You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Daily Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

16 Feb 2011 : Column 877W—continued

Higher Education: Disadvantaged

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the purpose is of the access performance indicators identified in paragraph 6.1 of the guidance to the Director of Fair Access; and what the definition is of (a) lower socio-economic classes and (b) low-participation neighbourhoods. [41318]

Mr Willetts: Following the recommendations of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, the Government asked the funding councils to develop suitable indicators and benchmarks of performance in the higher education sector. The Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG) was established on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Membership of the group is drawn from Government Departments, the funding councils and representative bodies. Since 2002/03, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has published the Performance Indicators (PIs) HEFCE will continue to further develop the PIs under the auspices of PISG.

The indicators are designed to provide reliable information on the nature and performance of the higher education sector in the UK and a consistent set of measures of this performance. This will contribute to a greater public accountability by the sector, as well as ensure that policy decisions can be made on the basis of consistent and reliable information.

The information on socio-economic classification is taken from the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC). The classifications used are:

The performance indicator is the proportion of students from NS-SEC classes 4 to 7 out of those from NS-SEC 1-7.

The low participation neighbourhood indicator has been produced using POLAR2 (Participation of Local AReas). This method is based on the HE participation rates of people who were aged 18 between 2000 and 2004 and entered a HE course in a UK higher education institution or GB further education college, aged 18 or 19, between academic years 2000/01 and 2005/06. It draws on data provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Learning and Skills Council, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the other UK funding bodies and HM Revenue and Customs.

The POLAR2 classification is formed by ranking 2001 Census Area Statistics wards by their young participation rates for the combined 2000 to 2004 cohorts. This gives five young participation quintile groups of
16 Feb 2011 : Column 878W
areas ordered from '1' (those wards with the lowest participation) to '5' (those wards with the highest participation), each representing 20% of UK young cohort. Students have been allocated to the neighbourhoods on the basis of their postcode. Those students whose postcode falls within wards with the lowest participation (quintile 1) are denoted as being from a low participation neighbourhood.

More information and the latest figures for the Performance Indicators can be found at the following link:

Human Rights and Transnational Corporations

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the outcomes were of his meeting with the UN Special Representative on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations on 10 January 2011. [41250]

Mr Davey: At our meeting on 10 January, John Ruggie and I discussed the focus of the Department's recent consultation on narrative reporting and the Government's intention to bring forward proposals shortly. Professor Ruggie also updated me on his work in relation to the draft Guiding Principles for the implementation of the UN 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' framework. I conveyed the UK's support for Professor Ruggie's work in relation to this project.

National Regional Development Agency Transition Programme Board

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons the decision was made to include representatives from One North East, Advantage West Midlands and the East Midlands Development Agency on the National Regional Development Agency Transition Programme Board. [41313]

Mr Prisk: A meeting of the regional development agency chief executives selected the chief executives of Advantage West Midlands and East Midlands Development Agency as their representatives on the National Regional Development Agency Transition Board in July 2010. The chief executive of One North East attends as One North East is the current 'Chair of Chairs' (the chief Government liaison) for the RDA network.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he or Ministers of his Department has had with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry since May 2010; with whom in each case; and what the (a) purpose and (b) location of each such meeting was. [39136]

Mr Willetts: On 16 June, the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), attended the BioPharmaceutical Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG), co-chaired alternately by David Brennan of AstraZeneca and the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South
16 Feb 2011 : Column 879W
Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley). MISG's purpose is for the Biopharmaceutical Industry and Government to engage on strategic issues. The meeting was held at the Department of Health, Richmond House, Whitehall, London. MISG members are shown in List 1.

On 21 June, I attended the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). MMTSG's purpose is for the Medical Technology Industry and the Government to engage on strategic issues. The meeting was held at the Department of Health, Richmond House, Whitehall, London. MMTSG members are shown in List 2.

In July 2010, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), the Minister of State (Mark Prisk) and the Under-Secretary of State (Baroness Wilcox) attended a Business Summit for Investors in the UK at Lancaster House which included a round-table meeting at which the following life sciences companies were present: 3M (Garry Stapleton), Amgen (Jeremy Haigh), Genzyme (Steve Bates), Johnson and Johnson (Colin Morgan), Medtronic (Geoff Morris), Pfizer (Alistair Strachan), Quintiles (Andrew Szanto), Sanofi-Aventis (Manjit Rahelu) and Takeda (Steve Coles). The purpose of the summit was to announce the UK's Foreign Direct Investment Results for 2009/10, to highlight the strength of the UK as an investment destination, and for Government to capture strategic investors' views on the UK offer to investors to guide future strategy development.

The Secretary of State led a trade mission to Brazil in September 2010 to promote UK business interests. GSK's Senior Vice President in Latin America, Rogerio Ribeiro (based in Rio) participated.

Baroness Wilcox met with GSK in September to discuss how intellectual property impacts upon the Pharmaceutical sector. Eddie Gray, President, Pharmaceuticals Europe, and Jon Pender, Director of Government Affairs, attended.

In November 2010, the Secretary of State led a trade mission to Russia to promote UK business interests. Michael Crow, GSK's Senior Vice President Russia and Developing Markets Eurasia, participated in the mission. GSK signed an agreement with a company called Binnopharm for the local secondary manufacture of a number of GSK vaccines. The Secretary of State attended the signing, alongside GSK's then Vice President and General Manager for Russia, Fabio Landazabal.

As the Minister responsible for life sciences within BIS, I have had regular contact with representatives of the pharmaceutical sector on a range of issues including on the long-term future for the sector and on related initiatives such as the Healthcare and Life Sciences Growth Review, as well as discussing issues with the recently appointed life sciences business adviser, Chris Brinsmead at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in London.

Specifically, I met representatives of the ABPI (Richard Barker), BIA (Nigel Gaymond ), ABHI (Peter Ellingworth) and BIVDA (Doris Ann Williams) in September at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria street, London. The purpose of the meeting was to engage with life sciences industry bodies on strategic issues which will help maintain the UK as a competitive location for life sciences business and on its future growth potential.


16 Feb 2011 : Column 880W

I attended meetings of the Pharmaceutical Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG) in November 2010. The meetings were held at the Department of Health, Richmond House, Whitehall, London.

On 15 October, I visited the Pfizer Biotech Packaging Facility at Havant and met Richard Blackburn, Managing Director at Pfizer UK; Jim Neville, Site Lead at Havant; David Bevan, Head of Specialty Care Business Unit UK; and Lou Schmukler, Pfizer Global Senior Vice President Packaging and Manufacturing. The purpose of the visit was to open a state-of-the-art biotechnology packaging facility in which Pfizer invested £26.3 million.

I met Dr Husseini Manji, Global Head of Neuroscience Research at Johnson and Johnson on 23 November 2010 to discuss UK neuroscience research. On 5 November 2010 I met Brad Sauer, Executive Vice President of 3M Healthcare to discuss 3M's healthcare interests in the UK. On 18 January 2011 I met Patrick Vallance, Head of Drug Discovery at GSK to discuss issues relating to research and collaboration.

I met Ian Read, President and CEO of Pfizer on 24 January 2011 at 10 Downing street when Mr Read informed the Government, in confidence, of Pfizer's decision to close its facility at Sandwich.

On 7 February 2011 I visited Pfizer's site at Sandwich. I met Ruth McKernan (Chief Scientific Officer) and various Pfizer employees to discuss the proposed closure of the Pfizer facility.

Also on 7 February 2011, I hosted together with my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality at the Department of Health (Earl Howe), a meeting of the Senior Industry Group (SIG). The SIG forum was established to complement the work of the Ministerial Industry (bio-pharmaceutical) Strategy Group (MISG) and the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group (MMTSG). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Healthcare and Life Sciences Growth Review. The meeting was held at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria street, London. Those who attended are shown in List 3.

On 8 February 2011, I hosted a roundtable with Venture Capitalists and Ruth McKernan (chief scientific officer of Pfizer) to discuss the Pfizer site at Sandwich. The meeting was held at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria street, London.

On Wednesday 9 February 2011, the Secretary of State and I met representatives of Pfizer as part of a Local Economic Task Force formed in response to Pfizer's decision to close its facility at Sandwich. The meeting included representatives of Kent county council and my hon. Friends, the Members for North Thanet (Mr Gale), South Thanet (Laura Sandys), Canterbury (Mr Brazier), Folkestone and Hythe (Damian Collins) and Dover (Charlie Elphicke).

The Secretary of State met Dr John Lechleiter, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Ramona Sequeira, Managing Director, Lilly UK and Rick Ascroft, Director of Corporate Affairs, Lilly UK on Thursday 10 February at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in London to discuss Eli Lilly's interests in the UK.


16 Feb 2011 : Column 881W

List 1: Ministerial (Bio-Pharmaceutical) Industry Strategy Group Membership

Government

Members

Joint Secretariat

List 2: Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group Membership

Industry

Secretariat

List 3: Senior Industry Group

Attendees of meeting on 7 February 2011

Co-Chairs


16 Feb 2011 : Column 882W

Attendees

Post Office Mutualisation

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Post Office workforce on his proposals for Post Office mutualisation. [41563]

Mr Davey: Co-operatives UK are currently seeking the views of all Post Office Ltd's major stakeholders on proposals for Post Office mutualisation. They will be providing a report to Ministers in the spring with options for a how a mutualised Post Office might work. The relevant unions have been actively involved in their research, and individual sub postmasters have also participated, as well as staff of Post Office Ltd. I have had no substantive discussions on this issue with any trade unions or with Post Office Ltd since Co-operatives UK began their work.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the National Federation of Sub-postmasters on mutualisation of Post Office Ltd. [41564]

Mr Davey: Co-operatives UK are currently seeking the views of all Post Office Ltd's major stakeholders on Post Office mutualisation. They will be providing a report to Ministers in the spring with options for how a mutualised Post Office might work. The National Federation of SubPostmasters has been actively involved in their research, however, I have had no substantive discussions with them on this topic since Co-operatives UK began their work.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to receive the outcome of the consideration by Co-operatives UK on the options for a mutualised Post Office. [41632]

Mr Davey: We expect Co-operatives UK's report on options for a mutualised Post Office to be presented to Ministers in April.


16 Feb 2011 : Column 883W

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has received initial findings from Co-operatives UK from its study on options for a mutualised Post Office. [41633]

Mr Davey: I have not received any initial findings from Co-operatives UK from their study on options for a mutualised Post Office. I expect to receive their final report in April.

Post Office: Bank Services

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's document Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age, November 2010, what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a Post Bank. [41102]

Mr Davey: The cost of establishing a Post Office bank would have three main components. First, the need for Government to capitalise Post Office Ltd (POL) to allow it to obtain a banking license and lend off of its own balance sheet. Second, exiting existing contractual arrangements relating to the provision of financial services through the post office network. Third, operational costs associated with setting up and running a new financial services unit within POL. The overall cost would depend on the remit and scope of operations of a Post Office bank.

We have concluded that funding for the Post Office network over the spending review period will be better used maintaining and modernising the network to safeguard its future, ensuring that there will be no further programme of Post Office closures.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's document Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age, November 2010, what estimate he has made of the cost of capitalising a Post Bank. [41103]

Mr Davey: The Government have looked carefully at the option of creating a state-backed Post Office bank. One of the main components of the cost of establishing a Post Office bank would be the need for Government to capitalise Post Office Ltd (POL) to allow it to obtain a banking license and lend off its own balance sheet. The exact level of Government funding needed would depend on the remit and scope of operations of a Post Office bank. We have concluded that funding for POL over the spending review period will be better used maintaining and modernising the network to safeguard its future, ensuring that there will be no further programme of post office closures.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a weekly budgeting account at the Post Office. [41104]

Mr Davey: The Government set out their policy on the future of the Post Office network in the policy statement "Securing the Post Office Network In the Digital Age", published on 9 November 2010. In this statement we were clear that we will support Post Office Ltd as it expands further into financial services through the provision of new products and by increasing access
16 Feb 2011 : Column 884W
to UK current accounts through the Post Office network. Post Office Ltd will make commercial judgments on which products and services to deliver through the Post Office network, including proposals such as a weekly budgeting account. Within Government, HM Treasury has commissioned research exploring the options for all customers to have the opportunity to benefit from direct debit discounts.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has taken steps to assist the development of new banking products through the Post Office joint venture with the Bank of Ireland. [41105]

Mr Davey: The Government believe that continued growth of revenue from financial services will play an important part in the Post Office network's future sustainability. The development of specific new banking products through the joint venture between Post Office Ltd and the Bank of Ireland is a commercial matter for the companies.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's document Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age, November 2010, what assessment he has made of progress on proposals for Post Office Ltd to (a) develop new banking products with the Bank of Ireland and (b) extend access to credit union services. [41106]

Mr Davey: The Government are firmly supportive of the development by Post Office Ltd of new banking and financial products with the Bank of Ireland and of stronger links between Post Office Ltd and credit unions. Negotiations on the provision of new products and services are a commercial matter between Post Office Ltd and the companies and organisations concerned.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on extending access to high street bank current accounts through the Post Office network. [41107]

Mr Davey: Ministers and officials have frequent discussions with senior management at Post Office Ltd on the future of the Post Office network, including on the Government's ambition for the Post Office to expand further into financial services and extend access to high street bank current accounts through the Post Office network.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) HSBC, (b) Santander and (c) Northern Rock on providing access to current accounts through the Post Office network. [41108]

Mr Davey: The Government welcome the recent agreement between Post Office Ltd and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to allow RBS and NatWest customers access to their accounts at post offices. Negotiations between Post Office Ltd and banks yet to reach agreement on providing access to current accounts at post offices are commercial matters between the companies concerned.


16 Feb 2011 : Column 885W

Regional Development Agencies: Assets

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assets are held by each regional development agency in each region; what the estimated value is of each; which organisation is responsible for it; and what decision has been taken on future disposal in each case. [39799]

Mr Prisk [holding answer 11 February 2011]: I refer to the answers given on 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 245W and 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 458W. The RDAs submitted detailed assets and liabilities plans to BIS on 31 January. These plans are currently being scrutinised, each disposal will be considered on a case by case basis. An estimated value of each asset cannot be disclosed, at this time, as this information is market and commercially sensitive.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 215W, to the hon. Member
16 Feb 2011 : Column 886W
for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, what the indicative funding allocations for each regional development agency were for 2011-12. [41333]

Mr Prisk: I refer to the answer given on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1048W. The London Development Agency has not yet been given an indicative allocation.

Vocational Guidance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the new all-age careers service will be established on a uniform model across England. [40119]

Mr Hayes: The all-age careers service will have three core elements: online, helpline and community-based services. The online service and the helpline will deliver on a national basis. Local community-based services will be expected to meet national standards, but will have flexibility to tailor their services to meet local need, including in response to schools, which will have responsibility for securing access for their pupils to independent, impartial guidance.

    Index Home Page