Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

147349

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the investor-state dispute settlement system in the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will not be dealt with by United Kingdom courts.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL2753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2014 answer text The Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership (TTIP) will be an agreement with 28 EU countries and the US. In the case of the UK, it has over 90 existing bilateral investment treaties with other countries across the world, UK domestic courts and the UK legal system remain the main route for resolving the overwhelming majority of disputes that foreign investors may have with the actions of the UK Government. Investment protection provisions and Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses in trade and investment treaties are nonetheless valued by investors for providing certainty and protection from discriminatory action by host governments. Well-formulated investment protection and ISDS provisions have the potential to encourage investment while placing effective safeguards on the Government’s ability to regulate in the public interest. The Government believes it is in the UK's interest to create modern investment provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to both encourage investment and create a potential model for future trade and investment agreements with other countries. As such, we would want the ISDS mechanism in TTIP to be in line with best practice, including the new The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Rules on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration. answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 19/11/2014 12:33:40 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

147352

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Copyright
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their reasons for proposing an extended three-year transition period from April 2015 for the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, in the light of the current extent of counterfeiting.
	tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
	uin	HL2756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2014 answer text The Government’s reasons for proposing a three-year transition period for implementing s74 Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 are set out in its recent consultation which concluded on 27 October 2014 (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transitional-provisions-for-the-repeal-of-section-52-of-the-cdpa). This does not represent an extended transition period but the Government’s provisional judgement as to the shortest reasonable period, taking into account the needs of both right owners and those using the current law to trade lawfully. The Government is considering the evidence it received and will make its decision on transitional provisions in the light of this. Current items made under the aegis of s52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 would not be considered counterfeits. Counterfeit products (i.e. goods which falsely carry the trade mark of a genuine brand without permission) are already subject to legal sanction under separate trade mark legislation. answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 21/11/2014 13:06:54 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

147418

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Care Workers: Minimum Wage
	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 contribution of 5 November 2014 by the Minister of State in his Department, Official Report, column 240WH, on care workers, when the themed work on minimum wage enforcement in the care sector will start.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	213960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2014 answer text <p>We are considering how further targeted enforcement in the care sector may be undertaken as part of our annual review of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) service level agreement for national minimum wage enforcement, taking account of the Minister of State for Care and Support’s views that this sector should be prioritised. This service level agreement sets out priority areas for enforcement activity.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to targeted enforcement activity, HMRC respond to every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the helpline on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to the last targeted enforcement activity, HMRC published findings on 25 November 2013. Over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, HMRC had made enquiries into 224 employers in the social care sector. Of the cases completed by the end of September 2014, HMRC have found non-compliance in 108 (48%) of their enquiries, identifying £1,319,729 arrears of pay for 6,550 workers, with penalties issued with a total value of £146,931.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this targeted enforcement activity, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health has recently published statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation that accompanies the Care Act. The chapter of statutory guidance on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states that local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels will not compromise care providers’ ability to pay at least minimum wages.</p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is asking all Local Authorities to sign up to the Social Care Commitment which incorporates a statement about employer compliance with minimum wage legislation. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has written out to all its members encouraging them to support the Commitment as a way of raising standards in adult social care.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 19/11/2014 15:05:49 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

147416

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Overseas Trade: Russia
	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 the cost to UK businesses of sanctions currently in operation on trade with Russia.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Smith
	uin	214046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>UK businesses exposure to sanctions has been relatively limited so far, although it is too early to be able to estimate the full impact of sanctions on UK businesses. UK businesses involved in the finance, energy and defence sectors in particular are facing various export restrictions, whilst some agricultural and food producers have been affected by Russia’s retaliatory measures. The Government is maintaining a close dialogue with affected companies and industry bodies.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 20/11/2014 16:17:48 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	95 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Smith

147424

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Small Businesses: Rotherham
	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 offer additional support to small businesses in Rotherham whose sales have been affected by repeated English Defence League marches in that town; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	214111
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>There is a range of support available to help businesses, including those businesses in Rotherham affected by recent marches. Advice and support available for businesses can be found at <a href="http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.greatbusiness.gov.uk</a>. The Business Support Helpline can also provide advice and support, from quick responses to a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs, and for businesses in crisis. The Helpline is available on Tel: 0300 456 3565.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For those businesses experiencing cashflow problems, Business Debtline provides confidential and independent advice on managing financial difficulties (Tel: 0800 197 6026). In addition, any business facing a short term difficulty which they couldn’t have planned for can always approach HM Revenue &amp; Customs to discuss the possibility of deffering some payments of tax.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 17/11/2014 15:32:50 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

147419

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Procurement
	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 contracts signed by his Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Great Grimsby
	tabling member printed	Austin Mitchell
	uin	214000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>The maintenance of central records of all contracts let by the Department commenced from August 2012. Therefore, I can provide information on contracts let in the period August 2012 to date only.</p><p> </p><p>No contracts put in place for the Department using UK SBS terms and conditions include provision for compensation for lost income in the event of abrogation by the customer. Indeed, UK SBS terms and conditions include clauses specifically excluding such activity. Where the Department’s needs have been met through the use of Crown Commercial Service frameworks, the terms and conditions applied will be those required by the respective framework.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s contract opportunities with a value greater than £10,000 and all contracts subsequently awarded are published on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder" target="_blank">Contracts Finder</a>.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 20/11/2014 15:47:11 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	372 label Biography information for Austin Mitchell

147422

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Business: Alcoholic Drinks
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, at what stage during the progress of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill he plans to bring forward proposals to exempt independent family brewers from the provisions of the Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Sir Hugh Robertson
	uin	214062
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government’s intention is that all pub-owning companies with tied tenants, including family brewers but not micro-businesses, should be in scope of the measures for a Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator in Part 4 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The Government published a revised draft Pubs Code on 14 November which reflects a number of requirements we consider it would be proportionate to move to the enhanced Code and, as such, would not apply to pub-owning companies with fewer than 500 tied pubs, including family brewers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has tabled amendments that specify that the requirements to produce an annual Compliance Report, to have a Code Compliance Officer and rent assessments signed off by a RICS valuer, will apply only to large pub-owning companies. This is in addition to the Parallel Rent Assessment requirement which has always been in the enhanced Code. In addition, the revised draft Code also reflects a number of other requirements that have also moved to the enhanced Code. These are the requirement to ensure that tenants complete pre-entry training, requirements around Business Development Managers, and the requirement to provide a tenant with information about rent deposit arrangements. The Government has reached these conclusions following the discussions in Public Bill Committee and the constructive meetings with hon Members, including my hon Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that the beer and pubs industry, including family brewers, makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. It is an industry we want to see grow and flourish and the measures in the Bill are intended to do just that. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, it is an industry that contributes £22 billion to UK GDP, generates £11 billion in tax revenue and supports almost one million jobs.</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 grouped question UIN 214063 question first answered 17/11/2014 17:36:31 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson

147423

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Business: Alcoholic Drinks
	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 assessment he has made of the contribution of independent family brewers to the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Sir Hugh Robertson
	uin	214063
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government’s intention is that all pub-owning companies with tied tenants, including family brewers but not micro-businesses, should be in scope of the measures for a Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator in Part 4 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The Government published a revised draft Pubs Code on 14 November which reflects a number of requirements we consider it would be proportionate to move to the enhanced Code and, as such, would not apply to pub-owning companies with fewer than 500 tied pubs, including family brewers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has tabled amendments that specify that the requirements to produce an annual Compliance Report, to have a Code Compliance Officer and rent assessments signed off by a RICS valuer, will apply only to large pub-owning companies. This is in addition to the Parallel Rent Assessment requirement which has always been in the enhanced Code. In addition, the revised draft Code also reflects a number of other requirements that have also moved to the enhanced Code. These are the requirement to ensure that tenants complete pre-entry training, requirements around Business Development Managers, and the requirement to provide a tenant with information about rent deposit arrangements. The Government has reached these conclusions following the discussions in Public Bill Committee and the constructive meetings with hon Members, including my hon Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that the beer and pubs industry, including family brewers, makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. It is an industry we want to see grow and flourish and the measures in the Bill are intended to do just that. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, it is an industry that contributes £22 billion to UK GDP, generates £11 billion in tax revenue and supports almost one million jobs.</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 grouped question UIN 214062 question first answered 17/11/2014 17:36:31 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson

147414

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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: Risk Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what risk assessments employers taking on apprentices are required to undertake.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	213983
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government does not direct employers to undertake risk assessments for the recruitment of apprentices. Employers are required to follow their own employment practices in the same way as they would for the recruitment of any other employee.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 17/11/2014 14:58:10 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

147425

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Overseas Trade: North Korea
	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 the number of UK businesses (a) operating in and (b) contracting with the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	214138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold any information on the number of businesses operating in, or contracting with, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 24/11/2014 15:35:49 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce