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100004

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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	Unpaid Work
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent proposal by the Child Poverty and Social Justice Commission that unpaid internships should be illegal.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Berridge
	uin	HL2219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government is absolutely clear: exploitation of interns is unacceptable and we don’t hesitate to act where we find that employment law has been broken and someone who is entitled to the minimum wage hasn’t been paid it.</p><p> </p><p>Complaints from interns about non-payment of the minimum wage are prioritised by HMRC for investigation and HMRC will investigate every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Research shows that internships and work experience programmes can be valuable opportunities for young people taking their first steps in the labour market. Our work on interns and the National Minimum Wage aims to achieve the right balance between ensuring that opportunities for young people are not cut off and minimising the risk of exploitation.</p><p> </p><p>Our concern, if we were to prohibit unpaid internships, is that this may lead to employers recruiting interns through informal and privileged networks with adverse effects on social mobility or have adverse consequences on the number of available opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>There is no definition of an internship in minimum wage legislation and interns are considered in the same way as everyone else with regards to whether the minimum wage is due. The key issue is whether or not they are workers as defined by minimum wage legislation. If they are, then they are eligible for the minimum wage unless a specific exemption applies. Volunteers are not workers and are not eligible for the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 16:15:22 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge

100604

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Apprentices
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) 16 year-olds, (2) 17 year-olds, and (3) 18 year-olds started apprenticeships in the academic years 2012–13 and 2013–14 in England.
	tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Clifton
	uin	HL2335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for 16, 17 and 18 year olds in 2012/13 and provisional full year apprenticeship starts for the same ages in 2013/14. Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by age (2012/13 and 2013/14 provisional full year)</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Age</p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td><td><p>(provisional)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>16</p></td><td><p>25,080</p></td><td><p>25,170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>35,810</p></td><td><p>38,320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>53,430</p></td><td><p>54,140</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><p>1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p>2) Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme rather than based on 31 August.</p><p> </p><p>3) Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 17:05:23 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3144 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Clifton

101683

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	EU Grants and Loans
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government which United Kingdom organisations have received European Union funding in the last year from structural, cohesion or other funds.
	tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
	uin	HL2505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The United Kingdom receives an allocation for the Structural Funds (the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund) but not the Cohesion Fund.</p><p> </p><p>A large number of United Kingdom organisations received European Funding under Structural Funds programmes in the last year. As these are too numerous to set down here, I have provided below details of websites which contain lists of beneficiary organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The links to the Structural Funds programmes are:</p><p> </p><p>ERDF Programmes in England: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-progress-and-achievements" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-progress-and-achievements</a>.</p><p> </p><p>ESF England and Gibraltar: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/european-social-fund-2007-to-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/european-social-fund-2007-to-2013</a></p><p> </p><p>Devolved Administrations (ERDF &amp; ESF)</p><p> </p><p>Northern Ireland: <a href="http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/index/finance/european-funding.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/index/finance/european-funding.htm</a></p><p> </p><p>Scotland: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/17404/StructuralFunds2007-2013" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/17404/StructuralFunds2007-2013</a></p><p> </p><p>Wales: <a href="http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/programmes/progress/searchprojects/?lang=en" target="_blank">http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/programmes/progress/searchprojects/?lang=en</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In terms of other sources of EU funding that BIS is responsible for, this includes the Framework Programme 7 for Research &amp; Innovation with numerous participants from Higher Education, Research Organisations, Private Sector and Public bodies. Project information is not set out on the Commission website in such a way as to make it easy to identify UK recipients of EU funding in a calendar year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Another source of EU funding that BIS was responsible for was the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) under the Competitiveness of Innovation and Enterprises (CIP). The latest beneficiaries report is the 2012 version. The following link will provide more information about the recipients of the programme, <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/cip/files/cip/docs/beneficiaries-report-october-2012_en.pdf" target="_blank">Beneficiaries Report October 2012 Final Version</a> – <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/cip/files/cip/docs/beneficiaries-report-october-2012.en.pdf" target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/cip/files/cip/docs/beneficiaries-report-october-2012.en.pdf</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> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 05/11/2014 14:00:24 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

142586

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	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	Minimum Wage
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 29 October (HL 2219), whether they have any plans to amend the minimum wage legislation to include interns and others not currently covered by it including those subject to the terms of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jopling
	uin	HL2696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>Many interns are already entitled to the National Minimum Wage. The term “intern” is not defined in any legislation: entitlement to the minimum wage depends on whether or not an individual is a worker for minimum wage purposes.</p><p> </p><p>The National Minimum Wage applies to all workers unless a specific exemption applies. If an intern is a worker they will be entitled to the minimum wage. An applicable exemption would be students in further or higher education performing work-experience for a period not exceeding 12 months which is part of their studies. It can be legitimate for employers to offer unpaid or ‘expenses-only’ opportunities in some circumstances – in particular where the individual is acting as a volunteer.</p><p> </p><p>Given this dependency on employment status, it is vital that employers and workers understand how this is determined. This is why last month, the Business Secretary announced a review of employment status, looking at how the system could be clarified, providing transparency for both individuals and employers. This is an internal review and findings will be presented to ministers early next year.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no plans to specifically consider individuals covered by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 20/11/2014 16:01:07 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	883 label Biography information for Lord Jopling

77775

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long it would take Ofcom to undertake a review of the impact of the increase in end-to-end competition on the universal postal service.
	tabling member printed	Lord Whitty
	uin	HL1072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Ofcom has set out its approach towards carrying out a full assessment of end-to-end competition in its Guidance published in March 2013 (“Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”). Although it has not set out a specific timescale for a full review, Ofcom has in place a continuous monitoring regime and access to key confidential data from Royal Mail and other postal operators which would enable it to anticipate any potential threat to the universal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has said that they are keeping market developments under close monthly review and if this monitoring identified cause for concern they would be able to carry out a review very quickly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More information about Ofcom’s regulatory framework can be found on Ofcom’s website (<a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.ofcom.org.uk</a>).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 28/07/2014 14:42:36 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2444 label Biography information for Lord Whitty

78241

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2014
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action, beyond the changes they are to make to apprenticeships, they intend to take in order to<b></b>prepare young people for the world of work and deliver businesses with a supply of<b></b>young people with appropriate skill sets for the business environment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Allen of Kensington
	uin	HL1136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government is taking a range of actions to ensure young people have the skills and experience needed in the workplace.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government published a Careers Inspiration Vision in September 2013 calling on schools and colleges to work closely with employers to provide more inspiration and career insights for children and young people for example through workplace visits, inspiring speakers, coaching and mentoring. To help schools achieve this we have published revised Statutory Guidance which underpins their duty to secure independent careers guidance. This makes it clear that schools should inspire their pupils through more real-life contact with the world of work. We have also published new departmental advice, which provides examples of good practice and case studies, demonstrating how schools can build closer links with employers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 30/07/2014 16:48:18 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4304 label Biography information for Lord Allen of Kensington

78319

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2014
	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	Business: Billing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current impact of late payments on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and what steps they are taking to support SMEs to mitigate the impact of late payments.
	tabling member printed	Lord Barnett
	uin	HL1209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government considered the impact of late payment on Small and Medium Enterprises in our discussion paper Building a Responsible Payment Culture. As a result we are working with industry to create greater transparency of payment practices and a more responsible payment culture. This will include a statutory requirement, via the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Bill, for large firms to publish their payment practices. In addition, we are committed to working with the Institute for Credit Management and businesses to strengthen the Prompt Payment Code.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 28/07/2014 16:56:25 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	1018 label Biography information for Lord Barnett

78959

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect Ofcom to undertake a review of the impact of end-to-end competitors on the universal postal service.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL1276
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Ofcom is committed to carrying out a full review on end-to-end competition next year. It has also made clear that it would carry out an earlier review if market developments dictated the need to do so.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has set out its approach towards carrying out a full assessment of end-to-end competition in its Guidance published in March 2013 (“Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has in place a continuous monitoring regime and access to key confidential data from Royal Mail and other postal operators which would enable it to anticipate any potential threat to the universal service. They are keeping market developments under close monthly review and if this monitoring identified cause for concern Ofcom has said that they would be able to carry out a review very quickly.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 01/09/2014 09:19:24 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

78960

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Postal Services: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ofcom has conducted any analysis of regulatory options to protect the universal postal service in the case of a material increase in end-to-end competition.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL1277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The regulatory options for protecting the universal service are set out in the Postal Services Act 2011. Parliament has given Ofcom the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service and the powers and tools it needs to do so.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has carried out a consultation on end-to-end competition in the postal services sector and published a Guidance paper on the use of its regulatory options and the circumstances under which it would intervene to protect the universal service from any serious threat from competition.</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More information about this consultation on end-to-end competition and the Guidance (“Final Guidance on Ofcom’s approach to assessing the impact on the universal service”) can be found on Ofcom’s website (<a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.ofcom.org.uk</a>).</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 01/09/2014 09:16:18 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

79134

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for future funding of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
	uin	HL1295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Government provided £2.56m of seed funding to establish the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in 2013. This funding was provided on the understanding that from 2015, industry stakeholders would be encouraged to make future investments in the unit, as a result of its demonstrated success in reducing online Intellectual Property (IP) crime.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The unit has been well received by industry and early indications suggest that it will reduce online IP crime .</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is currently discussing options to ensure the future sustainability of the Unit with industry.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/07/2014 10:53:50 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones