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101051

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Business: Loans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on each of the six actions outlined in his Department's report, Ethnic Minority Businesses and Access to Finance, published in June 2013; what external meetings Ministers have had to discuss (a) those actions and (b) the issues raised in the report in each month since the report; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	211994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Ethnic Minority Business and Access to Finance review has raised awareness and encouraged engagement between the banking community and ethnic minority businesses. The report was published in July 2013 with a plan for action. <br><br>The actions were addressed primarily at the industry, British Bankers' Association and others including Local Enterprise Partnerships, supported by Government. Progress against the actions is set out below. <br><br>Action 1: Spreading the Word<br><br>The banking community continues to work with accountants, business groups and specialist business networks through the Enterprise Diversity Alliance and other forums such as the National Black Women's Network and the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, to raise awareness of the range of support available. This has included developing finance guides, refreshing the Better Business Finance website to make it more friendly, and running a national campaign aimed at all SMEs to inform them of the support available, including the appeals process if rejected for finance. <br><br>These details have been made available to ethnic minority businesses through key regional events, newsletters, and the various partners and networks that sit on the British Bankers' Association Diversity and Inclusion Business Council launched in 2014. The Authority also sits on the advisory group of the Enterprise Diversity Alliance, with a number of banks who also run specific Enterprise Diversity Alliance business support and finance work-streams.<br><br>Action 2: Making support easier to access<br><br>The British Bankers' Association, with banks, has run a series of mentoring workshops and because of these, and follow up bank support, some ethnic minority businesses have created their own mentoring networks and many of these businesses have taken up mentoring support. Events are held in areas with a high concentration of ethnic minority businesses notably Leicester, London, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, to raise awareness, understanding and build confidence in accessing finance. <br><br>Specialist mentoring is offered to ethnic minority businesses through mentoring organisations such as Business in the Community, Capital Enterprises and SCA Management Consulting Ltd. If a mentee wishes to specify a particular ethnicity for their mentor they can do so at the matching stage. <br><br>Action 3: Promote the alternatives<br><br>The Government is legislating through the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill to require large banks to refer declined small business finance applications to online platforms, who will seek to match businesses seeking finance to alternative lenders. Community Development Finance Institutions will be able to access these platforms alongside a range of other lenders, including challenger banks and peer-to-peer lenders. This proposal will help put small businesses seeking finance in touch with lenders who may be able to help them.<br><br>Action 4: Use Local Enterprise Partnerships to best advantage<br><br>Local Enterprise Partnerships have been established as voluntary partnerships and are encouraged by Government to ensure that their boards are representative of the businesses in their locality, and are not dominated by a single group or organisation.<br><br>Action 5: Expanding our understanding<br><br>The 2013 Ethnic Minority Business report http://www.sme-finance-monitor.co.uk/ was published earlier this year. The 2014 report is due to be published in January 2015. This work, coupled with that of the bank and BIS supported Enterprise Research Centre, is being used by the British Bankers' Association's Diversity and Inclusion Business Council to determine policy actions to take forward.<br><br>Action 6: Supporting the dialogue<br><br>The Ethnic Moinority Business representation at the Business Finance Roundtable is through Professor Monder Ram of Birmingham University who runs the Enterprise Diversity Alliance, co-leads the Enterprise Research Centre diversity work and is a member of DWP's Ethnic Minority Employment Stakeholder Group. Alongside this sits the British Bankers' Association Diversity and Inclusion Business Council launched in 2014 which includes the leading Ethnic Minority Business experts and networks. <br><br>As actions have been progressing since 2013, no further Ministerial meetings have taken place.<br><br></p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 11/11/2014 16:36:37 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 25357 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

101053

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Department for Communities and Local Government: Written Questions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to answer Question 210273, tabled by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central on 13 October 2014.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	212000
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>Question 210273 was answered on 18 December 2014.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 07/01/2015 17:21:11 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 25354 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

101055

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many small firms and shops have benefited from reductions in business rates in (a) England and (b) Crawley constituency.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	212013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>We have introduced a £1 billion business rate support package for 2014-15 including:</p><p>– a 2% cap in the Retail Price Index increase in the small business rates multiplier;</p><p>– a retail discount of £1,000 for around 300,000 shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000;</p><p>– a 12 month extension of small business rate relief doubling, benefitting over half a million businesses;</p><p>– a 50 per cent discount for new occupants of long-term vacant shops, and;</p><p>– allowing ratepayers to pay bills over 12 instalments.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not collect data on a constituency basis, but the Crawley constituency lies entirely within the Crawley Borough Council boundary. Table 1 (attached) shows, where available, the estimated number of properties that will benefit from each of the reliefs introduced or extended in 2014-15 within Crawley Borough Council, as well as the amount of relief awarded. Table 2 (attached) provides the same data, but for England as a whole.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 05/11/2014 17:34:35 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins attachment 1 file name 212013 Smith - Table 1 and 2.docx title Table 1 and 2 - Business Rates
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

101058

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Big Society Network
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the value was of contracts awarded by his-her= Department to the Big Society Network since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	211933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>My Department has not awarded any contract or provided any office space to the Big Society Network.</p><p> </p><p>Five members of staff were informally seconded to the Network during the summer/autumn of 2010, assisting with projects such as participatory budgeting and the Big Lunch. There was no direct cost to the Department of these placements; the notional value of the staff time in 2010 was in the region of £25,000 to £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Secondments help staff get experience of outside sectors, bringing back new knowledge and skills to the Department. We have seconded staff to similar organisations on a temporary basis, such as Barnados, the Children's Society and the Prince's Trust.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 211934 211935 211938 question first answered 17/11/2014 11:39:50 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy

101059

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Big Society Network
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) financial and (n) non-financial support provided by his-her= Department to the Big Society Network since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	211934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>My Department has not awarded any contract or provided any office space to the Big Society Network.</p><p> </p><p>Five members of staff were informally seconded to the Network during the summer/autumn of 2010, assisting with projects such as participatory budgeting and the Big Lunch. There was no direct cost to the Department of these placements; the notional value of the staff time in 2010 was in the region of £25,000 to £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Secondments help staff get experience of outside sectors, bringing back new knowledge and skills to the Department. We have seconded staff to similar organisations on a temporary basis, such as Barnados, the Children's Society and the Prince's Trust.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 211933 211935 211938 question first answered 17/11/2014 11:39:50 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy

101060

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Big Society Network
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has provided office space to the Big Society Network since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	211935
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>My Department has not awarded any contract or provided any office space to the Big Society Network.</p><p> </p><p>Five members of staff were informally seconded to the Network during the summer/autumn of 2010, assisting with projects such as participatory budgeting and the Big Lunch. There was no direct cost to the Department of these placements; the notional value of the staff time in 2010 was in the region of £25,000 to £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Secondments help staff get experience of outside sectors, bringing back new knowledge and skills to the Department. We have seconded staff to similar organisations on a temporary basis, such as Barnados, the Children's Society and the Prince's Trust.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 211933 211934 211938 question first answered 17/11/2014 11:39:50 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy

101063

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Big Society Network
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has seconded any officials or special advisers to the Big Society Network since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	211938
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>My Department has not awarded any contract or provided any office space to the Big Society Network.</p><p> </p><p>Five members of staff were informally seconded to the Network during the summer/autumn of 2010, assisting with projects such as participatory budgeting and the Big Lunch. There was no direct cost to the Department of these placements; the notional value of the staff time in 2010 was in the region of £25,000 to £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Secondments help staff get experience of outside sectors, bringing back new knowledge and skills to the Department. We have seconded staff to similar organisations on a temporary basis, such as Barnados, the Children's Society and the Prince's Trust.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 211933 211934 211935 question first answered 17/11/2014 11:39:50 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy

101066

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Tenancy Deposit Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who audits My Deposits; and whether that audit is submitted to his Department.
tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
tabling member printed	Mrs Cheryl Gillan
uin	212088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>MyDeposits is audited by FSPG Chartered Accountants and their company accounts are available online at Companies House. (http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/index.shtml)<br><br>The scheme administrator Hamilton Fraser Insurance Plc is also regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/11/2014 17:24:52 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan

101067

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Tenancy Deposit Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who is responsible for checking and monitoring (a) the Deposit Protection Service, (b) the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and (c) My Deposits.
tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
tabling member printed	Mrs Cheryl Gillan
uin	212087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>All three tenancy deposit schemes are required to submit monthly key performance indicators to the Department for Communities and Local Government in accordance with the Service Concession Agreement. The schemes are also required to provide the Department with annual updates of all their management and financial plans.<br><br>In addition the Department holds quarterly monitoring meetings with the schemes at which any performance issues can be discussed. Over the period that the schemes have been in operation their performance has been consistently high.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 212086 212089 question first answered 03/11/2014 17:18:19 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan

101068

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Tenancy Deposit Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how often checking and monitoring of (a) the Deposit Protection Service, (b) the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and (c) My Deposits take place; and what that process involves.
tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
tabling member printed	Mrs Cheryl Gillan
uin	212086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>All three tenancy deposit schemes are required to submit monthly key performance indicators to the Department for Communities and Local Government in accordance with the Service Concession Agreement. The schemes are also required to provide the Department with annual updates of all their management and financial plans.<br><br>In addition the Department holds quarterly monitoring meetings with the schemes at which any performance issues can be discussed. Over the period that the schemes have been in operation their performance has been consistently high.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 212087 212089 question first answered 03/11/2014 17:18:19 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	18 label Biography information for Dame Cheryl Gillan