<\/p>
The Government launched the Retail Industry International Action Plan in March 2013. The plan has two main elements which aims to deliver £500 million of value to the UK economy and assist 1,000 UK companies:<\/p>
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1. We are assisting UK retailers to grow internationally through global campaigns in high growth markets such as China, India, the ASEAN markets and Emerging Europe. The work has included taking 250 companies to new markets through high level trade missions and we anticipate taking another 150 during this financial year. We are supporting UK retailers to participate in activities overseas, such as the World Retail Congress series of events, and targeting UK consumer goods exporters/retailers at trade shows in the UK to offer export assistance.<\/p>
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2. HMG are committed to deliver support to UK consumer goods exporters/retailers seeking to grow globally through online channels. As part of this programme UKTI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TMall (part of the Alibaba Group) to help UK companies sell via China's largest internet retailer. We are now in the process of negotiating MoUs with a number of leading platforms across the globe. We will be officially launching the e-Exporting programme in Autumn 2014. We are recruiting Digital Specialists who will work with UKTI's International Trade Advisors to bring the skills UK companies require to succeed in this fast growing area of commerce.<\/p>
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<\/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" : "2014-07-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-14T10:44:26.36381Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Exports"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when they are expecting to announce the interim measures to improve the retail export scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1132", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lee of Trafford"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Lee of Trafford"} ], "uin" : "HL712"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64632", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64632/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
Information on enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has been collected and published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) since the academic year 1993/94. More details about the statistics available are published at the following link:<\/p>
<\/p>
https://www.hesa.ac.uk/<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Statistics on enrolments by students from ethnic minority backgrounds are available in the charged for volume: \u2018Students in Higher Education Institutions <\/em>\u2018which can be requested at the following link:<\/p> <\/p> https://www.hesa.ac.uk/publications-and-products?task=show_pub_detail&pubid=1<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A summary of the statistics in the volume has been provided in the table. Figures for the Academic Year 1990/91 are not available from HESA.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> UK domiciled enrolments (1) by ethnicity <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> UK Higher Education Institutions<\/p> <\/p> Academic Years 2000/01, 2010/11 and 2012/13<\/p> <\/p> Ethnicity(2)<\/sup><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2000/01<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2010/11<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2012/13<\/strong><\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> White<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 1,334,665<\/p><\/td> 1,646,875<\/p><\/td> 1,507,845<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Black or Black British - Caribbean<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 18,505<\/p><\/td> 31,135<\/p><\/td> 28,165<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Black or Black British - African<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 32,115<\/p><\/td> 82,020<\/p><\/td> 83,365<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Other Black background<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 9,755<\/p><\/td> 6,680<\/p><\/td> 5,885<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asian or Asian British - Indian<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 51,270<\/p><\/td> 67,410<\/p><\/td> 63,235<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asian or Asian British - Pakistani<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 26,290<\/p><\/td> 43,915<\/p><\/td> 44,840<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 7,580<\/p><\/td> 15,355<\/p><\/td> 15,865<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Chinese<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 13,490<\/p><\/td> 17,740<\/p><\/td> 16,380<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Other Asian background<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 17,995<\/p><\/td> 30,595<\/p><\/td> 31,075<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Other (including mixed)<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 26,370<\/p><\/td> 76,225<\/p><\/td> 79,575<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total of ethnic minorities<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 203,365<\/p><\/td> 371,075<\/p><\/td> 368,390<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total of known ethnicity<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 1,538,035<\/p><\/td> 2,017,950<\/p><\/td> 1,876,235<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Unknown<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 193,540<\/p><\/td> 55,120<\/p><\/td> 38,780<\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 1,731,570<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2,073,070<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 1,915,015<\/strong><\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Notes:<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Figures are based on The HESA Standard Registration Population.<\/p><\/td><\/tr> (1)<\/sup> Enrolment counts include students in all years of study.<\/p> (2)<\/sup> HESA's categorisation of ethnicity changed in Academic year 2001/02 and again in Academic year 2003/04. As a result, 2000/01 figures may not be categorised on exactly the same basis as figures for later years.<\/p> (3)<\/sup> Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T15:23:39.9880293Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Ethnic Groups"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many ethnic minority students, broken down by ethnicity, attended universities in (1) 1990, (2) 2000, (3) 2010, and (4) the latest year for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3359", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Courtown"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Earl of Courtown"}
], "uin" : "HL715"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64130", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64130/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> According to the latest UK Economic Accounts, UK trade of goods and services in 2013 with the BRIC countries were as follows:<\/p> <\/p> UK Exports<\/p><\/td> UK Imports<\/p><\/td> Total Trade<\/p><\/td><\/tr> £ million<\/p><\/td> £ million<\/p><\/td> £ million<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Brazil<\/p><\/td> 4,314<\/p><\/td> 3,024<\/p><\/td> 7,338<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Russia<\/p><\/td> 7,347<\/p><\/td> 8,002<\/p><\/td> 15,349<\/p><\/td><\/tr> India<\/p><\/td> 7,661<\/p><\/td> 8,778<\/p><\/td> 16,439<\/p><\/td><\/tr> China<\/p><\/td> 15,701<\/p><\/td> 34,755<\/p><\/td> 50,456<\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Source: UK Economic Accounts Q1 2014<\/p> <\/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" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-30T16:25:46.7264582Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "BRIC Countries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the value of trade between the United Kingdom and (1) Brazil, (2) Russia, (3) India, and (4) China.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3359", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Courtown"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Earl of Courtown"}
], "uin" : "HL634"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63783", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63783/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) operates a national complaints handling scheme for England and Wales, under provisions in the 2004 Higher Education Act. The OIA can review complaints made by students against Higher Education Institutions if they remain unresolved, once a student has completed the institution's own complaints procedures. This may include, for example, complaints from students about unfair treatment by university staff. The service is free of charge to students.<\/p> <\/p> Separate arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.There are, however, some complaints that OIA cannot consider. These relate to concerns about admission to a university and to academic judgement. In the latter case, OIA can look at whether an institution has followed its rules and regulations in making an award to a student.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-03T16:28:27.0473898Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Appeals"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a nationwide appeals system for higher education students in the United Kingdom who wish to appeal on the basis of awarded grades or complain about alleged unfair treatment by university staff.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"}
], "uin" : "HL567"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63787", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63787/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> All committees operate according to the guidelines and standards outlined in the <\/em>Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]). Any advisory committee that is classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) is also subject to formal Cabinet Office procedures including a full triennial review. <\/em><\/p> <\/em><\/p> <\/p> CoPSAC is underpinned by The Principles of Scientific Advice to Government', published in 2010 (Annex A to CoPSAC), and the \u2018Nolan' principles for public life (the \u201cSeven Principles of Public Life\u201d (Annex C).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The principles \u201cprovide a foundation on which independent scientific advisers and government departments should base their operations and interactions\u201d. Members are also expected to abide by the Nolan Principles, which include the principles of objectivity and accountability.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Any \u201cissues of concern over the application of the Principles, or other guidance\u201d should be raised to the Chief Scientific Adviser. \u201cIf the matter of concern cannot be effectively resolved or is especially serious CSAs should approach the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and Ministers should approach the GCSA and the Minister for Science. The matter will be examined against a clear set of criteria, which include a breach of the Principles or CoPSAC.\u201d<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T15:23:07.1810649Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Advisory Bodies"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what quality control and audit procedures are in place to ensure that their advisory committees perform to the highest standards, that they are using up-to-date methodology and science, and that their advice is sound and accepted by the broader scientific community.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1861", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Countess of Mar"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Countess of Mar"}
], "uin" : "HL571"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63788", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63788/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> There is nothing in the Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]) that prevents a committee from commissioning additional advice from experts, and committees are encouraged to \u201cseek a wide range of advice from the best sources, particularly when there is uncertainty\u201d.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> CoPSAC states \u201cWhere a SAC lacks the relevant expertise for a particular project or task (as opposed to the committee's on-going work), the committee can co-opt appropriate experts or establish sub-groups to include such people on an ad hoc, time-limited basis\u201d.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>