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46818

	registered interest
	date	03/04/2014
	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
	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 Government's progress in encouraging exports to emerging markets; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	195157
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>UK exports of goods and services to Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) reached £34.9 billion in 2013, their highest level since records began in 1999. In the Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor highlighted rising exports, with combined goods exports to Brazil, India and China rising faster than those of the UK's competitors (France, Germany, Italy) in 2013, but said there was more to do.</p><p> </p><p>UK Trade &amp; Investment's Britain Open for Business: The Next Phase (January 2014) underlined that: ‘To deliver our ambitious trade and investment targets we are continuing vigorously to pursue opportunities in developed markets while strengthening our efforts in high growth markets'. The Chancellor has given UKTI additional funding to strengthen its support for high growth markets.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, UK Export Finance (UKEF) is devoting additional resources to supporting High Value Opportunities. UKEF also has cover available for over 200 overseas markets and is increasing its product range to provide more effective support to Mid-Size Businesses (MSBs) and smaller companies.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47892

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	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
	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 has taken to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196014
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has put in place a robust framework to reduce the burden of regulation on all businesses, particularly small business.</p><p> </p><p>In January 2011, we brought in the One-in, One-out rule. This required departments wanting to introduce new regulation which generated costs for business to first identify a corresponding cut in regulation elsewhere with the same value. In January 2013 this was increased to a more demanding One-In, Two-Out rule so that departments now need to find £2 of savings for every £1 cost they introduce. To date, as set out in the 7<sup>th</sup> Statement of New Regulation published on 17 December 2013, we have cut the annual cost of domestic regulation by £1.19 billion.</p><p> </p><p>We are also reducing the stock of regulation through the Red Tape Challenge, with over 3,000 regulations now having been identified to be scrapped or improved. When fully implemented, we expect that these changes will bring estimated annual savings to business of over £850 million.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Specifically to help small business, in April 2011 we introduced a moratorium exempting micro and start-up businesses from new domestic regulation for three years. From 1 April 2014 this was extended to include small businesses (with up to 50 employees) through the introduction of the Small and Micro Business Assessment (SaMBA).</p><p> </p><p>Measures that this Department has introduced specifically to reduce the burden of regulation on small businesses include giving small and medium-sized enterprises the flexibility to determine the most appropriate set of accounting rules for them, along with flexibility in how they submit their company reports through regulatory changes to audit rules. We have also extended the qualifying period of unfair dismissal to two years and introduced a new employment status of employee shareholder.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47893

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	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
	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 and development into the commercial application of robotics his Department funds; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>This Department has worked with the Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Special Interest Group to develop a National Strategy for robotics in the UK, which will identify commercial opportunities in key sectors of the Government's Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>The Department and its partner organisations fund research and development into the commercial application of robotics as follows:</p><p> </p><p>BIS</p><p>This Department is currently providing funding of £1.5m to support the development of autonomous road vehicles. The consortium (which includes Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the Transport Systems Catapult and other partners) will develop small pod-like vehicles capable of carrying up to 2 passengers and which will ultimately be capable of autonomous operations.</p><p> </p><p>BIS has previously funded a two year automation programme with the British Automation and Robot Association that ended in September 2013. The £600k programme over two years enabled the provision of a one day manufacturing review and diagnostic to small and medium-sized enterprises on the potential to apply robotics and automation in their businesses. The programme also provided the opportunity for more detailed interventions. Over 268 one day reviews were carried out, and more detailed interventions accounted for a further 282 days of advice.</p><p> </p><p>Research Councils</p><p>The Research Councils current investment into research related to the commercial application of robotics is £36.5m, which includes a £10m investment through the Natural Environment Research Council into Marine Autonomous Systems.</p><p> </p><p>Technology Strategy Board</p><p>The TSB is the prime channel through which Government supports business-led technology innovation. Since 2010 it has invested £8 million in robotics and robotics related projects, helping business develop and commercialise new products and services.</p><p> </p><p>The TSB is arranging an entrepreneur-led overseas delegation to the US in June 2014 to develop the UK's brand in robotics and to engage with the rapidly growing robotics cluster in San Francisco and San Diego. This creates a real opportunity for UK robotics companies to capitalise on this growth and take a lead in integrating their technologies in a range of markets that could exploit them. The message behind the mission is that the UK is open for business and has innovative robotics companies that are interested in the US market and are ready to engage in dialogue, form partnerships and do business in the international arena.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government (through TSB) has previously funded research and demonstration of civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles through the £62m ASTRAEA programme over the past seven years. The programme has made possible the ‘unmanned' flight of a Jetstream 31 from Lancashire to Inverness, clocking up to 2,500 miles in flights between Lancashire and Inverness and around the Irish Sea.</p><p> </p><p>UK Space Agency</p><p>The UK Space Agency encourages and supports companies and research organisations to spin-out technology developed through space exploration into non-space sectors. The funding provided by the Agency is for feasibility studies. The relevant studies funded are:</p><p> </p><ul><li>the application of Mars rover autonomous navigation for large off road vehicles; and</li><li>development of Auto-Resonant Control System.</li></ul> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47903

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people of pensionable age in Brighton, Kemptown constituency; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196005
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 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 Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name 196005 ONS186.pdf title ONS Letter - Pensionable Age
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47904

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of young people in (a) Brighton, Kemptown constituency and (b) East Sussex who have been unemployed for longer than 12 months in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196004
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name 196004 ONS185.pdf title ONS Letter - Unemployment
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47923

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the charity sector about the effect of gambling addiction; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196003
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>I meet with a number of stakeholders to discuss their concerns. These stakeholders include problem gambling charities, faith groups and the Gambling Commission. The Government also received a number of representations from the charity sector to its 2013 consultation on the Triennial Review of Gaming Machine Stake and Prize Limits.</p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47927

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last discussed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty with his counterparts from the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State discusses a range of topics with his counterparts from the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, including subjects related to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. However, engagement with our international partners on this Treaty is led by the Foreign Secretary.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47034

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have visited schools in the areas of highest deprivation since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	195371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>My Rt. hon Friend, the Secretary of State, has made a priority of visiting schools and colleges located in deprived areas. Almost two thirds of the schools and colleges the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has visited since 2010, are located in the 50% most deprived areas of England according to the 2010 Index of Multiple Deprivation. This does not include political or constituency visits.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to say on how many occasions officials from the Department have visited schools in this group, as this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47940

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to encourage the use of smart meters; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government's vision is for every home and smaller businesses in Great Britain to have smart electricity and gas meters by the end of 2020. In December 2012, the Department published the smart meter Consumer Engagement Strategy which sets out the approach to how domestic and non-domestic consumers will be encouraged to use smart meters to take control of their energy – helping them to save energy and money.</p><p> </p><p>Energy suppliers will have the primary consumer engagement role as they are the main interface with consumers before, during and after installation. Supplier engagement will be supported by a programme of centralised engagement undertaken by a Central Delivery Body (CDB), which the larger energy suppliers were required to set up in June 2013.</p><p> </p><p>The Department also has a continuing role in consumer engagement. For example, we are working with stakeholders, such as third-sector organisations, in engaging consumers, and ensuring that accurate information on smart meters is available online.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Gregory Barker question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1389 label Biography information for Lord Barker of Battle
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

47233

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	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
	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 steps he is taking to deter inappropriate development in National Parks in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	195595
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Policy on national parks and planning are devolved matters. For Wales, they are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government. National parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty are given the strongest protection from damaging development through the National Planning Policy Framework.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra works closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government to ensure planning policies take account of the special character of England's protected landscapes. For example, as made clear on 6 March by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Nick Boles, the extended permitted development rights for conversion of agricultural buildings to a dwelling house will not apply in national parks or areas of outstanding natural beauty (6 Mar 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, column 50WS).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby