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3 Mar 2010 : Column 1222W—continued
Type 45 Destroyers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent discussions has he had on the weapons systems on the new Type 45 destroyers; [319708]
(2) what reports he received on the recent test firing of the Type 45 missile systems; and if he will make a statement. [319726]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Secretary of State for Defence has not personally been involved in discussions relating to Sea Viper. However, I have been briefed by industry, partner nations and officials on a number of occasions, both on the recent test firing of the Sea Viper missile system and, more generally, on the weapons systems on the new Type 45 destroyers.
Olympics
Government Car and Despatch Agency
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the Government Olympic Executive paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each year since its inception; how much it has spent on such payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Service. [319900]
Tessa Jowell: Since the creation of my post in June 2007, my private office has formed part of the Cabinet Office. The amount paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency is shown in the following table:
| Expenditure (£) | |
Figures for 2009-10 are not available until the end of the reporting year. All of this expenditure was paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
Olympic Games 2012: Plants
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of plants for landscaping of the Olympics site she expects to come from UK growers. [319200]
Tessa Jowell: Overall, the Olympic Delivery Authority estimate that approximately 90 per cent. of plants for landscaping of the Olympic Park will have come from UK suppliers.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Bankruptcy: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcies of (a) individuals in each age group resident and (b) businesses based in Leeds, North-West constituency there have been in each year since 2005. [319499]
Ian Lucas: Figures for bankrupts in Leeds, North- West constituency by age group since 2005 are shown in Table 1 as follows:
| Table 1: Bankruptcies in Leeds Northwest constituency( 1) | |||||||
| Age group( 2) | |||||||
| Unknown | Under 25 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65+ | |
| (1) Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 95.3 per cent. in 2005 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008) (2) Where bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (from 92.1 per cent. in 2005 to 93.4 per cent. in 2008) | |||||||
Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement [IVA]), but, registered companies are the subject of "liquidation" (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation [CVL]).
Table 2 shows the number of self-employed traders who were declared bankrupt since 2005.
| Table 2: Bankruptcies among sole traders in Leeds Northwest constituency( 1) | |
| Year( 2) | Leeds North W est constituency |
| (1) Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 95.3 per cent. in 2005 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008). (2) Figures from October 2006 are compiled on a different basis and are not comparable to earlier figures | |
Regional figures for 2009 are not currently available for bankruptcies, as they are compiled on an annual basis. They will be available later in 2010.
Official statistics covering corporate insolvencies, including liquidation, are not currently available at a sub-national level within England and Wales.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the level of carbon emissions from his Department's buildings in each year since 2005. [319769]
Mr. McFadden: This Department is required to report performance data on carbon emissions annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reporting process.
The latest assessment of Government's performance against targets was published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) on 18 December 2009, and is available on the OGC website:
Information on reporting years prior to 2008/09 was collated and published by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) and can be found on the SDC website:
Further Education: Finance
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the use by colleges of (a) ring-fenced and (b) general funding provided by his Department to respond to local and regional priorities; and if he will make a statement. [319160]
Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC)-and from 1 April the Skills Funding Agency-has responsibility for the funding of post-19 further education and skills delivered through colleges and training organisations.
For 2010/11 academic year, the main funding streams available to colleges for post-19 learning are the Adult Learner Responsive and Employer Responsive budgets. Within these, Government funding is prioritised towards basic literacy and numeracy skills and full level 2 and full level 3 qualifications that provide the skills for adults to enter into and progress in employment and further learning.
It is for the LSC to agree with colleges the broad level outcomes that they expect to deliver for this funding. The actual amount paid will depend on how colleges respond to demand from learners and employers in line with local and regional priorities. Regional skills priorities will be articulated in regional priority statements by regional development agencies.
In addition to Adult Learner Responsive and Employer Responsive funding, some colleges and training organisations also receive Government funding to support a clearly defined set of outcomes. For example funding for the training element of the Young Person's Guarantee is to support 18 to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed
for six months or longer to undertake specific employment focused training. The funding will therefore respond to meeting a local need.
Grimsby
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Great Grimsby constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency since 1997. [320182]
Mr. McFadden: The policies and actions of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and its predecessors, have focused on building a competitive economy and on delivering prosperity and sustainable economic growth. The implementation of BIS policy in the Yorkshire and the Humber region has been taken forward primarily by the Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward and the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber, working in partnership with the local authority and other relevant bodies. The Government and their regional and local partners have responded vigorously to the global recession, providing assistance to businesses and individuals. Statistical information at constituency level is limited. Information has therefore been provided for north-east Lincolnshire local authority area, which includes the Great Grimsby constituency. Examples of how BIS policies and actions have impacted on north-east Lincolnshire include:
Levels of skills in the working age population have increased in north-east Lincolnshire since 1999 although they remain below the regional and national averages:
Performance at NVQ Level 1 and above has increased from 67.8 per cent. to 77.9 per cent.
Performance at NVQ Level 2 and above has increased from 46.5 per cent. to 59.2 per cent.
Performance at NVQ Level 3 and above has increased from 29.0 per cent. to 31.6 per cent.
Performance at NVQ Level 4 and above has increased from 14.8 per cent. to 16.8 per cent.
The proportion of the working age population with no qualifications has decreased from 23.2 per cent. to 10.3 per cent.
Source:
Local Area Labour Force Survey (LALFS)/Annual Population Survey(APS)
The stock of VAT registered businesses in north-east Lincolnshire has increased from 3,735 businesses in 1997 to 3,820 in 2007.
Source:
BIS VAT registrations/deregistrations by industry
The proportion of business registrations (including VAT and PAYE) per 10,000 resident population aged 16 and above in north-east Lincolnshire has increased from 41.5 in 2002 to 42.5 in 2008.
Source:
BIS Enterprise Directorate Data
The percentage of small businesses showing growth in number of employees in north-east Lincolnshire has increased from 12.3 per cent. in 2003 to 14.7 per cent. in 2008.
Source:
BIS National Indicator Data
The average gross full-time weekly earnings in north-east Lincolnshire have risen from £342.30 in 2002 to £451.60 in 2009, an increase of 32 per cent.
Source:
Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)
In support of its objective of promoting business efficiency, investment and competitiveness Yorkshire Forward has provided grants for businesses through the Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) scheme, which started in April 2004, and its successor the Grants for Business Investment (GBI) scheme, which started in October 2008. Yorkshire Forward has made 24 SFI and GBI grant offers to businesses in north-east Lincolnshire totalling £7.7 million, creating or safeguarding 1,663 jobs. Yorkshire Forward has also provided grants to support research and development by small and medium-sized businesses, through the SMART scheme and its successor, the Grants for Research and Development scheme. Since 2000, Yorkshire Forward has offered five research and development grants totalling £164,852 million to small and medium-sized businesses in north-east Lincolnshire.
Since 2008, Business Link Yorkshire has been the single contact point for all publicly funded support available to businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber. This has made it easier for businesses to access information, advice and support on issues including business regulation, best practice, marketing, innovation, financial support and help with exporting. For example in 2009/10 to date, Business Link Yorkshire has helped 1,260 businesses in the north-east Lincolnshire area and 256 individuals thinking of starting a business. As part of the Government's Real Help Now package we are providing more help for businesses to survive during the current economic conditions. Since October 2008 this has included a free Business Link health check which can be a useful starting point for identifying further business support tailored to the needs of individual companies. To date Business Link Yorkshire has arranged 373 health checks for small and medium-sized businesses in north-east Lincolnshire. In addition, the Yorkshire Forward funded Financial Health Check, which offers a grant of £2,000 for accountants to carry out a full review, has benefited 35 businesses in north-east Lincolnshire.
BIS also supports the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme, which was announced by the Chancellor in 2005 to promote enterprise in the country's more deprived areas boosting local incomes and employment opportunities, and building sustainable communities. North-east Lincolnshire was awarded £18.7 million for its LEGI programme ("e-factor") in December 2006. Since the programme began, e-factor has, with LEGI funding:
helped over 450 business start-ups
given assistance to over 400 businesses
created over 450 new jobs
helped over 250 people off benefits
had 30 businesses register for VAT.
For further information on Great Grimsby, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at
Leave: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of residents of Leeds North West constituency who qualify for paid leave entitlements. [319504]
Mr. McFadden: All workers resident in Leeds North West constituency qualify for paid annual leave entitlements. The statutory minimum as set out in the working time regulations is at least 5.6 weeks.
Numbers of workers resident in Leeds North West constituency are not available. However, according to the Annual Business Inquiry Employee Analysis by the Office for National Statistics, there were a total of 30,500 employees who worked in Leeds North West constituency (but did not necessarily live there) in 2008, who would all qualify for paid annual leave entitlement.
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