Nearly half-a-million people living in the EU will continue to have their UK State Pension increased every year for the next 3 years in the event of a no deal exit from the EU, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd reveals today.

The UK basic and new State Pension is uprated by either 2.5%, average wage growth or by prices growth as measured by the Consumer Price Index – whichever is highest.

The UK State Pension has already been uprated in the EU for the year April 2019 to March 2020. The government has now committed to uprating the UK State Pension paid to those living in the EU each year until March 2023, in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Some of those living abroad will soon receive text messages to inform them of the commitment.

A new dedicated call centre team based in Newcastle has also been established in order to answers any questions from those affected.

Work and Pensions Secretary of State Amber Rudd said:

This government is working hard to prepare for leaving the EU on 31 October, whatever the circumstances. We will be fully ready for Brexit, and are leaving in a way that protects the interests of citizens here and in EU member states. This guarantee will provide reassurance to the hundreds of thousands of people living in the EU who receive a UK State Pension that their pensions will continue to rise significantly each year, however we leave.

During this 3-year period the UK government plans to negotiate a new arrangement with the EU to ensure that uprating continues.

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Writing exclusively for the Sunday Express, the Work and Pensions Secretary says her new initiative will make it easier than ever before for parents to find work.

As thousands of kids flood through school gates for the first time this September, many parents – especially mums – will be keen to get their careers back on track.

The new website will use technology to gather more than 50,000 job adverts, all specifically designed with flexi working in mind.

From head chefs and party planners to book keepers and web developers, the roles on offer include both full time and part time jobs.

Work and Pensions Secretary and Minister for Women Amber Rudd said:

The balancing act parents perform isn’t easy. For many, it’s when kids start school that mums – and dads – look to get their careers back on track. 

Still wanting to put your kids first often means work comes second – it has to fit your life and work for your family.

So finding good, flexible work is so important – which is why I’m making it easier.

I want parents to know that I’m backing them, by ensuring that when they want to work, opportunities are available that fit into the world of the breakfast rush, packed lunches and school run.

Chair of the Women’s Business Council, Ms Fiona Dawson said:

As a working mum, I know myself how tricky it can be to balance the many demands faced by millions of women on a daily basis.

That is why at the Women’s Business Council, we have been looking into ways of supporting women who want to balance work with not just raising a family, but the huge variety of seemingly conflicting priorities, and this portal will do just that.

From staggered hours, to flexi-time and remote working, we are trying to help all women find out about the flexible working options available to them, allowing them to balance their priorities in a way which works.

Vicky was out of work for nine-and-a-half years due to mental health issues and looking after her children. A change came when she enrolled in an employment programme called Youth Engineering.

Of returning to work Vicky said:

Getting back into work has improved my mental health dramatically. I thought I wasn’t capable, but apparently I am. I’m going out and doing something for myself whereas before I wasn’t. I’ve got a full time job, my kids are proud of me.

I’m proud of myself and I’ve never said that before.

To hear more from Vicky, visit the My Way In campaign.

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Providers can start delivering face-to-face education and discrimination advice from 1 September 2019.

The option of face-to-face services in education and discrimination is possible under new contracts based on the terms of the 2018 Standard Civil Contract.

Removal of telephone gateway

This marks the first step towards the removal of the mandatory civil telephone gateway in the spring of 2020.

From 1 September 2019 prospective clients will still need to contact the CLA operator service or use the digital CLA service.

However, potentially eligible clients seeking help in education or discrimination will have greater freedom to access face-to-face advice. This will mean discussing suitable options with a CLA specialist telephone advice provider.

Once the mandatory telephone gateway has been removed from legislation in 2020 all clients will have the option of contacting face-to-face providers directly.

Training

Training materials were published on GOV.UK on 23 August to help providers prepare to deliver these services. Existing guidance relating to the 2018 Standard Civil Contract and working with the LAA has also been updated.

Further information

CLA contract documents – for new face-to-face contracts

Standard Civil Contract 2018 – scroll down for training content

CLA guidance for contracted providers

Local people will be able to see how every pound of property developers’ cash, levied on new buildings, is spent supporting the new homes their community needs, thanks to new rules coming into force today (1 September 2019).

Builders already have to pay up for roads, schools, GP surgeries and parkland needed when local communities expand – in 2016 to 2017 alone they paid a whopping £6 billion towards local infrastructure helping create jobs and growth.

Yet before today, councils were not required to report on the total amount of funding received – or how it was spent – leaving local residents in the dark.

New rules will mean councils will be legally required to publish vital deals done with housing developers so residents can see exactly how money will be spent investing in the future of their community.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Esther McVey MP said:

The new rules coming into force today will allow residents to know how developers are contributing to the local community when they build new homes – whether that’s contributing to building a brand-new school, roads or a doctor’s surgery that the area needs.

The reformed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rules will help developers get shovels in the ground more quickly, and help the government meet its ambition to deliver 300,000 extra homes a year by the mid-2020s.

The rules are designed to support councils and give greater confidence to communities about the benefits new housing can bring to their area.

New planning practice guidance has also been published today, which seeks to further simplify advice on the CIL regime, helping communities and developers understand what is required.

Councils will be required to publish an annual report on the all the CIL agreements entered into with developers from December 2020.

The regulations make it faster for councils to introduce the CIL in the first place – so areas can benefit from getting the infrastructure they need in good time.

Restrictions will also be eased to allow councils to fund single, larger infrastructure projects from the cash received from multiple developments, giving greater freedom to deliver complex projects at pace.

Providers of 16-19 education such as further education and sixth form colleges will receive £400 million additional funding to train and teach our young people the skills they need for well-paid jobs in the modern economy, the Chancellor has announced. The boost is the single biggest annual increase for the sector since 2010.

On a visit to the FE college in Bristol where he studied economics, maths and computer science, Chancellor Sajid Javid said:

Further education, like all our public services, is a lifeline of opportunity for our young people.

We’ll make a strong statement in backing it at this week’s Spending Round and I’ll continue to look at what more we can do to help, just as my FE college opened my horizons and set me on my way.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

As former FE students, the Chancellor and I both know first-hand how important the further education sector is so I’m really pleased that today that government is giving our sixth forms and colleges a major funding boost – the single biggest annual uplift since 2010.

This investment will make sure we can continue to develop world-class technical and vocational education to rival countries on the continent so we have a highly skilled and productive workforce for the future.

This includes protecting and increasing the base rate with funding worth £190 million to boost access to high quality courses for more than a million 16-19 year olds. Colleges and school sixth forms will also get £120 million to help deliver expensive but crucial subjects such as engineering which lead to higher wages and, ultimately, a more productive economy.

There will be £35 million more for targeted interventions to support students on level 3 courses (A level equivalent) who failed GCSE Maths and English, so they can re-sit their exams in these critical subjects.

Colleges and further education providers will receive an extra £25 million to deliver T-levels. The new qualifications start rolling out in September 2020 and will transform vocational education with two-year courses in subjects as varied as accounting, digital production and onsite construction.

The advanced maths premium, which adds £600 to college budgets for every additional student who takes on A- and AS- level maths, is also funded with £10 million additional funding.

A new £20 million investment will also help the sector to continue to recruit and retain brilliant teachers and leaders, and provide more support to ensure high-quality teaching of T Levels.

The announcement forms part of the Spending Round so covers the financial year 2020-21. The money announced today will be allocated across the 257 colleges in England, as well as other FE providers, including school sixth forms.

The Barnett formula for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be applied in the usual way with block grant amounts confirmed at the Spending Round.