Show Search Form

Search Results

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

Search

170297

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Scottish Power
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he received reports from the MacDonald Partnership in relation to mis-sold Scottish Power Power Plan warranties; what the titles of such reports were; and when he plans to respond to those reports.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Steve Rotheram
uin	218595
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>The initial report from Mr MacDonald was received on 17 July 2014 for review by the Insolvency Service. Further information including another more detailed report was received from him during September and October 2014, and these again have been reviewed by the Insolvency Service. The reports are confidential.</p><p> </p><p>The reports themselves do not require a direct response but I can confirm that the Insolvency Service has completed its review of this material and is in communication with Mr MacDonald.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/12/2014 11:11:20 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4035 label Biography information for Steve Rotheram

170085

registered interest
date	12/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to introduce a scheme for naming and shaming employers who fail to pay an employment tribunal award.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	218531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes very seriously the non-payment of employment tribunal awards. Currently, as part of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, the Government is proposing a financial penalty for employers that fail to pay awards. We are also ensuring that enforcement options and consequences of non-payment are made clear throughout the dispute resolution process from early conciliation to the tribunal hearing itself.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We will also look to learn the lessons of existing naming and shaming schemes and consider if such a scheme could further encourage prompt payment of employment tribunal awards.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/12/2014 10:16:21 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

170086

registered interest
date	12/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Consumers: Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from (a) consumer organisations and (b) individuals on the effectiveness of Trustmark and NAPIT in protecting consumers from rogue traders.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Huw Irranca-Davies
uin	218544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>TrustMark (2005) Ltd (TrustMark) operate the TrustMark Scheme. TrustMark aims to marginalise unscrupulous traders by identifying to consumers traders who have been inspected for both trade competence and good trading practice.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) receives a small volume of correspondence from individuals each year relating to TrustMark. These communications are passed to the TrustMark Board to investigate the actions of their Scheme Operators which would include NAPIT should the case arise. The Department does not hold records of communications about specific Scheme Operators as these are audited and monitored by TrustMark and not BIS.</p><p> </p><p>In 2011 a consumer body provided views about the scheme to the Department; those views were fed into a review of the scheme which the TrustMark Board undertook in 2013.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 17/12/2014 10:24:39 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1476 label Biography information for Huw Irranca-Davies

169689

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	UK Membership of EU
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livingston of Parkhead on 19 November (HL2689), what research they have conducted since 1992 to determine the impact on United Kingdom trade of the free trade agreements negotiated on the United Kingdom's behalf by the European Commission.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL3676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>The Department conducts Impact Assessments of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the European Union (EU) and other major economies, including, as far as possible, impacts on United Kingdom (UK) trade. Impact Assessments have been published on the FTAs between the European Union and Korea; and between the EU and the Andean countries (Colombia and Peru). These are available at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/328/pdfs/ukia_20100328_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/328/pdfs/ukia_20100328_en.pdf</a> and <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2013/151/pdfs/ukia_20130151_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2013/151/pdfs/ukia_20130151_en.pdf</a>.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Department published research into the potential impact on the UK of an FTA between the EU and the United States (US) in 2013. This research has informed the Government’s approach to the Transatlantic Trade &amp; Investment Partnership (TTIP), currently under negotiation. This research estimates a long-term permanent annual increase in bilateral trade between the UK and US of around £38 billion. The study is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198115/bis-13-869-economic-impact-on-uk-of-tranatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-between-eu-and-us.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198115/bis-13-869-economic-impact-on-uk-of-tranatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-between-eu-and-us.pdf</a>.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>To assess the impacts of other FTAs on the UK, the Department draws on analysis conducted by the European Commission. The European Commission has conducted research into the estimated impact on the EU of FTAs it has negotiated and is negotiating on the UK’s behalf. The studies also consider the impact of FTAs on bilateral trade. These Impact Assessments are available at: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/policy-making/analysis/sustainability-impact-assessments/assessments/" target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/policy-making/analysis/sustainability-impact-assessments/assessments/</a></p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The European Commission has also commissioned an evaluation of the impact on EU trade of several Free Trade Agreements concluded since 1992, including with Chile and South Africa. This found that the FTA with Chile had increased the EU’s exports to Chile by 148% and the FTA with South Africa had increased the EU’s exports to South Africa by 63% compared to what would have been without the FTAs. This study is available at: <a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/may/tradoc_147905.pdf" target="_blank">http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/may/tradoc_147905.pdf</a>.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 16/12/2014 17:35:04 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

169718

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff are employed in his Department's headquarter buildings.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	218299
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>As at 30 November 2014, 3100 staff were employed in the core-Department’s buildings throughout the UK. Of these 2555 were core-BIS staff and 545 were UKTI staff.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 15:49:21 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

169724

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
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 employers who were issued with notices of underpayment for the national minimum wage and were eligible for naming and shaming under the arrangements introduced since 1 October 2013 he has decided not to name and shame.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	218354
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p>Under the revised Naming Scheme the Government will name all employers that have been issued with a Notice of Underpayment (NoU) unless employers meet one of the exceptional criteria or have arrears of £100 or less.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To date 3 employers have made successful representations against being named and 8 employers have not been named as they had arrears of £100 or less.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has already named 55 employers. Between them they owed workers a total of over £139,000 in arrears and have been charged financial penalties totalling over £60,000. We will be naming other employers that do not comply with National Minimum Wage regulations soon.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone not receiving the minimum wage that they are legally entitled to should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 16/12/2014 16:36:27 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

169728

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Holiday Leave: Pay
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 5 December 2014 to Question 216899, what assessment he has made of the negative impact on business and jobs he is seeking to limit.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	218289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p>Our preliminary assessment of the impact of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling suggest that total costs to employers in the UK could be in the region of hundreds of millions of pounds. The Government understands the deep concern felt by many employers about these potential costs. The holiday pay taskforce is discussing ways to limit the judgment’s impact on business. This encompasses both issues relating to back pay and management of future workforce planning. The Government also wishes to ensure that workers receive appropriate reward for their hard work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Through our discussions with the Taskforce and a wide range of other representative organisations, we are urgently reviewing what actions we should take.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 218290 question first answered 16/12/2014 16:31:10 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

169729

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Holiday Leave: Pay
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 5 December 2014 to Question 216899, whether the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal of 4 November 2014 in Bear Scotland and Others v Mr David Fulton and Others necessitates changes to the Working Time Regulations.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	218290
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p>Our preliminary assessment of the impact of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling suggest that total costs to employers in the UK could be in the region of hundreds of millions of pounds. The Government understands the deep concern felt by many employers about these potential costs. The holiday pay taskforce is discussing ways to limit the judgment’s impact on business. This encompasses both issues relating to back pay and management of future workforce planning. The Government also wishes to ensure that workers receive appropriate reward for their hard work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Through our discussions with the Taskforce and a wide range of other representative organisations, we are urgently reviewing what actions we should take.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson grouped question UIN 218289 question first answered 16/12/2014 16:31:10 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

169730

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Apprentices: Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to offer different rates of apprentice national minimum wage for apprentices of different ages and levels of experience.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	218260
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>This year we have asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to consider whether we can simplify the apprentice rate structure so that it is as clear and simple as possible, in order to support those employers who take on apprentices and to improve compliance with the National Minimum Wage. We have also asked the LPC to consider whether there should be different rates of apprentice National Minimum Wage for apprentices of different ages and levels. The LPC will report back with their recommendations in February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 15:38:48 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

169928

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
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 employers have successfully appealed against being named and shamed for non-payment of the national minimum wage under the revised scheme that came into force on 1 October 2013.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	218516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>Under the revised Naming Scheme the Government will name all employers that have been issued with a Notice of Underpayment (NoU) unless employers meet one of the exceptional criteria or have arrears of £100 or less.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To date 3 employers have made successful representations against being named and 8 employers have not been named as they had arrears of £100 or less.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has already named 55 employers. Between them they owed workers a total of over £139,000 in arrears and have been charged financial penalties totalling over £60,000. We will be naming other employers that do not comply with National Minimum Wage regulations soon.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone not receiving the minimum wage that they are legally entitled to should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 15/12/2014 15:41:13 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray