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178051

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Ordnance Survey
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with whom he consulted and what representations he received before taking the decision that Ordnance Survey should become a government-owned company.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	223559
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The change to a Government–owned Company is operational in nature, designed to improve the performance of the organisation. There are no legislative requirements to the change and no proposed change in ownership. As the project has developed, the Department and the Ordnance Survey management have held discussions with interested parties across the public and business sectors, as well as with Ordnance Survey staff.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 10/02/2015 15:04:50 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

165870

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with which 10 countries UK trade has increased the most in (a) percentage and (b) absolute terms in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Pendle
	tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
	uin	215977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2014 answer text <p>The following tables show the largest increases in bilateral trade (exports + imports) in absolute value and percentage terms for goods.</p><p> </p><p>It is often the case that the largest percentage increases are with the smallest trading partners because of the small value of trade with these countries. In order to not distort the percentage increase data in this way the tables only consider the UK's 50 largest trade in goods partners for 2013 and display the top 10 from those selected countries. Change in value of bilateral trade is measured between the 12 months ending September 2013 and the 12 months ending September 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Trade in goods data has been used in this answer as it contains information on all trade partners whereas total trade data (goods and services) as published by ONS are not available for all trading partners.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of trade values covering over 200 countries can be found on the HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics website (goods only): <a href="https://www.uktradeinfo.com/" target="_blank">https://www.uktradeinfo.com/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Table 1 Bilateral trade in goods: (50 largest trading partners only)</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Trading partners with largest percentage increase between 12 months</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>ending September 2013 and 12 months ending September 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>Increase in value (£ million)</p></td><td><p>% increase</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Egypt</p></td><td><p>401</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Korea</p></td><td><p>1,642</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>6,310</p></td><td><p>15%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>1,955</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>291</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>1,210</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>3,398</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics</strong></p></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Table 2 Bilateral trade in goods: (50 largest trading partners only)</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Trading partners with largest value of increase between 12 months</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>ending September 2013 and 12 months ending September 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>Increase in value (£ million)</p></td><td><p>% increase</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>China</p></td><td><p>6,310</p></td><td><p>15%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>3,398</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>1,955</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Korea</p></td><td><p>1,642</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>1,210</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Irish Republic</p></td><td><p>444</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Egypt</p></td><td><p>401</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>291</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech Republic</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics</strong></p></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 04/12/2014 15:51:35 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

228803

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the oral evidence taken by the Committees on Arms Export Controls on 1 December 2014, HC 608, when the report of the review of extant exporting licensing and the licensing of new applications for Israel will be published.
	tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
	tabling member printed	Katy Clark
	uin	228599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>This review has not yet been concluded. The outcomes of the review will be announced publically in due course.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 26/03/2015 15:10:58 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

100296

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Tata Steel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Urgent Question on 16 October 2014, Official Report, column 445, on Tata Steel, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have held with (a) Tata Steel and (b) trades unions to discuss the selling of the Long Products Division.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	211586
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and officials maintain a regular dialogue with the senior management of Tata Steel.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Most recently the Secretary of State had a telephone conversation with Karl Kohler, CEO Tata Steel Europe on 29 September 2014; and met Cyrus Mistry, Chairman Tata Group in India on 14 October 2014. Official level contact is regular and ongoing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We stand ready to engage with the trades unions to discuss and listen to their views on the proposed sale.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 05/11/2014 15:56:55 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock previous answer version 24552 answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

228259

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Arms Trade: Export Controls
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Government's response to the First Joint Report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, Cm 935, published in October 2014, what progress has been made on the review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Clarion Events and the Export Control Organisation; and if he will publish the (a) findings of that review and (b) revised MoU.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	228210
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>Discussions with Clarion Defence and Security Limited on the review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have commenced. These discussions have not yet been concluded and are unlikely to do so before the early summer of 2015. When complete, the MOU will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 24/03/2015 15:28:54 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock previous answer version 52075 answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

168580

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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	Iron and Steel: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answers to Questions 58 and 86 in his oral evidence of 29 January 2014 to the Welsh Affairs Committee on the steel industry in Wales, HC 882-i, what progress he has made in initiatives to create supply chain groups.
	tabling member constituency	Islwyn
	tabling member printed	Chris Evans
	uin	217589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government has initiated a supply chain plan policy in the renewable electricity sector. To be able to take part in the allocation process for a Contract for Difference, developers of projects above 300MW must submit a supply chain plan providing evidence that the project will make a material contribution to the economic growth and viability of the industrial supply chain. Any plans assessed by Government to be unsatisfactory would not be allowed to enter the Contract for Difference round. In addition the Offshore Wind Industry Council – a partnership between industry and Government - is taking forward actions from the offshore wind supply chain review conducted by Matthew Chinn that was published last month.</p><p> </p><p>Through the industrial strategy programme, we are working in partnership with industry to develop strong supply chains in the UK. We have set out a range of measures in our sector strategies published last year, which we are continuing to deliver.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 17/12/2014 11:31:17 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

176321

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

175916

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Business: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 23 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what progress has been made towards achieving the stated aim of linking professional and business service businesses with the education sector, including through the National Careers Service; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	222126
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222127 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175918

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Business: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what steps he has taken to increase the diversity of entry to the professional and business services sector; and what effect those steps have had.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	222128
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175917

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what progress has been made towards achieving 10,000 higher apprenticeship starts; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	222127
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright