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224374

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Digital Technology: EU Action
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which (a) film, (b) television, (c) music and (d) publishing companies his Department consulted on the contents of the Government's policy paper, UK vision for EU's digital economy, before it was published.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	225810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the creative and other interested sectors in developing the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, including representatives of film, television, music and publishing companies. The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders on the digital single market agenda to promote a single market which supports growth and enables businesses, creators and consumers to enjoy the opportunities presented by the digital economy.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 04/03/2015 15:40:16 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

224380

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Digital Technology: EU Action
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to UK vision for the EU's digital economy, published in January 2015, what steps the Government is taking to implement the recommendation that the European Commission should act to ensure access to digital media content across EU borders; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	225812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>As set out in the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, the Government believes that the digital single market should make it easier for people to access and use content on fair and reasonable terms across borders. The Government will be engaging with the European Commission and stakeholders to promote targeted changes based on the best available evidence. We must ensure we have a copyright framework that supports economic growth, protects our creators, rewards creativity and responds to consumer needs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 04/03/2015 15:49:19 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

222379

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent fall in the price of oil on (a) projects, (b) employment prospects and (c) long-term competitiveness and capacity in the offshore sector supply chain in the North East of England; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224602
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>We recognise the important role that businesses in the North East of England play in the oil and gas offshore sector supply chain. No specific assessment has been made of the effect of the recent fall in the price of oil on business in the North East of England, but the Department continues to work with its local offices to monitor the situation. I am planning to visit Newcastle shortly to gain first-hand knowledge of the issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 03/03/2015 10:53:05 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

222452

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the powers available to local authorities to intervene on privately-owned land to (a) monitor and (b) protect the welfare of horses; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224601
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2015 answer text <p>The Animal Welfare Act 2006 provides appropriate powers to allow Local Authority inspectors to investigate allegations of poor welfare of horses. The 2006 Act was reviewed in 2010 and the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs made no recommendation to change the powers available to Local Authorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 27/02/2015 14:01:03 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

179143

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Hartlepool
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 12 July 2010, Official Report, columns 577-8W, on teachers: Hartlepool, what the teacher to pupil ratio was in each school in Hartlepool constituency in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>The following table provides the pupil to teacher ratio (PTR) for each school in Hartlepool constituency in England, November 2010 to 2013. Prior to 2010 comparable PTR information is not available on a consistent basis because the methodology changed to include sole and dual registered pupils. The information provided is from the School Workforce Census which takes place in November each year. November 2013 is the latest information available.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>2010</strong><sup>1,2</sup></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong><sup>1,2</sup></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong><sup>1,2</sup></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong><sup>2,3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>HARTLEPOOL LOCAL AUTHORITY</strong></p></td><td><p>17.0</p></td><td><p>17.3</p></td><td><p>16.7</p></td><td><p>15.9</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nursery Schools</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Seaton Carew Nursery School</p></td><td><p>14.8</p></td><td><p>11.1</p></td><td><p>11.6</p></td><td><p>15.0</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Primary Schools</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Ward Jackson Primary School</p></td><td><p>13.8</p></td><td><p>19.5</p></td><td><p>18.1</p></td><td><p>17.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hart Primary School</p></td><td><p>20.0</p></td><td><p>18.4</p></td><td><p>20.0</p></td><td><p>19.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Owton Manor Primary School</p></td><td><p>13.6</p></td><td><p>18.2</p></td><td><p>14.5</p></td><td><p>15.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Brougham Primary School</p></td><td><p>17.9</p></td><td><p>16.7</p></td><td><p>16.0</p></td><td><p>14.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Golden Flatts Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.9</p></td><td><p>18.3</p></td><td><p>19.8</p></td><td><p>16.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jesmond Gardens Community Primary School</p></td><td><p>18.8</p></td><td><p>19.1</p></td><td><p>20.2</p></td><td><p>18.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eldon Grove Academy</p></td><td><p>20.1</p></td><td><p>18.5</p></td><td><p>19.7</p></td><td><p>16.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lynnfield Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.7</p></td><td><p>21.7</p></td><td><p>21.7</p></td><td><p>15.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Stranton Primary School</p></td><td><p>18.5</p></td><td><p>21.3</p></td><td><p>16.4</p></td><td><p>15.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Fens Primary School</p></td><td><p>22.8</p></td><td><p>24.0</p></td><td><p>24.4</p></td><td><p>24.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kingsley Primary School</p></td><td><p>21.1</p></td><td><p>20.1</p></td><td><p>18.9</p></td><td><p>17.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Helen's Primary School</p></td><td><p>20.7</p></td><td><p>18.9</p></td><td><p>20.1</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West View Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.6</p></td><td><p>18.7</p></td><td><p>16.9</p></td><td><p>14.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Throston Primary School</p></td><td><p>21.9</p></td><td><p>23.9</p></td><td><p>22.9</p></td><td><p>23.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Park Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.3</p></td><td><p>22.0</p></td><td><p>21.7</p></td><td><p>20.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Clavering Primary School</p></td><td><p>23.1</p></td><td><p>20.1</p></td><td><p>21.8</p></td><td><p>20.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Barnard Grove Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.6</p></td><td><p>17.2</p></td><td><p>18.6</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rift House Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.4</p></td><td><p>17.5</p></td><td><p>18.9</p></td><td><p>19.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rossmere Primary School</p></td><td><p>17.5</p></td><td><p>19.6</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td><td><p>19.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grange Primary School</p></td><td><p>16.9</p></td><td><p>17.7</p></td><td><p>20.0</p></td><td><p>19.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.9</p></td><td><p>20.5</p></td><td><p>20.8</p></td><td><p>20.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greatham CofE Primary School</p></td><td><p>21.7</p></td><td><p>21.4</p></td><td><p>21.2</p></td><td><p>20.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Aidan's CofE Memorial Primary School</p></td><td><p>21.8</p></td><td><p>22.4</p></td><td><p>19.5</p></td><td><p>17.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sacred Heart RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>24.7</p></td><td><p>23.6</p></td><td><p>21.7</p></td><td><p>24.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Cuthbert's RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>22.8</p></td><td><p>23.6</p></td><td><p>26.3</p></td><td><p>23.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Joseph's RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>20.7</p></td><td><p>21.5</p></td><td><p>20.8</p></td><td><p>22.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Teresa's RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>23.5</p></td><td><p>21.2</p></td><td><p>21.5</p></td><td><p>20.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Bega's RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>17.3</p></td><td><p>26.1</p></td><td><p>17.5</p></td><td><p>17.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St John Vianney RC Primary School</p></td><td><p>19.3</p></td><td><p>22.4</p></td><td><p>22.2</p></td><td><p>16.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Holy Trinity Church of England (Aided) Primary School</p></td><td><p>24.0</p></td><td><p>26.5</p></td><td><p>17.9</p></td><td><p>23.3</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Secondary Schools</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>St Hild's Church of England Voluntary Aided School</p></td><td><p>15.3</p></td><td><p>14.6</p></td><td><p>13.8</p></td><td><p>12.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dyke House Sports and Technology College</p></td><td><p>14.7</p></td><td><p>13.4</p></td><td><p>13.3</p></td><td><p>14.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>High Tunstall College of Science</p></td><td><p>15.5</p></td><td><p>16.4</p></td><td><p>15.2</p></td><td><p>14.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Manor College of Technology</p></td><td><p>14.0</p></td><td><p>14.6</p></td><td><p>14.3</p></td><td><p>14.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College</p></td><td><p>14.5</p></td><td><p>15.0</p></td><td><p>14.9</p></td><td><p>14.0</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Special Schools</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Catcote School</p></td><td><p>6.8</p></td><td><p>7.1</p></td><td><p>5.8</p></td><td><p>4.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Springwell School</p></td><td><p>4.8</p></td><td><p>4.3</p></td><td><p>4.5</p></td><td><p>4.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: School Workforce Census</p><p> </p><p>[1] PTRs are calculated by dividing the total full time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.</p><p>[2] For statistical purposes only, pupils who do not attend both morning and afternoon at least five days a week are regarded as part-time. Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 FTE.</p><p>[3] PTRs are calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified and unqualified teachers regularly employed in schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 23/02/2015 09:38:27 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

179158

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hospitals: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) Hartlepool and (b) the North East had to wait on trolleys for more than 12 hours to be admitted to a hospital ward in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224144
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>Data from November 2010 onwards is available in the NHS England weekly accident and emergency (A&amp;E) performance reports, which are published online at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/" target="_blank">http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Prior to this period A&amp;E data was collected quarterly from 2001-02 and this can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http:/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/AccidentandEmergency/index.htm" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/AccidentandEmergency/index.htm</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 26/02/2015 16:54:35 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

179162

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is for mental health talking therapies in (a) Hartlepool constituency and (b) the North East.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) dataset contains information on referrals to IAPT services which provide talking therapies. Information is provided both for Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) and for all 12 North East CCGs combined for the year 2013/14. Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG includes Hartlepool constituency and the CCG is the smallest geographical breakdown available.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p>The number of referrals entering treatment<sup>1</sup> in the year, with mean and median waiting times (days), for IAPT services in 2013/14. Data shown for NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG and all North East CCGs combined<sup>2</sup>.</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Organisation name</p></td><td><p>Referrals entering treatment</p></td><td><p>Mean<sup>3</sup> waiting time to first treatment appointment (days)</p></td><td><p>Median<sup>3</sup> waiting time to first treatment appointment (days)</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG</p></td><td><p>7,050</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>All North East CCGs combined</p></td><td><p>50,845</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><sup>1</sup>In order to enter treatment a referral must have a first treatment appointment (an appointment with a therapy type recorded) in the year.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><sup>2</sup>CCG is based on general practitioner (GP) Practice. Where GP Practice is not recorded, or cannot be assigned to a CCG, the referral is categorised as 'Unknown'.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p><sup>3</sup>Means and medians have been rounded to the nearest whole number.</p></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Notes:</em></p><p> </p><p>Waiting time is measured by counting the number of days between a referral being received and the first treatment appointment. For 2013/14, the presence of a valid therapy type is used as an indicator of whether treatment was provided in the course of the appointment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Entering treatment figures are rounded to the nearest 5.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is generally advised that the median is used as the more reliable measure of average waiting time, as this accounts better for any outliers in the data.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p><em>Source:</em> IAPT Dataset, Health and Social Care Information Centre</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 24/02/2015 14:40:57 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

179186

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Cleveland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 22 November 2012, Official Report, columns 566-7W, on police: Cleveland, what estimate she has made of the number of police officers allocated to Hartlepool constituency for frontline duties in each year since the basic command unit was abolished; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	224145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>As set out in the previous answer mentioned by the Hon Gentleman, the Home Office no longer collects police workforce information at the requested level. The deployment of available resources is a matter for chief officers locally, working with their Police and Crime Commissioner.<br><br>At the overall police force area level, according to the definitions set out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Cleveland Police plan to have 1271 police officers working in frontline roles by March 2015. This represents 91 per cent of the total police officer workforce. <br><br>Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has made clear there is no simple link between officer numbers and crime levels. This is supported by the reduction in crime of more than one fifth under this Government, according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 23/02/2015 14:11:25 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

178524

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses in North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have had their pay downgraded as a consequence of national consultations; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	223812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>No nurses have had their pay downgraded as a result of national consultations. Banding of nursing posts is a matter for local employers, involving local Trade Unions, using the Agenda for Change job evaluation framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have written to Paul Garvin, Chair of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 12/02/2015 17:14:49 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

176321

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Service Industries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 8 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what the outcome was of the repeat of the regional outreach consultations, planned to take place in the latter part of 2013; and what steps his Department took in response to that consultation.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	222513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:14 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright