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21 July 2009 : Column 1761W—continued
| Full VRQ awards (000s) | |
| Sector subject area | Total awards |
| (1) Less than 1,000 Notes: 1. Numbers may not add up to total due to rounding. 2. Numbers of awards are only for those awarding bodies submitting VRQ data to NISVQ. Source: NISVQ | |
Wind Power
Chris Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the (a) number of British companies which build wind turbines and (b) size of the workforce of each such company. [278379]
Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
The recent Innovas (2009) report for BIS, "Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis", estimated the number of companies, both British and foreign-owned, in the UK wind sector
in the financial year 2007-08 at around 5,800. The definition of this sector includes the manufacture of wind turbines, but also whole wind farm systems and their associated supply chains.
The same report estimates UK wind sector employment in 2007-08 at around 87,000. This would imply an average of 15 workers per company across the whole wind sector.
Separate estimates of the number of and employment in British-owned companies building wind turbines are not available.
Working Hours
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether there are restrictions on the number of hours a person who is (a) self-employed and (b) a chief executive officer of a major (i) public body and (ii) private corporation may work. [287593]
Mr. McFadden: The Working Time Regulations 1998, which govern the maximum number of hours a person may work, apply to individuals who are considered to be "workers" as defined in the regulations. The self employed, who are in business on their own account, are not usually regarded as "workers" as they are in effect their own boss. There are specific exemptions from certain provisions in the regulations for managing executives or other persons with autonomous decision-taking powers.
An individual's contract with a public or private corporation will determine if that person is covered by the regulations.
Working Hours: Members
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether EU Working Time Directive restrictions on working hours apply to hon. Members when (a) acting as constituency Members and (b) undertaking duties in the House. [287591]
Mr. McFadden: The regulations implementing the Working Time Directive in the UK apply to "workers". A "worker" is someone who works under a contract of employment or a contract to perform personally any work or services for another party whose status is not that of a client or customer. Holders of political and elected office are not regarded as "workers" and are therefore not covered by the regulations.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether there is a restriction on the number of hours an hon. Member may work in their capacity as (a) a hon. Member and (b) a Minister. [287592]
Mr. McFadden: The Working Time Regulations 1998, which govern the maximum number of hours a person may work, apply to individuals who are considered to be "workers" as defined in the regulations.
A "worker" is someone who works under a contract of employment or a contract to perform personally any work or services for another party whose status is not that of a client or customer. Holders of political and elected office are not regarded as "workers" and are therefore not covered by the regulations.
Working Hours: Ministers
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether EU Working Time Directive restrictions on working hours apply to Ministers in the performance of their ministerial duties. [287590]
Mr. McFadden: The regulations implementing the Working Time Directive in the UK apply to "workers". A "worker" is someone who works under a contract of employment or a contract to perform personally any work or services for another party whose status is not that of a client or customer. Holders of political and elected office are not regarded as "workers" and are therefore not covered by the regulations.
WorldSkills Calgary 2009
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials his Department plans to send to WorldSkills Calgary 2009. [285527]
Kevin Brennan: The Department will be sending one official to the WorldSkills Calgary 2009 event.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to answer question 280003, tabled on 10 June 2009, on the Automotive Assistance Programme. [281283]
Ian Lucas: I replied to the hon. Member on 23 June 2009, Official Report, column 870W.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the reasons are
for the time taken to answer question 245130, tabled on 15 December 2008, on replies to correspondence. [286350]
Kevin Brennan [holding answer 16 July 2009]: I am responding to the hon. Member today.
Mr. Timpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to provide a substantive answer to question 284440, on national skills academies, tabled on 1 July 2009. [287131]
Kevin Brennan [holding answer 16 July 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 198W.
Yes Loans
John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2009, Official Report, column 422W, on Yes Loans, when he expects a decision to be made on the renewal of the consumer credit licence for Yes Loans. [285460]
Kevin Brennan: The Office of Fair Trading carried out a detailed investigation into Yes Loans and its business practices and on 13 July 2009 it imposed multiple requirements on the company to change its behaviour and to cease certain business practices. Any single failure to comply with these requirements, now or in the future, can result in a fine of up to £50,000 per occasion.
Following the OFT's requirements, which were imposed upon the company, a renewed credit licence will be issued in due course. The exact timing for reissuing Yes Loans licence is a matter for the OFT.
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