John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what strategy his Department has developed to deal with threats of violence at work in the probation service in England and Wales. [43616]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service has issued national guidance to the probation service on health and safety matters. This includes specific guidance on violence in the workplace, as well as on lone working and risk assessment. Probation areas are required to have in place arrangements to ensure that all employees (including contractors' employees and agency staff) who come into any contact with offenders are suitably informed and trained (in proportion to the degree of contact) in handling situations of potential or actual violence.
Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate via payroll giving. [43243]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has policies that allow employees to take time off, within specified limits, to fulfil specific volunteering roles such as magisterial duties and school governors, and general volunteering. MoJ is also committed to supporting the civil service volunteering initiative announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Maude), on 17 February 2011.
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The Ministry of Justice has systems in place that allow all employees to donate via payroll giving, e.g. through ‘Give As You Earn Scheme’ or by employees making arrangements for voluntary deductions from pay.
Young Offenders
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Communities and Local Government and (b) Education on the resettlement of young offenders. [43903]
Mr Blunt: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education, Home Office, and Department of Health on all aspects of youth crime and youth justice.
Ministry of Justice officials also work closely with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the implications of the localism agenda for locally devolved Youth Offending Teams.
We recognise that young people leaving custody are some of the most vulnerable young people in our society and that their effective resettlement is critical to breaking the cycle of offending. Young offenders have complex and wide ranging problems which require intensive support and access to services which can directly address their offending behaviour.
The recent Green Paper proposals set out how we are considering introducing elements of payment by results into youth justice to incentivise local authorities to reduce youth offending, of which resettlement is a key part.
Prime Minister
Arms: Control of Exports
Mr Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he proposes to take to put in place firmer controls on the export of arms from the UK to non-democratic states. [43870]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 28-46.
International Development
Afghanistan: Overseas Aid
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes in Afghanistan his Department is funding. [42879]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
The Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral programme in Afghanistan covers three key areas: improving security and political stability; stimulating the economy; and helping the Afghan Government deliver vital basic services. DFID programmes have helped the Afghan Revenue Department to increase tax revenue from $200 million in 2004 to almost $1.3 billion in 2009-10; helped finance
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the salaries of almost 320,000 public servants (teachers and health workers); and enabled over 22,000 Community Development Councils to create 50,000 locally-generated projects to improve water, roads, health and education.
Information on all the projects we fund in Afghanistan and elsewhere is published online at
http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/Default.aspx?countrySelect=AF-Afghanistan
Africa: Agriculture
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assistance his Department plans to provide to smallholder farms in Africa in each of the next four financial years; [43420]
(2) what assistance his Department plans to provide through (a) microfinance and (b) vouchers to smallholder farms in Africa during the comprehensive spending review period. [43026]
Mr O'Brien: The Government recognise the important contribution that smallholder farmers, many of whom are women, can make to reducing food insecurity and poverty in Africa.
We are currently finalising our detailed plans for the next four years for each country programme including the different sectors they will support. These Country Operational Plans will be published later this spring and will detail spending in each sector including where we will be providing support for smallholder farming, microfinance and vouchers over the next four years.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided for smallholder farms in Africa since the L’Aquila summit in 2009. [43421]
Mr O'Brien: At the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy in 2009 the international community pledged $20 billion dollars in support of food security and agriculture. The UK agreed to contribute £1.1 (US$1.7) billion between 2009 and 2012. DFID has spent £408 (US$612) million for the financial year 2009-10. £98 million of this figure was spent on bilateral programmes In Africa.
Many of the beneficiaries of these programmes will be poor rural workers and smallholder farmers in Africa. For example, DFID is co-funding a programme on land tenure reform in Rwanda which will result in 8 million smallholder farmers receiving land titles, leading to increased sense of ownership and increased investment in productive capacity. It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of specific impacts on smallholder farmers as a group.
Cambodia: Non-governmental Organisations
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on the Cambodian Government’s proposals to regulate non-governmental organisations and associations. [43029]
Mr Duncan:
The British embassy in Phnom Penh and the Department for International Development’s Cambodia Office (until its closure on 31 January 2011) have received
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regular representations from Cambodian and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the proposed law on NGOs and associations since it was announced as part of the Cambodian Government’s legislative programme in 2008. Since the publication of the draft law in December 2010 the embassy has held numerous meetings with representatives of international and local NGOs, and received copies of their analysis and position papers on the draft law. The embassy has also received letters about the law from other interested organisations including Human Rights Watch, Global Witness and the Catholic international development network CIDSE.
We welcome the constructive consultation process that has so far been carried out by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, which appears to have actively addressed many concerns raised by non-governmental organisations. Our ambassador, together with EU colleagues, met with the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 March and the Ministry of Interior on 3 March to raise our concerns and discuss next steps On both occasions we received assurances that the Cambodian Government will take full account of the various representations so far made in the consultation process, and will consult further on a revised draft.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42619]
Mr Duncan: The new principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication were disseminated to Departments at the end of December 2010. Departments were asked to raise awareness of these principles and disseminate them through their supply chain networks.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently conducting a review of procurement processes and practices. As part of the review, DFID will consider the most effective ways to raise awareness of these principles within the procurement process. The Public Services Forum will review the overall impact of this change in 2012.
Departmental Relocation
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will bring forward proposals to relocate (a) staff and (b) offices of his Department to Brighton; and if he will make a statement. [43469]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has two UK headquarters, located in London and East Kilbride. We are currently transferring 70 posts from our London office to East Kilbride where we have around 500 staff.
We do not have any plans at the moment to relocate either of our offices. Any future staff relocation is likely to be between our two existing UK sites.
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Departmental Manpower
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior civil servants have left his Department’s employ since May 2010; and what (a) contractual and (b) non-contractual payments have been made to such staff upon departure. [42293]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Since May 2010 20 senior civil servants have left the employ of the Department for International Development (DFID). Non contractual payments were not made to any of these leavers. Fifteen of the leavers received contractual payments in line with the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employ since May 2010. [42298]
Mr Duncan: The number of actual and full-time equivalent staff who have left employment in the Department for International Development (DFID) since May 2010, is shown in the following table.
|
|
Actual | Full-time equivalent |
|
Staff appointed in country (staff engaged locally overseas on local terms and conditions to support our development activities overseas) |
||
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42395]
Mr Duncan: The number of actual and full-time equivalent staff employed by the Department for International Development (DFID) in May 2010, is shown in the following table.
|
|
Actual | Full-time equivalent |
|
Staff appointed in country (staff engaged locally overseas on local terms and conditions to support our development activities overseas) |
||
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) name, (b) purpose, (c) staffing level and (d) estimated annual cost was of each new unit or team established in his Department since May 2010. [42725]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has created the following new departments since May 2010:
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1. Private Sector Department (PSD): created in January 2011 as a direct result of the Strategic Reform Plan, PSD aims to raise the level, extent and effectiveness of DFID's engagement with the private sector. Although this is a new department, it is largely made up of pre-existing teams. It is estimated that when fully staffed, PSD will include around 24 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff. Operating costs of PSD are expected to be set just over £1.7 million per annum.
2. Chief Professional Officer/Heads of Profession Unit: the fundamental aims of the new unit, established in January 2011, is to improve the provision of specialist advice to DFID's programmes. When fully staffed, the unit will comprise 19.5 FTE staff. Operating costs are expected to be just over £1.8 million per annum.
3. A joint DFID and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) office in Juba, Southern Sudan (led by DFID): opened in July 2010 to develop DFID's programmes in Southern Sudan. DFID does not publish the number of staff in overseas locations because this may represent a security risk, especially to those serving is hostile environments or fragile states. Operating costs when fully staffed are expected to be around £2.4 million per annum.
4. Corporate Hub: the purpose of the Hub is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Corporate Services Group. While this is a new unit, it was formed from existing corporate teams which have been streamlined and reduced in size. The Hub now includes 15 FTE staff. It has an annual operating budget of £0.5 million per annum.
Departmental Pay
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) total and (b) average salary is of members of staff employed on fixed-term contracts in his Department. [42883]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The total salary of staff employed by the Department for International Development on fixed-term contracts, as at 31 January 2011, is £1.27 million, at a mean average salary of £48,839 per annum.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42078]
Mr Duncan: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has not introduced any regulations since 18 November 2010 and is not responsible for any sets of regulations that are currently in force.
Departmental Travel
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on Ministerial travel since May 2010. [43028]
Mr Duncan: Details of overseas travel by Ministers between 31 May and 30 September 2010 are available on the Department for International Development's (DFID's) website. Details of overseas travel between 1 October and 30 December 2010 will be published on the website shortly. DFID is unable to provide details of ministerial travel in the UK without incurring disproportionate cost.
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Disaster Relief
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the 10 largest public donations to national and international disaster relief organisations were for which the Government have provided match funding in the last 15 years. [42137]
Mr Duncan: The following table shows the 10 largest public contributions through the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (a grouping of 13 of the largest UK aid agencies) compared with Department for International Development (DFID) funding in response to the same disaster.
| £ | ||
| Top 10 emergencies based on public contributions to the Disasters Emergency Committee | Disasters Emergency Committee: Total funds raised | Total DFID funding |
Microfinance
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to microfinance organisations that are (a) sustainable and (b) not sustainable without donor funding in the last three years. [42700]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding support to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, central banks, Government agencies or in partnership with other donors. It is not therefore possible to identify specific microfinance institutions which may have benefitted from DFID’s financial sector development programmes without incurring disproportionate cost.
However, improving the self-sufficiency of financial institutions is a key objective of financial sector development programmes. For example, DFID’s Financial Inclusion Programme, implemented through the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB), aims to increase the sustainability of the financial sector through capacity building, product development and regulatory reform. FIP also supports the transformation of donor-dependent, unregulated microfinance institutions into regulated microfinance banks and provides guarantees to help them access commercial financing.
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Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations in Bangladesh have received funding from his Department and its predecessor for microfinance initiatives between (a) 1990 and 2000 and (b) 2000 and 2010. [42701]
Mr O'Brien: Records prior to 1999 are not available. From 1999 onwards, the Department for International Development (DFID) provided support to the following microfinance organisations:
Palli Karma Sahayek Foundation (PKSF)
An apex organisation currently receiving funding from DFID through the PRIME programme to avert seasonal hunger. Previously, received funding to provide onward loans in a microfinance pilot under the Rural Electrification Development Project.
The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA)
Currently receiving funding from DFID to strengthen the regulation of microfinance institutions.
The Institute of Microfinance (InM)
Currently receiving DFID funding to carry out research and training on effective microfinance practices.
Received funding for its programme Promoting Economic Development of the Poor through Community Based Microfinance Initiatives.
Supported by DFID in its CARE Income III project to increase the capacity of partner NGOs to support microenterprise and urban microfinance.
A Bangladesh NGO that provides microfinance services was supported by DFID through a multi-donor funded programme.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided in the last three years to microfinance organisations that have undergone an Initial Public Offering (IPO) (a) before and (b) after the IPO. [42704]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) rarely provides direct funding support to microfinance organisations. Our work on microfinance is incorporated into broader financial sector development programmes, which have a range of interventions including policy and regulatory reform, capacity building, product innovation and research. Programmes are often implemented by intermediaries, such as non-governmental organisations, central banks, Government agencies or in partnership with other donors.
It is not therefore possible to identify specific microfinance organisations that may have benefited from DFID-supported financial sector development programmes without incurring disproportionate cost.
Overseas Aid
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether arrangements are in place to enable claw back or disallowance of aid-related funds that have not been spent appropriately. [42935]
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Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has rigorous systems and procedures to ensure effective oversight of its funding and to ensure that UK aid achieves maximum value for money—reaching and delivering results for its intended recipients. This Government have a zero tolerance approach to fraud, corruption and other misuse. DFID takes the strongest action where any such abuse of taxpayers' funds is proven, including disciplinary, civil or criminal action as appropriate against those responsible. DFID works with partner organisations to ensure that similar standards are employed where UK funds are being managed externally.
Overseas Aid: Education
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is for the future funding of the Education for All Fast Track initiative. [42412]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI). The level of future UK funding for FTI will be agreed prior to the FTI replenishment event scheduled for the autumn, and will reflect the outcome of the multilateral aid review assessments, published on 1 March.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to (a) contribute to and (b) work with his international counterparts towards closing the gap of $16 billion of external financing annually for Education for All. [42742]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Government are committed to supporting access to basic services in the developing world. Education is a critical part of this, particularly for girls. We will continue to work with others towards achievement of the education Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All goals.
The Government are working with international partners to improve education results, both through securing more resources for education and through more efficient use of existing resources. We are working with the Education for All Fast Track Initiative to support its reform process and a successful replenishment later this year. I have personally played an active leadership role in the ‘1 Goal’ campaign, including travelling to South Africa for the 1 Goal World Cup summit last year. Our recently published reviews of UK aid commit us to supporting 11 million children in school overseas by 2014.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department had allocated to the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [43200]
Mr Duncan:
In 2010-11 the Department for International Development (DFID) is providing support of up to £426,436 to the Negotiations Support Unit. £557,000 has been provisionally allocated for the financial year
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2011-12. The exact figure will be determined by consultation currently under way between the donor group (UK, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark) and the Palestinian leadership about the nature and scale of technical assistance required by their negotiations team in the coming year.
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit in each year since 1999. [43201]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided assistance worth over £11 million to the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD) and the Negotiations Support Unit (which is based in NAD) since 1999. The following table gives the amount per financial year.
| Financial year | Total (£) |
Payroll Deduction Scheme
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate via payroll giving. [43242]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has a formal policy to facilitate and encourage its employees to volunteer within their local community. Staff are entitled to up to five days' paid leave per annum to allow them to take part in volunteering or community activity.
DFID does not have a formal policy to encourage employees to donate to charities. The Department does, however, have a mechanism for staff to donate via payroll giving and this arrangement is publicised to all staff via the internal staff intranet.
Sudan: Oil
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterpart on facilitating an agreement on oil revenue between north and south Sudan. [42916]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
During my visit to Khartoum and Juba in November 2010, I discussed the need to make urgent progress on outstanding Comprehensive
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Peace Agreement issues with both parties, including future arrangements for the division of oil revenues We support the work of Thabo Mbeki and the African Union High Level Panel on all post-referendum issues and I discussed the issue of oil revenue with President Mbeki and the Southern Sudan Minister for Regional Cooperation at the African Union Summit in January. The Norwegians have provided advice on the Sudanese oil sector for many years. We are working with the Norwegians to increase the Government of Southern Sudan's capacity to manage the energy sector.
UN Women
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is providing to the UN Women agency; and if he will make a statement. [42437]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the creation of UN Women. Baroness Verma represented the UK at the official launch of UN Women on 24 February in New York, and had discussions with Michelle Bachelet, its executive director, beforehand to underline DFID's support. DFID's long-term funding commitments to UN Women will require a strategic plan that sets out a clear results framework outlining targets and expected impact. The strategic plan is due in June this year. In the meantime we have offered UN Women transitional funding and a secondment to allow them to set out the strongest possible plans for their work.
Yemen: Official Visits
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings were held during the Minister of State's visit to Yemen; and what the outcomes of those meetings were. [42169]
Mr Duncan: During our visit, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I met President Ali Abdullah Saleh. We delivered three messages to him. First, on the need for his Government to make progress on the national dialogue with the opposition parties, in order to allow free and fair parliamentary elections to be held this year. Second, on the need for the Government of Yemen to produce a prioritised and budgeted Development Plan for Poverty Reduction, in order to increase the effectiveness of Yemeni and donor efforts to tackle poverty and deprivation. Finally, we requested intensified Yemeni efforts against Al Qaeda.
We also met leaders of the Yemeni political opposition and encouraged them to engage in the national dialogue process.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Arms Trade: Bahrain
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will suspend the licensing of arms exports to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [43382]
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Mr Davey: We have reviewed licences issued for exports to Bahrain and have revoked those licences where we have concerns as a result of the regional tensions. However, there are currently no plans to suspend the licensing of arms sales to Bahrain although this situation remains under review. All future applications for export of equipment to Bahrain will continue to be carefully considered against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking into account how the situation develops.
Arms Trade: Licensing
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many licences were issued to companies for the export of arms to (a) Egypt, (b) Bahrain, (c) Tunisia, (d) Libya and (e) Algeria in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value was of such transactions. [43573]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 2 March 2011]: The Government publish information on export licences in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. They are available to view on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.berr.gov.uk/eng/fox
Departmental Offices
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 736-7W, on departmental offices, what forms he expected his Department's Regional Offices support for capacity and capability to take; and what partnerships he expects to be formed. [43383]
Mr Prisk: The Department's local offices will have no programme funding. They will help local enterprise partnerships understand this Department priorities and how the new economic development delivery structures will operate. The local teams will also assist partnerships in their dialogue with Government about their roles and functions.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 737W, on departmental offices, by what means his Department's local economic priorities are determined. [43385]
Mr Prisk: The Department's local economic priorities are determined by BIS's overall priorities and this Department's assessment of the actions that it is best able to take to support delivery of these in local areas, working with local partners.
Green Economy Council
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what matters were discussed and decided at the inaugural Green Economy Council meeting on 16 February 2011; who sits on the Council; and if he will (a) place in the Library and
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(b)
post on his Department's website a copy of (i) the minutes of the meeting and (ii) each paper circulated to participants. [43349]
Mr Prisk: The inaugural meeting of the Green Economy Council on 16 February discussed the Council's terms of reference and the Government's Roadmap to a Green Economy, which is currently being developed.
The Council's role is to advise Government on policy development and therefore copies of minutes and papers are restricted and will not be placed in the Library or on the Department's website.
The members of the Council are:
| GEC Member | Position | Company |
|
Divisional Chief Executive (and Chairman, CBI Manufacturing Council) |
||
|
CEO Europe, Middle East and Africa (and Chairman, UK Green Building Council) |
||
Green Investment Bank
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to determine the level of funds to be released from asset sales to be provided to the proposed Green Investment Bank. [43989]
Mr Prisk:
We are unable to provide commercially sensitive information on expected proceeds from individual asset sales at this stage. However, at an aggregate level, the Government are confident that the asset sales they are considering will be sufficient to provide significant additional funding above the £1 billion allocated to the
3 Mar 2011 : Column 599W
Green Investment Bank from departmental budgets. We will make further announcements on this funding stream in due course.
Industrial Health and Safety
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to launch the consultation on implementing an improved system for assessing health and safety standards for large companies with multiple outlets recommended in Lord Young's report, Common Sense, Common Safety. [41210]
Mr Prisk: This consultation will be launched in May this year, as part of a wider consultation on the Government's forthcoming White Paper on regulatory enforcement. This White Paper will set out our plans to reshape the regulatory system to increase levels of accountability, transparency and efficiency.
Following Lord Young's recommendations, and as part of the White Paper, we are working with national regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive, to develop inspection plan pilots involving several companies including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda, and local authorities across England. In these pilots, local authorities and national regulators will work with businesses—tailoring their inspection regimes to take account of the businesses' demonstrated commitment to regulatory compliance in specific areas, including health and safety.
For businesses, this will provide an opportunity to reduce the regulatory burden through earned recognition of their good practice, while for local authorities it will enable more efficient targeting of front line resources on the areas where they can really make a difference.
International Institute of Cricket Umpiring and Scoring
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will direct Companies House to take no further steps in respect of the registration as a company of the International Institute of Cricket Umpiring and Scoring until the completion of an investigation into allegations of irregularities in its registration. [43273]
Mr Davey: There are no further steps that could be taken in respect of this registration. The International Institute of Cricket Umpiring and Scoring was incorporated in 2006.
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission an investigation into allegations of irregularities in the registration at Companies House of the International Institute of Cricket Scoring and Umpiring. [43274]
Mr Davey: In light of further questions regarding the incorporation of International Institute of Cricket Umpiring and Scoring Limited, Companies House officials are reviewing the original decision with respect to the name of the company.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Finance
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 492W, on
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knowledge transfer partnerships: finance, which projects and initiatives were funded by each regional development agency for innovation, collaboration and knowledge transfer partnerships in the five years referred to. [42862]
Mr Willetts: The regional development agencies cannot provide the information being requested. This information is not readily available and would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold to locate and extract the relevant data.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 492W, on knowledge transfer partnerships: finance, how many businesses received funding from each regional development agency for initiatives and projects for innovation, collaboration and knowledge transfer partnerships in the five years referred to; and if he will make a statement. [42863]
Mr Willetts: The information is as follows:
| RDA | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 |
| (1) AWM—The figures are from our annual reports and accounts from 2005/06 to 2009/10. These figures reflect the number of businesses collaborating with the knowledge base. (2) LDA—LDA data are for ‘Business Support—Collaborations’ which is a widely used (though not always the only) output for innovation projects. Businesses achieving these outputs may not have received direct funding from the LDA but are the direct beneficiaries of LDA-funded programmes via delivery partners. (3) NWDA—The figures provided relate to bodies that received grant monies that are non public sector and non university. The majority of our grant support in the collaboration/innovation and knowledge transfer has been with the university side or in establishing innovation parks etc rather that direct funding to businesses (4) SEEDA—The figures provided in the draft answer relate to Tasking Framework Output 4a (businesses in collaboration with the knowledge base) and are totals recorded for initiatives and projects including Collaborative Research and Development, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Knowledge Networks, and Innovation Vouchers only. These figures do not include outputs provided by the regional Business Link service. (5) SWRDA—Figures for South West RDA include recipients of Grants for Research and Development and National Aerospace Technology Strategy collaborative Research and Development projects. These projects vary in scale and many companies will benefit from the aerospace consortia projects, which have targets to support SMEs and university engagement at regional level. Notes: 1. During the period South West RDA indirectly funded knowledge transfer partnerships in the environmental sector. For example, three businesses received funding as part of the Severn Embryonic Technology scheme in 2009/10. Figures for these businesses are not included above as South West RDA did not fund the businesses directly. 2. The number of businesses receiving innovation related grants under Grants for Business Investment or RDPE are not included in the figures above. | |||||
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many local enterprise partnerships have representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) universities and (c) the voluntary sector on their boards. [43799]
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Mr Prisk: To date the Government have formally recognised two local enterprise partnership boards. Both have representatives of universities on them but neither have representatives from either social enterprise or the voluntary sector.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 593W, on business: higher education, what discretionary funding each local authority has allocated to each local enterprise partnership in England; and if he will make a statement. [43925]
Mr Prisk: It is for local authorities to decide what level of their discretionary spending they allocate to local enterprise partnerships.
National Composites Centre
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which body owns the site of the National Composites Centre in Bristol. [43800]
Mr Prisk: The National Composites Centre (NCC) site is owned by South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and forms part of their freehold ownership of SPark Bristol and Bath Science Park. The NCC site will shortly be transferred to Bristol university on a 250 year lease and in accordance with a lease agreement signed by SWRDA and Bristol university in May 2010.
Business Investment: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage business investment in the West Midlands. [43610]
Mr Prisk: The Government are committed to ensuring that all parts of the UK achieve strong, balanced and sustainable growth.
At the local level we have encouraged businesses, local authorities and other key partners to form Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). These will use their knowledge of the obstacles to growth and opportunities in their area to drive actions to help local firms. Businesses and local authorities in the West Midlands have been quick to respond to this opportunity and six LEPs have been approved, covering the whole of the region.
At the national level the Government have taken a series of initiatives to improve the conditions for business growth, in particular by reducing the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 24%, benefiting firms in the West Midlands and across the UK. The Government are also extending the Enterprise Finance Guarantee until 2015, unlocking up to £2 billion of additional lending, and is increasing the Enterprise Capital Funds by £200 million over the next four years, enabling more than £300 million of venture capital investment. The Regional Growth Fund will focus on providing financial support to areas with weak private sectors, and we will announce the first allocation of funds shortly.
The growth review is working with business to identify obstacles to growth and will report back at the 2011 budget.
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Overseas Trade: India
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government have taken on business co-operation between India and the UK since the Prime Minister's visit to India. [42096]
Mr Prisk: Since the Prime Minister's visit to India in July 2010, steps have included visits, activities and meetings to further develop business co-operation between the UK and India, led by Government Ministers in a range of areas of bilateral importance. These include climate change, education, and science and research. Where appropriate, we are engaging businesses in these areas of collaboration to ensure that our wider relationship has a positive impact for business.
Visits have included the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, my noble Friend Lord Sassoon, in September; the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell) and the Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts) in November; and the visit in January by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), during which he co-chaired the Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting with Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce, accompanied by a delegation of 50 British companies.
In November, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) hosted the UK-India Business Leaders Climate Group, focussed on ways the two countries and our businesses can work together to boost productivity, jobs and innovation, while also cutting carbon emissions.
In February the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green, participated in the first meeting of the UK-India CEO Forum in the UK. This meeting was co-chaired by Peter Sands, chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank plc and Ratan Tata, chairman Tata Group. It discussed ways to improve further UK-India bilateral trade and investment and will report back to both Prime Ministers.
The Government, through UK Trade and Investment, continue to deliver a full programme of work related to increasing UK exports, attracting more Indian investment into the UK and improving the business environment in both countries.
Regional Growth Fund: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bids for the Regional Growth Fund have been received from applicants in the West Midlands. [43485]
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Mr Prisk: 464 bids have been received in Round 1 of Regional Growth Fund. Of these, 72 bids have been received from the West Midlands. A summary of bids received in Round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund is available on the BIS website:
www.bis.gov.uk/RGF
Renewable Energy Technology
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the marine energy sector which will be created as a result of planned expenditure on renewable energy technology. [42727]
Mr Prisk: The marine energy sector in the UK employed over 600 people in 2008-09, according to research commissioned by BIS. The Carbon Trust estimates 16,000 people could be employed in the sector by 2040. Government expenditure to promote renewable energy technologies is helping to achieve this potential.
Some of this expenditure is specifically targeted at the marine energy sector. We are providing funding for “Wave Hub” in Cornwall, the UK's first offshore facility to demonstrate the operation of arrays of wave energy devices, and for “Nautilus”, an open access marine energy testing facility at the National Renewable Energy Centre in Northumberland.
Research: Charities
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the amount of funding provided by the charity sector for research conducted by universities in each of the last five years. [43804]
Mr Willetts: Data available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show funding from UK based charities for research to higher education institutions in the UK for the last five years, as set out in the following table:
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Amount (£ million) |
Riot Control Weapons: Exports
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which countries the Government has licensed the export of tear gas in the last three years. [43381]
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Mr Davey: The Government publish information on export licences in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. military, other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. They are available to view on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.berr.gov.uk/eng/fox
Small Businesses: Rural Areas
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist the development of small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas. [42594]
Mr Prisk: This Department is currently reforming the way it assists the development of small and medium-sized businesses so that, whether or not they are in rural areas, they can access:
Online business information and tools tailored to each business' needs through improvements to the www.businesslink.gov.uk website or, for those who cannot access the information they need on the web or who are not connected to the internet, a national contact centre;
A network of at least 40,000 experienced business mentors offering practical advice to existing businesses and people who want to start a business;
International trade development support provided by UKTI;
A refocused range of Solutions for Business products that are better focussed on helping firms grow;
The Manufacturing Advisory Service; and
Business Coaching for Growth targeted at agglomerations of businesses with high growth potential.
In addition, the Department for Work and Pensions will be providing help for start-ups through a tailored package of measures, including an expansion in the planned New Enterprise Allowance, to help the unemployed become self-employed.
Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs), including those covering rural areas, may also seek to provide additional support to small and medium-sized businesses in their areas.
Technology Strategy Board: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the core budget for the Technology Strategy Board for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [43926]
Mr Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board will be formally notified of its allocation for the spending review period later this month.