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21 July 2009 : Column 1734W—continued
National Internship Scheme
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the number of internships likely to be established under the National Internship Scheme. [288633]
Mr. Lammy: The Government are committed to helping new graduates through these tough times. Internships offer graduates the opportunity both to apply their learning in a working situation and to build the work ready skills they will need for permanent employment. Our aim was to generate at least 5,000 additional internships for new graduates this autumn, many of them through the new Graduate Talent Pool. We have been working with businesses, universities and partners from the public and third sectors and have already achieved more than 5,000 committed places.
National Skills Academies: Finance
Mr. Timpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether another funding round for national skills academies is planned to take place. [287695]
Kevin Brennan [holding answer 20 July 2009]: An announcement will be made as soon as is practicable.
National Vocational Qualifications: Construction
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many people on Government-funded National Vocational Qualification courses in the construction industry left the course early in each of the last five years; [281185]
(2) how many people applied for Government-funded National Vocational Qualification courses in the construction industry in each of the last five years. [281184]
Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of Learning and Skills Council-funded enrolments on NVQs within the construction, planning and the built environment sector subject area, from 2005-06 to 2007-08. Information is not available on a consistent basis prior to 2005-06.
| Table 1: Number of NVQ enrolments within the construction, planning and the built environment sector subject area, 2005/06 to 2007/08 | |||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
| Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures include FE and WBL enrolments and TTG starts. 3. TTG began in April 2006, hence 2005-06 contains only part-year figures. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||
Table 2 shows the number of people who withdrew from an NVQ in the construction, planning and the built environment sector subject area, from 2005-06 to 2007-08. Information is not available on a consistent basis prior to 2005-06.
| Table 2: Number of NVQ Enrolments within the construction, planning and the built environment sector subject area which were withdrawn from, 2003-04 to 2007-08 | |||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
| Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. These figures do not include a small number of learners who have temporarily withdrawn due to an agreed break in learning. 3. These figures do not include learners who have transferred to a new learning aim with the same provider. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||
New Businesses
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage the establishment of new businesses in deprived areas. [270398]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This Department supports people setting up new businesses through the Business Link service. Information and advice is available to all new businesses through the 'Starting A Business' product. The 'Intensive Start Up Support' product provides additional assistance to people setting up new businesses in deprived areas, including those from groups that are underrepresented in self employment and business ownership. The Government also help Community Development Finance Institutions assist individuals in deprived areas who are unable to access finance from commercial banks. More widely, the Government support Local Authority action to increase levels of enterprise, through the Working Neighbourhood Fund and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.
Non-Domestic Rates
Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) households and (b) businesses in (i) Essex and (ii) Castle Point which will be liable for payment of the levy proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper. [283897]
Mr. McFadden: This Department has made no specific estimate of the number of (a) households and (b) businesses in (i) Essex and (ii) Castle Point liable for payment of the proposed levy proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.
Ofcom estimates that there are 612,037 fixed lines in Essex. As the analysis was not carried out at boundary level, rather constituency and county level, Ofcom does not have estimates for Castle Point. We have recognised that those on the lowest incomes might have difficulty paying the fixed line levy and that is why we have confirmed that those on social telephony schemes will be exempt. The social telephony schemes are available to those on income support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance Employment Support Allowance (income rated) or Guaranteed Pensions Credit and should be an accurate indication of ability to pay.
North West Regional Development Agency: Finance
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to which projects in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency the North West Regional Development Agency has provided funding in the last five years. [287977]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
Offical Visits: Glasgow
John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to visit Glasgow on official business during the summer adjournment. [288924]
Mr. McFadden: No BIS Ministers are planning to visit Glasgow this summer.
Overseas Trade: Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the extent of UK commercial operations in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in the last five years. [287152]
Ian Lucas: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold information on UK commercial operations in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Trade and Investment has provided any (a) financial assistance and (b) advice to UK companies trading with or investing in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in the last 12 months. [287153]
Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment has not provided financial assistance or advice to UK companies within the last 12 months wishing to trade with or invest in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission research into the level of investment in the UK by (a) companies owned by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory and (b) companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. [287161]
Ian Lucas: The Department has no plans to commission such research.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK companies operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are aware of their obligations under (a) the Geneva conventions, (b) the Hague regulations and (c) other international law. [287163]
Ian Lucas: HM Government have not offered support or advice to UK companies operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. We consider all settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to be illegal under international law.
Parental Leave: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley who took (i) paternity and (ii) maternity leave in the most recent period for which figures are available. [288231]
Mr. McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on Maternity Rights and Mother's Employment Decisions (published 2007). The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006.
Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.
Up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave. (The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners).
The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.
Parental Leave: Hemel Hempstead
Mike Penning: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of people from low income families in Hemel Hempstead constituency who took (a) paternity and (b) maternity leave in the most recent period for which figures are available. [287864]
Mr. McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on Maternity Rights and Mother's Employment Decisions (published 2007). The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006.
Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.
Up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave. (The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners.)
The Department does not collect data on low income families so has not estimated the number of low income families which have taken up paternity or maternity leave.
The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.
Parental Leave: Tamworth
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of people from low income households in Tamworth constituency who took (a) paternity and (b) maternity leave in the most recent period for which figures are available. [285919]
Mr. McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on Maternity Rights and Mother's Employment Decisions (published 2007). The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006.
Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.
Up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave (the survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners).
The Department does not collect data on low income families so has not estimated the number of low income families which have taken up paternity or maternity leave. The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.
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