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100307

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
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	Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what work his Department has conducted on identifying specific policy areas and sectors for which the UK will seek exemptions from the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what representations the UK has made to the EU on exemption of such policy areas or sectors.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	211430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government has consistently pushed for an ambitious agreement under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations in line with the recently published mandate.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The European Commission has explicitly ruled out public services from the scope of any market liberalisation in TTIP, and it has therefore not been necessary to discuss any exclusions related to specific public services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Commission has provided further details on the treatment of public services, available online at: <a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/may/tradoc_152462.pdf" target="_blank">http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/may/tradoc_152462.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 28/10/2014 16:04:43 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock previous answer version 24563 answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

99775

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	NHS: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
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 his Department has made of the potential effect of including the National Health Service in the negative list of exclusion for negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	211053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p>The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will not change the fact that it is up to UK Government alone to decide how UK public services, including the NHS, are run. The UK has insisted on maintaining the same safeguards for the NHS in TTIP as it has in all recent trade agreements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This position was confirmed by the European Commission</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 23/10/2014 17:00:03 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock previous answer version 24061 answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

64650

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
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	Conditions of Employment
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 effect of the Flexible Working Regulations 2014 on workers with zero hours contracts.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	203174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Under the new regulations, which were brought into force on the 30 June, all employees with 26 continuous weeks of service have the right to request flexible working from their employer. Individuals on zero hours contracts, and who are employees, can request a change in their contracts which could also include a request to move to a fixed hours contract.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Individuals on zero hours contracts may be employees or workers, depending on the contract agreed between them and their employer. The Government does not keep records on the proportion of individual zero hours contracts workers on either employee or worker contracts.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>While individuals on zero hour contracts, and who are not employees, do not have a statutory right to request flexible working, they can make an informal request to their employer to vary their hours or their working pattern. An employer can also choose to offer contractual rights that are more generous than those provided for in statute.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 03/07/2014 14:45:09 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

63994

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
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 effect of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement regulations on UK public services and businesses as a result of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what UK Government policy is towards such regulations in international investment agreements.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	202532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into Investor State Dispute Clauses (ISDS), reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. There has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. ISDS provisions in investment and trade treaties can help to create a positive investment climate. The ISDS provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation's right to regulate and determine policy and also provide transparency of process. A balanced ISDS clause in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 01/07/2014 14:24:27 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon previous answer version 7116 answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

63526

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department's employment tribunal statistics are independently assessed for accuracy.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	202164
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly official statistics on the tribunals which come under it, including Employment Tribunals. These are produced by statisticians within the Ministry of Justice using information collated by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and are covered by the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The statistics published on 12<sup>th</sup> June were updated shortly after the initial publication. This was because we identified that the breakdown of Employment Tribunal jurisdiction claims was incorrect in a table published as an annex to the main publication.</p><p> </p><p>The revision had no impact on the main findings set out in the statistical publication, that HMCTS tribunals recorded 84,700 receipts in the period January to March 2014. This is 67% lower than the same period of 2013, and the lowest receipts since this statistical series began in 2008/09.</p><p> </p><p>In line with Gov.Uk policy, we alerted users to this revision by posting a message on the main webpage for the publication and have put in place procedures to ensure future publications will not be affected.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 202165 question first answered 02/07/2014 13:17:46 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

63533

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons the quarterly employment tribunal statistics published by his Department on 12 June 2014 were removed without notification and replaced the same day with a second set of statistics; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	202165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly official statistics on the tribunals which come under it, including Employment Tribunals. These are produced by statisticians within the Ministry of Justice using information collated by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and are covered by the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The statistics published on 12<sup>th</sup> June were updated shortly after the initial publication. This was because we identified that the breakdown of Employment Tribunal jurisdiction claims was incorrect in a table published as an annex to the main publication.</p><p> </p><p>The revision had no impact on the main findings set out in the statistical publication, that HMCTS tribunals recorded 84,700 receipts in the period January to March 2014. This is 67% lower than the same period of 2013, and the lowest receipts since this statistical series began in 2008/09.</p><p> </p><p>In line with Gov.Uk policy, we alerted users to this revision by posting a message on the main webpage for the publication and have put in place procedures to ensure future publications will not be affected.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara grouped question UIN 202164 question first answered 02/07/2014 13:17:46 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

62830

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
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	EU External Trade: Kenya
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 on access of Kenyan products to the UK of (a) ratification and (b) non-ratification by the East African Region of an interim economic partnership agreement with the EU.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	201546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p>Ratification of either an interim or comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would mean the European Commission undertakes procedures allowing Kenya to receive duty-free, quota-free access on its exports to the EU. Non-ratification of an EPA would mean that some Kenyan products would face tariffs when exported to the EU from 1 October 2014. Between 2008 and 2012, Kenyan exports to the UK had an average annual value of $520 million. Without an EPA, BIS officials have estimated that $300 million of Kenyan exports would remain duty-free. $220 million of Kenyan exports to the UK would face tariffs costing around $14 million per annum. These new charges would mostly affect exports of vegetables and cut flowers.</p><p>Negotiations of EPAs have been ongoing for the previous twelve years. UK Ministers are working closely with partners in Europe and East Africa to encourage urgent ratification of a development friendly agreement.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 26/06/2014 14:55:53 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

62984

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will initiate an independent audit of his Department's employment tribunal statistics.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	201467
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly official statistics on the tribunals which come under it, including Employment Tribunals. These are produced by statisticians in the Analytical Services Division using data produced by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. There are no plans for a review of the statistics at this time.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 24/06/2014 11:34:44 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

62543

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
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	Royal Mail
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 the Answer of 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 782W, on Royal Mail, what link was established in the engagement letter between the payment of the discretionary fee and the ending of the stabilisation period; and what targets or deadlines were set in the letter.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	201166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The engagement letter between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the syndicate of banks involved in the initial public offering indicated that the payment of the discretionary fee would be determined 10 days after the end of the stabilisation period and paid 5 days after that.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As I said in my previous answer (1 May 2014, Official Report, column 782W), we informed the banks that a decision would not be taken in the timeframe set out in the engagement letter given the volatility of the Royal Mail share price after the IPO. The share price remains volatile.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have not set any timetable for the decision.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 24/06/2014 14:00:07 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon previous answer version 4736 answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

62548

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
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 complaints about payment of the National Minimum Wage (a) were made, (b) were resolved within the required Departmental timescales and (c) were not resolved within the required Departmental timescales in 2013-14.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	201382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) enforces the National Minimum Wage (NMW) on behalf of BIS.</p><p>HMRC investigates every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights helpline and deals with each NMW complaint on a case-by-case basis. The timescale for each case is dependent on a number of factors:</p><ul><li>the complexity of the issues</li><li>the size of employer</li><li>the cooperation of the employer</li><li>the enforcement route required</li></ul><p>In 2013/14, HMRC investigated 1631 cases. Of these, 1084 cases were closed; 565 cases were closed within 120 days; 519 cases were closed outside of 120 days and 547 cases are still open and yet to be concluded.</p><p>Please note that investigations may not commence and be completed in the same financial year.</p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott grouped question UIN 201383 question first answered 25/06/2014 14:50:12 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray