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48719

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what criteria were used for targeting the Skills Funding Agency's reduction in funding for adult qualifications; and what account the decisions to reduce that funding took of each such course's effect on (a) skills development and (b) employability of participants.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	196904
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The Skills Funding Agency's review of vocational qualifications is not about a reduction in funding. Within agreed budgets, the review has sought to ensure funding is redirected in support of qualifications which are high quality, demanded by learners and valued by employers. The Agency has removed these low quality qualifications from the scope of public funding to ensure we only fund those vocational qualifications which are recognised by employers and enable someone to be employable in a particular occupation or sector. The goal is to promote both the skills development and employability of participants.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

48722

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the default rate has been on each of the Government's export guarantee funds since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	196948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>UK Export Finance (UKEF) supports UK exports, principally through the provision of guarantees to banks extending loans to overseas buyers and insurance to UK exporters against the risk of non-payment. From 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2014, the percentage of guarantees and insurance policies issued by UKEF that have subsequently defaulted resulting in a claim being paid, or where a claim is currently under examination, is 0.2%.</p><p> </p><p>Given the tenor of transactions that UKEF typically supports, which can be up to 15 years, an in-year default rate does not give a clear indicator of the performance of UKEF's portfolio. In accordance with the financial objectives and risk measures agreed with HM Treasury, UKEF measures the Expected Loss of its portfolio. Expected Loss is the statistical estimate of the amount of UKEF's contingent liability which could be expected to turn into claims that are irrecoverable. Full details of UKEF's performance and risk management can be found in its Annual Report and Account which is available in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

48724

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much work from outside the Hull region was undertaken by staff in the Hull Official Receiver's office in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	196798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The Official Receiver's office in Hull imported 866 cases from outside the Hull region in the last 12 months.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

48725

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what bodies he consulted before the decision was made to close the Hull Official Receiver's office.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	196799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>Extensive discussions have taken place between the Insolvency Service and Trade Union officials in connection with the estates review, in the context of the estates strategy. As customer service will be maintained in the Hull area, no other bodies were contacted prior to the decision.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

48726

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what research he commissioned on the effects of the closure of the Hull Official Receiver's office before the decision to close that office; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	196800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>Before taking the decision to close the Hull office the Insolvency Service reviewed the impact on customers, employees, and the agency's finances; the strategic viability of the move; and how it could be delivered.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

48727

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many foreign students from which countries applied to study in the UK in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
uin	196802
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>A complete count of applicants from overseas countries is not available centrally. The number of applicants from each overseas country who apply to full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS is available from the UCAS website at <a href="http://www.ucas.com/data-analysis/data-resources" target="_blank">http://www.ucas.com/data-analysis/data-resources</a>. However, not all overseas applicants apply via the UCAS application scheme. In addition, the UCAS figures do not cover applicants to postgraduate courses.</p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

48728

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of amending the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 on the number of house fires.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Katy Clark
uin	196877
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>BIS is currently exploring options for a revised match test in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. It will not have a material effect on the fire safety of UK domestic upholstered furniture, but could lead to a small overall decrease in house fires as it will include currently unregulated materials in products which can contribute to the ignitability of furniture. The test will also reduce the levels of flame retardant chemicals in UK furniture. These contribute to smoke toxicity when burned and can have adverse effects on human health and the environment when they break down into constituent parts. These changes should bring savings to the industry of £30-50 million a year.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

48730

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to support elderly first-time entrepreneurs.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	196834
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>People of all ages and experiences are setting up and growing businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.</p><p> </p><p>www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Business Finance and Support Finder;' a source of government backed support and finance for business. The website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 7 loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

48731

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 201 of HM Treasury's Central Government Supply Estimates 2013-14, Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates, February 2014, HC 1006, what factors led to the need for the revised forecast that gave rise to the reserve claim of £5.455 billion for non-cash relating to revised forecasts for student loans; for what reasons this was unforeseen in his Department's main estimate for 2013-14; and what steps he plans to take to avoid the need for such a supplementary estimate in the future.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
uin	196868
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The Supplementary Estimates claim covered additional impairment of up to £3.2 billion resulting from improvements made to the student loans repayment model. Significant changes were made to the model after Main Estimates 2013-14 which enabled the Department to make better use of historical earnings data, which in turn produced greater accuracy in modelling borrowers' earnings paths. These changes, in addition to greater use of Student Loan Company data to support the model, have enabled us to address the historic over-forecasting of repayments.</p><p> </p><p>The claim also included a contingency of £1.4 billion for any change to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) economic forecasts between December 2013 and March 2014. If unusually low interest rates were forecast to continue for longer than expected, this would result in a cost to Government as future cash flows would be lower. Any changes to forecasts of earnings growth and RPI would also mean that lower loan repayments would be likely in future years The Department will continue to take account the possibility that the OBR will change its forecasts in March of future years.</p><p> </p><p>Non-cash pressures of £0.4 billion from higher than forecast growth in the take-up of loans and pre-agreed claims of £0.7 billion for higher impairment charges identified at SR13 were also included.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to update its modelling of student loan repayments in the light of the latest data and forecasts, and methodological innovation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Havant answering member printed Mr David Willetts question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 53 label Biography information for Lord Willetts
tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

48734

registered interest
date	28/04/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the aggregate household debt in the UK was in the most recent quarter for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	196847
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name PQ 196847.pdf title Household Debt ONS Letter
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell