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170297

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
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	Scottish Power
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he received reports from the MacDonald Partnership in relation to mis-sold Scottish Power Power Plan warranties; what the titles of such reports were; and when he plans to respond to those reports.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
uin	218595
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>The initial report from Mr MacDonald was received on 17 July 2014 for review by the Insolvency Service. Further information including another more detailed report was received from him during September and October 2014, and these again have been reviewed by the Insolvency Service. The reports are confidential.</p><p> </p><p>The reports themselves do not require a direct response but I can confirm that the Insolvency Service has completed its review of this material and is in communication with Mr MacDonald.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/12/2014 11:11:20 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

63832

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Motor Vehicles: Insurance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will request that the Office of Fair Trading investigates the level of competition in the car insurance industry.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Simon Danczuk
uin	202297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The competition powers of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) passed to the new Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on 1 April 2014. Like the OFT, the CMA is an independent authority, and therefore has complete discretion to investigate those cases, which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the case of the private motor insurance industry, the CMA is already conducting a market investigation, and on 12 June set out for consultation its proposed changes to the market. These include a cap on the charges to the insurer of an at-fault driver in an accident for the cost of providing a replacement vehicle to the non-fault driver; better information for consumers; and a ban on price parity agreements between price comparison websites and insurers. Further details are available via this link to the CMA press release:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-sets-out-changes-for-private-motor-insurance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-sets-out-changes-for-private-motor-insurance</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 15:20:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4059 label Biography information for Simon Danczuk

63553

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
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	Public Houses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to consult family and micro-brewery pub owners on the proposed mandatory code of practice.
tabling member constituency	North Swindon
tabling member printed	Justin Tomlinson
uin	202039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consulted family brewers and micro-brewers as part of last year's public consultation on proposals for a Statutory Code and independent Adjudicator for the pubs sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We received 34 written responses to the consultation from pub companies and breweries with fewer than 500 pubs, and from micro-breweries. In addition to this, Ministers and officials met with family and micro-brewers and their representative bodies before, during and after the consultation to discuss our proposals to establish a Statutory Code and independent Adjudicator.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For further information on stakeholders that ministers have met, I refer my hon Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central gave to the hon. Member for Chesterfield on 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 426W.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to take an even handed approach to discussions with stakeholders from all sides of the debate as legislation proceeds through Parliament. Stakeholders, including family and micro-brewers, will also be given a further opportunity to comment on the Statutory Code through a further consultation once legislation is in place.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 15:11:16 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson

63465

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
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	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many times his Department has appeared at an employment tribunal to contest protective awards in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	202008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not appeared before an employment tribunal to contest a protective award.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Protective awards are determined by Employment Tribunals following applications made by former employees or their representatives.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS is sometimes joined as a respondent in protective award claims, because under legislation, the Secretary of State guarantees the payment of protective awards made in favour of employees whose employer is insolvent, up to a certain amount.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is for the Tribunal to establish the facts in each case, considering evidence of the actions taken by employers and their representatives, and decide whether there was adequate consultation on redundancies BIS is not in a position to know the extent to which an employer or their representative consulted with employees and does not give evidence on that point nor take any particular position.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS' responsibility is to establish what payments are due and who is entitled to receive them. We therefore make written representations to the tribunal on points of law or to seek clarification of who is covered by a protective award. We may appeal an award, but only if we consider that the tribunal has made the judgment based on an incorrect reading of the legislation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The number of cases where BIS has made representations to an employment tribunal regarding protective award cases in the last 5 years is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 16:36:52 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

63995

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what changes his Department plans to bring forward to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
tabling member constituency	Bury North
tabling member printed	Mr David Nuttall
uin	202554
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>For the past ten months, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been discussing with industry, enforcement authorities and the fire services, a proposal to bring forward changes to the match and cigarette tests in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. We believe this would bring benefits to both businesses and consumers by reducing the levels of potentially harmful flame retardant chemicals generally used to meet the requirements of the match test, while also improving fire safety. Any such changes would be subject to formal public consultation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 15:21:52 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4140 label Biography information for Mr David Nuttall

63833

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	British Irish Council
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings of the British-Irish Council he has taken part.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	202300
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not held any meetings with the British-Irish Council within the last year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 16:28:23 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

63989

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	NHS: Mergers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the (a) Competition Commission and (b) Office of Fair Trading spent on assessing mergers in the NHS in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	202460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Competition Commission's (CC's) inquiry into the proposed merger between Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and Poole Hospital Foundation Trust, which was concluded in 2013/14, was the Commission's only assessment of an NHS Foundation Trust merger. The cost of this inquiry was £710,000, which includes the cost of the staff on the inquiry amounting to £639,000 and direct costs of £71,000 (including survey costs).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) did not collect specific information on the resources used in considering mergers involving NHS Foundation Trusts. However, the average approximate cost involved in scrutiny of a merger by the OFT was £20,000; in total, the OFT considered four mergers involving NHS Foundation Trusts in 2012-13 and 2013-14, of which only one was referred for further scrutiny by the CC.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 16:26:17 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

63464

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
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	Insolvency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many times the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service has made payments in cases where Deloitte was appointed the administrator in each of the last five years; how many such cases also involved payments made for protective awards; and how much was paid out for (a) statutory entitlements and (b) protective awards in each such case.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	202007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the last five years, the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Services have paid £77,233,534.54 in statutory entitlements, in 173 cases where Deloitte was appointed the administrator or liquidator.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Of these cases, 20 cases resulted in protective award judgments totalling £6,930,864.72 paid from the National Insurance Fund.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Due to the number of cases, it is not possible to disclose how much was paid in each individual case so a total has been provided instead.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/06/2014 15:18:20 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

63993

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Public Houses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to introduce a legal requirement for pubcos to offer a free-of-tie option in the public house sector.
tabling member constituency	Torbay
tabling member printed	Mr Adrian Sanders
uin	202502
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, introduced to this House on 25 June 2014, does not include provision for mandatory free-of-tie. The Government recognises that some tenant groups and campaigners support this option, which might appear to offer a simple way of ensuring that tied tenants are no worse off than free-of-tie tenants. We looked carefully at this measure but have decided not to introduce it.</p><p>The responses to the Government's consultation on a Statutory Code and Adjudicator for the pubs sector raised concerns that mandatory free-of-tie would create uncertainty for pub-owning companies and have an unpredictable impact on the wider pubs sector which could even undermine the tied model. Even among the polarised views in the industry, there is strong support for the tie as a business model. What is important to the Government is that there are protections in place so that the tied model operates fairly. The reforms being taken forward in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will rebalance the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tied tenants, without threatening the balance of the wider industry.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/07/2014 14:19:32 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	237 label Biography information for Mr Adrian Sanders

63990

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Companies: Ownership
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will ensure that his legislative proposals aimed at creating a public register of beneficial ownership ensure that information in the register has undergone verification.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Mr Tom Clarke
uin	202441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government recognises that register integrity is an important issue. This Department is carefully considering with Companies House and others what checks are necessary to ensure integrity of data and that the registration of company information in the UK remains quick, simple and inexpensive.</p><p>The current UK register is one of the most open in the world, and is accessed over 240 million times a year. This means the information is policed on a significant scale by the public, who report anomalies to Companies House for follow up.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/07/2014 14:22:27 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	583 label Biography information for Mr Tom Clarke

63556

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
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	Educational Testing Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
tabling member constituency	Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
tabling member printed	Mr Nick Gibb
uin	202232
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not have any contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of its subsidiaries.</p><p /> <p>I have approached the Chief Executives of the Department's Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to my Hon. Friend directly.</p><p /> <p>Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/07/2014 14:12:38 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson attachment 1 file name Executive Agency letters - UIN202232.pdf title Executive Agency letters
tabling member	111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb

63554

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
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	Performance Appraisal
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	202047
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>In common with most other Government Departments, BIS currently has three performance categories; category 1 (top), category 2 and category 3. The following table sets out the percentage of employees who have declared a disability within each performance category, and the percentage of all other staff in each performance category for the 2013-14 reporting year. The percentage of all other staff includes those who have either declared that they do not have a disability, have chosen the option of ‘prefer not to say' or have not made a declaration. 6.5% of staff BIS have currently declared that they have a disability.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Percentage</p></td><td><p>Category 1</p></td><td><p>Category 2</p></td><td><p>Category 3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Those who have declared a disability</p></td><td><p>16%</p></td><td><p>54%</p></td><td><p>30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>All other staff</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td><td><p>59%</p></td><td><p>18%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS undertakes a number of activities to mitigate against the risk of discriminatory performance markings including training for managers and staff on unconscious bias and specific guidance on making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/07/2014 14:16:54 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

64271

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
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	Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of his Department's consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been in each such month.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	202700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>This information is currently being collated and I will arrange for this data to be deposited in the libraries of the House as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 02/07/2014 15:15:38 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

64650

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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	Conditions of Employment
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 potential effect of the Flexible Working Regulations 2014 on workers with zero hours contracts.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	203174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Under the new regulations, which were brought into force on the 30 June, all employees with 26 continuous weeks of service have the right to request flexible working from their employer. Individuals on zero hours contracts, and who are employees, can request a change in their contracts which could also include a request to move to a fixed hours contract.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Individuals on zero hours contracts may be employees or workers, depending on the contract agreed between them and their employer. The Government does not keep records on the proportion of individual zero hours contracts workers on either employee or worker contracts.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>While individuals on zero hour contracts, and who are not employees, do not have a statutory right to request flexible working, they can make an informal request to their employer to vary their hours or their working pattern. An employer can also choose to offer contractual rights that are more generous than those provided for in statute.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 03/07/2014 14:45:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

65281

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
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	Street Trading
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to (a) amend or repeal the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and (b) amend Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 covering the street trading regime of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Warwickshire
tabling member printed	Dan Byles
uin	203563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The original Street Trading and Pedlary consultation was issued in November 2012 and covered the repeal of the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and other, incidental changes to the Local Government and Miscellaneous Provisions Act to ensure compliance with the EU Services Directive 2006/123/EC. The consultation had been extended in order for the Government to engage further with the UK's pedlar community and closed in April 2013. We hope to issue a response by the end of the summer.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 15:30:46 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4112 label Biography information for Dan Byles

64458

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
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	Comet Group
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects the report from the Insolvency Service into the collapse of Comet to be published.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
tabling member printed	Alan Johnson
uin	202955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The Insolvency Service's fact-finding inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the insolvency of Comet Group Ltd is being conducted under section 447 of the Companies Act. Publication of the findings of such investigations is prohibited by law although when an inquiry results in the winding up of the company, or the prosecution or disqualification of its directors, this is publicised.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 15:49:37 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	376 label Biography information for Alan Johnson

64454

registered interest
date	27/06/2014
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	Trade Unions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department's check-off system for employees' trade union subscriptions.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	202857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>I have not reviewed, and have no plans to review, this Department's check-off arrangements.</p><p>I have not reviewed these arrangements, as I believe that Trade Unions have an important role to play in creating a positive employment relations climate from which all organisations can benefit. I also believe that the check-off system does not create a distinguishable burden on the administration of the HR function in this Department.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 16:07:57 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

64639

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices there are in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Harrogate and Knaresborough
tabling member printed	Andrew Jones
uin	203019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>BIS currently employs 58 apprentices. A further 10 apprentices will be appointed under the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship scheme in September 2014.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 15:47:21 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones

64648

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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	Government Office for Science
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in the Government Office for Science.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
uin	203053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>As at 30 June 2014, the Government Office for Science employed 95 staff in total. Of those, 39 were women and 56 were men.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 15:45:32 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

65588

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Gender: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how much the Government has spent on the Think, Act, Report initiative.
tabling member constituency	Ashfield
tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
uin	203666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p><em>Think, Act, Report</em> was launched in September 2011. On average it has had 2 full-time equivalent staff working on it since then, comprising one team leader (Grade 7) and one Senior Executive Officer. Around £5,000 has been spent on events and publications to support the initiative. Significant support in kind has been received from supporting businesses and other organisations, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, CIPD, CMI, Opportunity Now, and others. More than 200 companies are now supporting <em>Think, Act, Report</em>, collectively employing over 2million people.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 14:58:47 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero

64876

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Woolworths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, columns 464W, on insolvency, how much the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service paid in relation to the collapse of Woolworths; and how much of that amount was paid in respect of protective awards.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	203335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service has paid out a total of £59,207,942.40 to the former employees of Woolworths, and of this, £18,188,224.54 was paid in respect of protective awards.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 13:51:18 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

65276

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
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	Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department plans to intervene in the Neal v Freightliner proceedings in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in July.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	203545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>I can confirm that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is planning to intervene in these proceedings in late July.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 13:40:07 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

65275

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
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	Holiday Leave: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the Government's policy is on whether holiday pay may be calculated without reference to bonus and overtime payment; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	203544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government guidance on this issue states that a week's holiday pay equals how much a worker receives for a week's work, excluding non-guaranteed overtime payments in most cases.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are aware of relevant court cases, such as <em>Neal v Freightliner</em> which will be heard by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in late July.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/07/2014 13:38:02 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

64875

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 461W, on asbestos, what training does the responsible person as a duty holder in line with Health and Safety Executive guidance receive in order to perform their duties.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Katy Clark
uin	203387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The duty holder works in consultation with specialist contractors who are qualified to carry out any necessary maintenance relating to asbestos.</p><p>Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, there is a requirement for a competence to undertake this function. As this is very specific legislation, competence would require knowledge, experience and a suitable qualification (BOHS P405) or a combination of two or more of these requirements.</p><p>A role-specific bespoke course may be arranged to meet the client's needs provided by a competent body.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 15:38:32 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

64882

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Bankruptcy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) average total debt, secured and unsecured, in debtor petition bankruptcies, (b) average total debt, secured and unsecured, in creditor petition bankruptcies and (c) median unsecured debt in all bankruptcies was of individuals who filed for bankruptcy in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	203245
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The data requested are not available in the Insolvency Service's data warehouse in a form that would allow this question to be answered. The data for individual bankrupts are held on the Insolvency Service's case management system, but cannot be extracted and aggregated except at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 15:43:34 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

64883

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Debts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average total debt was of individuals who filed for a debt relief order in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	203246
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The average debt level of an individual that was granted a Debt Relief Order in England and Wales in each of the last five years can be found in table 1 below.</p><p><strong><em>Table 1: Average Liabilities of Individuals granted a Debt Relief Order<sup>1</sup></em></strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Average Liability (£)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>8,717</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>8,453</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>8,504</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>8,410</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>8,554</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong><sup>1</sup></strong><strong>Including those under enquiry or revoked at a later date</strong></p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 15:41:23 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

64886

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 461W, on asbestos, how often inspections for asbestos containing materials are carried out in buildings owned or managed by his Department.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Katy Clark
uin	203337
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>Inspections for asbestos containing materials are carried out in buildings owned or managed by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in accordance with statutory requirements.</p><p>The asbestos regulations require all buildings containing asbestos to be inspected a minimum of once every twelve months. The level and type of asbestos in each building would dictate any additional inspections, maintenance and remedial work to be carried out in a particular building.</p><p> </p><p>The management plan, including records and drawings, should be reviewed every 12 months and any identified or suspected ACM must be inspected and its condition assessed periodically, to check that it has not deteriorated or been damaged.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 16:09:59 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

64881

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Redundancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in light of the collapse of Comet and the recent industrial tribunal ruling on employee compensation, what plans he has to issue guidance on the law relating to the role of administrators in consulting employees regarding redundancy.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
tabling member printed	Alan Johnson
uin	203234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>I will be looking at the employment tribunal ruling in the Comet case, and its consequences, carefully. As the appeal period has yet to elapse, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 15:35:41 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	376 label Biography information for Alan Johnson

64884

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Members: Correspondence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of ministerial replies sent to hon. Members in electronic form only.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	203286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) on Monday 7 July 2014, Official Report, column reference 5-6W.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 203297 question first answered 08/07/2014 15:46:48 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

64887

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Members: Correspondence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the total number of ministerial replies from his Department to hon. Members in a parliamentary session; and what proportion of such replies are sent (a) by letter and (b) by email.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	203297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) on Monday 7 July 2014, Official Report, column reference 5-6W.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 203286 question first answered 08/07/2014 15:46:48 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

64657

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Conditions of Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many calls the Pay and Work Rights Helpline received in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Pamela Nash
uin	202979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.</p><p>Calls to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline are as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>25,958</p></td><td><p>21,307</p></td><td><p>26,893</p></td><td><p>34,285</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>1,882</p></td><td><p>1,537</p></td><td><p>2,171</p></td><td><p>2,961</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>1,249</p></td><td><p>1,075</p></td><td><p>1,400</p></td><td><p>1,793</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>N Ireland</p></td><td><p>453</p></td><td><p>390</p></td><td><p>505</p></td><td><p>707</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Unknown</p></td><td><p>14,019</p></td><td><p>17,698</p></td><td><p>17,466</p></td><td><p>11,737</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>43,561</p></td><td><p>42,007</p></td><td><p>48,435</p></td><td><p>51,483</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The ‘unknown' figure refers to callers who either did not wish to say where they were calling from, or rang off before they could be asked.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 16:04:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3909 label Biography information for Pamela Nash

65107

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
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	Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to his Department's answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 460W, on asbestos, whether all staff in his Department who work in buildings which contain asbestos are (a) aware of the asbestos in the buildings, (b) trained in how to manage asbestos and (c) required to sign an asbestos register before working on the premises.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Katy Clark
uin	203430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 10 requires that those who may be exposed to materials containing asbestos have relevant training. In all instances, prior to works starting, a full risk assessment is undertaken to manage risks.</p><p>General staff (such as office, cleaning and catering staff) who regularly work in buildings owned or used by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills would not be working in an environment where they would disturb or be exposed to asbestos-containing materials. For these staff, therefore, training on how to manage asbestos is not provided and the signing of an asbestos register is not required. However, where it is identified that a member of staff or contractor could potentially be exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a full risk assessment in compliance with the regulations would take place.</p><p>The regulation is specific to those who could work with asbestos. This would reasonably exclude general office workers, caterers, cleaners, etc. However, all would be protected by the Health &amp; Safety at Work Act and Health &amp; Safety at Work Regulations whereby all works are risk assessed prior to start to ensure the safe working and environment for those directly and indirectly affected.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/07/2014 16:12:38 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

65632

registered interest
date	03/07/2014
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	Civil Servants: Codes of Practice
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) internal and (b) external complaints have been received by his Department about alleged breaches of the Civil Service Code of Conduct since 2010; and what steps his Department has taken in response to each such complaint.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Lindsay Roy
uin	203953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>There have been no internal or external complaints about alleged breaches of the Civil Service Code of Conduct received by the Departmental Complaints Officer since 2010.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 09/07/2014 16:16:15 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1608 label Biography information for Lindsay Roy

65630

registered interest
date	03/07/2014
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	Individual Voluntary Arrangements
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 value of publishing the average total debt of individuals subject to individual voluntary arrangements.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	204045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are supervised by licensed insolvency practitioners, who are required to notify the Insolvency Service of the registration of new IVAs, the name, date of birth and address of the individual, and the date of completion or termination of the IVA. They are not required to provide information on the amount of debt, so it is not possible to publish such information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 09/07/2014 16:09:41 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

65795

registered interest
date	03/07/2014
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Economic Situation: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the contribution of women to the economy; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
uin	203923
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2014 answer text <p>Women play a vital role in the economy. The Small Business Survey found that SMEs led by women contributed £75 billion to the economy in 2012 alone. The Women's Business Council estimate that, by equalising the labour force participation rates of men and women, the UK could further increase GDP per capita growth by 0.5 percentage points per year, with potential gains of 10% of GDP by 2030.</p><p>In November last year, the Government published its action plan on women and the economy, setting out full range of action we are taking, including extending the right to request flexible working from June and introducing Shared Parental Leave in April 2015.</p><p>We now have the highest number of women in work and in self-employment on record, the highest ever employment rate for women, and record numbers of women-led enterprises.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 10/07/2014 15:26:48 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

65661

registered interest
date	03/07/2014
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	Gazumping
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage estate agents to notify buyers and sellers of the cost guarantee and other options available to them to prevent the practice of gazumping.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	203918
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>There are many different contractual arrangements buyers and sellers of property can enter to help manage risks and uncertainty in the process. They all entail different levels of risk, costs and benefits to both parties. The Government supports free, independent advice and guidance for consumers, through its funding of Citizen's Advice, across a wide range of issues. However, ultimately matters such as conveyancing contracts should be discussed with a buyer or seller's solicitor who can advise on the best approach an individual could take, should they wish to do so, according to their circumstances.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 14/07/2014 16:02:29 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

65968

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	Air Travel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Barrow and Furness
tabling member printed	John Woodcock
uin	204288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The information requested in these questions is being researched. I will write to the Hon. Member with a response and arrange for copies of these letters to be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 204318 question first answered 14/07/2014 16:31:57 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3917 label Biography information for Lord Walney

65971

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	Senior Civil Servants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.
tabling member constituency	Barrow and Furness
tabling member printed	John Woodcock
uin	204318
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The information requested in these questions is being researched. I will write to the Hon. Member with a response and arrange for copies of these letters to be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 204288 question first answered 14/07/2014 16:31:57 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3917 label Biography information for Lord Walney

65969

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	Freedom of Information
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Barrow and Furness
tabling member printed	John Woodcock
uin	204269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>Much of the legal advice given to the Department in connection with cases relating to the release of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is provided by the Department's own directly employed legal advisers. No records are kept which would allow us separately to identify the cost of internal advice on Freedom of Information Act matters.</p><p>Where appropriate, the Department also obtains external litigation services in connection with such cases by instructing the Treasury Solicitor's Department. It would be very difficult to identify from the information held by the Department in respect of payments for external legal services, payments in respect of cases relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The costs of trying to collate this information for each of the past 5 years would be disproportionate.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 14/07/2014 16:05:03 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3917 label Biography information for Lord Walney

65972

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	Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.
tabling member constituency	Barrow and Furness
tabling member printed	John Woodcock
uin	204336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>BIS staff have access to a wide range of learning tools to support professional and leadership development. These are available through the Civil Service Learning portal.</p><p>BIS does not centrally collate details of individual attendances on professional development courses. To collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 14/07/2014 15:58:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3917 label Biography information for Lord Walney

76238

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Consumers: Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to prevent sister companies offering similar products to consumers at substantially different prices.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
uin	204404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government believes that the consumer is best served by the operation of open competition between companies, and does not generally intervene to regulate what businesses may or may not charge consumers for goods or services. Pricing policies such as these are commercial decisions for the trader, and are best left to the market. However, if there's evidence of collusion that is harming consumers, this should be provided to the Competition and Markets Authority, as the UK's independent competition authority, who will consider it for investigation in line with their prioritisation principles.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 14/07/2014 13:17:47 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

76245

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on any regulatory changes in regard to the Universal Postal Service; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Peterborough
tabling member printed	Mr Stewart Jackson
uin	204602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ministers and officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills meet with officials from Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of market issues. There have not been any specific discussions about regulatory changes to the universal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The minimum requirements for the universal postal service, which includes among other things, the 6 day a week postal service to all addresses in the UK – rural and urban – at an affordable and uniform rate, are enshrined and protected in primary legislation – the Postal Services Act 2011. These minimum requirements can only be changed by Government with the approval of both houses of Parliament.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This Government has no plans for making any changes to the minimum requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 14/07/2014 13:15:34 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1551 label Biography information for Lord Jackson of Peterborough

76661

registered interest
date	09/07/2014
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	Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many officials in his Department, of each grade, have remained at that grade since 2010 but received a pay rise; and how much of a rise each such person at each such grade has received.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	204760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>To provide this information would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 15:47:44 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

76657

registered interest
date	09/07/2014
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	Electrical Goods: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will review the guidance his Department issues on electrical appliance recalls to reflect the consequences of recent high-profile recall actions.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
uin	204837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>This Department contributes to the EU guidance for corrective action, including product recalls. This guidance provides best practice for any specific case where corrective action is required, including exceptional cases where a recall is justified. The guidance was last revised in 2011. BIS officials continue to work with interested parties, including other EU Member States, trade associations, such as AMDEA, and others such Electrical Safety First to consider options for improving the overall effectiveness of product recalls, including what, if any, additional guidance should be provided.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 14:35:59 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

76236

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	ICT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Department in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	204462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>The departmental security records for ICT equipment lost or stolen in 2013 and to date in 2014 are as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Total number of:</p></td><td><p>2013 totals</p></td><td><p>2014 totals to date</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Laptops lost / stolen</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BlackBerrys lost / stolen</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Smartphones lost / stolen</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 14:30:10 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

76654

registered interest
date	09/07/2014
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	Ministers: Official Cars
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many journeys Ministers of his Department have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
uin	204930
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department has access to one car used by all seven of our Ministers. Each Minister's office book the car when they believe it may be required by their Minister. No details are held of actual journeys made.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 15:51:56 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

76688

registered interest
date	09/07/2014
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	Electrical Goods: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how his Department is supporting manufacturers to improve their performance on the recall of electrical appliances.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
uin	204822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>Manufactures and importers are responsible for taking corrective action, including recall, on products they have placed on the market which subsequently turn out to be defective. They have a duty to advise the relevant enforcement authority: either Trading Standards or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The enforcement authority provides assistance on the appropriate corrective action and can, if required, direct the specific course of action to be taken. This Department supports both Trading Standards and HSE in their duties. This Department also contributes to EU best practice guidance in this area and is working with interested parties to consider options for improving the effectiveness of product recalls.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 14:39:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

76447

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish the names of people who have taken multiple cases against different employers to an employment tribunal.
tabling member constituency	Shipley
tabling member printed	Philip Davies
uin	204454
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>Government has no plans to change legislation to bring in a register of employees that take their employer to a tribunal, or of private settlements.</p><p>Employment tribunals are independent judicial bodies and, in line with the principle of judicial independence, Government cannot comment on, or intervene in, the tribunal's handling of individual cases or any decisions made.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 15:49:50 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

76241

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Adrian Beecroft
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what dates (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department had meetings with Adrian Beecroft between May 2012 and June 2014.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	204448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&amp;publication_type=transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&amp;publication_type=transparency-data</a></p><p>Information for January – March 2014 will be published in due course.</p><p>Information on any meetings between officials and Adrian Beecroft is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 14:24:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

76240

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Money Lenders
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many investigations of illegal money lenders have been carried out by illegal lending units in England, Scotland and Wales in each of the last five years; and how many such investigations have resulted in criminal convictions.
tabling member constituency	Shipley
tabling member printed	Philip Davies
uin	204420
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>Below is a breakdown of the number of investigations conducted and convictions obtained by the Illegal Money Lending Teams in Scotland and Wales in each of the last five years, and in England for the last three years.</p><p>The England Illegal Money Lending Team was created in April 2011. Equivalent information is not available relating to the regional teams which existed prior to this.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="3"><p><strong>Investigations</strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p><strong>Convictions</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>399</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>55</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>522</p></td><td><p>38</p></td><td><p>38</p></td><td><p>34</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p>460</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>37</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p>Data not available</p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p>46</p></td><td><p>Data not available</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009/10</strong></p></td><td><p>Data not available</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>Data not available</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Illegal Money Lending Teams conduct complex and sensitive investigations. The length of each investigation will be influenced by the circumstances of the specific case. In some instances convictions can only be delivered through months of proactive intelligence gathering and community engagement. Because of this, some cases span multiple years and so there is not necessarily a direct link between the numbers of investigations and the numbers of convictions in any one year.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/07/2014 14:27:40 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies