These arrangements are kept under review.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Heald"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, whether the Law Officers' Departments have any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4012", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Graeme Morrice"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Livingston"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Graeme Morrice"} ], "uin" : "196759"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48404", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48404/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The announced changes to Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) will be subject to a full equality analysis to determine the impact of these changes on students with protected characteristics. The equality analysis will be given full consideration before regulations are laid before the House.<\/p>
<\/p>
These changes will apply to all full-time, full-time distance learning, part-time and postgraduate students in higher education applying for DSA for the first time from the 2015/16 academic year. DSAs are not available to further education students, as the Government provides Learning Support funding to further education colleges and providers to help meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.<\/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" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "196514"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "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, whether he has carried out an equalities impact assessment of the changes to disabled students' allowances which were announced on 7 April 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/304", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hall Green"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Roger Godsiff"} ], "uin" : "196612"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48407", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48407/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Post Office Ltd, with its network of over 11,500 branches, is well placed to become a provider of front office services for Government, helping citizens interact with Government either face-to-face or online.<\/p>
<\/p>
While public services must be competitively tendered, Post Office Ltd has shown that it can very effectively bid for and win new work. It has won every Government contract it has bid for the past three years in highly competitive tendering processes.<\/p>
<\/p>
In particular, in 2012 it successfully bid for the competitively-tendered DVLA framework contract for Front Office Counter Services (FOCS). This contract runs to 2020 and is available to other Government departments. For example HM Passport Office recently moved its services with Post Office Ltd onto FOCS and this Department and the Cabinet Office are in close contact about a range of other opportunities.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Furthermore, Post Office Ltd was recently one of the successful bidders for the Cabinet Office's online identity assurance contract, ensuring that Post Office Ltd can play a role in the delivery of modern, online Government services.<\/p>
<\/p>
Whilst I continue to highlight to my colleagues the opportunities available to Government from using the Post Office network and contracts such as these, individual contracts are a matter for the services in question and their respective public bodies and departments. I have not had recent discussions specifically with the Welsh Government.<\/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" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "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 recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on increasing the range of services provided by the Post Office network.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1590", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Ayrshire and Arran"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Katy Clark"} ], "uin" : "196569"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48408", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48408/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Post Office Ltd, with its network of over 11,500 branches, is well placed to become a provider of front office services for Government, helping citizens interact with Government either face-to-face or online.<\/p>
<\/p>
While public services must be competitively tendered, Post Office Ltd has shown that it can very effectively bid for and win new work. It has won every Government contract it has bid for the past three years in highly competitive tendering processes.<\/p>
<\/p>
In particular, in 2012 it successfully bid for the competitively-tendered DVLA framework contract for Front Office Counter Services (FOCS). This contract runs to 2020 and is available to other Government departments. For example HM Passport Office recently moved its services with Post Office Ltd onto FOCS and this Department and the Cabinet Office are in close contact about a range of other opportunities.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Furthermore, Post Office Ltd was recently one of the successful bidders for the Cabinet Office's online identity assurance contract, ensuring that Post Office Ltd can play a role in the delivery of modern, online Government services.<\/p>
<\/p>
Whilst I continue to highlight to my colleagues the opportunities available to Government from using the Post Office network and contracts such as these, individual contracts are a matter for the services in question and their respective public bodies and departments. I have not had recent discussions specifically with the Northern Ireland Executive.<\/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" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "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 recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on increasing the range of services provided by the Post Office network.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1590", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Ayrshire and Arran"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Katy Clark"} ], "uin" : "196570"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48409", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48409/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Provisional student numbers for 2014/15 were issued on 20 February 2014. Since then we have considered applications for a higher number and adjusted numbers issued where appropriate on 2 May 2014. However, we cannot confirm final allocations until providers have been re-designated for student support purposes for the 2014/15 academic year.<\/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" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "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, when he plans to announce the final allocation of student number controls to alternative providers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/171", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Nick Raynsford"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Nick Raynsford"} ], "uin" : "196560"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48410", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48410/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Supplementary Estimate adjustment for the student loan debt sale relates to the Government subsidising the sale of student loans in 1998 and 1999. The adjustment reflects changes to the value of the Government liability following annual debt sale subsidy payments, including adjustments for cancelled loans.<\/p>
<\/p>
The subsidy will continue until all the loans are extinguished which is expected to be no earlier than 2028, which is the 30 year duration of the first debt sale agreement.<\/p>
<\/p>
Further details of the liability are available in the BIS Annual Report and Accounts.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> <\/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" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "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, with reference to page 204 of HM Treasury's Central Government and Supply Estimates 2013-14, February 2014, HC 1006, if he will provide a breakdown of the £15.877 million supplementary estimate for the increase in costs of student loan debt sale.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1171", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liam Byrne"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hodge Hill"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Liam Byrne"}
], "uin" : "196546"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48411", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48411/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes data on the sources of income for all higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK on an annual basis. This data shows that, despite a slight fall in student numbers, tuition fee income from non-EU students in 2012-13 was £3.5bn, an increase of 9.1% on 2011-12.<\/p> <\/p> The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) produces an annual report on the financial health of the publicly funded higher education sector in England. Their most recent report, published in March 2014, also states that income from non-EU students rose in 2012-13 and shows that HEIs are expecting tuition fee income from non-EU students to rise by 9.7% in real terms in 2013-14.<\/p> <\/p>