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78988

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	Buildings
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 review his departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	206680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>There has been, and continues to be, substantial investment in reviewing BIS Departmental Estates in order to reduce costs. We have made substantial investment which has proven most successful in delivering an Estates Transition Programme.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/09/2014 15:48:11 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson attachment 1 file name PQ UIN 206680 - Departmental Estate.docx title Estates Transition Programme - Objectives
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

78641

registered interest
date	17/07/2014
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	Sunday Trading
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the most recent impact assessment his Department has carried out on the issue of Sunday trading.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	206509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) undertook an assessment in relation to Sunday Trading legislation which was published in May 2012 alongside the Sunday Trading (London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Bill, though this was not a formal impact assessment. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) looked at retail trade evidence during the Olympics suspension.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Prior to this BIS carried out a thorough review of the 1994 legislation (including a consultation and an independent economic cost benefit analysis) in 2006.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 22/07/2014 13:29:51 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

78645

registered interest
date	17/07/2014
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	Pay: Ethnic Groups
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 increase the number of workers from ethnic minority backgrounds who are paid the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
tabling member constituency	Bolton North East
tabling member printed	Mr David Crausby
uin	206515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/08/2014 answer text <p>The Government encourages employers to pay the Living Wage when it is affordable and not at the expense of jobs. However our primary policy for supporting the low paid is the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is carefully set by the independent Low Pay Commission at a level that maximises their wages without damaging employment by setting it too high.</p><p>The NWW has benefitted all low paid workers across the UK, not just those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Since its introduction in 1999 it has increased faster than average earnings and inflation without an adverse impact on employment.</p><p>In addition to the NMW we are increasing the personal allowance for income tax, allowing workers to take home more of what they earn. From April 2015 changes to income tax will provide the average worker with an additional £800 to their pay packet and by then will have taken 3.2 million people out of tax altogether.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 29/08/2014 09:22:31 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	437 label Biography information for Sir David Crausby

78332

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	Correspondence
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 increase the number of replies within his Department's working day standard; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	206131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/08/2014 answer text <p>The handling of correspondence is given the highest priority by the Department and we aim to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days. For the calendar year ending 31 December 2013, the latest period for which figures are available, 93% of responses to MPs and Peers were answered within our target of 15 working days. This represents an increase of 9% over the previous year’s performance.</p><p>Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations will be updated in due course.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 28/08/2014 15:06:20 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

78333

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	Correspondence
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 estimate the annual cost to his Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	206140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p>Every effort is made to ensure that departmental correspondence is dealt with in an efficient and cost-effective manner.</p><p>Letters are sent on stationery printed in-house. If sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members at the House of Commons or House of Lords then no postage is incurred as mail is delivered twice a day from the Department, 1 Victoria Street on our van service.</p><p> </p><p>During recess, letters are sent via first class mail – the cost of stationery and postage during the most recent summer recess period is estimated at around £200. Figures for earlier time periods are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 01/09/2014 16:01:29 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

78339

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	Takeovers
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 and meetings (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have held with the European Commission on takeovers and public interest tests since 20 April 2014.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	206299
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Ministers and officials frequently have conversations with the European Commission on a range of issues. Since 20 April 2014, this issue was discussed at a meeting between officials on 16 May 2014.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 22/07/2014 14:35:15 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

78342

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	Sunday Trading
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what studies, statistics or other briefings have been commissioned or purchased by his Department on the issue of Sunday trading in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	206300
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not commissioned or purchased any studies on the issue of Sunday Trading in the past 12 months.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 22/07/2014 13:24:08 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

78344

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	Post Boxes
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 post boxes that have been decommissioned since the privatisation of Royal Mail.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Mr Mike Weir
uin	206301
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Providing Royal Mail maintains its network of access points in accordance with the framework set by Ofcom, the postal regulator, decisions relating to local post boxes are made on operational grounds by Royal Mail’s management. The company’s decisions are not subject to a consultation procedure though it does have a system of notifying and advising customers where the removal or relocation of a post box is considered necessary.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Following a consultation last year, Ofcom enhanced regulatory protection to cover all UK addresses. This was based on extensive market research to inform its understanding of the reasonable needs of postal users. Royal Mail is now required to ensure that there is a post box within 0.5 miles of at least 98% of delivery points (i.e. addresses) nationally; and for the remaining 2% of delivery points, Royal Mail must provide or procure the provision of access to the universal service by other means (for example, collection on delivery from very remote or isolated locations such as farmhouses) to meet the reasonable needs of users. Ofcom monitors Royal Mail’s national provision of access under this framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Royal Mail is currently exceeding the agreed level of provision on a national basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 206302 206303 206304 question first answered 22/07/2014 13:45:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1384 label Biography information for Mike Weir

78346

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	Post Boxes
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 adequacy of the procedures for consultation before the decommissioning of post boxes by Royal Mail.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Mr Mike Weir
uin	206302
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Providing Royal Mail maintains its network of access points in accordance with the framework set by Ofcom, the postal regulator, decisions relating to local post boxes are made on operational grounds by Royal Mail’s management. The company’s decisions are not subject to a consultation procedure though it does have a system of notifying and advising customers where the removal or relocation of a post box is considered necessary.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Following a consultation last year, Ofcom enhanced regulatory protection to cover all UK addresses. This was based on extensive market research to inform its understanding of the reasonable needs of postal users. Royal Mail is now required to ensure that there is a post box within 0.5 miles of at least 98% of delivery points (i.e. addresses) nationally; and for the remaining 2% of delivery points, Royal Mail must provide or procure the provision of access to the universal service by other means (for example, collection on delivery from very remote or isolated locations such as farmhouses) to meet the reasonable needs of users. Ofcom monitors Royal Mail’s national provision of access under this framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Royal Mail is currently exceeding the agreed level of provision on a national basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 206301 206303 206304 question first answered 22/07/2014 13:45:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1384 label Biography information for Mike Weir

78348

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	Post Boxes
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 representations to Royal Mail on the need to conduct local consultation prior to the decommissioning of post boxes.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Mr Mike Weir
uin	206303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Providing Royal Mail maintains its network of access points in accordance with the framework set by Ofcom, the postal regulator, decisions relating to local post boxes are made on operational grounds by Royal Mail’s management. The company’s decisions are not subject to a consultation procedure though it does have a system of notifying and advising customers where the removal or relocation of a post box is considered necessary.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Following a consultation last year, Ofcom enhanced regulatory protection to cover all UK addresses. This was based on extensive market research to inform its understanding of the reasonable needs of postal users. Royal Mail is now required to ensure that there is a post box within 0.5 miles of at least 98% of delivery points (i.e. addresses) nationally; and for the remaining 2% of delivery points, Royal Mail must provide or procure the provision of access to the universal service by other means (for example, collection on delivery from very remote or isolated locations such as farmhouses) to meet the reasonable needs of users. Ofcom monitors Royal Mail’s national provision of access under this framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Royal Mail is currently exceeding the agreed level of provision on a national basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 206301 206302 206304 question first answered 22/07/2014 13:45:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1384 label Biography information for Mike Weir