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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

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

171495

registered interest
date	18/12/2014
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	Confederation of British Industry
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 (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have contributed in annual membership fees to the Confederation of British Industry in each year since 2007.
tabling member constituency	Stone
tabling member printed	Sir William Cash
uin	219412
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Since 2007, the core Department has made no contributions in annual membership fees to the Confederation of British Industry.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I have approached the Chief Executives of the Department’s Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to my Hon. Friend directly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/01/2015 16:25:04 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson attachment 1 file name 219412 (29029) Executive Agencies.pdf title Letters from Executive Agencies
tabling member	288 label Biography information for Sir William Cash

171496

registered interest
date	18/12/2014
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	Confederation of British Industry
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what payments (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have made to the Confederation of British Industry in each year since 2007; and what the purpose was of each such payment.
tabling member constituency	Stone
tabling member printed	Sir William Cash
uin	219413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Since 2007, the core Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has made the following payments to the Confederation of British Industry:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2011 - £120 to cover costs of a training event for a BIS member of staff</p><p> </p><p>2014 - £180 to cover costs of a training event for a BIS member of staff</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In other years, no payments were made.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I have approached the Chief Executives of the Department’s Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to my Hon. Friend directly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/01/2015 16:26:42 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson attachment 1 file name 219413 (29031) Executive Agencies.pdf title Letters from Executive Agencies
tabling member	288 label Biography information for Sir William Cash

171497

registered interest
date	18/12/2014
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	Post Offices
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 effect of post offices on financial inclusion and the social value of maintaining the network.
tabling member constituency	Worcester
tabling member printed	Mr Robin Walker
uin	219384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Post offices play an important role in communities across the UK, acting as a community hub and making sure people have access to important services.</p><p> </p><p>The role of post offices in ensuring financial inclusion is becoming increasingly important. Post office operates 2,500 free-to-use ATMs across the UK and approximately 95% current accounts are accessible across post office counters in over 11500 branches across the UK. Post office is also increasing the range of financial services it offers to customers directly.</p><p> </p><p>I believe post offices have a key role to play in ensuring financial inclusion and their contribution in this area enhances the social value of the post office network itself. That is why Government has provided nearly £2 billion since 2010 to maintain, modernise and protect the network.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/01/2015 14:09:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker

171685

registered interest
date	18/12/2014
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) male and (b) female employees who are employed in organisations with less than 250 employees.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	219397
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>At the start of 2014, there were 5,236,390 businesses with fewer than 250 people working for them. In total, these businesses employed 15,159,000 people. [Figures produced by BIS, Business Population Estimates for UK and Regions 2014]. No estimate has been made of the gender breakdown of these employees. However, women now make up 46.8% of the total workforce [August – October 2014, ONS Labour Market Statistics]</p><p> </p><p>We encourage individual companies to collect and analyse data regarding the number of women they employ at different levels by signing up to the<em>Think Act Report</em> initiative. They are further encouraged to take action regarding any inequalities identified, and to publish details of their progress. Over 270 employers have voluntarily signed up to Think Act Report, covering over 2.5m employees.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 07/01/2015 10:55:19 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

171034

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	Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will publish the apprentice pay survey for 2014 showing what apprentices are paid by age, gender, ethnicity, industry sector and apprenticeship level.
tabling member constituency	Eastbourne
tabling member printed	Stephen Lloyd
uin	219128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The 2014 Apprentice Pay Survey was published on .Gov.uk on 18 December 2014. The report shows levels of pay by age, gender, ethnicity, industry sector and apprenticeship level.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/01/2015 16:38:51 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3968 label Biography information for Stephen Lloyd