HM Government

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Jeremy Corbyn remarks on the death of Martin McGuinness

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on the death of Martin McGuinness, said:

“I was very sad to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness this morning, and I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to his wife Bernie and his family.

“Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict.

“Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there.

“As we reflect on his role, the past twenty years have shown us that if there is leadership and the will on all sides, we can achieve change.”

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HM Government

Jeremy Corbyn remarks on the death of Martin McGuinness

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on the death of Martin McGuinness, said:

“I was very sad to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness this morning, and I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to his wife Bernie and his family.

“Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict.

“Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there.

“As we reflect on his role, the past twenty years have shown us that if there is leadership and the will on all sides, we can achieve change.”

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HM Government

News story: Reduced regulation of English social housing providers: registration requirements

When a private registered provider (such as a housing association) applies to be registered on or after 6 April 2017, we will no longer require them to certify their status.

When a disposal made by a private registered provider on or after 6 April is lodged for registration, the provider will no longer need to comply with some restrictions in the register.

These changes come into force on 6 April 2017 when the Housing and Planning Act 2016 amends the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.

Please note we will update relevant practice guides on 6 April.

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Commencement No.4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017 (the TP Regulations) brings section 92 of, and Schedule 4 to the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) into force on 6 April 2017 reducing the regulatory requirements for private registered providers (mainly housing associations) in England.

Alongside this, the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions) (England) Regulations 2017 (the CP Regulations) amend section 183A and four of the standard forms of restrictions in Schedule 4 to the Land Registration Rules 2003.

Private registered providers applying to be registered as proprietor of a registered estate or charge in England on or after 6 April 2017 will no longer need to provide us with a certificate as to their status. This requirement, which will no longer appear as paragraph (1A) of rule 183A of the Land Registration Rules 2003, was designed to help us ensure we entered the appropriate form of restriction in the register. We will no longer need this information after 6 April, because the Regulator of Social Housing’s disposal consent regime in relation to private registered providers is being repealed (by section 92 of, and Schedule 4 to the 2016 Act). Rule 183A (1A) of the Land Registration Rules 2003 is being repealed by the CP Regulations.

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HM Government • • •

5 ways we would use Scotland’s social security powers

The Scottish Parliament has major new powers over tax and social security. Labour doesn’t want these powers to gather dust on the shelf. But that is exactly what is happening while the SNP obsesses about another divisive independence referendum.

We want to use Holyrood’s powers to make Scotland a fairer place to live.

So here are 5 ways we would use the new powers over social security to boost incomes and build a fairer nation.

1.  Boot the private sector out of Scotland’s social security system:

The private sector has profited from delivering cruel and inhumane disability benefit assessments. Labour wants to use our powers to see them booted out of the Scottish social security system. That’s why we will amend the forthcoming Social Security Bill to ensure, in law, that the private contractors are removed from the system.

2.   Boost Child Benefit by £240 per year by the end of the decade:

The best way to make Scotland fairer is to stay in the UK and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament. That’s why last month Kezia Dugdale set out our plan to use the new powers of our Parliament to boost Child Benefit by an extra £240 per year by 2021. This move will lift tens of thousands of children out of poverty, and put money back into the pockets of families who have seen incomes flat-line under the SNP.

3.  Set a legal duty to ensure everyone gets what they are entitled to:

Rather than the system working against Scots, we want to see it work for people. That’s why we want a legal duty on the government which ensures that everyone gets the benefits they are entitled to.  Scots miss out on £2 billion worth of social security payments a year. Getting that cash to families could make a huge difference to thousands.

4.  Protect WASPI women from State Pension changes:

At both Holyrood and Westminster, it is only Labour that has a real plan to reverse the Tories’ punitive pension reform which has left thousands of women worse off each simply because of their age.  We’d use the new top-up powers to reverse the £6 a week cut women born between April 1951 and 1953 face compared to men, and UK Labour would extend Pension Credit to WASPI women affected by George Osborne’s pension cuts.

5.  Give carers the support they deserve:

Every party at Holyrood has backed plans to boost Carer’s Allowance by £600 a year.  More than 6 months after SNP Ministers got the power to just that, all they have done is commission a feasibility study.  While carers are left in the dark, the Nationalists can’t and won’t say when it will be paid. Not a single MSP would stand in the way of this increase. Labour wants thousands of carers who have been promised the increase to get more than just warm words.

Like our plans? Then join today and let’s fight for a fairer Scotland in the UK.

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HM Government

News story: Data released on appeals for 2016 GCSE and AS and A level exams

The report shows that there were 355 appeals against results made in 2016, compared to 466 in 2015 – a decrease of 24%.

This reduction is in the context of a drop in the number of GCSE, AS and A level unit entries and drop in the number of requests for reviews of marking in 2016 compare to 2015.

In 2016 211 (3.2%) of all grades challenged at appeal led to a grade change. This compares to 2015 where 49 (0.7%) of grades challenged under appeal were changed. An appeal can relate to more than one student.

This increase in successful appeals, from 31 in 2015 to 46 in 2016, follows a pilot run in 2016 to test new grounds for appeal in 3 subjects. For AS and A level geography, physics and religious studies the grounds for appeal following a review were extended to allow an appeal on the grounds of a marking error that was not corrected during the review. Traditionally, exam boards have only accepted appeals on the grounds of a procedural error.

Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, said: “The appeals pilot in three subjects is part of a set of wider changes we are making to the marking reviews and appeals system. The changes aim to make the system as fair as it can be for all students and to make sure students get the grade their performance deserved.

“We are evaluating the pilot before deciding whether to extend the additional grounds to other subjects.”

An appeal can be requested once a school or college has gone through the review of marking and moderation process if they are dissatisfied with the outcome.

The full statistical release, Appeals for GCSE and GCE: summer 2016 exam series, can be read here

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HM Government • • •