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170296

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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made on implementing the findings of the original report compiled by the Office of Fair Trading and Department of Trade and Industry regarding the collapse of Scottish Power's Power Plan.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
uin	218594
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>Statutory investigations by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Business, Innovation and Skills) using Companies Act powers are confidential and their findings cannot be disclosed outside strict statutory gateways.</p><p> </p><p>The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) did not directly investigate the collapse of Scottish Power’s Power Plan. In 2003 an investigation was undertaken by the OFT into the terms and conditions used in contracts with consumers purchasing goods under the PowerPlan scheme sold by Scottish Power plc. As a result a series of recommendations regarding those terms and conditions were made to the companies who operated the scheme, and I understand that the recommendations were implemented by the companies before they entered insolvency.</p><p> </p><p>More generally, the OFT investigated the market for extended warranties in the UK in 2002 and, having found that competition in the market did not appear to be working effectively, referred the market to the Competition Commission (CC). Following the CC’s report in 2003, the DTI implemented the Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order which came into force in April 2005. The OFT undertook a further study of the market for extended warranties in 2012.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 06/01/2015 17:15:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

171037

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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	Staff
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 15 December 2014 to Question 217431, if he will make it his policy to record the ethnicity of staff working for companies contracted by his Department.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	219119
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) seeks to ensure its procurement policy is aligned with wider Government policy as led by the Crown Commercial Service, part of the Cabinet Office. It is not currently BIS policy to request diversity data of the staff working for companies contracted by the Department, but we will keep this option under review.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/01/2015 16:16:13 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

171047

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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	Citizens' Advice Bureaux: Wales
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 funding each Citizens Advice Bureau in Wales has received from his Department in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	219351
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) fund the national umbrella body for the Citizens Advice Service in England and Wales – Citizens Advice – on behalf of all Government departments and the Welsh Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Central Government does not fund individual Citizens Advice Bureaux who receive funding from a variety of public, charity and private sources, with core funding typically provided by the Local Authority in which they are located.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS does not hold information on funding of individual bureaux.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 14:02:30 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

171048

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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	Housing: Sales
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 provide guidance for the protection of consumers on the practices of cash for property businesses so as to ensure that sellers are fully aware of the financial implications.
tabling member constituency	Colchester
tabling member printed	Sir Bob Russell
uin	219325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>There are government funded consumer websites such as the Money Advice Service and Citizens Advice that provide advice and guidance to home sellers who wish to sell their property quickly and may be considering businesses offering a quick sale service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2013, the Office for Fair Trading published a report on quick house sales and as a result targeted advice and tips were developed for those considering this type of sale. Businesses involved in the quick sale market are subject to consumer laws such as the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) and may be subject to sector specific legislation such as the Estate Agency Act 1979 (EAA), depending on the nature of the work they undertake.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 14:10:36 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	35 label Biography information for Sir Bob Russell

171236

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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	Cosalt
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 initiate an inquiry into the performance of the insolvency service in handling the case of COSALT.
tabling member constituency	Great Grimsby
tabling member printed	Austin Mitchell
uin	219223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>A report on the directors’ conduct was submitted by the administrators of Cosalt plc to my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. When considering whether to seek a director’s disqualification The Insolvency Service has to consider the seriousness of the misconduct alleged and whether there is sufficient evidence of the alleged misconduct to satisfy the court that the director should be disqualified. In this case, the Insolvency Service also considered information received from other regulators and the concerns raised by the company’s shareholders. A decision was made that there was insufficient evidence of relevant misconduct for it to be in the public interest to investigate further since the issues raised are unlikely to be viewed by the Court as serious enough misconduct to merit the minimum disqualification period of two years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The allegation of a breach of Companies Act requirements to file accounts with Companies House was considered by BIS prosecuting lawyers, who decided not to bring a criminal prosecution against the directors of Cosalt PLC. A detailed explanation of the basis for the decision has been provided to a number of MPs who had expressed concerns.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Complaints about the work and levels of service provided by the Insolvency Service are taken very seriously. Details about The Insolvency Service’s complaints procedure is available on the websitewww.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-procedure. If matters are not resolved, then individuals can contact The Adjudicator’s Office which acts as an unbiased referee into complaints about The Insolvency Service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 14:11:36 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	372 label Biography information for Austin Mitchell

171770

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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	Staff
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) external and (b) Civil Service appointees have worked in ministerial offices in his Department (i) since May 2010 and (ii) between May 2005 and May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
tabling member printed	Mike Wood
uin	219588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) currently has 9 Ministers, 7 of whom share offices with other Government Departments. There are no external appointees currently working in BIS ministerial offices. The total number of civil service appointed Private Office staff as at 6 January 2015 is 33.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>BIS is unable to provide any historic data due to changes to the HR systems.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 12/01/2015 17:28:43 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	401 label Biography information for Mike Wood

171773

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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: Regulation
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 commission a review of the unregulated trades referral industry; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	219616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2015 answer text <p>The trades referral industry can help consumers to identify reliable tradespersons. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills currently has no plans to carry out a review of the trades referral industry. With regard to repair, maintenance and improvement of homes my Department licenses the TrustMark scheme which enables consumers to select with confidence tradespersons who have been vetted against ‘Government Endorsed Standards’ for both trade competence and good trading practice.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 12/01/2015 17:27:25 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

171774

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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	City Link
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Insolvency Service plans to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the administration of Citylink.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
uin	219631
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>In the first instance, it will be for the appointed Administrators to investigate the events leading up to the collapse of Citylink. The Administrators also have a statutory obligation to report confidentially to The Insolvency Service about the conduct of the directors. If misconduct is alleged the Secretary of State then has a discretionary power to seek the disqualification of the directors where it is believed to be in the public interest</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Insolvency Service also has discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct enquiries on behalf of the Secretary of State where it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of any company, including those not subject to formal insolvency. Any individual or organisation with evidence of misconduct should send full details of their complaint and all the supporting evidence to: Intelligence Hub, Investigations and Enforcement Services, The Insolvency Service, 3rd Floor Cannon House, 18 Priory Queensway, Birmingham B4 6FD (email: intelligence.live@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has powers to use information arising from such enquiries, to seek the disqualification of the directors of the company, petition the court to wind up the company or bring criminal proceedings.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 14:17:32 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

171776

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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	City Link
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department was first made aware that there would be insufficient funds from the administration of Citylink to pay statutory redundancy payments to that company's former employees.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
uin	219633
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was notified of the impending administration of City Link Limited on 23 December 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is typical that an insolvent company has insufficient money to pay their creditors in full (including employees). This is why there are special arrangements for employees who are made redundant under the insolvency provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to ensure that they receive a basic minimum of the debts owed by the employer from the National Insurance Fund.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 14:14:34 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

172430

registered interest
date	05/01/2015
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	Estate Agents: Fees and Charges
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 protect consumers from double charging by estate agents.
tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
uin	906866
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p>We have worked closely with the Property Ombudsman on this matter. Last month he published specific guidance to estate agents underlining their obligations under the Ombudsman’s Code of Practice which is available at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.tpos.co.uk/members_index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.tpos.co.uk/members_index.htm</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>These obligations include requirements for transparency of information, avoidance of conflicts of interest and fairness to ensure both buyer and seller have the information necessary at the earliest point possible to make the right decisions. Failure to adhere to the Code risks agents being removed from the redress scheme which would result in an estate agent not being legally able to operate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 08/01/2015 16:13:01 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson