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167674

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	Tobacco: EU Law
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive on the JTI Gallaher factory.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	217070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>Over regulation, and in particular the new tobacco products directive, have been blamed for the closure of the JTI factory in Ballymena. I believe this is part of a wider picture.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The demand for cigarettes is falling. Smoking rates have continued to decline in the UK. In 1974 almost half of the UK population smoked. Rates had fallen to 18.7% last year. Around 68% of current smokers also want to quit and are increasingly aware of the health harms that smoking causes. The tobacco industry has recognised this declining market and consumer health concerns and are diversifying into electronic cigarettes and ‘heat not burn’ technology.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The directive itself is aimed at harmonising European rules for the marketing of tobacco products to ensure that barriers to trade across the union are minimised for those continuing to trade in this commodity. These new rules include specific measures aimed at protecting trade, with an enhanced track and trace system to be implemented to protect the revenue of legitimate businesses. It is true, and right, that in deciding these trade rules a high level of health protection was sought for all citizens across the EU and the European Commission’s impact assessment accepts that there is likely to be a further reduction in tobacco consumption of 2% as a result of the directive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, this is just part of the picture on job losses. Job losses have resulted, in greater measure from the actions of the industry itself, for example from the mechanisation and streamlining of tobacco production than from tobacco control measures implemented by this Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is currently finalising proposals to transpose the revised Tobacco Products Directive into UK law, and will consult on these proposals in early 2015. The Department will consider those proposals in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 10/12/2014 15:30:24 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

167688

registered interest
date	03/12/2014
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	Postal Services
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 plans to take to protect the Universal Service Obligation of delivery of mail to every address in the UK.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Dr William McCrea
uin	216981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>The minimum requirements of the universal postal service – which include the 6 day a week letters service at a uniform price to urban and rural addresses up and down the country – are enshrined and protected in law. Only Parliament can change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament has ensured that protection of the universal service is at the very heart of the regulatory regime by giving Ofcom, as an independent regulator, a primary duty to secure the provision of the universal service throughout the UK. Ofcom has the regulatory powers and tools it needs to intervene in the market if the universal service is ever at risk.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ofcom has recently responded to Royal Mail’s concerns over the potential threat of competition to provision of the universal service. Having effectively reviewed and assessed all the evidence on competition in the postal market, including the business plans of Royal Mail and Whistl, it has concluded that the universal postal service is not under any current threat from the effects of competition. They will however continue to track Royal Mail’s performance and any new developments in the market. And as part of an ongoing wider review, they will also be looking at other factors that may affect Royal Mail’s ability to deliver the universal service in the future. More information about Ofcom’s decision can be found on its website (<a href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/post/securing-universal-postal-service" target="_blank">http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/post/securing-universal-postal-service</a>).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 10/12/2014 15:26:55 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	655 label Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

167296

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Diversification: Greater London
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 diversify London's economy; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	216728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p>The Mayor has a statutory responsibility for economic development in the capital. It is for the Mayor, advised by the London Enterprise Panel, to determine priorities for economic development in the capital and to use the resources available to support economic growth in London.</p><p> </p><p>Last summer London was awarded £236m from the Local Growth Fund, as part of their Growth Deal. A further £1billion will be awarded to LEPs in the New Year, on a competitive basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark question first answered 08/12/2014 14:38:43 answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

167387

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to insulate his departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	216832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not made any recent changes to the insulation of the departmental estate, however a number of steps have been taken to improve energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>The Department currently uses energy monitoring software to examine energy usage at a number of BIS sites. This provides daily consumption data and enables estate management to reduce usage and optimise building services.</p><p> </p><p>Building Management Systems are also installed across the estate, providing live data to engineers on building performance and energy demand throughout each building.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has a number of renewable energy installations installed which support the department to reduce carbon and increase efficiency. The Biomass boiler at Companies House in Cardiff produces 88% of heating for the building, saving 227 tonnes of carbon per annum. The scheme has become an Ofgem case study and Carbon Trust Exemplar.</p><p> </p><p>An ongoing initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption in the BIS core building is the partial Christmas shutdown at 1 Victoria Street. This has been implemented since 2011. The main areas of focus are the reduction of operational workspace in the building, reducing heating and cooling load by disabling most of the heating zones and reducing the number of operational lifts. BIS has saved approximately £12,000 and 80 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>. This year, in order to increase further energy savings, the feasibility of implementing this across further sites is being investigated.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 09/12/2014 15:57:13 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

167388

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Public Houses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he last met representatives of (a) the Campaign for Real Ale, (b) the British Beer and Pub Association, (c) Punch Taverns, (d) Enterprise Inns and (e) Marston's Brewery.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	216852
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills last met representatives of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) on 25 February 2014 when he spoke at a CAMRA reception in the House of Commons. He has not met representatives of Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns or Marston’s in 2013 or 2014 but last met representatives of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the representative organisation for brewers and pub companies, on 30 September 2013. Other BIS ministers have also met CAMRA, the BBPA and pub companies on a number of occasions as set out below:</p><p> </p><p>· I met CAMRA on 22 January 2013 (roundtable for tenant organisations)</p><p> </p><p>· I met BBPA and Punch on 28 January 2013</p><p> </p><p>· My Hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) met Enterprise Inns on 27 February 2013</p><p> </p><p>· I met BBPA, Marston’s, Enterprise Inns and Punch at a roundtable on 12 June 2013 and officials attended a further roundtable with CAMRA and other tenant representatives on 13 June 2013 when I was unable to attend due to illness</p><p> </p><p>· My Hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) met BBPA and Punch Taverns on 24 March 2014</p><p> </p><p>· My Hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) met Camra on 31 March 2014</p><p> </p><p>· My noble Friend Baroness Neville Rolfe met BBPA and Punch Taverns on 1 December 2014</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 09/12/2014 16:52:06 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

167389

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Takeovers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a public interest test with regards to corporate takeovers; and for what reasons provision for such a test was not included in the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Bill.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	216853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The power to propose changes to the public interest regime is set out under the Enterprise Act 2002, and would involve the Secretary of State bringing forward secondary legislation. While we keep this issue under review, we are not currently planning to bring forward changes to the regime.</p><p> </p><p>We do, however, welcome the consultation launched by the Takeover Panel in September 2014. This consultation proposed changes to the Takeover Code to allow companies to make more binding, long-term commitments during the bid process. These proposed changes would distinguish between a voluntary commitment made by a company about actions they commit to take, and statements about actions they intend to take. They would also enhance the Panel’s ability to monitor on-going compliance. I understand that the Takeover Panel is reviewing responses to its consultation and will be responding in the New Year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 09/12/2014 10:55:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

167390

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Foreign Investment in UK: Greater London
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 his Department has made of the level of overseas investment in small and medium-sized businesses based in London; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	216729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>According to UK Trade &amp; Investment’s Annual Inward Investment Report it is estimated that a total of 656 inward investment projects were recorded in London during 2013/14 Financial Year. These projects are estimated to have brought with them over 28,000 new or safeguarded jobs. The Department does not have estimates of the level of overseas investments into small and medium-sized businesses in London.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 10/12/2014 12:44:31 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

167391

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Tuberculosis: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department provides to research into finding new vaccines for antibiotic resistant strains of TB; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	216738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research into TB through the UK Research Councils who support a broad portfolio of research addressing different aspects of the disease. This includes research on vaccines and treatments for antibiotic resistant strains of TB.</p><p> </p><p>The Medical Research Council (MRC) currently supports five projects directly relating to antibiotic resistant strains of TB with a total value of £5.7m. These include studies which aim to identify novel targets for antibacterial drug discovery, the development of new TB vaccines and antibiotics, clinical trials with a focus on translational and implementation research relevant to developing countries, and health services and health systems research.</p><p> </p><p>The MRC is also leading an anti-microbial resistance (AMR) funders’ forum to coordinate activities in this area and an initiative involving all of the UK Research Councils on which aims to tackle resistance and try to develop treatments and diagnostic tools. In addition the MRC also supports a broader portfolio of research into TB likely to improve our understanding and inform future research into antibiotic resistant strains.</p><p> </p><p>The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are funding research into new treatments for antibiotic resistant strains of TB in addition to research on vaccine development, which while not specifically addressing antibiotic resistant strains is likely to improve our understanding and inform future research.</p><p> </p><p>An Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded study aims identify barriers to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment uptake while an EPSRC fellowship is looking at the transmission dynamics of TB.</p><p> </p><p>Researchers are also using the Diamond Light Source, to identify ways of disabling the enzyme that protects the TB bacteria and to understand the structure of the protein that enables the TB bacteria to survive in the human body. It is hoped that this work will make existing treatments easier and more effective and to help design new drugs. The Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).</p><p> </p><p>The UK is also a member of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) which aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other neglected diseases. In December 2014 the second phase of the partnership, EDCTP2 was launched aiming to contribute over 1billion euros over the next 10 years. Further information can be found at: <a href="http://www.edctp.org/" target="_blank">http://www.edctp.org/</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 216741 question first answered 09/12/2014 11:14:42 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

167392

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Ebola
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department provides to research into finding a cure for Ebola; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	216739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research into Ebola through the UK Research Councils who support a number of research projects addressing different aspects of the disease. This includes work on vaccines, treatments and interventions, and finding a cure.</p><p> </p><p>Current Medical Research Council (MRC) funded research includes a £2.8m grant funding jointly by the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and DFID to allow a team led by the University of Oxford to test the safety of a candidate vaccine alongside similar trials in the US.</p><p> </p><p>The MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, at Imperial College London, is an official WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Modelling. Researchers there have been providing advice to the WHO regarding the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa and contributed to a study reviewing data since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2013 to determine the scale of the epidemic, better understand the spread of the disease, and explore what it will take to reverse the trend of infections.</p><p> </p><p>The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is supporting one £3.6m study which aims to improve our understanding of the cultural and political dimension to inform interventions. In addition researchers funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are using the Diamond Light Source to investigate emerging viruses are making an Ebola protein for therapeutic antibodies. The Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron and is also funded by STFC.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is also a member of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) which aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other neglected diseases, including Ebola. In December 2014 the second phase of the partnership, EDCTP2 was launched aiming to contribute over 1billion euros over the next 10 years. Further information can be found at: <a href="http://www.edctp.org/" target="_blank">http://www.edctp.org/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 216740 question first answered 09/12/2014 14:19:58 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

167393

registered interest
date	02/12/2014
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	Ebola: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department provides to research into finding a vaccine for Ebola; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	216740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research into Ebola through the UK Research Councils who support a number of research projects addressing different aspects of the disease. This includes work on vaccines, treatments and interventions, and finding a cure.</p><p> </p><p>Current Medical Research Council (MRC) funded research includes a £2.8m grant funding jointly by the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and DFID to allow a team led by the University of Oxford to test the safety of a candidate vaccine alongside similar trials in the US.</p><p> </p><p>The MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, at Imperial College London, is an official WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Modelling. Researchers there have been providing advice to the WHO regarding the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa and contributed to a study reviewing data since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2013 to determine the scale of the epidemic, better understand the spread of the disease, and explore what it will take to reverse the trend of infections.</p><p> </p><p>The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is supporting one £3.6m study which aims to improve our understanding of the cultural and political dimension to inform interventions. In addition researchers funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are using the Diamond Light Source to investigate emerging viruses are making an Ebola protein for therapeutic antibodies. The Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron and is also funded by STFC.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is also a member of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) which aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other neglected diseases, including Ebola. In December 2014 the second phase of the partnership, EDCTP2 was launched aiming to contribute over 1billion euros over the next 10 years. Further information can be found at: <a href="http://www.edctp.org/" target="_blank">http://www.edctp.org/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 216739 question first answered 09/12/2014 14:19:58 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby