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101018

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Deloitte
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 the Insolvency Service has made of the performance of Deloitte as an appointed administrator in collective redundancy consultation.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	211982
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>Responsibility for assessing the conduct and performance of insolvency practitioners in their role as Administrators falls to the Regulatory Professional Body of which they are a member. The role of the Secretary of State, through the Insolvency Service, is to ensure that these bodies are effectively undertaking their regulatory functions.</p><p> </p><p>In June 2014, an Employment Tribunal judgement was handed down which was critical of the role of the Administrators (from Deloitte) in their handling of redundancies involving approximately 6,500 employees following the collapse of Comet, a large national retailer of electrical goods. The judgement was referred by the Insolvency Service to the Administrators’ Regulatory Professional Body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for consideration of disciplinary action. That investigation is currently on-going.</p><p> </p><p>An Employment Tribunal had previously made criticisms of the Administrators of WW Realisations 1 Limited formerly known as Woolworths (also from Deloitte). That matter was also referred by the Insolvency Service to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales for consideration. No disciplinary action was taken as a result of that investigation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 15:34:24 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

101025

registered interest
date	27/10/2014
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	Goldcrest Finance and Hertford Solutions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received about (a) Gold Crest Finance and (b) Hertford Solutions LLP.
tabling member constituency	Aberconwy
tabling member printed	Guto Bebb
uin	211997
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has received no representations about (a) Gold Crest Finance and (b) Hertford Solutions LLP.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 15:29:47 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	3910 label Biography information for Guto Bebb

100604

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Apprentices
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) 16 year-olds, (2) 17 year-olds, and (3) 18 year-olds started apprenticeships in the academic years 2012–13 and 2013–14 in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Clifton
uin	HL2335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for 16, 17 and 18 year olds in 2012/13 and provisional full year apprenticeship starts for the same ages in 2013/14. Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by age (2012/13 and 2013/14 provisional full year)</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Age</p></td><td><p>Full year</p></td><td><p>(provisional)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>16</p></td><td><p>25,080</p></td><td><p>25,170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>35,810</p></td><td><p>38,320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>53,430</p></td><td><p>54,140</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><p>1) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p>2) Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme rather than based on 31 August.</p><p> </p><p>3) Provisional data are subject to change and should not be directly compared with data from earlier academic years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 17:05:23 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
tabling member	3144 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Clifton

100662

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Post Offices: Rhyl
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 has been made on the proposed relocation or closure of Rhyl Post Office.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	211757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The proposed franchising of some of its Crown Post Offices is the operational responsibility of Post Office Limited (POL). I understand that the company continues to explore all options for Rhyl with a view to finding a retail partner for the franchise. In the event that a suitable new retail partner cannot be found, POL has given a commitment that a post office service will be retained within the area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As this is the operational responsibility of the company I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the 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><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 15:32:33 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

100776

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Performance Appraisal
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff in his Department (a) are currently on a personal improvement plan, (b) have been on a persoanl improvement plan for over one year and (c) have been on a personal improvement plan for more than two consecutive years; and what the grades are or were of such staff.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	211820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>At present the Department does not hold any central data on the number of staff on personal improvement plans, as these are handled within the line management chain.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 14:59:54 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

100777

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Performance Appraisal
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff in his Department are responsible for mentoring staff on personal improvement plans.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	211821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>At present the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not hold any central data on the number of staff on personal improvement plans, as these are handled within the line management chain.</p><p>BIS currently has over 200 internal mentors; however, mentor relationships are confidential and therefore no data is held on how many of these are involved in mentoring staff on personal improvement plans.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 14:55:26 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

100778

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Performance Appraisal
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many teams in his Department currently have more than one member of staff on personal improvement plans.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	211822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>At present the Department does not hold any central data on the number of staff on personal improvement plans, as these are handled within the line management chain.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 14:56:39 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

100779

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Job Evaluation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the procedure is in his Department for assessing grade boundaries and job roles; and how often such assessments take place.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	211823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) uses grading guidance as a tool to help managers and job holders determine the grading of a post. The guidance applies to all BIS staff, except the Senior Civil Service (SCS) and Fast Streamers, who have central grading structures.</p><p> </p><p>Job evaluation is used when the grading guidance alone is insufficient for the manager and job holder to determine the grade of a post. BIS uses a systematic job evaluation system called JEGS (Job Evaluation and Grading Support) for non-SCS staff and JESP (Job Evaluation for Senior Posts) for SCS staff. These have been developed specifically for the Civil Service. It is a systematic process for defining the relative worth or size of jobs in order to establish internal relativities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The procedure for assessing grade boundaries using job evaluation are:</p><p> </p><p>1. Form a clear picture of the job</p><p> </p><p>2. Refer to grading guidance and where possible allocate to a grade</p><p> </p><p>3. If not, a trained evaluator will evaluate the post</p><p> </p><p>4. The evaluator’s conclusions are quality assured by an appropriate panel which includes trade union representatives</p><p> </p><p>5. HR will communicate the outcome to the line manager</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not keep records of how often the grading guidance are used or when job evaluations have taken place. Possible reasons for formal job evaluation might include:</p><p> </p><p>· the recruiting manager, Independent Panel Member (IPM) and Deputy Director cannot agree on the appropriate grade using the BIS grading guidance;</p><p> </p><p>· a new post has arisen and there are limited comparator posts within which to agree the grading;</p><p> </p><p>· a substantial and material change has been made to the weighting and responsibilities of the post;</p><p> </p><p>· an area has been restructured and the boundaries for responsibility and weighting have changed significantly;</p><p> </p><p>· there is sufficient doubt of grading when similar roles are compared across the Department; or</p><p> </p><p>· the Department is undergoing a full grading review.</p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 30/10/2014 14:58:14 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

100781

registered interest
date	23/10/2014
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	Scottish Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has held with stakeholders on the nature of the warranties sold by Scottish Power to its customers in the 1980s and 1990s.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Mr William Bain
uin	211767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>After this matter was raised by the Hon. Member for Bradford South (Gerry Sutcliffe) at Prime Minister’s Questions on 28 June 2014, I, along with officials from the Insolvency Service, held a meeting with the Hon. Member for Bradford South, Mr Sutcliffe, on 17 July 2014. Mr Sutcliffe is head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for this issue, and therefore representative of stakeholders’ views. At that meeting he handed over further information from the liquidators of two companies which operated the extended warranty schemes sold by Scottish Power, and we agreed that the Insolvency Service would review this information to ascertain whether or not further investigation was appropriate. It was explained to Mr Sutcliffe that any decision whether or not to commence an investigation using s447 Companies Act would be confidential and the Insolvency Service would not be in a position to confirm that decision or comment further.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 29/10/2014 16:07:52 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
tabling member	1610 label Biography information for Mr William Bain

100293

registered interest
date	22/10/2014
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	Foreign Investment in UK
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that inward investment and job creation is encouraged on an equal basis in all the regions of the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	211579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>UK Government Departments promote and support foreign direct investment, and the jobs that it can bring or safeguard, on an equal basis in all regions of the UK.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For inward investment, UK Trade &amp; Investment (UKTI) teams are structured to support the overall strategy of promoting the “UK First”, putting forward the areas of the UK best able to meet the requirements of the particular investor and so most likely to attract that inward investment. UKTI and its national, local and overseas partners develop inward investment opportunities that meet the sector requirements of investors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>UKTI has agreed Memoranda of Understanding with the Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (and with Local Enterprise Partnerships and London and Partners in England) to ensure an open and equitable approach. The UKTI operating model combines strong levels of local engagement within a national framework of support, to best support inward investment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 28/10/2014 16:00:51 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock previous answer version 24556 answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell