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10 Nov 2009 : Column 319W—continued
BIS officials also provide support to the sector through their strong links to the Electronics Leadership Council, the sector's trade associations, and the UK Electronics Alliance, and by chairing the Electronics Regulatory
Group which works with the sector to identify key regulatory issues affecting electronics companies and to help mitigate regulatory impacts.
In addition, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) helps electronics companies to internationalise their businesses by developing their international trade potential with advice, support and access to research. UKTI also helps them access international markets by providing support to attend trade fairs, facilitating meetings with overseas buyers and organising visits to new markets.
More generally, a wide range of support measures are available to small and medium-sized manufacturers via the Solutions for Business package and Business Link. These include recent measures under the Real Help for Business initiative, to address the cash flow, credit and investment needs of SMEs, as well as increased support for SMEs through products such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service, which has undergone an £8 million expansion, and plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasingly competitive global economy.
We have a wide range of skills programmes and initiatives which are designed to boost the skill levels of the work force. Through its Train to Gain Sector Compact and wider UK work, SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering, Manufacturing and Technologies, has engaged with nearly 2,000 electronics based companies in the UK in the past 12 months to identify and develop the right investment in skills.
The development of skills in the industry is also provided through our £1 billion (total for the whole economy) a year Apprenticeships programme. In 2007-08, 6,500 people in England started an Advanced (level 3) Apprenticeship in electro-technical occupations-the third most popular framework at Advanced level.
We are also committed to increasing the number of young people who choose to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects post-16. Increasing the STEM qualified proportion of the workforce will contribute to our ability to meet the skills requirements of the electronics industry.
Future Jobs Fund
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been allocated from the Future Jobs Fund to create apprenticeships in the creative industries. [288461]
Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are currently working closely with cultural sectors in order to create exciting job opportunities within the Future Jobs Fund and we welcome bids that create apprenticeships.
At this stage the DWP does not have a detailed breakdown of the sectors that the bids seek to create jobs in. The list of successful bidders to the Future Jobs Fund is available on our website at:
Many of these bids are from partnerships who plan to create jobs with a variety of organisations, in different sectors.
Insolvency: Fees and Charges
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from representatives of small businesses on fees charged to them by insolvency consultants and lawyers. [298811]
Ian Lucas: I have not received any representations from representatives of small businesses about the fees charged by insolvency consultants and lawyers. I would suggest that anyone seeking professional advice should always seek to establish the possible costs involved.
Although the Court can review fees charged by insolvency practitioners, the proposed amendments to the Insolvency Rules, which are due to come into force in April next year, include provisions that will enable creditors to obtain further information and thereby make it easier for greater scrutiny of office-holders' remuneration and expenses. The amendments also make it clearer how to challenge such expenses.
Job Creation: Environment Protection
Mr. Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many green British jobs his Department expects to be created in each of the next five years. [298945]
Ian Lucas: Based on bottom-up company data, Innovas estimated that in 2007-08 there were 880,000 jobs in the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services Sector (LCEGS).
It is estimated that an additional 400,000 jobs could be created in this sector from the 2007/08 level to 2015 (an average annual growth of 4-5 per cent.). This would represent an increase of 45 per cent.
But we need to remember that essentially we need all jobs to be green jobs. Ambitious carbon reduction targets will require a transition to low carbon for the whole economy. This will affect businesses and workers across the entire British economy, not just the LCEGS sector. There will be a range of opportunities at all skills levels across the economy.
Ultimately it is successful businesses that create jobs. Our focus is to drive sustainable economic growth, which in turn can foster the business success that will generate the jobs of the future.
Learning and Skills Council: Consultants
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) paid (a) Fishburn Hedges, (b) John Barnes and (c) Ian McMillan as part of the Get On competition on football chants, as referred to in the LSC's press release of 13 August 2009. [291619]
Kevin Brennan:
The total cost of the activity including agency costs and materials was £21,000 (excluding VAT.) This piece of activity generated a significant amount of national, regional and online media coverage, as well as valuable opportunities within many broadcast programmes on national radio and TV which are vital to reaching the target audience. For this reason, the cost of this
activity compares well with the cost of TV and radio advertising. This story is part of the successful Get On literacy and numeracy marketing campaign which has generated 380,000 calls from adults wanting to improve their skills, contributing towards the 2.8 million adults who have improved their literacy and numeracy skills and gained a qualification since 2001.
Low Carbon Zones
Mr. Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government has taken to identify designated low carbon zones. [293429]
Mr. McFadden: Since the publication of the UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy in July, we have announced two low carbon economic areas, the first located in the south-west of England, focusing on the development of marine energy and the second in the north-east of England focusing on ultra-low carbon vehicles. We have been working with the regional development agencies and industrial partners and will be announcing further low carbon economic areas over the coming few months.
Manufacturing Industries: Minerals
Tom Levitt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the contribution to the economy of the UK lime manufacturing industry. [298886]
Ian Lucas: The Department has not prepared an assessment of the lime manufacturing industry, and does not therefore have a view on the contribution to the economy of the lime manufacturing industry.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of new cars bought under the vehicle scrappage scheme were (a) manufactured in the UK and (b) manufactured overseas and imported; and how much money has been paid out under the scheme in respect of imported vehicles. [298359]
Ian Lucas: Full data will not be available until the end of the scheme. Details of new vehicles purchased are not available until transactions are completed and further analysis will also be required because certain models are both imported and manufactured in the UK.
In 2008, 86 per cent. of vehicles sold in the UK were imported. However, the global automotive supply chain is highly integrated and many imported cars will have a significant UK content in terms of components. For example, we understand 90 per cent. of Ford vehicles sold under the scrappage scheme have engines made in the UK.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department allocated to each of its non-departmental public bodies in 2008-09. [297128]
Mr. McFadden: The level of funding the Department has allocated to its NDPBs in 2008-09 is set out in the following table:
| Name of body | Type of body | BIS funding 2008-09 (£000) |
|
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) | ||
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