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7 Jan 2010 : Column 576W—continued
In the last five years Companies House has cancelled one procurement tender exercise prior to award of contract. There were no costs paid to the invited bidders as a result of the cancellation. Internal staff costs would have been incurred in the preparation of the tender process, but it is not possible to quantify them as they were not part of a formal project and therefore not recorded. However, we would not term these particular costs as being nugatory as a lot of the output generated has had continued value as reference material for future procurements.
Departmental Publicity
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on (a) Ministerial photoshoots and (b) production of videos in which Ministers appear in the last three years for which figures are available. [305510]
Mr. McFadden:
It is not possible to provide comprehensive figures for spend on ministerial photoshoots and video productions without incurring disproportionate
cost. Many videos are produced using internal resources, for use on the Department's digital channels, such as YouTube. Others are commissioned externally as part of marketing campaigns and often not costed separately. Internal resources are also used for taking photographs at internal events.
Expenditure in the last three financial years using external photographers or video production companies which can readily be identified as ministerial photoshoots or videos including Ministers is as follows for the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
| £ | ||
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Secretary of State event for all staff at BERR, October 2008 | ||
Economic Situation
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for which policies implemented as part of the Government's response to the recession his Department is responsible; when each such policy was determined; what timetable has been set for the implementation of each such policy; and what funding under each budget heading has been allocated to each such policy. [309341]
Mr. McFadden: The BIS policies that were designed specifically to respond to the economic downturn are those launched as "Real Help" schemes by the predecessor Departments (BERR and DIUS), as well as targeted support for graduates and key industrial sectors. The information you have requested is summarised in the following table.
Employment: Bullying
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of bullying in the workplace. [308153]
Mr. McFadden: Existing legislation protects workers from the most serious kinds of bullying, for instance in cases of discrimination or harassment. The Government publish information and guidance on how this legislation can be used, and ACAS provides a nationwide telephone advice line offering assistance to employers and employees on bullying and other employment issues. These measures support the Government's policy aim that workers should be able to work without fear of being bullied or harassed by employers, fellow employees or anyone else.
Approximately £1 million was committed through DTIs Partnership at Work Fund to support a project on Dignity at Work/Bullying. The project, which completed in May 2008, was led by the Amicus section of Unite and included BAE Systems, Legal and General and British Airways as partners. The project promoted best practice and workplace initiatives to tackle bullying.
In November BIS was pleased to support the launch of new Guidance on Preventing Harassment and Violence in the Workplace prepared jointly by the CBI, (Confederation of British Industry), the PPE (Partnership of Public Employers) and TUC (Trades Union Congress in association with HSE (Health and Safety Executive), and ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
The joint guidance, issued following a Europe-wide agreement between employers' organisations and unions, aims to give practical help and support to firms and their employees.
European Investments Bank's 2020 Fund
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which companies and organisations will be eligible to apply for support for green infrastructure projects from the European Investments Bank's 2020 Fund; and over what period this Fund is intended to remain open to applications. [307621]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
The 2020 European Fund for Energy, Climate Change and Infrastructure will be advised by an independent advisory team. The advisory team will be responsible for appraising potential investments. The Fund will focus on greenfield investments within target sectors. Investments by the Fund will be equity participations in companies which directly or indirectly own or operate infrastructure in the following target sectors:
1. Transport-TEN-T (trans-European transport networks as defined in Decision No. 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament).
2. Energy-TEN-T (trans-European energy networks as defined in Decision No. 1364/2006/EC of the European Parliament) including electricity and gas, transportation, interconnection,
storage, infrastructure (including oil and gas storage, regas terminals, pipelines and related facilities and high voltage transmission) and electricity/gas distribution, electricity/gas/oil production, oil storage, as well as carbon capture and storage.
3. Mature renewables energies-including sustainable energy production, clean transport infrastructure, energy distribution and systems for hybrid transport (e.g. wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, biogas, hydro, waste to energy projects.
The advisory team will commence in the first quarter of 2010. The investment period is expected to be a four- year period from 4 March 2010.
Gilmerton Core Store
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what response the Secretary of State has given to representations from stakeholders objecting to the closure of the core stores in Gilmerton and Loanhead. [308640]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 6 January 2010]: My noble Friend the Secretary of State has written to my hon. Friend and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Science and Innovation will do so shortly in response to the letter from Redrock Associates International Ltd.
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what response the Secretary of State has made to the representations received from representatives of the oil, gas and carbon storage sectors on the proposed closure of the core store facilities at Gilmerton and Loanhead in Edinburgh. [308641]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 6 January 2010]: The Department has discussed the issues with the Natural Environment Research Council and the British Geological Survey. But this is a management matter for the Natural Environment Research Council.
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether a risk assessment has been commissioned on the effects on the national rock archive of proposed transport from Edinburgh to a proposed site in Nottinghamshire. [308642]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 6 January 2010]: No specific risk assessment was considered necessary as the British Geological Survey (BGS) currently moves core from the oil and gas suppliers to Gilmerton and Keyworth and between its sites, and already understands and manages this risk. It also moves core as part of the International Ocean Drilling Programme across the globe. However, the British Geological Survey will undertake a combined risk assessment and methods statement nearer the time of moving. A working group of the Collections Advisory Group, including co-opted members of the Geological Society of London Petroleum Group, will consider and advise on the detail.
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from stakeholders on the conduct of the consultation process to close core store facilities at Gilmerton and Loanhead in Edinburgh. [308643]
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