The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is a non-departmental public body with statutory independence from Ministers. Detailed and specific funding decisions are therefore entirely a matter for HEFCE. In this instance, HEFCE issued a competitive call into which universities across the UK were invited to submit bids for science capital funding. All bids were evaluated by an independent expert assessment panel against clearly defined, published criteria, including a requirement that bids should be built on a strong record of research excellence and should leverage co-investment from non-public sources at a ratio of at least 2:1.<\/p>
<\/p>
The University of Sheffield\u2019s bid for a \u201cSteel Research and Testing Centre\u201d did not meet all of the criteria on this occasion. A further funding round will open in the Autumn, and the University may submit a revised bid.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T09:03:09.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "University of Sheffield: Iron and Steel"} , "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, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England not to fund the Advanced Structured Testing Centre at Sheffield University on the UK steel industry; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "3549"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749539", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749539/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK Government supports shale gas exploration to determine the potential of the industry. Shale gas is natural gas found deep underground in impermeable shale rock and requires hydraulic fracturing (or \u2018fracking\u2019) to flow.<\/p>
<\/p>
Shale gas could create a new British industry, provide more jobs and make us less reliant on imports from abroad. However, we are clear: shale gas operations will only take place in a manner which is safe for the environment and local communities.<\/p>
<\/p>
Any company looking to develop shale will need to obtain all the necessary permissions, including planning and environmental permits, before hydraulic fracturing can be carried out.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T14:32:15.9Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fracking"} , "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, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on fracking.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"} ], "uin" : "3323"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749566", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749566/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There have been no staff who left or had agreed settlements to leave the Department for International Trade under (a) voluntary exit, (b) voluntary redundancy or (c) compulsory redundancy since 1 November 2016.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T13:53:36.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for International Trade: Redundancy"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff have left or agreed settlements to leave his Department under (a) voluntary exit, (b) voluntary redundancy and (c) compulsory redundancy since 1 November 2016; and how much compensation was paid in those cases.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/410", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jon Trickett"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemsworth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jon Trickett"} ], "uin" : "3366"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749570", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749570/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for International Trade (DIT) promotes trade and investment across the world and champions global free trade.<\/p>
This department's support is targeted where government can add most value. We prioritise our global export promotion activity by identifying the sector-market combinations that present the greatest opportunities to achieve the maximum impact and success. The Department currently has 23 High Value Campaigns across the energy sector including oil & gas, civil nuclear and renewables.<\/p>
UK Export Finance (UKEF) actively works with project sponsors to bring business to the UK. In the past 5 years, UKEF has provided over £2bn in support of energy exports.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T13:55:05.457Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Exports"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses in the energy sector to take advantage of new export opportunities and international trade.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4599", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ross Thomson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Aberdeen South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ross Thomson"} ], "uin" : "3576"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748445", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748445/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are working closely with the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council lead on the scale and nature of attacks with acid and other corrosive substances and how to respond to such attacks.<\/p>
The Home Office and the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council jointly hosted a meeting on 4 July with medical experts, police, retailers, and officials from a number of Government departments and agencies to share understanding about the nature of attacks and discussed action being taken by the respective agencies. We are currently considering with retailers what action can be taken to restrict access to the most harmful products used in acid and other corrosive substance attacks.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1561", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Nick Hurd"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-10T17:28:34.173Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Crimes of Violence: Acids"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 23 March 2017 to Question 68460, what progress has been made on (a) better understanding the extent and scale of crimes involving acid and (b) work with retailers to explore what action can be taken to control sales of products with a high acidic content.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1583", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lyn Brown"} ], "uin" : "3294"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748447", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748447/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recently announced in the Queen\u2019s Speech its intention to publish a draft bill to ban letting fees paid by tenants in England. A ban will mean that tenants are better able to search around for properties that suit their budget with no hidden costs. This is preferable to tenants being hit with upfront charges that can be difficult for them to afford. The approach taken in the draft bill will be informed by the recent public consultation, which closed on 2 June and received over 4,700 responses. These responses are being analysed. The Government will publish its response to the consultation in due course and further information on the draft bill will follow.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-10T16:28:37.353Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Letting Agents: Fees and Charges"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the merits of ensuring that legislation on letting agent fees will include provisions to prevent landlords from passing on any increases in their costs to tenants via higher rents.", "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" : "3143"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748448", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748448/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since December 2016, all local authorities have been required to implement existing government guidelines that set out how government buyers should source steel for major projects so that the true value of UK steel is taken into account in major procurement decisions:<\/p>