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101018

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Deloitte
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 the Insolvency Service has made of the performance of Deloitte as an appointed administrator in collective redundancy consultation.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	211982
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>Responsibility for assessing the conduct and performance of insolvency practitioners in their role as Administrators falls to the Regulatory Professional Body of which they are a member. The role of the Secretary of State, through the Insolvency Service, is to ensure that these bodies are effectively undertaking their regulatory functions.</p><p> </p><p>In June 2014, an Employment Tribunal judgement was handed down which was critical of the role of the Administrators (from Deloitte) in their handling of redundancies involving approximately 6,500 employees following the collapse of Comet, a large national retailer of electrical goods. The judgement was referred by the Insolvency Service to the Administrators’ Regulatory Professional Body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for consideration of disciplinary action. That investigation is currently on-going.</p><p> </p><p>An Employment Tribunal had previously made criticisms of the Administrators of WW Realisations 1 Limited formerly known as Woolworths (also from Deloitte). That matter was also referred by the Insolvency Service to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales for consideration. No disciplinary action was taken as a result of that investigation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 15:34:24 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

101021

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	British Business Bank
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what research he has commissioned on the number of black and ethnic minority-owned businesses from each ethnic group which have received support as a result of investments made by the British Business Bank (BBB); what meetings he has had with BBB staff to discuss the needs of black and ethnic minority-owned businesses; and what steps were subsequently taken by the BBB to address the issues raised.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	211991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The objective of the British Business Bank is to ensure that finance markets work more effectively for smaller businesses. In achieving this objective, the Business Bank does not lend to or invest directly in any smaller business and instead works through and invests alongside private sector providers such as banks, peer to peer lenders, leasing companies or venture capital funds which offer a wide range of finance products.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of its remit, the Business Bank regularly monitors the performance of programmes by collecting a range of data, including the ethnic background of business owners, for a number of key programmes, such as Start Up Loans. The latest data shows that as of August 31, 26% of Start Up Loans recipients identified themselves to be either Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) businesses. Around 300,000 (6%) of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK are BAME led.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, Business Bank officials and I regularly meet with key stakeholders to discuss and better understand the broader finance needs of different types of smaller businesses, in order to ensure that Business Bank programmes are targeted to address market failures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/10/2014 17:09:15 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

101023

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Islam
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made on the benefit to UK companies of an increase in the capacity of the UK's Islamic finance market.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	211993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>Islamic finance is the one of the world’s fastest growing sectors - according to estimates from TheCityUK, at the current rate of growth, the market will exceed US$2 trillion in assets by the end of this year.[1] The Government has not estimated the benefits to UK companies of the expansion of the UK’s Islamic finance market, although we recognise the significant opportunity it represents UK firms.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains the global partner and destination of choice for Islamic finance. In June this year the Government was the first western country to issue a sovereign sukuk, an Islamic bond, worth £200 million. This cemented the UK’s position as the western hub for Islamic finance and demonstrates that the UK has created a level playing field which puts Islamic finance on par with conventional forms of finance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK has a high concentration of Islamic finance and related professional services firms: 6 full Islamic banks, over 20 banks offering Islamic finance products and services, and over 25 UK law firms have Islamic finance units. As the Government continues its efforts to develop the UK’s Islamic finance market, we expect further opportunities and benefits to arise for UK companies although these have not been estimated.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/10/2014 17:19:05 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

101024

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Export Controls
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 timetable is for the implementation of the transparency initiative for open export licences.
tabling member constituency	St Austell and Newquay
tabling member printed	Stephen Gilbert
uin	212029
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The new reporting requirements came into place at the start of 2014 and the data for this year is due to be published as part of the Government’s UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2015. We plan to commence a review of this initiative in early 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/10/2014 15:39:45 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	4101 label Biography information for Stephen Gilbert

101025

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Goldcrest Finance and Hertford Solutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received about (a) Gold Crest Finance and (b) Hertford Solutions LLP.
tabling member constituency	Aberconwy
tabling member printed	Guto Bebb
uin	211997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has received no representations about (a) Gold Crest Finance and (b) Hertford Solutions LLP.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 15:29:47 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3910 label Biography information for Guto Bebb

101037

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Passports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what liaison is taking place between his Department and the Home Office on the (a) design of, (b) structure of and (c) security for the new digital vault for storing and processing digital ID pictures for use in passports; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Mole Valley
tabling member printed	Sir Paul Beresford
uin	212034
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government Digital Service is working closely with HM Passport Office. The Government is fully committed to protecting public data, including in all aspects of the passport application process.</p><p>In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 30/10/2014 14:11:14 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
tabling member	103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford

101038

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Minimum Wage: Brigg and Goole
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in Brigg and Goole constituency were paid the minimum wage in the last year for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Brigg and Goole
tabling member printed	Andrew Percy
uin	212071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 30/10/2014 14:13:14 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson attachment 1 file name PQ 212071 ONS 371.pdf title ONS Letter to Member - Minimum Wage
tabling member	3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy

101052

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Refuges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding his Department provides to women's refuges.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	212030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the rt. hon. Member to my written answer of 28 October 2014, PQs 211433, 211434 and 211435.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 30/10/2014 16:32:34 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

101118

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Solar Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of solar farms in the UK that include livestock grazing; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
uin	211998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We estimate that there are currently around 250 solar farms in the UK, and with numerous others in the planning system, we estimate there will be over 1000 by the end of the decade. This would remove a large amount of farmland from agricultural production. While some developers claim as part of their planning applications that they intend to graze livestock under solar panels, in practice many are reluctant to allow livestock to be co-located with expensive capital equipment. Land covered by solar panels can no longer have agricultural production as the primary activity on it and is therefore not eligible for the BPS payments.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 30/10/2014 17:30:51 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

101123

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Sugar
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the prospects of the Government seeking a more advantageous arrangement for cane sugar refiners in its negotiations with the EU.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	212112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>During negotiations of the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy last year, which led to the agreement to end sugar beet production quotas in 2017, the UK pushed for the full liberalisation of the sugar regime in order to allow the sugar cane refiners to compete with the beet producers on an equal footing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Disappointingly, there was insufficient support from other Member States to secure the necessary changes as part of that exercise. However, we remain committed to working with the European Commission to address this issue through forthcoming EU trade agreements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 30/10/2014 15:37:24 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms