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89917

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2014
	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	Supermarkets: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to lay before Parliament the statutory instrument recommended by the Groceries Code Adjudicator to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the maximum level of fine that can be applied for a breach of the Code; and if so, when.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL1759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government intends to bring legislation before Parliament this autumn to set the maximum level of fine that the Groceries Code Adjudicator may impose in respect of breaches of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 08/09/2014 12:18:45 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

77774

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	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	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ofcom has conducted any analysis of regulatory options to protect the universal postal service in the event of a significant increase in end-to-end competition.
	tabling member printed	Lord Whitty
	uin	HL1071
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The regulatory options to protect the universal service are set out in the Postal Services Act 2011.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Parliament has given Ofcom the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service and the powers and tools its needs to do so.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has carried out a consultation on end-to-end competition in the postal services sector and published a Guidance paper on the use of its regulatory options and the circumstances under which it would intervene to protect the universal service from any serious threat from competition. More information about Ofcom’s consultation on end-to-end competition and its Guidance (“Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”) can be found on its website (<a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.ofcom.org.uk</a>).</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 28/07/2014 14:41:38 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2444 label Biography information for Lord Whitty

77775

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	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	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long it would take Ofcom to undertake a review of the impact of the increase in end-to-end competition on the universal postal service.
	tabling member printed	Lord Whitty
	uin	HL1072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Ofcom has set out its approach towards carrying out a full assessment of end-to-end competition in its Guidance published in March 2013 (“Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”). Although it has not set out a specific timescale for a full review, Ofcom has in place a continuous monitoring regime and access to key confidential data from Royal Mail and other postal operators which would enable it to anticipate any potential threat to the universal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has said that they are keeping market developments under close monthly review and if this monitoring identified cause for concern they would be able to carry out a review very quickly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More information about Ofcom’s regulatory framework can be found on Ofcom’s website (<a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.ofcom.org.uk</a>).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 28/07/2014 14:42:36 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2444 label Biography information for Lord Whitty

77776

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	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	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their calculation of the percentage of United Kingdom addressees needed to be reached by end-to-end postal delivery companies other than Royal Mail before there is a threat to the financial sustainability of the universal postal service.
	tabling member printed	Lord Whitty
	uin	HL1073
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Ofcom as the regulator for postal services has the primary statutory duty of protecting the universal service and the regulatory powers to intervene if the universal service is ever at risk.b</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has set out the circumstances under which it would intervene to protect the universal service from any serious threat from competition in their publication: “Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom’s assessment would consider the financial sustainability of the universal postal service and the need for the universal service provider to be able to earn a reasonable commercial rate of return in connection with the provision of the universal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The percentage of addresses covered by end-to-end competitors to Royal Mail would clearly be a factor that Ofcom would consider, but as a part of a wider range of factors. Ofcom has therefore not set a threshold of end-to-end delivery coverage by alternative postal operators to determine a threat to the Universal Service. At the present time, end-to-end competition accounts for less than 0.5% of letter volumes in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 24/07/2014 15:10:04 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2444 label Biography information for Lord Whitty

65945

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2014
	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	Housing: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that estate agents are trained to help disabled people find suitable accommodation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Swinfen
	uin	HL872
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government has no plans to provide training in this specific area. However, we understand the National Association of Estate Agents provides customer services training for those employed in this field including understanding the customer’s needs. It is in the interests of Estate Agents to understand the needs of all their potential customers, including the disabled customers, so that they can compete effectively to win new business and grow. The Government sets the open, market framework in which companies can compete for business on fair terms.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government does however encourage companies to make their businesses more accessible to disabled people and embrace the positive business opportunities presented by disabled customers; guidance is available on the gov.uk website for both employees and employers. It covers what businesses must do to comply with the law, to ensure that everyone they employ or serve is treated equally and according to their needs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 28/07/2014 14:40:12 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2235 label Biography information for Lord Swinfen

100604

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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	Apprentices
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) 16 year-olds, (2) 17 year-olds, and (3) 18 year-olds started apprenticeships in the academic years 2012–13 and 2013–14 in England.
	tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Clifton
	uin	HL2335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for 16, 17 and 18 year olds in 2012/13 and provisional full year apprenticeship starts for the same ages in 2013/14. Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by age (2012/13 and 2013/14 provisional full year)</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Age</p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td><td><p>(provisional)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>16</p></td><td><p>25,080</p></td><td><p>25,170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>35,810</p></td><td><p>38,320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>53,430</p></td><td><p>54,140</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><p>1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p>2) Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme rather than based on 31 August.</p><p> </p><p>3) Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 17:05:23 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3144 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Clifton

93414

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2014
	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	Asylum: English Language
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance is given to successful asylum seekers who wish to learn English.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Refugees recognised by the UK Government, along with their husband, wife, civil partner and children, are eligible for funding to attend an English for Speakers of Other Languages course. The level of funding is determined by existing eligibility rules, which are set out in the Skills Funding Agency’s rules at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287917/Funding_rules_2014_15.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287917/Funding_rules_2014_15.pdf</a>. Education and skills funding is devolved and the eligibility criteria apply to England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Those isolated by their lack of English can also access pre-entry level English training through the Department for Communities and Local Government’s £6million Community-Based English Language programme, which offers tuition to 24,000 adults most isolated by their lack of English in 29 target areas.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 27/10/2014 16:44:21 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

92787

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	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	Directors: Equality
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made with achieving diversity on corporate boards; and what percentages of (1) women, (2) disabled people, and (3) black and minority ethnic people there are on the boards of FTSE 100 companies.
	tabling member printed	Lord Ouseley
	uin	HL2023
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p>Government has been supporting Lord Davies’ voluntary business-led strategy for the advancement of all women, irrespective of ethnicity or disability. These measures are working. Women now account for 22.8% of board members in FTSE100 companies, up from 12.5% in February 2011.And there are no all-male boards in the FTSE 100 down from 21 in 2011.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not collect statistics for, and FTSE 100 companies do not have to report on, the number of disabled or ethnic minorities on their boards.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In September 2014 The Financial Reporting Council published an updated UK Corporate Governance Code, including changes to the preface highlighting the importance of diversity on the board. This includes gender, race and a wide range of other factors including difference of approach and experience.</p><p> </p><p>On 30 September the Secretary fo Business Innovation and Skills also announced his support for a business led initiative to support wider ethnic diversity on boards.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 23/10/2014 16:37:38 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2170 label Biography information for Lord Ouseley

79521

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2014
	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	Statutory Instruments
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many statutory instruments from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have been laid this calendar year; of those, what percentage corrected errors in a previous instrument (including drafts of affirmative instruments that had to be superseded by correcting drafts); and what steps that Department is taking to reduce the need for correcting instruments.
	tabling member printed	Lord Goodlad
	uin	HL1420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has laid 71 statutory instruments<strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong>(SI’s) in this year to date. The table below shows those that have been identified as</p><p> </p><p>correcting errors in previous SI’s and the SI’s corrected.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The legal advisers in the Department for Business have this year reviewed and refreshed</p><p> </p><p>both the processes for the checking of SI’s and the training given to lawyers on drafting</p><p> </p><p>SI’s. This should reduce the incidence of drafting errors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>The Copyright and Duration of Rights in Performances (Amendment) Regulations 2014 [2014/434]</p></td><td><p>Corrects an error in SI 2013/1782</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2014 [2014/578]</p></td><td><p>Corrects an error in SI 2007/3291</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) (No 3) 2014 [2014/787]</p></td><td><p>Corrects an error in SI 2014/271</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Enterprise Act 2002 (Protection of Legitimate Interests) Order 2014 [2014/891]</p></td><td><p>Corrects an error in SI 2003/1592</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Copyright (Regulation of Relevant Licensing Bodies) Regulations 2014[2014/898]</p></td><td><p>Supersedes draft Statutory Instrument of the same title laid before Parliament on 5 February and published on 10 February</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2014 [2014/1771]</p></td><td><p>Corrects an error in SI 2013/3113</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Convention on Internal Interests in Mobile Equipment and Protocol thereto on matters specific to Aircraft Equipment) Order 2014 [2014/1885]</p></td><td><p>Supersedes draft Statutory Instrument of the same title laid before Parliament on 11 March and published on 13 March</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The table does not include drafts of affirmative instruments which were superseded by a further draft in identical form by reason of affirmative resolutions not having been obtained before the end of the 2013-2014 Parliamentary session and the identical draft being laid in the 2014-2015 session.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 11/08/2014 12:46:50 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	670 label Biography information for Lord Goodlad

79134

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2014
	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	Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for future funding of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
	uin	HL1295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government provided £2.56m of seed funding to establish the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in 2013. This funding was provided on the understanding that from 2015, industry stakeholders would be encouraged to make future investments in the unit, as a result of its demonstrated success in reducing online Intellectual Property (IP) crime.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The unit has been well received by industry and early indications suggest that it will reduce online IP crime .</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is currently discussing options to ensure the future sustainability of the Unit with industry.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/07/2014 10:53:50 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones