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1019520

registered interest
date	03/12/2018
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	Post Offices: Closures
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 his Department has made of the financial effect on (a) local businesses and (b) the community of the closure of dedicated post office premises on the high street.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	198361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Franchising is an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 14/12/2018 09:42:58 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1019907

registered interest
date	04/12/2018
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	McColl's: Post Offices
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 Post Office branches are located in McColl's stores; and whether there are plans to locate more Post Office branches in McColl's stores.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	198883
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. How many Post Office branches are located in McColl's stores and whether there are plans to locate more Post Office branches in McColl's stores are an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 14/12/2018 09:43:09 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 91117 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1020609

registered interest
date	06/12/2018
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	Females: 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, what steps the Government is taking to support SMEs that are run by women.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	199795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting all entrepreneurs to start and grow a business, and as part of our Industrial Strategy, we have taken steps to encourage women to start a business. There are now 1.1 million female-led small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, which accounts for 19% of SMEs in the UK, 5% higher than in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>There are 38 Growth Hubs across England which provide localised information, guidance, expertise and finance for businesses at any stage of their growth. We know that 45% of callers to the Business Support Helpline in 2017/18 were women.</p><p> </p><p>The Government-backed British Business Bank provides Start-Up Loans for individuals wishing to start a business and women account for 39% of recipients. The Scheme started in 2012 and as at the end of September 2018, the Start Up Loans programme had lent £450m to more than 59,000 entrepreneurs. The Bank is also conducting a review into the specific barriers female-led businesses face in accessing Venture Capital.</p><p> </p><p>I would also like to point out that on 21 September 2018, the Treasury launched a review into the barriers women face getting into business. This is led by Alison Rose, Chief Executive of RBS Commercial and Private Banking. This review will bolster our work to make it easier for them to access the support they need to get their ideas off the ground and grow their businesses.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/12/2018 16:51:01 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1020611

registered interest
date	06/12/2018
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	Females: New 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, what further support the Government plans to provide to women who have received Government start-up loans to help them maintain their start-ups past the first year.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	199796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>Our Industrial Strategy is about providing help and support for all individuals wishing to start and grow their own business, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. The Government-backed British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme provides loans for people starting their own business. The Scheme started in 2012 and as at the end of September 2018, the Start Up Loans programme had lent £450m to more than 59,000 entrepreneurs.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst our approach to business support is focused on advice and support for all, I am pleased to report that women account for 39% of the recipients of these loans, while 19% of existing SMEs are female-led. The Start-Up Loans scheme also provides comprehensive advice and support for those in receipt of loans, with teams of business advisors and mentoring support to guide people through the start-up process.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/12/2018 16:51:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1020641

registered interest
date	06/12/2018
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, what steps his Department is taking to protect consumers who are owed goods or services from a company which has ceased trading without any apparent residual assets, particularly in cases where the registered owner has a record of previous companies dissolving in similar circumstances.
tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
tabling member printed	Bill Grant
uin	199903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2018 answer text <p>Where a business collapses with no assets there are limited opportunities for consumers to obtain refunds, but the Government has issued guidance to help Insolvency Practitioners to highlight the best options to consumers.</p><p> </p><p>Where a consumer has paid by credit card and not received the goods or the services they have paid for there are extra protections where those goods cost between £100 and £30,000. In these cases, the consumer can claim back the total value of their prepayment by contacting their credit card issuing company. Consumers who purchased goods by debit card may also be able to claim through a chargeback scheme as long as they do this within a certain time period (normally 120 days). Further information on chargeback can be found at: <a href="http://www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/individual/chargeback-for-credit-and-debit-card-purchases.asp" target="_blank">http://www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/individual/chargeback-for-credit-and-debit-card-purchases.asp</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Government announced its intention to extend existing powers to investigate, disqualify and prosecute directors of insolvent companies to also cover former directors of dissolved companies. This includes instances of directors repeatedly dissolving companies and leaving behind debts and other liabilities – often to the detriment of small businesses, consumers and employees.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 14/12/2018 13:39:15 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

1020647

registered interest
date	06/12/2018
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	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: EU Law
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 in-flight files of EU legislation exist that affect the policy areas managed by his Department; and which in-flight files of EU legislation his Department intends to implement in UK law.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Mary Creagh
uin	199838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>As of 9 November, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) led on 46 EU legislative files that remain under negotiation.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to say which files will be implemented in UK law; this will depend on a range of factors including the nature of any future EU-UK relationship and the details of the final agreed texts of individual files including any transposition deadlines.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/12/2018 16:49:28 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 91431 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh

1020859

registered interest
date	07/12/2018
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	Post Offices: Closures
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 estimate he has made of the number of Crown Post Offices that will be closed following his announcement of 11 October 2018.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham West and Penge
tabling member printed	Ellie Reeves
uin	200154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made no announcement on the Post Office on 11 October 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010. There is no closure or privatisation programme.</p><p> </p><p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 17/12/2018 18:03:33 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4620 label Biography information for Ellie Reeves

1020870

registered interest
date	07/12/2018
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	Companies House: Registration
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 he has taken to reduce the risk of fraud from the availability of personal information on the Companies House database.
tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
tabling member printed	Ross Thomson
uin	200149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government considers that it is important that the information on the companies register should not become a tool for abuse. In response to concerns about the availability of residential address information on the register, we brought regulations into force in April to make it easier for people to have this information suppressed. We are also currently considering a broad package of reforms to Companies House, including the protection of personal information. We plan to consult on these reforms in 2019.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/12/2018 16:51:21 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4599 label Biography information for Ross Thomson

1023249

registered interest
date	11/12/2018
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of businesses deploying no-deal contingency plans as a result of the Government deferring the meaningful vote on the Withdrawal Agreement.
tabling member constituency	Aberdeen North
tabling member printed	Kirsty Blackman
uin	201185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>We do not want or expect a no deal scenario. We have agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. However, it is the duty of a responsible government to prepare business for a range of potential outcomes, and, as such, Government published 106 technical notices over the summer. Businesses have told us they will continue with no-deal contingency planning in light of these, and further guidance, until the agreement is finalised.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 17/12/2018 18:04:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 92363 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4357 label Biography information for Kirsty Blackman

1023954

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
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	Companies House: Staff
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 staff were employed at companies house in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (vi) 2015, (f) 2016, (g) 2017 and (h) 2018.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	201703
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>The number of staff employed at Companies House is publicly available information. It is published annually in Companies House’s Annual Accounts and Report. These can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=accounts+and+Report&amp;taxons%5B%5D=all&amp;subtaxons%5B%5D=all&amp;publication_filter_option=all&amp;departments%5B%5D=companies-house&amp;official_document_status=all&amp;world_locations%5B%5D=all&amp;from_date=&amp;to_date=" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 17/12/2018 17:46:15 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd