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 question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

433138

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2015
	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	Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support the creation of painting and decorating opportunities in the construction sector.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Late payment remains an important issue for small businesses in the UK. The Government is taking significant steps to assist small businesses to recover late payment debts.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Through the Enterprise Bill, currently before Parliament, we will legislate to establish a Small Business Commissioner to help small business resolve disputes with large companies, tackling, in particular, late payment. The Commissioner will act as a disincentive to unfavourable payment practices, and build the confidence and capabilities of small businesses to help them to assert themselves in contractual disputes and negotiate more effectively with larger businesses.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">This is part of a package of measures to tackle late payment. We have also legislated for new transparency measures in the public and private sectors. This will allow full public scrutiny of payment performance.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">We have also strengthened the Prompt Payment Code to ensure it is a recognised and demonstrated beacon of best practice, and we recently consulted on proposals to give representative bodies wider powers to challenge grossly unfair payment practices.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Government promotes fair payment practices in construction through legislation (the &quot;Construction Act&quot;), the use of public procurement (promoting prompt payment to Tier 3 and the use of Project Bank Accounts), and by working with the industry through voluntary measures (such as the Prompt Payment Code and the Construction Leadership Council's Payment Charter).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Payment Charter includes a commitment of zero retentions by 2025. To support this work, the Government recently announced a review of the practice of cash retentions under construction contracts.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Tackling late payment is about creating a responsible payment culture where larger companies recognise the benefit of having a sustainable and robust supply chain, and smaller businesses feel able to challenge poor behaviour. Once implemented, the Government is confident that these measures will lead to significant changes in the UK's payment culture.</del></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Opportunities in painting and decorating will be created through the steps Government is taking to increase demand in the construction industry, including its support for housebuilding in England.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Last week the Chancellor announced that the public housing budget for England is to double to over £2 billion per year, and the Housing Bill sets out plans to build 1 million homes in England by 2020.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To deliver Government ambitions for construction it is vital to attract new people to the industry. The government is committed to significantly increasing the quantity and quality of all apprenticeships in England to 3 million starts by 2020; the construction industry will have a significant part to play in achieving this target.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">However, skills policy (including apprenticeships policy) is a devolved matter and, in Northern Ireland (NI), is the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Learning.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Minister of Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, published <em>Securing our Success, </em>a new NI Strategy on Apprenticeships in June 2014. This Strategy aims to reform the system of apprenticeships in NI, introducing them in a much broader range of occupational areas and establishing them as an attractive route to gaining higher level qualifications including at degree level and above.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Construction Skills Network Report for NI suggests that there will be an annual recruitment requirement of 100 painters and decorators over the next five years, within a total requirement of 1,490 construction trades each year.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Construction Industry Training Board NI has a role to encourage the adequate training of those employed or intending to be employed in the construction industry and to improve the skills and productivity of the sector. NI’s six Further Education Colleges provide professional and technical training for the painting and decorating trades.</ins></p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 06/01/2016 15:08:11 question first ministerially corrected 11/01/2016 16:04:15 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles previous answer version 37693 answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

442505

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2016
	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	Housing: Construction
	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 ensure that sufficient tradesmen are trained to support an increase in housing construction.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	21020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to significantly increasing the quantity and quality of all apprenticeships in England to 3 million starts by 2020; the construction industry will have an important part to play in achieving this target.</p><br /><p>Development of skilled labour can only be achieved with engagement of the industry. Construction employers in England are engaged in the Trailblazer process to develop apprenticeship standards that are fit for business, and we have announced a new apprenticeships levy which will put investment in training, and apprenticeships specifically, on a long-term, sustainable footing.</p><p>Initiatives, by the Construction Leadership Council, or through the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are seeking to encourage more young people into construction careers. This work includes the launch of the GO-Construct website and work with the National Careers Service and Construction Ambassadors for schools.</p><br /><p>The CITB and CITB Northern Ireland have also developed a range of initiatives. In England these include working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Armed Forces resettlement service, Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Home Builders Federation, to encourage experienced individuals into the sector. The CITB continues to work closely with the Home Builders Federation to support skills initiatives.</p><br /><p>However, as noted in my answer to PQ UIN <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-11-30/18208/" target="_blank">18208</a> skills policy (including apprenticeships policy) is a devolved matter. In Northern Ireland, it is the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Learning.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 13/01/2016 17:41:03 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

443048

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2016
	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	Sexual Offences: Universities
	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 sexual assaults and rapes have taken place at UK universities in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	21306
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>This information is not held centrally by Government, although polices forces will record cases of sexual assault and rape. At the request of the Government, Universities UK has set up a task force that will bring together relevant stakeholders to explore what more can be done to support the higher education sector to prevent, and respond effectively, to incidents of violence and sexual harassment against women, hate crimes and other forms of harassment. The task force is considering a range of potential measures, and its work includes an analysis of the nature and scale of the problem. <br></p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 03/02/2016 17:20:41 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

444751

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2016
	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	Hoverboards: Safety
	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 improve the safety of hoverboards.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	22500
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>Self-balancing scooters, commonly referred to as hover-boards are regulated for safety under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations. These Regulations require products to be safe. Enforcement of the Regulations rests with Trading Standards for consumer products. Trading Standards have already prevented over 100,000 being made available to consumers and further action is being taken as appropriate.</p><br /><p>The Regulations provide powers for non-compliant products to be prevented from being made available to consumers until they are brought into compliance. Where products are not brought into compliance Trading Standards can apply to the Courts for permission to destroy the goods.</p><br /><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been working with Trading Standards to ensure consistency of approach to deal with these products and to raise the profile of the potential safety issues with consumers.</p><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 21/01/2016 17:10:37 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

444792

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2016
	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	Domestic Service: Treaties
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department is taking steps to implement International Labour Convention No.189 on Domestic Workers.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	22511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2016 answer text <p>The UK already provides comprehensive employment and social protection for workers, including domestic workers. This includes the right to National Minimum Wage, right to work a maximum number of hours a week, paid holiday, health &amp; safety protections, maternity/paternity leave and the right to be protected from discrimination.</p><p>These core rights are enforced for <strong>all </strong>workers who are legally entitled to work in the UK. The Government is also focused on improving protection for vulnerable domestic workers by ensuring that immigration and border staff are trained to recognise potential victims of abuse; that overseas domestic workers are provided with guidance on their rights and how to obtain help; and that employers know their responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 25/01/2016 16:21:58 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

445843

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2016
	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	Toys and Games: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps the Government has taken to improve toy safety.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	23052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2016 answer text <p>Toy safety is fully addressed by the Toy Safety Regulations 2011. Officials are engaged with the associated standards developed and maintained through the British Standards Institute and monitoring of Trading Standards enforcement activities.</p><p><strong></strong></p><br /> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 25/01/2016 15:35:04 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

446220

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	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	Freight: Shipping
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what value of freight was imported by sea into the UK in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	23495
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><br /><p>Data on the value of freight that was imported by sea into the UK in each of the last five years is available from Eurostat’s Comext database (“EXTRA-EU Trade since 1999 by mode of transport”). This data covers only UK imports by sea from the Non-EU countries. Data by mode of transport for intra-EU trade is not available in value terms.</p><br /><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 28/01/2016 17:20:30 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

446222

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	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	Small Businesses: Exports
	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 reduce export costs for businesses to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to increase their levels of exports.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	23498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><br /><p>Increasing exports is a key factor in the Government’s long-term economic plan. Government departments are working together to support UK businesses looking to take advantage of overseas opportunities and to create a strong business environment that allows UK businesses to flourish both at home and overseas.</p><br /><p>My noble Friend Lord Maude of Horsham made a <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2016-01-19/HLWS466/" target="_blank">statement</a> to the House on Tuesday 19<sup>th</sup> January on the Government’s strategy to support Trade. This outlines a new, whole-of-government approach to expanding the number of exporters and the value they generate for the British economy. The aim is to make it easier for small business to access this support through better digital platforms, working more closely with partners and making sure services match the needs of business.</p><br /><p>In addition, the cross-Government ‘One Government at the Border’ (OG@B) will focus on simplifying the experience of moving goods in and out of the UK, especially for those businesses which are smaller and new to exporting.</p><br /><p>The UK is currently ranked by the World Economic Forum and the World Bank within the top 10 countries in the world for ease of doing business. The British Business Bank offers £2.4bn of finance to over 40,000 smaller businesses. Included within this is the Start-Up Loans programme, which has provided over 35,000 loans worth over £192 million. We have saved businesses £10 billion of red tape and we have extended small business rate relief.</p><br /><p>The Government will continue to back small firms to grow at home and overseas and to create jobs by providing an environment in which they can thrive. This means cutting a further £10 billion of red tape, extending business rates relief, tackling late payment culture and improving access to finance. Through these and other support mechanisms the Government is committed to helping an additional 100,000 companies export successfully by 2020 compared to 2010.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 28/01/2016 17:22:09 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

446223

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	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	Motor Vehicles: Trade Competitiveness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of its policies on the automotive sector on the competitiveness of that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	23499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>The Government works closely with the automotive industry, in particular through the Automotive Council, on competitiveness issues affecting the sector. In November 2015, the Automotive Council published an assessment of the UK’s international competitiveness on their website. UK automotive sector productivity is the highest in Europe compared to other major European producers. Car production reached a 10-year high in 2015 at 1.59 million vehicles, with almost 80% of these exported to over 100 countries. In addition, the value of UK sourced components by vehicle manufacturers has increased from 36% in 2011 to 41% in 2015. The sector is at the forefront in the design and use of high quality Apprenticeships to ensure the skilled workforce required to support future growth.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 28/01/2016 17:38:11 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

446224

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	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	Small Businesses: Billing
	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 encourage larger companies to make payments to small and medium-sized enterprises on time.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	23500
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><br /><p>The Government recognises that late payment remains an important issue for small businesses in the UK and is taking significant steps to assist small businesses to recover late payment debts. This is part of a package of measures to tackle late payment. We have also legislated for new transparency measures in the private sector.</p><br /><p>The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 legislated for a new reporting requirement on the UK’s largest companies and Regulations will be introduced this year which will compel larger companies to report on payment practices and performance. This information will be published on a six-monthly basis and will be made publicly available.</p><br /><p>Through the Enterprise Bill, currently before Parliament, we will legislate to establish a Small Business Commissioner to give general advice and to help small businesses resolve disputes relating to payment matters with larger businesses.</p><br /><p>Tackling late payment is about creating a responsible payment culture where larger companies recognise the benefit of having a sustainable and robust supply chain, and smaller businesses feel able to challenge poor behaviour. Once implemented, the Government is confident that these measures will lead to significant changes in the UK’s payment culture.</p><br /><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 28/01/2016 17:36:16 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon