the Minister knows, the whole question of our regional road infrastructure needs serious examination. Notwithstanding the works that are now going on south of Scotch Corner to link finally the A1 in the north of England to the rest of the motorway system, which is welcome, does he agree that we also need to be linked up to the west of the country over the A66 and A69, which are also two very important routes that are badly in need of an upgrade?
Subjects
Scotland; North East; A1
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I agree with the thrust of my hon. Friend’s question. I congratulate him and Gateshead college in his constituency on the exciting bid to make use of the moneys, announced by the Chancellor in the previous Budget, to bring forward training schemes for young people to work on the new battery and electronic car technologies that are coming to our region with the exciting Nissan development in east Durham.
Could we do more to help youngsters get to college through a concessionary travel scheme? I cannot promise that today because I do not have command of the Budget, but, as my hon. Friend knows, work on such a programme is continuing and we recently agreed at the interim regional transport board, where I took the chair as the regional Minister, on £10 million to be spent on a travelcard scheme, which could be adapted to do exactly that for which he calls.
I agree with the thrust of my hon. Friend’s question. I congratulate him and Gateshead college in his constituency on the exciting bid to make use of the moneys, announced by the Chancellor in the previous Budget, to bring forward training schemes for young people to work on the new battery and electronic car technologies that are coming to our region with the exciting Nissan development in east Durham.
Could we do more to help youngsters get to college through a concessionary travel scheme? I cannot promise that today because I do not have command of the Budget, but, as my hon. Friend knows, work on such a programme is continuing and we recently agreed at the interim regional transport board, where I took the chair as the regional Minister, on £10 million to be spent on a travelcard scheme, which could be adapted to do exactly that for which he calls.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
David Clelland
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. I am sure he has discussed the big problem of the regional skills gap that we face in this region and what we can do about skills in the future. Does he agree that we need to equip our young people with all possible tools in order for them to access the excellent further education establishments throughout the region? Will he ask the regional development agency to draw together regional partners, such as the learning and skills council, the local authorities and the bus companies, to create a regional concessionary bus pass for students in full-time and further education so that they can access the excellent facilities available in the north-east?
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
I can say to the right hon. Gentleman that Transport Ministers certainly did understand that, because I have in front of me a press release from the Department for Transport announcing a four-stage programme to upgrade the A1 north of Newcastle and it is dated 2 March 1992. However, as the right hon. Gentleman knows even better than I do, that has not happened. It is best for us—this is what I have been trying to do—to get behind the reasons why it has not happened, and I know that the right hon. Gentleman is even more familiar with the debate than I am.
The correct way forward—he hinted at it in his question—is not savage cuts and most certainly not a cancellation of all spending on road programmes, which is advocated by a political party other than mine. The best way forward is to take the regional element of the Department for Transport’s programme, set a sum aside for dualling the A1 north of Newcastle and do it incrementally, taking the accident blackspots or more difficult parts of the road network first, because we should treat that as our priority. Although we cannot prove our case on usage numbers on the road up to Berwick and then along to Scotland, there clearly is a case that we can make to the Department and it is my policy as regional Minister to ask the Department to reach us halfway and for us to offer some funding to try to secure part-funding from the mainstream departmental budget and to have a programme of incremental works that will eventually get us to the objective that I think is the right one and that the right hon. Gentleman supports, which is to get the road dualled all the way up. A programme that eventually gets us there over time is better than an ideological dispute about whether the Department will pay for it all and then the Department saying, as it has done for the past two decades, that it will not pay for any of it, which is the position that we are in at the moment.
I can say to the right hon. Gentleman that Transport Ministers certainly did understand that, because I have in front of me a press release from the Department for Transport announcing a four-stage programme to upgrade the A1 north of Newcastle and it is dated 2 March 1992. However, as the right hon. Gentleman knows even better than I do, that has not happened. It is best for us—this is what I have been trying to do—to get behind the reasons why it has not happened, and I know that the right hon. Gentleman is even more familiar with the debate than I am.
The correct way forward—he hinted at it in his question—is not savage cuts and most certainly not a cancellation of all spending on road programmes, which is advocated by a political party other than mine. The best way forward is to take the regional element of the Department for Transport’s programme, set a sum aside for dualling the A1 north of Newcastle and do it incrementally, taking the accident blackspots or more difficult parts of the road network first, because we should treat that as our priority. Although we cannot prove our case on usage numbers on the road up to Berwick and then along to Scotland, there clearly is a case that we can make to the Department and it is my policy as regional Minister to ask the Department to reach us halfway and for us to offer some funding to try to secure part-funding from the mainstream departmental budget and to have a programme of incremental works that will eventually get us to the objective that I think is the right one and that the right hon. Gentleman supports, which is to get the road dualled all the way up. A programme that eventually gets us there over time is better than an ideological dispute about whether the Department will pay for it all and then the Department saying, as it has done for the past two decades, that it will not pay for any of it, which is the position that we are in at the moment.
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Beith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Type
Oral answers to questions
Do Transport Ministers in England and Scotland understand both the national strategic significance of the A1 and its significance to the development of our region and of eastern Scotland? If they do recognise that, why is it not recognised in a strategy for the road that will complete the dualling process, rather than one that has seen the dropping of two important phases of the dualling—that between Morpeth and Felton, and the particularly dangerous section of the road near Belford—both of which had been worked up by the Highways Agency?
Subjects
Scotland; North East; A1
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c9-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues and Scottish Executive Ministers on development of the A1 between Newcastle and the east of Scotland.
What recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues and Scottish Executive Ministers on development of the A1 between Newcastle and the east of Scotland.
Asked by
Lord Beith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 September 2009
There is a continuing dialogue between me as the regional Minister and Transport Ministers across a range of transport issues affecting the north-east of England, including the development of the A1 north of Newcastle. There is dialogue at official level between the devolved authority, the regional government office and the Department for Transport.
Subjects
Scotland; North East; A1
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c9; 291883
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with the chair of One NorthEast on regional policy in the north-east.
What recent discussions he has had with the chair of One NorthEast on regional policy in the north-east.
Asked by
David Clelland
(Labour)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 September 2009
I meet regularly with the chair and chief executive of One NorthEast. My recent discussions have focused on the regional response to the recession and long-term economic growth in the region. My latest meeting was on Wednesday 16 September when I met the board of One NorthEast, the leaders of the 12 strategic local authorities and the Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination, my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton).
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c4; 291882
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on levels of pensioner poverty in the north-east.
What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on levels of pensioner poverty in the north-east.
Asked by
David Anderson
(Labour)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 September 2009
I have had a number of discussions with ministerial colleagues on levels of pensioner poverty in the north-east. My most recent discussion was with the Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), following her visit to the region. I have since organised 19 constituency surgeries in east Newcastle, where I have been accompanied by an official from the Department for Work and Pensions and one from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. That was part of a benefits take-up campaign, which is a DWP marketing campaign supported by the local pension service, and which has been ongoing in our region since March 2009.
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; North East
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c3; 291881
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons
Adjournment debate on the 2012 Olympics and the North East.
Adjournment debate on the 2012 Olympics and the North East.
Lead member
Ashok Kumar
Answering member
Nicholas Brown
Department
Minister for the North East
Type
Adjournment debates
Subjects
Facilities; Training; Small businesses; Sports; Sports competitors; North East; Tees Valley; Olympic Games 2012; Skateboarding
Date
10 December 2007
Reference
469 c136-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unemployment benefit (Med 3) forms have been reported lost in the last year; and what investigations have been carried out by his Department into missing unemployment benefit (Med 3) forms.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unemployment benefit (Med 3) forms have been reported lost in the last year; and what investigations have been carried out by his Department into missing unemployment benefit (Med 3) forms.
Asked by
Tim Loughton
(Conservative)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 May 2003
For answer on
12 June 2003
Answered on
12 June 2003
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployment benefit (Med 3) forms have been reported
lost in the last year; and what investigations have been carried out by his Department into missing unemployment benefit (Med 3)
forms. [116463]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: We are not aware of any major problem with lost or missing Med 3 medical statements. We do not record how many
Med 3 medical statements are reported lost each year and we have not carried out any investigations into this matter. If the hon.
Gentleman has a specific case in mind I will look into it if he writes to me with specific details.
Subjects
Forms; Unemployment benefits
Date
12 June 2003
Reference
116463; 406 c1037W;406 c1041W
House
House of Commons