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156154

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
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	Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether any (a) external contractors and (b) consultancy companies engaged by his Department have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	214978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>Since August 2012 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has benefitted from having central records of contracts let by the Department. However, the operational management of each contract continues to rest with the respective project SRO (Senior Responsible Owner) or team, and there may often be valid reasons for any subsequent contract changes. The Department is reviewing its Commercial Strategy and expects to increase management information in this area soon but presently lacks the capacity to marry contracts let with actual payments made, and to do so would involve disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 24/11/2014 13:11:42 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

156435

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether any (a) external contractors and (b) consultancy companies engaged by his Department have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	214993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>No external contractors or consultancy companies engaged by the Wales Office since May 2010 have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 24/11/2014 11:43:12 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

156436

registered interest
date	18/11/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any (a) external contractors and (b) consultancy companies engaged by his Department have charged more than the initial price agreed for their services since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	214994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>DWP engages external contractors through a Crown Commercial Service neutral vendor contract. Each contractor is engaged for a set period and at an agreed daily rate. If it is necessary to extend the period of engagement then a new work order is put in place.</p><p> </p><p>DWP pays consultancy companies on either a fixed price or a time and materials basis as agreed in the contract. A purchase order is put in place for the contract and DWP’s financial systems do not allow for overpayment against the purchase order. Where further work is required over and above that initially agreed then a variation to the contract and purchase order is put in place.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 24/11/2014 12:03:47 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114593

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	Companies: Ownership
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress he has made in establishing full public transparency of company ownership.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213635
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill makes provision for the introduction of a central, public register of people with significant control over UK companies. The register will ensure full public transparency of UK company ownership and control. We will implement the register through secondary legislation as soon as practicable following Royal Assent of the Bill, which is subject to the will of Parliament.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 11/11/2014 16:37:31 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114596

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	Construction: Industry
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 recent fall in UK construction Purchasing Managers Index.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213641
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The most recently published UK Construction Purchasing Manager’s Index, for October 2014, indicated a strong overall increase in UK construction output albeit with slightly weaker growth than in previous months. The index remains much higher than the long-run average and the industry is optimistic about the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills continues to support the industry by working with the industry to remove barriers to growth by improving the planning system, access to finance, and easing the burden of regulation.</p><p> </p><p>On the demand side, we are stimulating the house building industry - in Autumn Statement 2013 my Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £1bn extension of the Local Infrastructure Fund for large scale housing sites, to unlock around 250,000 homes over 6 years. We are also stimulating infrastructure development. The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) sets a strategic vision for forthcoming infrastructure needs. It has identified a pipeline of over 500 projects costing around £250bn to 2015 and beyond.</p><p> </p><p>On the supply side, we are working closely with the Construction Leadership Council to ensure that the industry is well placed to respond to growing markets, tackling issues such as skills, innovation, sustainability, productivity, efficiency and export performance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 17/11/2014 11:41:44 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114661

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Mobile Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of progress in increasing mobile signal coverage to all areas.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213640
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Through the Mobile Infrastructure Project we are investing up to £150 million to improve coverage in areas with no coverage for voice calls or text messages. The project aims to address coverage in the final 0.3-0.4% of the population without basic coverage, and once built most sites in the network will have capability to provide 3G and 4G coverage. The latest site to go live on air was in North Molton in Devon, providing coverage to over 200 premises over approximately 30 square kilometres.</p><p>The Government is also looking to improve coverage in areas where there is a signal from one or more of the UK network operators, but not all four. We are working with the industry to find a voluntary solution and on November 5 the Government launched a consultation on proposals including national roaming, infrastructure sharing, reforming virtual networks and a coverage obligation.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 11/11/2014 14:19:07 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114728

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in (a) the Middle East and (b) North Africa.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Conflict and instability in the Middle East and North Africa have made the plight of Christians and other religious minorities a significant concern. In many cases religious minorities are facing extremely difficult circumstances. Many communities are suffering, and indeed some countries risk seeing the disappearance of communities that have existed there peacefully for centuries.</p><p>We deplore all discrimination against religious minorities and constraints on their freedom to practise their faith. We regularly urge all governments in the Middle East and North Africa to ensure the protection of all religious minorities. We encourage them to develop inclusive political systems that represent all of their citizens.</p><p>We back our words with actions, working proactively in countries where we can to tackle these issues. For example, in Yemen the Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool is delivering a grassroots community reconciliation initiative to ease tensions between different communities. In Syria a number of British Government funded projects have brought together religious leaders from all denominations (including Alawi, Christians, Kurds, Druze and Sunnis) to foster greater understanding between faiths and support reconciliation. In Tunisia, our Arab Partnership Initiative funds a project run by the Centre for the Study of Islam and Democracy which considers, amongst other things, the protection of religious minorities under the new constitution.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/11/2014 14:56:41 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114730

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made in ending sexual violence in conflict since the Global Summit in June 2014.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213639
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Global Summit set in motion a series of unprecedented practical steps and commitments. In addition, it significantly raised the profile of this issue and placed it firmly on the international policy agenda. Following the Summit, we are now working to implement the outcomes of the Summit and to incorporate efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict into all aspects of international conflict prevention, stabilisation, peacebuilding, security and justice, humanitarian and human rights work. This is based on a programme of political and practical activity that includes: - Implementing the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict through advocacy, capacity building and national application; -Encouraging governments to implement fully in domestic legislation the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and for more states to accede to the Rome Statute and to implement fully its provisions in domestic law; - Pressing governments to do more to support HRDs and building further the capacity of local civil society and grass roots organisations to document and respond to acts of sexual violence and to provide support to survivors; and - Encouraging governments to do more to include sexual violence issues in their doctrine and training and to enforce initiatives on military conduct and discipline. We are also working with and encouraging those governments who announced new plans or commitments at the Summit to implement them as fully and as quickly as possible. This country activity is complemented by ongoing UK support to the full range of multilateral bodies so as to ensure that PSVI and the outcomes from the Summit are fully integrated into their daily activity as well as future international events. During the UN General Assembly in New York in September, I co-hosted, with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on tackling sexual violence, Zainab Bangura, a conference attended by over 120 representatives of countries, international bodies, and Non-Governmental Organisations, to agree concrete steps for turning the Global Summit's conclusions into real change on the ground.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 17/11/2014 14:46:27 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

114735

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
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	World Expo: Italy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress he has made on (a) sponsors for, (b) exhibitors and (c) construction of the UK Pavilion at the Milan Expo 2015.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2014 answer text <p>UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is in discussion with a number of potential sponsors, and will announce sponsorships as they are contractually confirmed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>UK companies will be offered a range of opportunities to promote their products, services and expertise; at the UK Pavilion; in the centre of Milan as part of a global business programme; and as part of the wider campaign ‘Grown In Britain’ which will be delivered internationally through UKTI/Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office global networks.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Construction is proceeding according to timetable. The Expo organisers handed over the UK lot on 28 October 2014. The foundations of our Pavilion are complete. The manufacture of prefabricated elements of the Pavilion has begun in York. Construction on-site in Milan will begin imminently.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 14/11/2014 14:49:21 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

106419

registered interest
date	04/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of hiring external consultants to aid with defence procurement in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	213389
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure on external consultancy is published as part of Defence Departmental Resources statistics. Details of expenditure by category for each year up to 2012-13 is included in Table 1.03.09 'MOD Expenditure on External Assistance': https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/defence-departmental-resources-2013.</p><p>The total figure is also published in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts (Table 7.1): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-annual-report-and-accounts-201213.</p><p>Details of expenditure for 2013-14 will be published in accordance with statutory obligations.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 11/11/2014 17:24:08 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans