Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1173945

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Carers: Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>This Government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years. This will include measures to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.</p><p>The Government’s proposal is to introduce a week of unpaid Carer’s Leave. This will be in addition to existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working, annual leave and the right to time off for family and dependants which help employees balance work with caring responsibilities. In taking this forward, the Department will continue to engage widely to understand how carers’ needs can best be met.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8946 8947 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1173947

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Carers: Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 262229 on Compassionate Leave, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing statutory long-term leave for unpaid carers alongside the planned introduction of one weeks' additional leave.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>This Government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years. This will include measures to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.</p><p>The Government’s proposal is to introduce a week of unpaid Carer’s Leave. This will be in addition to existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working, annual leave and the right to time off for family and dependants which help employees balance work with caring responsibilities. In taking this forward, the Department will continue to engage widely to understand how carers’ needs can best be met.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8945 8947 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1174039

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	New Businesses: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to ensure that Government grants for start-up companies are not fraudulently obtained.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	8935
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>Government has robust checks in place and carries out due diligence through its Delivery Partners when issuing grants to both start-ups and established businesses. Where recipients have been found to act fraudulently serious action will be taken.</p><p> </p><p>Through Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) competitive funding is provided to businesses, including start-ups. UKRI have a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and there are stringent controls and checks in place to stop fraud from happening throughout the lifetime of a project. These include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>A rigorous assessment of the project costs a company submits as part of its application. If an applicant’s bid is successful, further due diligence checks on the viability of a company and the eligibility of the costs it has submitted are carried out, before the project is allowed to start and the company is able to start claiming any grant.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Quarterly meetings between the project team and a dedicated Monitoring Officer, who helps ensure the project complies with the terms and conditions of the grant and is delivering it to plan.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Participants providing evidence to support each claim made. This will include the mandatory submission of a report produced by an independent accountant alongside specific claims certifying that the costs incurred on the project are legitimate and directly attributable to the project. Grants will only be paid once audits and reports are completed, and UKRI are satisfied of their validity. Claims may be subject to an independent audit.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In addition, UKRI have a dedicated investigations team tasked with identifying individuals and companies who submit false information in order to obtain funding. Relevant information and intelligence is shared with Action Fraud and CIFAS, and where appropriate UKRI will apply as many sanctions as possible, including criminal prosecution and civil recovery. UKRI take all reasonable steps to prevent any organisation found to have acted fraudulently from accessing future funding, on behalf of the whole of Government.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1172985

registered interest
date	23/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Flexible Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to encourage employers to offer flexible working to their employees.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	7265
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>All employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer have the right to request Flexible Working.</p><p> </p><p>The Government wants to take this further and, subject to further consultation, we will look to introduce steps in an employment bill to make flexible working the default - unless employers have good reason not to.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also consulted on proposals for large employers (with over 250 employees) to publish their parental leave and pay and flexible working policies and to advertise jobs as open to flexible working.  We are considering next steps.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 28/01/2020 15:44:10 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1172127

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing business rates for firms.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	900288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>This Government will conduct a fundamental review of business rates.</p><p> </p><p>My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.</p><p> </p><p>I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 14:54:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1172128

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of business rates on high street businesses.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	900291
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>This Government will conduct a fundamental review of business rates.</p><p> </p><p>My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.</p><p> </p><p>I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 14:54:06 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1172129

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business: Leicestershire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps the Government is taking to support local businesses in Hinckley and Bosworth.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	900293
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>Government provides businesses in Hinckley and Bosworth with support through Leicester and Leicestershire’s LEP Growth Hub.</p><p> </p><p>We have made specific investments in Horiba MIRA to support the future automotive industry.</p><p> </p><p>This has included £9.5m to establish the MIRA Technology Institute to develop state of the art training facilities to nurture automotive engineers of the future.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 14:53:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1172130

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing business rates for firms.
tabling member constituency	Cleethorpes
tabling member printed	Martin Vickers
uin	900294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.</p><p> </p><p>I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 14:53:46 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	3957 label Biography information for Martin Vickers

1172268

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Post Office: Public Appointments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who the non-Executive Member on the board of Post Office Limited from her Department is.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	6028
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State delegates the role of Shareholder Representative on the Post Office Board to UK Government Investments (UKGI). Tom Cooper (Director, UKGI) is the current Shareholder Non-Executive Director on the Post Office Board.</p><p> </p><p>UKGI, as the Shareholder Representative, oversees corporate governance, strategy, and the stewardship of the Post Office’s financial and other resources on behalf of BEIS. As well as the seat on the Post Office Board, UKGI Shareholder NED also sits on the Audit and Risk Committee.</p><p> </p><p>The shareholder team monitors financial and operational performance of the business against the long-term strategy, holding the business to account in delivering against its commercial and policy objectives. UKGI are also responsible for ensuring the business is provided with sufficient investment and subsidy funding to achieve its target of being commercially sustainable in the longer term, whilst meeting its social obligations, particularly around minimum network coverages requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, UKGI advises ministers on both commercial and policy issues, supporting them in Parliament and with the wider set of stakeholders who have an interest in Post Office matters.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to review these duties.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 6031 question first answered 28/01/2020 15:44:24 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1172270

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	National Federation of SubPostmasters: Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much has been spent from the public purse on supporting the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters in the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	6029
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>Postmasters are the backbone of the Post Office network and it is clearly vital they have a body that represents their interests.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015 National Federation of Sub-Postmasters have been funded by a grant provided by Post Office. This equates to £1.5 million per annum for its annual operations and £1 million per annum for specific projects established to support postmasters. The annual grant is paid on a quarterly basis. Individual project grants will be paid in line with the requirements of the specific projects. Any grant funding to the NFSP is paid from POL's own commercial revenues.</p><p> </p><p>Prior to the Grant Agreement in 2015, NFSP received an annual payment of £175k from the Post Office along with occasional payments for specific projects. The rest of NSFP’s funding came from members’ subscription payments.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 28/01/2020 15:44:31 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones