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751855

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Zero Hours Contracts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what safeguards his Department has put in place to protect people employed on zero-hours contracts from exploitation by their employers.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	4889
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>This Government is clear that zero hours contracts should not be considered as an alternative to proper business planning or used as a permanent arrangement if it is not justifiable. They play a small but important part in the labour market, allowing flexibility for both employers and individuals. People on zero-hour contracts make up less than 3 per cent of the workforce and almost 70 per cent are happy with the number of hours they work, according to the latest ONS Labour Force Survey research (March 2015).</p><p>In May 2015 Government banned the use of exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts so that people cannot be prevented from looking for or working elsewhere when their employer does not guarantee work.</p><p>Matthew Taylor in his Review of Modern Working Practices has proposed some reforms around zero-hour contracts and Government will consider the whole report carefully and make a full response later this year.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 15:16:52 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

751871

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Self-employed: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2017 to Question 3182, what estimate he has made of the number of start-up loans paid to people who are self-employed in (a) North West England and (b) the UK in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	4994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>The Start Up Loans Scheme was launched in 2012 as a response to Lord Young’s report into small business and enterprise ‘Make Business Your Business’. This is therefore the date from which figures are held.</p><p>I can confirm that since 2012, in the North West, a total of 5,563 start-up loans have been delivered, equalling £35.64m.</p><p>And, in the UK, since 2012, a total of 46,506 loans have been granted, to a sum of £301.37m.</p><p>The attached table shows by year the number and value of start-up loans.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 19/07/2017 10:59:45 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James attachment 1 file name start-up-loans.pdf title Start Up Loans stats
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

751680

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2017 to Question 1354, on regulation, whether his policy on regulating over the course of the current Parliament includes contact with the Red Tape Initiative launched on 20 April 2017 and chaired by the right hon. Member for West Dorset.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>We are currently considering how best to continue to deliver our commitment to regulate more efficiently and effectively over the course of this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 15:10:18 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

751873

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Productivity: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to address the regional productivity gap in the North East.
	tabling member constituency	Jarrow
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
	uin	4846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The objective of Government’s Industrial Strategy is to increase productivity and drive growth across the United Kingdom. We have provided a framework to build on the strengths of different places and address the factors that hold others back. This will include investing in key infrastructure projects, increasing skill levels, and backing local innovation strengths.</p><p>In the North East the Industrial Strategy will build on the £379.6m million Local Growth Fund awarded to the North East LEP, which will bring an estimated 8,200 jobs and up to £300 million of public and private sector matched investment to the area.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 15:10:01 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

751872

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Modern Working Practices Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to respond to each of the recommendations made by the Taylor Review of Modern Employment Practices.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	4861
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>I made an oral statement to the House on 11 July 2017 to announce the publication of the Matthew Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.</p><p> </p><p>The report is comprehensive and detailed and, as Matthew Taylor himself recognises, is just the start of a long term programme. It will require detailed, careful thought and further consultation. It is important that we take action where we need to. So we will spend the next few months building on the debate that Matthew has created and engage with stakeholders to discuss the report. We need to listen to what those who engaged in this review feel about it.</p><p> </p><p>This Government will give the report the careful consideration it deserves and will respond in full later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 13:41:51 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

751877

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Merchant Shipping: Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to update his Department's guidance on National Minimum Wage Enforcement for seafarers.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
	tabling member printed	Karl Turner
	uin	4780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>In collaboration with the Department for Transport and maritime stakeholders, we have been developing more detailed guidance on minimum wage law with respect to seafarers. Once this work has been completed, the guidance relating to seafarers will be published as part of a periodic update to the broader guidance on compliance with the National Minimum Wage.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 13:13:15 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

751684

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Insolvency
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many insolvencies and bankruptcies there were in (a) the UK and (b) Bolton in (i) the current financial year to date and (ii) each of the previous five financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton North East
	tabling member printed	Sir David Crausby
	uin	4927
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2017 answer text <p><strong>Final answer to PQ 16545</strong></p><p>The Insolvency Service does not produce UK-level statistics on insolvencies: statistics are presented separately for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland because of differences in legislation and policy.</p><p>Statistics showing the number of bankruptcies, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements are provided for each area since 2012 and can be found in the tables below. Bankruptcy, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements apply to individuals only; regional breakdowns for the number of company insolvencies are not currently available.</p><p>The Insolvency Service compiles its regional Insolvency numbers statistics on a calendar year basis, therefore financial year totals are not available. Statistics for the calendar year 2016 were published on 13 July 2017, and statistics for 2017 are due to be published in July 2018.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table1: Breakdown of total individual insolvencies, Bolton, 2012 to 2016</strong><sup>1</sup></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Total individual insolvencies</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Bankruptcies</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Debt relief orders</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Individual voluntary arrangements</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>555</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>69</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>315</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>486</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>122</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>64</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>473</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>76</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>296</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>388</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>69</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>248</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>447</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>290</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table 2: Breakdown of total individual insolvencies, England and Wales, 2012 to 2016 </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total individual insolvencies</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Bankruptcies</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Debt relief orders</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Individual voluntary arrangements</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>109,640</p></td><td><p>31,787</p></td><td><p>31,179</p></td><td><p>46,674</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>100,998</p></td><td><p>24,571</p></td><td><p>27,546</p></td><td><p>48,881</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>99,223</p></td><td><p>20,345</p></td><td><p>26,688</p></td><td><p>52,190</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>80,404</p></td><td><p>15,845</p></td><td><p>24,175</p></td><td><p>40,384</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>90,619</p></td><td><p>15,006</p></td><td><p>26,196</p></td><td><p>49,417</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table 3: Breakdown of total individual insolvencies, Scotland, 2012 to 2016 </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total individual insolvencies</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Sequestrations (of which LILA/MAP)<sup>1, 2</sup></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Protected trust deeds</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>18,402</p></td><td><p>9,630 (3,886)</p></td><td><p>8,772</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>14,250</p></td><td><p>7,189 (2,728)</p></td><td><p>7,061</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>11,622</p></td><td><p>6,747 (2,533)</p></td><td><p>4,875</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>8,785</p></td><td><p>4,477 (1,509)</p></td><td><p>4,308</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>9,708</p></td><td><p>4,401 (1,824)</p></td><td><p>5,307</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: Accountant in Bankruptcy. </em></p><p><em><sup>1</sup></em><em> On 1 April 2008, Part 1 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force making significant changes to some aspects of sequestration (bankruptcy), debt relief and debt enforcement in Scotland. This included the introduction of the new route into bankruptcy for people with low income and low assets (LILA). Of the number or sequestrations, individuals who meet LILA criteria are shown in brackets.</em></p><p><em><sup>2</sup></em><em> On 1 April 2015, part of the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act came into force making significant changes to some aspects of sequestration (bankruptcy). This included the introduction of the Minimal Asset Process (MAP), which replaced the LILA route into sequestration; mandatory debt advice for people seeking statutory debt relief; a new online process for applying for sequestration; and an additional year for people to make contributions to repaying their debts (increasing from three years to four, in line with protected trust deeds).</em></p><p><strong>Table 4: Breakdown of total individual insolvencies, Northern Ireland, 2012 to 2016 </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total individual insolvencies</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Bankruptcies</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Debt relief orders</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Individual voluntary arrangements</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>3,189</p></td><td><p>1,452</p></td><td><p>506</p></td><td><p>1,231</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>3,373</p></td><td><p>1,347</p></td><td><p>593</p></td><td><p>1,433</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>3,395</p></td><td><p>1,367</p></td><td><p>536</p></td><td><p>1,492</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2,690</p></td><td><p>1,071</p></td><td><p>472</p></td><td><p>1,147</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2,582</p></td><td><p>997</p></td><td><p>366</p></td><td><p>1,219</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland</em>.</p><p>It should be noted that these figures do not account for any changes in the base population over time. Using the rate of bankruptcies per 10,000 adults allows for a like-for-like comparison across years.</p><p>Headline figures for insolvencies in England and Wales can be found in the quarterly <em>Insolvency Statistics</em> release, a National Statistics publication. Figures for January-March 2017 were published on 28 April 2017, and can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/insolvency-statistics-january-to-march-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/insolvency-statistics-january-to-march-2017</a></p><p>Annual numbers and rates of insolvencies by region for 2000-2016 are available in the <em>Individual Insolvencies by Location, Age and Gender</em> publication</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/individual-insolvencies-by-location-age-and-gender-england-and-wales-2016" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/individual-insolvencies-by-location-age-and-gender-england-and-wales-2016</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 20/07/2017 09:53:18 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	437 label Biography information for Sir David Crausby

751869

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Energy: Small Businesses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2017 to Question 3324, on energy: small businesses, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the proposal by the Competition and Markets Authority to help microbusinesses access better energy deals.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	4950
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>Some of the reforms recommended by the Competition Markets Authority’s investigation, such as increasing price transparency for smaller microbusinesses and improving prompts to engage should make a real difference to the way the market works.</p><p>Ofgem has announced plans to consult on further measures to help microbusinesses.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 19/07/2017 10:58:48 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

751856

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what safeguards his Department has put in place to protect people employed on flexible contracts from exploitation by their employers.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	4890
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The availability of atypical employment provides a number of benefits for workers who cannot or do not want to commit to ‘standard’ full-time employment. This results in high participation rates among groups which might otherwise be excluded from work altogether, like mothers returning to work.</p><p>The UK’s flexible labour market means those who work in flexible arrangements continue to be entitled to employment protections regardless of the contract type. But we recognise that there are instances where the UK labour market is not working fairly for everyone and is why we asked Matthew Taylor to carry out his independent Review of Working Practices. Our full response later this year will reflect Government’s position and next steps.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 15:17:53 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

751880

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights on (a) business practices and (b) international efforts to uphold human rights.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	4967
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The UK was the first state to publish a National Action Plan to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This Plan brings together a range of measures – national and international, mandatory and voluntary – to foster business respect for human rights. These include the world leading provision in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which requires large companies to say what they do to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their business or through their supply chains, support for the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, a business-led initiative to rank the world’s largest businesses on their approach to human rights and continuing encouragement to other countries to produce their own National Action Plans.</p><p>The Joint Committee on Human Rights’ recent inquiry on human rights and business which culminated in its report “Human Rights and Business 2017: Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability” examined human rights and business in the UK including the implementation of the UK’s National Action Plan. The Government will respond to the report when the Committee reconvenes after summer recess.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/07/2017 15:18:51 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy