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444107

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2016
	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	Disability Aids: 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 take steps to prevent the exploitation of consumers by salesmen of stair lifts and other aids to the elderly and disabled.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	22189
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2016 answer text <br /><p><strong></strong></p><p>The Department funds the Citizens Advice Service to provide valuable advice to consumers, including how to avoid scams. Citizens Advice also lead the annual Scams Awareness Month, working with Trading Standards to help give consumers the confidence to spot and report a scam.</p><br /><p>Trading Standards Officers have powers to take action under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 against salesmen who use misleading practices and aggressive pressure selling. Additionally, National Trading Standards Scambuster Teams take action against large scale national and regional scammers, including those who exploit the elderly and vulnerable through the sale of substandard or unnecessary mobility aids.</p><br /><p>Since 2014 the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014 introduced important new rights for consumers to take their own action against such traders to get their money back.</p><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 20/01/2016 17:45:38 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

349808

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	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	Further Education: Finance
	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 Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement on reducing spending of 4 June 2015, if he will make it his policy to maintain the existing level of funding to further education colleges over the next five years.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	1859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The majority of the Department’s £450m savings will be delivered through known underspends and releasing unallocated funding. Officials in my department are working with the Skills Funding Agency to determine how Further Education savings can best be achieved in line with ministers’ priorities.</p><p> </p><p>All spending decisions for 16-17 and beyond will be taken as part of the Spending Review, the timetable for which is yet to be finalised.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 16/06/2015 10:59:04 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

419786

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	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	Universities: Economic Situation
	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 effect of universities on their local economy.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	10732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Higher education institutions play an important role in their local areas. Several universities have undertaken individual studies of their impact on their local area, and such studies have generally found positive impacts. Universities UK and others have also assessed the important impact of universities on national growth.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 19/10/2015 13:07:45 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

419787

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	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	Higher Education: Arts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to encourage collaboration between higher education institutions and the creative economy.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	10733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and supports collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the creative economy using a variety of mechanisms including knowledge exchange centres and collaborative doctoral studentships.</p><p>AHRC will invest £16m during the period 2012-16 in the Knowledge Exchange Hubs for the Creative Economy. These Hubs, based in Bristol, Dundee, London and Lancaster, have drawn over 350 businesses, 320 academics and 170 third sector organisations into new forms of collaboration.</p><p>Innovate UK encourages collaboration between HEIs and the creative economy through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (8 currently being supported in the Creative Industries) and through support of the creative industries council’s strategy.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 19/10/2015 13:05:55 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

419785

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	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	Science: South West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to expand the Bristol and Bath Science Park.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	10729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The Bristol and Bath Science Park provides a world-class environment for innovative businesses to locate and grow their operations. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) continues to work closely with the Homes and Communities Agency, the private sector development partners and local partners to ensure that the existing site is developed to its full potential.</p><p>The Homes and Communities Agency manages the development on behalf of BIS. The Department is the beneficial owner of the site and the Homes and Communities Agency holds the freehold rights.</p><p>A Local Steering Group has been established to steer the development, which includes representatives from the private sector development partners, the local universities (Bath, Bristol, and the University of the West of England), South Gloucestershire Council, West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, the National Composites Centre which is situated on the Science Park and is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Invest Bristol &amp; Bath, the Homes &amp; Communities Agency and BIS.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 19/10/2015 13:10:03 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

446190

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of employers withholding wages from employees; and what steps he is taking to prevent that practice.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	23246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2016 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not collate this information centrally, however, I refer my Hon. Friend to the additional information which was placed in the Libraries of the House in response to a question from the Hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury UIN <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-11-19/17042/" target="_blank">17042</a>. Acas were notified of 12,791 Early Conciliation claims relating to the Wages Act from April to September 2015.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, there were 9,494 Employment Tribunal claims relating to unauthorised deductions from wages in the most recent six months for which HMCTS data is available (April to September 2015, <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics</a>).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government publishes clear advice for employers and workers on deductions from pay which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/understanding-your-pay/deductions-from-your-pay" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/understanding-your-pay/deductions-from-your-pay</a>. A worker’s pay cannot be reduced below the National Minimum Wage (NMW) except in very limited circumstances – even if the worker agrees to the deduction.</p><p> </p><p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enforces the NMW, and anyone concerned about underpayment of the NMW should call Acas’s confidential helpline on 0300 123 1100 or visit <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/nmw" target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/nmw</a>. HMRC will respond to every complaint they receive.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 14/03/2016 16:54:34 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

423923

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2015
	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	Electronic Publishing: EU Action
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the potential effect of the European Commission's Digital Single Market proposals on UK publishers; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	13272
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2015 answer text <p>The Digital Single Market is a stated priority for the Juncker Commission, which could deliver significant gains for both consumers and businesses. As such, Ministers across Government regularly hold discussions in Europe and the UK with our European counterparts on the Digital Single Market including its potential effects on UK’s creative industries and publishers in particular.</p><p>Currently there are no Digital Single Market legislative proposals on the table, but we are encouraging the Commission to ensure that future proposals are carefully assessed to ensure that they do not damage incentives to invest in the production of creative content.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 28/10/2015 17:50:26 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

455997

	registered interest
	date	29/02/2016
	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	STEM Subjects: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to secure the appropriate data to monitor the progress of programmes which encourage the uptake of STEM subjects and careers by girls.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	28887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2016 answer text <p>The Government funds a number of programmes which encourage the uptake of STEM subjects by girls. We monitor the progress of these programmes against their key performance indicators through regular reports, and by evaluating their impact.</p><p>In 2014 the Government published for the first time data showing the proportion of girls and boys studying A levels in science and maths at each post-16 institution, and in 2016 time series data of students entered for mathematics and science A level subjects by number of subjects and gender. Both sets of data will continue to be published on an annual basis.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 11/03/2016 17:02:40 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

458005

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2016
	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	Migrant Workers: 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, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of plans under the Immigration Bill to introduce a charge on UK employers for employing skilled foreign workers on the number of people applying to study STEM subjects at university.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	30033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2016 answer text <p>The Government is considering carefully the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations on migration including the likely impact on different sectors. It is essential that the UK remains open for business, while migration levels are controlled.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 21/03/2016 16:00:38 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett

349827

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	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, what responsibilities the National Apprenticeship Service has for regulation of apprenticeships in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Ben Howlett
	uin	1971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p>The National Apprenticeship Service is not an organisation in its own right, but is a service delivery brand operated by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The SFA, as the funder of post 16 education and training in England, has the responsibility for the funding of apprenticeships in England. Any organisation in receipt of SFA funds to deliver apprenticeships is required to comply with the associated Funding Rules which detail compliance for the apprenticeship programme as referenced in the Deregulation Bill of 2015.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 18/06/2015 13:11:59 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4445 label Biography information for Ben Howlett