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19326

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2013
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, his Department made in each year since 2010; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
	tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
	uin	174860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice has reduced the overall cost of air travel by almost half since 2009, and our total spend on all travel has fallen by more than 40 per cent in the same period – a saving of more than £9m.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, this year, the Justice Secretary toughened up the rules to ban first and business class travel for Ministers and officials in the department other than in exceptional circumstances where this is required to meet business need.</p><p> </p><p>Overseas travel makes up a small proportion of the Department's overall travel requirement. Flights and travel by Eurostar are booked through our contracted supplier, and whilst the MoJ records data on transactions, it does not hold details of the cost or destination of individual trips centrally. The cost of breaking down all travel in the ways requested would be disproportionate, as managers across the Department would have to create a breakdown of every trip taken, itemised by the different kinds of expenditure.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie

48718

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2014
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether he has given advice to the Government on whether the removal of President Yanukovich was in accord with the provisions of Article III of the Constitution of Ukraine.
	tabling member constituency	Gainsborough
	tabling member printed	Sir Edward Leigh
	uin	196900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers may or may not have advised or have been requested to advise on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside Government.</p> answering member constituency North East Hertfordshire answering member printed Oliver Heald question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald
	tabling member	345 label Biography information for Sir Edward Leigh

47470

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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 appeals process is in place for alternative providers which unsuccessfully applied to have courses designated under the new specific course designation arrangements; and whether any alternative providers have successfully so appealed.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
	tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
	uin	195760
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Applications for specific designation under the new specific designation arrangements are decided by the Secretary of State. There is no appeals process.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
	tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

47472

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for the nuclear industry has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195921
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47473

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for the information economy has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195922
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47474

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for construction has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47475

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for oil and gas has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195924
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47476

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for the automotive industry has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47477

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for life sciences has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195926
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47478

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for professional and business services has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195927
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47479

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for offshore wind has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195928
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47480

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for international education has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195929
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195930 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47481

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, if he will publish the minutes of all meetings held by his Department's industrial strategy sector councils since they were formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47482

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the industrial strategy sector council for agricultural technologies has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195931 195932 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47483

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times (a) he or (b) Ministers in his Department attended a meeting of one of the industrial strategy sector councils since they were formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195933 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47484

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, if he will publish the membership of each of his Department's industrial strategy sector councils.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195933
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195938 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47489

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, how many times the Industrial Strategy Sector Council for Aerospace has met since it was formed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195938
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has worked with industry to establish Councils (where they did not already exist) for each of the eleven sectors. Each Council is a partnership that brings together industry representatives, Ministers and government officials but they operate in a way that best suits the individual needs of the sector. It is for each council to determine whether the membership and the minutes of meetings are published.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The International Education Council has met twice since it was formed. My Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) co-chaired the meeting in September 2013 with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock) also in attendance. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise co-chaired the meeting in February 2014. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/international-education-council</a></p><p> </p><p>The Construction Council has met three times since its formation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has attended every meeting and I also attended the first. The membership for the Council is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210099/bis-13-955-construction-2025-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Industry Council has met three times and I attended on each occasion. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/" target="_blank">http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/offshore-wind-energy/working-with-us/offshore-wind-industry-council/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Life Sciences Sector Councils includes the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). These groups have been in operation for many years. However, following the launch of the Industrial Strategy in September 2012, the groups have both met three times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my Rt. Hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality (Earl Howe) have attended each meeting but there has also been attendance from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) and my noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) on occasions. The membership and minutes are available:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-industry-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministerial-medical-technology-strategy-group</a></p><p> </p><p>The Nuclear Industry Council has met four times and has been attended by at least one Minister on each occasion (including my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) and myself). The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/nuclear-industry-council#membership</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Information Economy Council has met four times. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science has attended three of these meetings and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Ed Vaizey) chaired the fourth meeting in his absence. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership" target="_blank">https://www.techuk.org/about/information-economy-council/leadership</a></p><p> </p><p>The Oil and Gas Council has met four times with Ministerial attendance from either my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or myself at each meeting. The membership and minutes are available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175480/bis-13-748-uk-oil-and-gas-industrial-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Agri-tech Council has met four times and has also held a telephone conference. There has been Ministerial attendance from both my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science (Lord De Mauley) at three of the meetings and attendance from my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science at the fourth. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227259/9643-BIS-UK_Agri_Tech_Strategy_Accessible.pdf</a></p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has met six times since it was formed in December 2012. On each occasion at least one BIS Minister (my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, myself and/or my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – Viscount Younger of Leckie) attended. The Council's membership is available: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211842/bis-13-922-growth-is-our-business-professional-and-business-services-strategy.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Aerospace Growth Partnership has met seven times since it was formed in 2011 with each meeting co-chaired by myself.</p><p> </p><p>The Automotive Council has met on five occasions since the launch of industrial strategy. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has attended each meeting and I have attended on three occasions. Membership of the Council is available: <a href="http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members/" target="_blank">http://www.automotivecouncil.co.uk/what-we-do/members</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon grouped question UIN 195921 195922 195923 195924 195925 195926 195927 195928 195929 195930 195931 195932 195933 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47492

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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 his Department has taken to improve levels of customer service in UK businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Ann McKechin
	uin	195935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Well-functioning, competitive markets encourage growth by creating incentives for firms to become more efficient and innovative to compete for customers including through better service quality. Markets can only be fully competitive if consumers are active and confident, meaning that they are willing to challenge firms to provide a better deal, switch between suppliers, and take up new products.</p><p> </p><p>That is why this Government has undertaken the most fundamental reform to the competition and consumer landscape in decades to make the UK's already world class market framework fit for the future. That has included establishing a new Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), streamlining the landscape of Government-funded consumer organisations to put Citizen's Advice at its centre, and overhauling the UK framework of consumer rights through the Consumer Rights Bill.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1419 label Biography information for Ann McKechin

47737

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	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, if he will introduce financial support for individuals who have worked previously but do not qualify for statutory paternity leave and pay because they have recently started in their new position.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	195838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to introduce financial support for individuals who do not qualify for statutory paternity leave and pay because they do not have the required length of service.</p><p> </p><p>Paternity leave and pay was considered as part of a broader examination of family-related leave which led to the introduction of Shared Parental Leave and Pay through the Children and Families Act 2014.</p><p> </p><p>It is important to maintain the right balance between the needs of employees to take leave and the needs of employers to have certainty when recruiting and hiring new staff. Paternity leave and pay can be taken immediately from the birth of a child to allow the father to care for the mother and the newborn. This means that unlike annual leave, where the exact dates of the absence can be agreed in advance, paternity leave dates are subject to change.</p><p> </p><p>The 26 week service qualification period allows employers to plan effectively to cover an employee's absence during the paternity leave period, which would not be possible if the employee had just been recruited.</p><p> </p><p>Unlike paternity leave, maternity leave is a day one right to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby. In order to qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, a mother must have 26 weeks qualifying service (the same requirements as for paternity pay). Those mothers who do not have the requisite service for statutory maternity pay may be entitled to Maternity Allowance. This is because the benefit system recognises pregnant women and new mothers have a specific need for protect their own health and safety, and the health of their child, by allowing them to take time off work. There is no equivalent paternity allowance or adoption allowance, as there are not equivalent health and safety reasons to do so.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to a review of the changes to employment law enacted by the Children and Families Act after 2018.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

47878

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in establishing the effect of school reporting metrics on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as a destination.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195984
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195985 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47879

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in increasing the number of higher apprenticeships in the professional and business services sector.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47880

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in (a) developing a clearing house for professional and business services higher apprenticeship applicants and (b) helping small and medium-sized enterprises access this talent pool.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47881

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what web-based initiatives have been set up to link professional and business services businesses with the education sector.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47883

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in increasing the diversity of entry to the professional and business services sector.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47884

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in piloting new approaches to improving business and skills system engagement and sharing of good practice.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195991
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195990 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47885

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in the development of the growth voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Since its launch in January 2014, the Growth Vouchers programme has attracted over 2,500 applications from small businesses and more than £2.5m worth of vouchers have been distributed. Vouchers can only be spent on strategic advice in 5 key areas; raising finance and managing cash flow; recruiting and developing staff; improving leadership and management skills; marketing, attracting and keeping customers; and making the most of digital technology.</p><p> </p><p>We have been working closely with the Professional and Business Services sector and so far over 2,700 private sector business support providers offer their services through a new online marketplace (run by Enterprise Nation), of which over 1,000 are approved to deliver advice under the Growth Vouchers programme.</p><p> </p><p>Providers interested in offering their services should register at: <a href="https://marketplace.enterprisenation.com/marketplaces/users/new" target="_blank">marketplace.enterprisenation.com/marketplaces/users/new</a></p><p> </p><p>Businesses wishing to apply should visit: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers</a></p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47886

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, how many further education colleges have engaged with business as a condition of achieving chartered status.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195992
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195990 195991 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47887

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in encouraging bodies to find innovative ways of improving employability of young people within the national curriculum.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195993
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47890

	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, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, whether UK Trade & Investment has produced the marketing plan and collateral.
	tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
	tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
	uin	195996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>UK Trade &amp; Investment (UKTI) has developed a professional and business services marketing plan in support of the strategy, setting out marketing messaging which will be used to promote the sector at high profile events such as the Liverpool International Festival of Business in July 2014 and the Global Law Summit in 2015. UKTI has produced images for use in marketing material under the GREAT campaign, is producing a promotional film and is developing a toolkit for reference and use by UKTI in the UK and overseas as an aid to promoting and supporting the sector. UKTI is working to identify case studies and develop messaging for use by stakeholders in their marketing activities.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
	tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

48072

	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 the evidential basis was of his decision to withdraw Government support from Cheshire Employer and Skills Development Limited (CE&SDL); what assessment he made of the performance of CE&SDL in (a) developing (i) work-based learning and (ii) any other skills, (b) encouraging apprenticeships and (c) other respects in the period (A) following its founding and (B) at the time it was required to cease its activities; and what representations his Department received for and against its decision to withdraw support.
	tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
	uin	196162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government did not withdraw funding from CE&amp;SDL. In 2007, at the request of CE&amp;SDL, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) transferred the contract for skills provision from CE&amp;SDL to a successor legal entity, Total People. CE&amp;SDL continued to operate when the contract was transferred to Total People but did not directly receive any further funding nor did it acquire funding as a subcontractor. It was dissolved as a company in April 2014. The Skills Funding Agency, as the LSC's successor, continued to fund Total People, and still does so today.</p><p> </p><p>Both the earliest and latest performance data available demonstrate a mixed picture. Prior to 2007 CE&amp;SDL's performance was below the national average. After 2007, and the transfer of contact to Total People, performance was stronger and sometimes higher than national average.</p><p> </p><p>Neither the Government nor the Skills Funding Agency has received any representations about this organisation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

48113

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	196195
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Staff are encouraged to help reduce waste in the Department by avoiding printing documents unless completely necessary and by reusing or recycling stationery where appropriate. The default setting on BIS printers is to print in black and white and to print double sided. This uses less energy and ink and cuts down on the demand for paper and reduces costs.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for John Redwood

48120

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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, how many disqualification reports were submitted by each Official Receiver's office in the year ending 31 March 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	196334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Detailed in the following table is the office breakdown for the number of disqualification reports submitted in the year ended 31 March 2014.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>OR Offices</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of reports submitted</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Anglia</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central Midlands</p></td><td><p>25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands &amp; S Yorks</p></td><td><p>29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greater Manchester</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Humber and E Yorks</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kent</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London - Essex</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London - Herts, Bucks</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mid West and N Wales</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Central</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Wales</p></td><td><p>26</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Surrey and Sussex</p></td><td><p>24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West England</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>289</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>PIU</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North</p></td><td><p>71</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South</p></td><td><p>36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>107</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

48125

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 estimate he has made of the annual (a) total cost and (b) cost per (i) female and (ii) male employee of maternity and paternity leave.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	196413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government carried out an analysis of the costs and benefits of providing leave for mothers and fathers in the impact assessment which accompanied its consultation on the administration of shared parental leave which was published in February 2013. This can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/110692/13-651-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-impact-assessment2.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/110692/13-651-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-impact-assessment2.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The impact assessment reflects the fact that there are costs for both the Exchequer and business associated with the taking of maternity and paternity leave. Business costs include, for example, where employers provide occupational maternity or paternity schemes which go beyond the statutory minimum, and the costs associated with recruiting staff to cover a period of absence.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to Exchequer costs, the Government collects data on the total amount of statutory paternity pay and statutory maternity pay paid to employees by employers and uses this to estimate the numbers taking paternity/maternity leave and the size of average, or average weekly, claims. These figures represent the cost to the Exchequer rather than business as statutory payments can be reclaimed by the employer. The latest available figures for the costs to the Exchequer are as follows:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Maternity pay and maternity allowance</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of claimants commencing in year 2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total claimed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average claim (2010/11)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Maternity Pay</p></td><td><p>355,000</p></td><td><p>£2.2 billion</p></td><td><p>£5,890</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Source: Expenditure is from employer returns to HMRC and is the average amount recovered by employers. Average claim and spells commencing is based on L2 data (a 1% sample of HMRC National Insurance Contribution records). </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average number of claimants at any one time: May 2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total Expenditure: 2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average weekly claim: May 2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Maternity Allowance</p></td><td><p>57,400</p></td><td><p>£395 million</p></td><td><p>£117.57</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Source: A combination of DWP accounting data and 5% Administrative Data. Further figures on Maternity Allowance are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/maternity-allowance-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/maternity-allowance-quarterly-statistics</a></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><ol type="1"><li><strong>SMP</strong><strong>Expenditure is subject to change due to late returns submitted by employers to HM Revenue and Customs.</strong></li><li><strong>Maternity allowance weekly amounts are the average in payment at the end of May 2013.</strong></li><li><strong>Maternity allowance claimants exclude a small number of clerical cases and only include those with a successful claim to Maternity Allowance. </strong></li></ol><p><strong>Paternity pay</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of claimants</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total claimed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average claim</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13 </strong></p></td><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay</p></td><td><p>208,600</p></td><td><p>£50.3 million</p></td><td><p>£241.25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Additional Statutory Paternity Pay</p></td><td><p>3,867</p></td><td><p>£5.8 million</p></td><td><p>£1,218</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Note: All figures are estimates using the HMRC CANDIF database. Figures are calculated using a 2% or 3% scan of employer National Insurance returns and scaling the results up to create a 100% estimate. Scan conducted in January 2014.</strong></p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

48418

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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 his Department is taking to increase the number of higher apprenticeships in Lancashire.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	196486
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Higher apprenticeship starts in Lancashire Local Education Authority have increased from 40 in the 2009/10 academic year to 370 in 2012/13.</p><p> </p><p>The Budget announced £20 million over 2014-15 and 2015-16 for new support for employer investment in apprenticeships in England up to postgraduate level, which will provide apprentices with the technical skills that employers need. This will complement the £80 million funding over 2014-15 and 2015-16 for 20,000 more higher apprenticeships announced in the autumn statement – more than doubling current volumes.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

48425

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 744W, on National Careers Service, what assessment his Department has made of the National Careers Service's progress in achieving its key strategic aims for marketing.
	tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
	tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
	uin	196641
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The National Careers Service marketing strategy using targeted on-line activity has been pursued since October 2013.</p><p> </p><p>Through regular market research we have seen an increase in awareness[1] of the support the National Careers Service offers since the campaign started from 24 per cent to 29 per cent. All of the targeted groups show a greater awareness than the remainder of those sampled:</p><p> </p><p>· Awareness among individuals looking to advance their career has increased by 28 per cent increase to 39 per cent;</p><p>· Awareness among those who are looking for a better job to support a change in circumstances has increased by 14 per cent to 32 per cent;</p><p>· Awareness among those who have been or are about to be made redundant has remained broadly the same with 37 per cent aware of the Service.</p><p> </p><p>Over 56 per cent of these three groups are likely to use the Service, compared with only 8 per cent of others surveyed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><br /><p>[1] Both spontaneous and prompted.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

48495

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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, if he will name each further education college in Greater London.
	tabling member constituency	Tottenham
	tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
	uin	196694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Further Education Colleges incorporated under section 16 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 in Greater London are as follows:</p><p> </p><p>Barking and Dagenham College</p><p>Barnet and Southgate College</p><p>Bexley College</p><p>Bromley College of Further and Higher Education</p><p>Capel Manor College</p><p>Carshalton College</p><p>LeSoCo</p><p>City and Islington College</p><p>City of Westminster College</p><p>College of North West London</p><p>Croydon College</p><p>Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College</p><p>Greenwich Community College</p><p>Hackney Community College</p><p>Harrow College</p><p>Havering College of Further and Higher Education</p><p>Kensington and Chelsea College</p><p>Kingston College</p><p>Newham College of Further Education</p><p>Redbridge College</p><p>Richmond Adult and Community College</p><p>Richmond upon Thames College</p><p>South Thames College</p><p>Stanmore College</p><p>The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London</p><p>Tower Hamlets College</p><p>Uxbridge College</p><p>Waltham Forest College</p><p>West Thames College</p><p>Westminster Kingsway College</p><p> </p><p>Further Education Colleges Designated under section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 in Greater London</p><p> </p><p>Hillcroft College</p><p>Marine Society College of the Sea</p><p>Morley College</p><p>Workers' Educational Association</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
	tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

47159

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of raising the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold to (a) £1 million and (b) £500,000 in each of the next five financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	195626
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>This Government has no current plans to increase the inheritance tax threshold.</p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

47503

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons were for the fall in capital gains tax revenue in 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	195715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The details of the forecasts are set out in the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook publications. The Office for Budget Responsibility was created in 2010 and provides the authoritative and independent forecasts for the UK's economy and public finances.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/" target="_blank">http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 195688 195716 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for John Redwood

47504

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for forecast capital gains tax revenue in 2013-14 being below that of 2011-12.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	195716
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The details of the forecasts are set out in the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook publications. The Office for Budget Responsibility was created in 2010 and provides the authoritative and independent forecasts for the UK's economy and public finances.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/" target="_blank">http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 195688 195715 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for John Redwood

47506

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the difference in the most recent forecast capital gains tax revenue for 2013-14 and the forecast made in Budget 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	195688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The details of the forecasts are set out in the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook publications. The Office for Budget Responsibility was created in 2010 and provides the authoritative and independent forecasts for the UK's economy and public finances.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/" target="_blank">http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/category/publications/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 195715 195716 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for John Redwood

47905

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to reduce taxation on small businesses; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	196013
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business and has focused a number of measures specifically on small businesses.</p><p> </p><p>These include a £2,000 Employment Allowance available from April 2014 to support small businesses aspiring to hire their first employee or expand their workforce; and, as set out in the Autumn Statement 2013, a £1bn package of business rates measures, 90% of which is going to businesses occupying small premises. The Government is also increasing the payable R&amp;D tax credit for loss-making SMEs from 11 per cent to 14.5 per cent from April 2014, providing particular support for early-stage companies and start-ups, who face the greatest risks and barriers to R&amp;D investment.</p><p> </p><p>Fuel costs are also significant for many small businesses so the Government has implemented the longest duty freeze for over 20 years. In total, by 2015-16 a small business with a van will have saved £1,300 and a haulier £21,000.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

48077

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 18W, on employee ownership, for what reason the details of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are not available.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	196168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>Employers are not required to provide details of any shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements to HM Revenue &amp; Customs until they submit their annual employment-related securities return for 2013-14. No details or estimates of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are currently available.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimates of the Exchequer impact of the capital gains tax exemption and the income tax and national insurance treatment of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements in tax years to 2017-18 can be found at <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf</a></strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 196169 196170 196171 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

48078

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 18W, on employee ownership, if he will make an estimate of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	196169
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>Employers are not required to provide details of any shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements to HM Revenue &amp; Customs until they submit their annual employment-related securities return for 2013-14. No details or estimates of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are currently available.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimates of the Exchequer impact of the capital gains tax exemption and the income tax and national insurance treatment of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements in tax years to 2017-18 can be found at <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf</a></strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 196168 196170 196171 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

48079

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 18W, on employee ownership, for what reason the details of the Exchequer impact of the tax rules for the shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are not available.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	196170
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>Employers are not required to provide details of any shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements to HM Revenue &amp; Customs until they submit their annual employment-related securities return for 2013-14. No details or estimates of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are currently available.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimates of the Exchequer impact of the capital gains tax exemption and the income tax and national insurance treatment of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements in tax years to 2017-18 can be found at <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf</a></strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 196168 196169 196171 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

48080

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 18W, on employee ownership, if he will make an estimate of the Exchequer impact of the tax rules for shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	196171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>Employers are not required to provide details of any shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements to HM Revenue &amp; Customs until they submit their annual employment-related securities return for 2013-14. No details or estimates of the total value of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements since 1 September 2013 are currently available.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimates of the Exchequer impact of the capital gains tax exemption and the income tax and national insurance treatment of shares awarded under employee shareholder agreements in tax years to 2017-18 can be found at <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/emp-shareholder-status.pdf</a></strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 196168 196169 196170 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

48144

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to reduce the amount of stamp duty paid by first-time home buyers.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	196306
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>The stamp duty land tax relief for first time buyers in existence between March 2010 and March 2012 was found by HMRC to be ineffective in increasing the number of first time buyers entering the market. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>The Government is instead taking other steps to support those wishing to purchase a home, such as the Help to Buy and NewBuy schemes. </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

48442

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had on combining national insurance and income tax.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	196602
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>As set out at Autumn Statement 2012, </strong><strong>the Government will wait for further progress on planned operational changes to the tax system before formally consulting on the operational integration of income tax and NICs.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm</a></strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

48445

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to tackle cases of employees in Northern Ireland being paid below the minimum wage.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	196655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has an NMW enforcement team based in Belfast, and that team investigates all complaints received by the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline relating to Northern Ireland based employers alongside employers who are based and trading in the wider UK. The NMW Belfast team works closely with other Northern Ireland enforcement agencies including the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Home Office Immigration &amp; Enforcement and Department of Employment and Learning.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

48446

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of men and women who make use of the non-earnings pension contribution limit; and if he will assess the potential effects of increasing that limit on couples saving together for retirement.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Leslie
	uin	196630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p><strong>As shown in HMRC's published statistics (Table PEN3 available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259967/pen3.pdf), in 2011-12 around 20,000 unemployed adults made or received contributions into their personal pensions. 6,000 of these individuals made use of the non-earnings pension contribution limit of £3,600 including basic rate tax relief. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>A further 10,000 children, 10,000 individuals in full time education and 10,000 carers made or received contributions into their personal pensions. Of these, around a quarter made use of the non-earnings pension contribution limit. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Of the individuals mentioned above who made use of the non-earnings pension contribution limit in 2011-12, around two thirds were female.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>The Government has made no assessment of the effects of increasing the limit on couples saving together for retirement but keeps all tax policies under review.</strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	3933 label Biography information for Charlotte Leslie

48447

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to improve support for small and medium-sized enterprises which are in need of short-term assistance and flexibility through improved partnership working between the HM Revenue and Custom's (HMRC) simplified import VAT accounting duty deferment team and the HMRC debt management and time-to-pay teams; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
	tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
	uin	196640
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Simplified Import VAT Accounting (SIVA) scheme is a trade facilitation measure that reduces compliance costs for legitimate traders through the removal of the requirement to provide a guarantee to secure import VAT paid through the duty deferment scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The risk to the tax revenue by traders operating SIVA is potentially very large as the period between the tax due being deferred and being collected by HMRC may result in a failure to pay. The setting of the SIVA approval criteria has to strike a balance between ensuring the trade receive the maximum benefit from the scheme, while at the same time protecting the revenue.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses have to demonstrate on-going compliance with the SIVA requirements. The SIVA team monitor this through internal systems, including any outstanding debts or Time-to Pay agreements requested. When they identify a business experiencing difficulties, they advise them of the potential impact on their SIVA approval. Warning letters are issued by the team to businesses who fail to comply and only if there is evidence of continued non-compliance is the approval removed.</p><p>The current procedures provide an appropriate balance between trade faciliation and protection of the revenue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie