<\/p>
Between April and May 2014, the Office of National Statistics have reported that the total UK trade deficit widened from £2.1bn in April to £2.4bn in May. This £0.4bn1<\/sup> increase was driven by a £0.2bn increase in total exports while imports increased more, by £0.6bn. Goods exports increased by £0.1bn while goods imports increased by £0.5bn - more than service exports and imports which both increased by less than £0.1bn.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Monthly trade data are often volatile and usually subject to revisions in later months. On a less volatile basis, in 2013 the total trade deficit decreased by £4.9bn to £28.5bn from £33.4bn in 2012. This was driven by a £10.4bn increase in total exports while imports rose by only £5.4bn over the same period.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Between April and May 2014, the ONS have reported that the total UK trade deficit widened from £2.1bn in April to £2.4bn in May. This £0.4bn1<\/sup> increase was driven by a £0.2bn increase in total exports while imports increased more, by £0.6bn. Goods exports increased by £0.1bn while goods imports increased by £0.5bn - more than service exports and imports which both increased by less than £0.1bn.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Monthly trade data are often volatile and usually subject to revisions in later months. On a less volatile basis, in 2013 the total trade deficit decreased by £4.9bn to £28.5bn from £33.4bn in 2012. This was driven by a £10.4bn increase in total exports while imports rose by only £5.4bn over the same period.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> 1 The £0.4bn increase is higher than the difference between the two deficits due to rounding.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4278", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Livingston of Parkhead"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-30T16:17:07.986705Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Balance of Trade"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the Office for National Statistics\u2019 calculation that the United Kingdom trade deficit widened in May, compared with April.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Barnett"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Barnett"}
], "uin" : "HL1207"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76550", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76550/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> The Green Investment Bank has provided finance to five offshore wind farm projects. Estimated information about the number of jobs supported by these is provided to the Bank by the operators. Complete data is not currently available as one operator has yet to report. The data received in relation to the other four projects is set out below and indicates that these support around 1,330 construction jobs and 250 ongoing operational jobs.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Project<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Year of GIB investment<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Construction jobs<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Ongoing operational jobs<\/strong><\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Walney<\/p><\/td> 2012/13<\/p><\/td> N/A<\/p><\/td> 40<\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Rhyl flats<\/p><\/td> 2012/13<\/p><\/td> N/A<\/p><\/td> 19<\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> London Array<\/p><\/td> 2013/14<\/p><\/td> N/A<\/p><\/td> 100<\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Gwynt y Mor<\/p><\/td> 2013/14<\/p><\/td> 1,330<\/p><\/td> 90<\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Westermost Rough<\/p><\/td> 2013/14<\/p><\/td> Data not yet supplied<\/p><\/td> Data not yet supplied<\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-28T11:42:28.1987804Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Wind Power: Seas and Oceans"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how many United Kingdom jobs were created in 2013\u201314 as a result of investment in offshore wind projects by the Green Investment Bank.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Berkeley"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Berkeley"}
], "uin" : "HL894"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65945", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65945/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> The Government has no plans to provide training in this specific area. However, we understand the National Association of Estate Agents provides customer services training for those employed in this field including understanding the customer\u2019s needs. It is in the interests of Estate Agents to understand the needs of all their potential customers, including the disabled customers, so that they can compete effectively to win new business and grow. The Government sets the open, market framework in which companies can compete for business on fair terms.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Government does however encourage companies to make their businesses more accessible to disabled people and embrace the positive business opportunities presented by disabled customers; guidance is available on the gov.uk website for both employees and employers. It covers what businesses must do to comply with the law, to ensure that everyone they employ or serve is treated equally and according to their needs.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-28T14:40:12.1123792Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to ensure that estate agents are trained to help disabled people find suitable accommodation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2235", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Swinfen"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Swinfen"}
], "uin" : "HL872"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64519", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64519/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has made no assessment of the effect of funding for medical research in a separate Scotland.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Scotland Analysis: Science and Research<\/em> report published in November 2013 examined the current UK framework for funding, infrastructure, coordination and collaboration. It demonstrated that Scottish research has thrived within this system \u2013 for example regularly receiving a higher percentage of Research Council funding when compared to UK population share.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The same holds true for research charities. In 2011 Scotland received 13% of all investment made by members of the Association of Medical Research Charities.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The evidence shows that being part of the UK complements and strengthens Scotland's world-class research base.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The UK Government's position is clear: if Scotland left the UK, the current framework for research could not continue. The best way for research to continue to flourish in Scotland is together as part of the UK.<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/53", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Willetts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Havant"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Willetts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-02T14:12:34.718612Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Medicine: Scotland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on funding for medical research of Scottish independence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anas Sarwar"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anas Sarwar"}
], "uin" : "202905"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62557", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62557/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> The Illegal Money Lending Teams in England, Scotland and Wales receive intelligence via the helpline and also through via the \u201creport a loan shark\u201d web page on www.gov.uk<\/a>, text messages, other electronic media and referrals from enforcement and debt advice agencies.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Below is a breakdown of the number of calls received over the last four years and also the number of total pieces of intelligence received via all communications channels.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Telephone calls<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Total Intelligence Received<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> England<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Wales<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Scotland<\/strong><\/p><\/td> England<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Wales<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Scotland<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013/14<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 370<\/p><\/td> 16<\/p><\/td> 10<\/p><\/td> 2013/14<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 592<\/p><\/td> 29<\/p><\/td> 65<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012/13<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 323<\/p><\/td> 20<\/p><\/td> 8<\/p><\/td> 2012/13<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 657<\/p><\/td> 32<\/p><\/td> 117<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011/12<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 214<\/p><\/td> 20<\/p><\/td> 12<\/p><\/td> 2011/12<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 460<\/p><\/td> 38<\/p><\/td> 96<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010/11<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Breakdown of number of calls received unavailable<\/p><\/td> 2010/11<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 299<\/p><\/td> 48<\/p><\/td> 28<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Trading Standards is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and so it is not possible to provide comparable data for there.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jenny Willott"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff Central"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jenny Willott"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-23T16:48:57.3922065Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Illegal Money Lending Teams: Telephone Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many telephone calls the Illegal Money Lending Unit helpline received from (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3909", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Pamela Nash"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Airdrie and Shotts"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Pamela Nash"}
], "uin" : "201228"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61898", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61898/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> A number of business events were arranged to coincide with Premier Li's visit to the UK. These included a business lunch hosted by the Prime Minister at No.10 with Ministers, business leaders from UK and Chinese companies and senior Government officials from both sides.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A number of other events were arranged by the China Britain Business Council and others including over 600 UK and Chinese businesses, large and small, from a range of sectors. These were open to all with companies being able to book tickets for the event.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/88", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sevenoaks"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Fallon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-18T16:26:54.4620369Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who has been invited to the UK-China business summit scheduled during the visit of the Chinese Premier, Li Keqian, to the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1491", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kerry McCarthy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bristol East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kerry McCarthy"}
], "uin" : "200694"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61073", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61073/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td>