Land Registry, who are an Arms Length Body within the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, had (a) 41 staff (b) 3 staff (c) 1 member of staff and (d) none. These figures are for the period of 12 months to 30 September 2011.
A number of these staff have now left Land Registry.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments. [85086]
Mr Davey: The Department's policy is that staff salaries are paid into employees' bank accounts.
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An investigation as to whether each bank account relates to an individual or a limited company would be at disproportionate cost. Without such an investigation there is no evidence that any senior civil servants in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and its non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 5 December 2011:
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills asking the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) whether any senior staff in (a) his department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments.
Please be advised that the Agency does not pay via any limited company in lieu of salary.
Letter from John Hirst, dated 5 December 2011:
I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 November 2011, UIN85086 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Met Office has no staff paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary.
I hope this helps.
Letter from John Alty, dated 5 December 2011:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled for 30 November 2011, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments.
No senior staff at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 2 December 2011:
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question whether any senior staff in a) his Department and b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not pay any staff by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of salary. The Insolvency Service does not have a policy on such payments.
Letter from Tim Moss, dated 1 December 2011:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 30 November 2011, UIN 85086 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
No senior staff in Companies House are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 5 December 2011:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 25 November 2011, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business. Innovation and Skills whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments.
NMO does not have any senior staff paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary.
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills asking whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments. 85086
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Please be advised that no senior staff within the UK Space Agency are paid by means of payments to a limited company.
Letter from David Evans, dated 2 December 2011:
You tabled the following Parliamentary Question on 30 November 2011:
“To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments”.
I can advise on behalf of Land Registry, who are an executive agency within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, that we do not pay any of our senior staff by means of payment to a limited company in lieu of salary.
Letter from Vanessa V Lawrence, dated 2 December 2011:
As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to your question with the information on whether any senior staff at Ordnance Survey are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of salary.
I can confirm that there are not and that all senior staff are paid salary or fees through payroll.
Departmental Recruitment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, columns 324-5W, on Departmental recruitment, at what cost (a) Gatenby Sanderson and (b) Odgers Berndtson were employed on each occasion since May 2010. [84753]
Mr Davey: Since May 2010 Human Resources in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has employed the executive search companies of both Gatenby Sanderson and Odgers Berndtson once to undertake recruitment services.
Gatenby Sanderson were paid £13,143.63 plus VAT and Odgers Berndtson were paid £16,355 plus VAT.
Directors: Equal Opportunities
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of recent progress on the targets set by Lord Davies of Abersoch relating to boardroom diversity. [84533]
Mr Davey: The monitoring report published by Cranfield university in October, six months after Lord Davies of Abersoch's Review, shows that steady progress is being made towards achieving gender diverse boardrooms. It is encouraging to see that women now make up 14.6% of FTSE 100 and 8.8% of FTSE 250 directors, up from 12.5% and 7.8% respectively in February. In addition there are now just 12 all-male FTSE 100 boards, down from 21 in February.
Government are continuing to work with businesses, regulators, investors and others to ensure the recommendations are implemented effectively.
Employment Agencies: EU Law
Mr Stewart Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the letter from the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, what the legal basis is for the effect on the Government's policy on the agency
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worker regulations of the agreement between the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress of May 2008; and if he will make a statement. [83995]
Mr Davey: Article 5.4 of the agency workers directive allows member states to establish alternative arrangements derogating from the principle of equal treatment on the basis of an agreement concluded between social partners (representatives of employees and employers) at national level. The directive text specifically states that such alternative arrangements may include the provision of a qualifying period for equal treatment.
Foreign Students
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his assessment is of potential changes to the level of education exports as a result of (a) student visa changes and (b) a rise in international student tuition fees. [80872]
Mr Willetts: Research published by BIS(1) estimates the total value of education exports to the UK at £14.1 billion (in 2008/09) and forecasts that total UK education exports could rise to £17.6 billion in 2015 and £26.6 billion by 2025. The research also attempted to forecast the impact of change in immigration policy and the rise in student fees and suggested that:
The change in immigration policy might result in a decrease of £203 million in 2014/15, £232 million by 2019/20 and £268 million by 2024/25.
The change in fee policy for EU and UK domiciled students studying for undergraduate degrees in England might result in a decrease of £339 million in 2014/15, £672 million by 2019/20 and £844 million by 2024/25. The estimate incorporates the fact that a large proportion of EU students coming to the UK to study would be contributing higher fees than is currently the case.
The combined effect of immigration and tuition fee policy changes might result in a decrease of £542 million in 2014/15, £904 million in 2019/20 and £1,112 million in 2024/25.
Separately, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) published its own impact assessment of the reform of the points-based immigration system in June this year, looking at impact over a shorter time scale. The assessment suggested that:
The level of tuition fee income from international students might reduce by £22.5 million in 2011/12; £30.8 million in 2012/13; £59.4 million in 2013/14 and £57.9 million in 2014/15.
The level of international student expenditure might reduce by £47.7 million in 2011/12; £95.1 million in 2012/13; £166.9 million in 2013/14 and £199.6 million in 2014/15. These figures did not include expenditure by students’ dependents, nor do they include the amount generated by students and their dependents through part-time work while in study, which is not the same as the post-study work route.
The aggregate of these changes might result in a decrease of £70.2 million in 2011/12, £125.9 million in 2012/13, £229.3 million in 2013/14 and £257.5 million in 2014/15
The UKBA report also included impact assessment for a number of other items that are not included in the calculation of education exports, such as loss of output from post-study work by students. We have not included detail of these items in this response.
In presenting such estimates, it is important to note that they only represent a snapshot in time and can change. For example, UK work with Brazil on its “Science without Borders” programme could now see an additional
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10,000 higher education students coming to study in the UK, under conditions which meet the new immigration policy.
The Government are very clear that we should not be discouraging genuine international students from coming to the UK to study at genuine institutions. We fully appreciate the economic benefits and wider enrichment students bring to the UK. What we are attempting to do is tackle abuse of the system. The aim is to ensure that we get the balance right between providing a user-friendly route for bona fide students and education providers and keeping out those who would seek to abuse the system.
In respect of non-EU students, higher education establishments are free to decide the level at which to set student fees. The Government have never regulated the fees charged by higher education institutions (HEIs) to international students. The market for international students is very competitive. Institutions watch closely what other institutions, in the UK and abroad, are charging when deciding on the level at which to set their own international student fees. It is not in any HEI’s interest to price itself out of the market.
(1) London Economics Report “Estimating the value to the UK of Education Exports”, published by BIS in June 2011.
Further Education: Admissions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time students were enrolled in each further education college in England in the academic year (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [84362]
Mr Hayes: I have made data available in the Libraries of the House showing the total number of Government-funded learners participating in further education (Learner Responsive provision) in general further education colleges by provider name and mode of attendance in 2008/09 and 2009/10.
Information on further education and skills participation and achievement by mode of attendance is published in a supplementary table of a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirst release/sfr_supplementary_tables/
Higher Education
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to encourage more flexible patterns of study in higher education. [80888]
Mr Willetts: We have consulted on how to encourage more flexible provision through the BIS Technical Consultation 'A new fit for purpose regulatory framework for the higher education sector'. The consultation closed on 27 October. We will give careful consideration to the range of responses and representations that we have received on this particular issue. A formal response to the consultation and to the Higher Education White Paper will both be made in early in 2012.
5 Dec 2011 : Column 157W
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to implement an assessment framework to measure the number of potential students reached through additional outreach activities undertaken by institutions as part of their access agreements. [81880]
Mr Willetts: This is a matter for the director of fair access. The Office for Fair Access has confirmed that the director makes no assessment of the number of potential students reached through the additional outreach activities undertaken by institutions through their access agreements.
The director of fair access publishes annual monitoring reports setting out the outcomes of the Office for Fair Access' annual monitoring of access agreements. The latest report is for 2009/10 and is available at
http://www.offa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2011-04+2011-29-OFFA+HEFCE-Access-Agreement-standard-report-web.pdf
In February, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I wrote to the director of fair access setting out our expectation that institutions should agree a programme of defined progress each year—set within a five-year time frame—in relation to appropriate benchmarks. We asked the director to move away from an assessment of inputs and processes to focus more sharply on the outcomes of outreach and other access activities. Universities will be able to focus their outreach and other activities where they will have the most impact.
Higher Education: Admissions
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications have been submitted by residents of each parliamentary constituency in 2011-12 to date; and how many such applications had been submitted by the same time in 2010-11. [83387]
Mr Willetts: The latest information provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
UCAS has stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January 2012.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students outside the Higher Education Funding Council for England allocation of student numbers have enrolled on a higher education course with a (a) private company and (b) for-profit higher education provider in each of the last five years. [84090]
Mr Willetts:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold the data requested. However in 2010, the Higher Education Statistics Agency completed a survey of private providers of higher education based on the 2009/10 academic year. Within the sample of
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providers there were 38,000 students on higher education courses. The full set of findings is available on the HESA website as follows:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/2090/161/
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students enrolled in designated higher education courses with (a) all private higher education providers and (b) for-profit higher education providers in each of the last five years; and how many studied (i) at each institution and (ii) in each subject area. [84091]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold the data requested. However in 2010, the Higher Education Statistics Agency completed a survey of private providers of higher education based on the 2009/10 academic year. Within the sample of providers there were 38,000 students on higher education courses—these will not all have been studying on designated courses. The full set of findings is available on the HESA website as follows:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/2090/1G1/
The following table shows the numbers of English and EU-domiciled higher education students studying with private providers, who received some financial support via the Student Loans Company.
| Academic year | Number receiving financial support |
| Notes: 1. The effective date at which the data are taken is at 31 August at the end of each academic year. 2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Student Loans Company | |
These figures do not provide total numbers of students enrolled in designated higher education courses at private providers, as not all students obtain student support (for personal eligibility reasons or because they have pursued alternative funding means). As numbers are small, it is not possible to provide a breakdown by institution and course as this could identify individuals.
Higher Education: Fees and Charges
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the Office for Fair Access in ensuring that any higher education institution charging above £6,000 in tuition fees is linked to local schools and is part of a wider regional access network. [80873]
Mr Willetts: Institutions intending to charge more than the £6,000 basic amount for tuition must first demonstrate to the independent director of fair access what more they will do to attract students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These plans are finalised in approved access agreements.
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Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills wrote to the director of fair access on 10 February 2011 setting out the Government’s expectations about how he should approach the approval and monitoring of new access agreements. The guidance set out significantly increased expectations for the priority that institutions should give to fair access and widening participation. In particular, we identified the effectiveness of collaborative working on widening participation, recognising that many institutions were already doing this and that access agreements should build on that work. We also highlighted that such collaboration also encourages the sharing of good practice. Additionally, we suggested that the director would want to take into account the scale and nature of outreach work with schools, colleges and other organisations. The director mirrored Governments’ advice in his own guidance to the sector in March on how to develop access agreements.
The director has done an excellent job in very demanding circumstances. I am pleased to see that institutions are pledging to put significantly more resource into access activities (more than £600 million by 2015/16 compared to just over £400 million in 2011/12). Over £100 million of that investment has been earmarked by institutions for outreach activities.
Institutions now have to deliver what they have agreed and make the progress they have indicated.
Higher Education: North-east England
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents of (a) Stockton North constituency, (b) the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, (c) the Tees Valley and (d) the North-East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 21 November 2011; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle. [84356]
Mr Willetts: The latest information is in the tables and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
UCAS has stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January.
| All applicants to UCAS as at 21 November by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11 (1) | 2011-12 (2) |
| (1) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
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| On time applicants to courses with an 15 October deadline (1) by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11 (2) | 2011-12 (3) |
| (1) These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents in (a) Darlington constituency, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) the North-East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 21 November 2011; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle. [84486]
Mr Willetts: The latest information is in the tables and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
UCAS has stated that year-on-year changes for all has courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January.
| All applicants to UCAS as at 21 November by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11 (1) | 2011-12 (2) |
| (1) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
| On time applicants to courses with an 15 October deadline (1) by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11 (2) | 2011-12 (3) |
| (1) These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
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Higher Education: Regulation
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the (a) consultation responses and (b) Government response to his Department's consultation on a new regulatory framework for the higher education sector. [83455]
Mr Willetts: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 November 2011, Official Report, columns 517-18W.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) universities, (b) private and for-profit providers and (c) students on his proposed changes to the Higher Education Regulatory Framework. [84590]
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I meet regularly with a wide range of current and prospective higher education providers and with representative bodies in the higher education sector. Discussions over proposed changes to the higher education regulatory framework have featured in many of these meetings. A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
In addition, BIS officials held two stakeholder meetings as part of the technical consultation on the proposed regulatory framework, which ran until 27 October. 60 delegates were invited from a wide range of bodies in the higher education sector, including representatives of higher education institutions, further education colleges, alternative providers, mission groups, unions, including the National Union for Students, partner bodies and other representative bodies.
Higher Education: Scholarships
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of university applicants who will apply to the National Scholarship Programme for the academic year 2012-13; and how many applicants he expects to be awarded funding under the programme. [81143]
Mr Willetts: The National Scholarship Programme is designed to help people of all ages whose family income is no greater than £25,000 per annum. Higher education institutions set their own criteria for determining entitlement to an award from among this broad group of people. Institutions will offer a range of support from a menu which includes tuition fee waivers or discounts, subsidised accommodation and other institutional support, and a cash bursary—capped at £1,000.
All institutions that intend to charge more than the basic rate for tuition from 2012 are required to participate in the programme and contribute match funding. Universities are responsible for advertising their criteria and making the awards. The Government have made no estimate of the number of students who are likely to apply to universities.
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In the first year, the Government will contribute £50 million towards the NSP with the minimum level for an award set at £3,000 for each eligible full-time student. That would mean around 17,000 students would benefit. Of course the actual number is likely to be larger than this when institutions' match funding is taken into account as well as awards made to students studying part-time. By 2014/15 when the programme is fully operational, the Government's contribution to the National Scholarship Programme will be three times higher and, with match funding, up to 100,000 students a year could be being supported.
Higher Education: Statistics
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Higher Education White Paper, what progress he has made in achieving his aim of reducing the burden of data collection on higher education institutions. [82975]
Mr Willetts: In the White Paper, we made a commitment to work with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) through its periodical data review process. Reviews have recently been completed for the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, and the Staff data stream. These reviews will result in changes for 2011/12 and 2012/13 respectively. The Student and Estates data streams are currently under review.
For the longer term, in the HE White Paper BIS asked the Higher Education Better Regulation Group (HEBRG) to progress an exploratory project to transform the information landscape of the HE sector, which will apply a “collect once, use many times” approach to data collection. This expects to report in summer 2012 on the feasibility of redesigning the information landscape to reduce the burden of reporting on higher education providers.
ICT: Training
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department provides to colleges and training providers to train people as computer numerical control operators. [83998]
Mr Hayes: As set out in my Department's Skills Investment Statement 2011-14 (1 December 2011), overall investment in adult further education (FE) and skills will be £3.8 billion in the 2012-13 financial year.
The Skills Funding Agency has responsibility for the funding of post-19 further education and skills training and allocates budgets to individual FE colleges and training organisations, it does not allocate funding at the qualification level.
From the 2011/12 academic year we introduced a single adult skills budget. This will provide FE colleges and training organisations with the flexibility to offer the range and balance of programmes, from basic skills to higher-level skills, in the mode of delivery that will best meet the needs of learners, employers and communities in line with demand.
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Industrial Disputes
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many responses from small businesses his Department received to its Resolving Workplace Disputes consultation. [84543]
Mr Davey: This information is available in “Resolving Workplace Disputes: Government response to the consultation” which was published on 23 November 2011, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Manufacturing Fellowships
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many manufacturing fellowships have been taken up (a) nationally, (b) in the East Midlands and (c) in Leicester. [82797]
Mr Willetts: The Department provides funding to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which then provide a range of fellowship support.
Between 1997 and 2010, of the 285 fellowship proposals received by EPSRC classified as manufacturing, the following were awarded:
(a) 58 nationally;
(b) two in the east midlands; and
(c) one in Leicester.
In 2011 EPSRC developed a new approach to fellowships. The first call for EPSRC fellowships in manufacturing was announced in March 2011 and EPSRC expects to award the first fellowships in March 2012. EPSRC has received no applications from institutions in the east midlands to date.
Maternity Pay
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on simplifying maternity pay and benefits. [84534]
Mr Davey: BIS officials have been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, and other Government Departments, on the development of proposals following on from the closure of the Modern Workplaces consultation on 8 August 2011. The proposals will deliver the Government's commitment to a new system of flexible parental leave to be implemented in April 2015. This will include looking at the current system of maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints his Department has received on decisions of the Office of the Adjudicator for Higher Education (a) since May 2010 and (b) in each year since its creation. [83937]
Mr Willetts:
There are no centrally held statistics on the number of complaints to the Department on decisions
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made by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). The OIA provides an independent service and as such the Government do not review its decisions.
Private Sector: Employment
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which former public sector workers have found employment in the private sector. [83703]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
The latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecast is for overall employment to grow by around one million between 2011 and 2017, with a fall of around 700,000 in public sector employment more than offset by a 1.7 million rise in the number employed in the private sector.
No specific assessment has been made of the extent to which workers previously employed in the public sector subsequently move to private sector jobs, although the labour market is highly fluid. In the last year Jobcentre Plus has taken over three million new vacancies and across the labour market as a whole there have been six million moves into work or between jobs.
Most people who lose their job and become unemployed are able to leave quickly, with over half of new JSA claims lasting less than three months and three-quarters lasting less than six months. Help and support is available through Jobcentre Plus for all individuals affected by job losses regardless of the part of the economy in which they were previously employed.
Procurement: EU Action
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what safeguards (a) he will encourage his EU counterparts to put in place and (b) are already in place to ensure that there is an equitable advertising and procurement policy enforced across all EU member states for Government-backed manufacturing and servicing contracts relating to (i) the emerging off-shore wind industry and (ii) other industries. [83318]
Mr Prisk: EU public procurement is governed by the 2004 European directive which requires all contracts for goods, services and works over certain thresholds to be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) to allow equitable access to business across the EU. An equivalent directive applies to utilities. The UK Government advertise all central Government tendering opportunities over £10,000 on Contracts Finder. Government will negotiate in the EU for a radical simplification of the relevant directives, to make it easier for businesses to access contracts let by all member states across the EU.
In the UK, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General announced the outcomes of the Government Growth Review on public procurement on 21 November 2011. Government will now publish medium-term rolling demand pipelines on areas of significant Government spend by April 2012; will engage strategically with industry supply chains to identify the key capabilities needed to meet this demand;
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and undertake better pre-procurement engagement with supply chains around sub-contracting opportunities for specific projects. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Cabinet Office will be working with the wider public sector and regulated industries to apply these reforms beyond central Government.
Professional Organisations
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which systems are in place to monitor the work of chartered institute organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. [83932]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
The Privy Council has no monitoring role in respect of Chartered bodies. The effect of a Charter is to free the recipient body from Government control, and the only power retained by the Privy Council is the reactive one of considering and approving amendments proposed by a body to its Charter or by-laws.
The work of the chartered accountancy bodies is monitored by the Professional Oversight Board of the Financial Reporting Council.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 802W, on the Regional Growth Fund, what guidance his Department provides to companies bidding for Regional Growth Funding on the proportion of grant funding that should be spent on due diligence. [82495]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 24 November 2011]: The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) ‘Information for Applicants’ document available on the BIS website described the due diligence requirement. However, no guidance was provided on the provided on the proportion of grant funding that should be spent on due diligence as it for beneficiaries to discuss the cost of providing due diligence with practitioners.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had on publishing the precise amounts allocated from the Regional Growth Fund. [84542]
Mr Prisk: I have regular discussions with officials concerning the Regional Growth Fund. In order not to prejudice the commercial interests of bidders conditional allocations are not published. Once due diligence and contracting are complete amounts awarded to individual bidders will be made available.
Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the proportion of research and development undertaken nationally which is performed by companies with more than (a) 250 and (b) 1,000 employees. [84890]
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Mr Willetts: The Office for National Statistics collects data on research and development performed in UK businesses. The most recent data was published in November 2011 and relates to research and development (R&D) conducted in 2010.
In 2010, the proportion of R&D performed within businesses with more than (a) 250 employees was 79% and (b) 1,000 employees was 56%.
Royal Mail: Glasgow
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Royal Mail on the future of customer service operations at the Glasgow Mail Centre. [83999]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has not had any discussions with Royal Mail on the future of customer service operations at the Glasgow Mail Centre.
This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and I have therefore asked the chief executive, Moya Greene, to respond directly to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Scholarships
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment and monitoring he is conducting of the qualifying criteria imposed by individual colleges for eligibility for the national scholarship programme; and if he will make a statement. [80524]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has commissioned CFE Research and Consultancy, an independent research and consultancy body, to undertake an evaluation of the National Scholarship Programme.
The first phase of the project, running until early next year, will look at the set up of the programme, and will include an analysis of the eligibility criteria being adopted by participating universities and colleges.
Skills Funding Agency: Redundancy
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the operational effects of redundancies at the Skills Funding Agency in the next 12 months. [84998]
Mr Hayes: The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is responsible for allocating funding to further education (FE) colleges and training providers for post 19-education and skills training. The Government’s commitment to give more freedom to the FE sector means that the role of the SFA has changed significantly, and it no longer has a planning function. As a result it is now a much smaller organisation than it was 12 months ago.
A new structure has been put in place which will enable the agency to operate more efficiently in its role of ensuring that public funding is allocated efficiently and effectively to meet the priorities set out in “New Challenges, New Chances”, which was published by the Government on 1 December.
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Space Technology
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what space projects his Department supports; how much has been spent on each project to date; how much he plans to spend on each project in each of the next two years; what further projects are planned in each of the next two years; what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with HM Treasury on space issues; what the outcome was of such discussions; and if he will make a statement. [84553]
Mr Willetts: The UK Space Agency has published a brochure describing the national space programme and projects 2011/12. It is available on the agency web site and explains more about each of the projects listed in the following table. Many are national instrument contributions to European Space Agency or international projects:
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http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/publications
The UK also invests directly through the European Space Agency in a broad range of space projects in science, Earth observation, telecommunications and technology. These are listed on the UK Space Agency website:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/missions
The outcomes have been positive and are reflected in a number of ways. One is the creation of the agency and its spending review settlement for 2011 to 2015. Another has been the additional capital funding allocated in the spring budget and autumn statement of some £35.7 million. This will support the start of a new national space technology programme, national e-infrastructure for space, and a new and novel low cost radar satellite constellation. If successful these programmes could attract over £160 million of private finance. Discussions continue on the space aspects of the next EU multi-year financial perspective, and this will be decided in the timeline of the overall EU budget for 2014 to 2020.
| Principal space projects and programmes managed by the UK Space Agency | |||
| £ million | |||
| Project | Spend to date (including estimate for 2011/12) | Planned 2012/13 | Planned 2013/14 |
| (1 )All costs are rounded to nearest £0.5 million. (2 )Technology Strategy Board is lead funder with some funding (£0.5 million) from UK Space Agency. (3 )Fresh funding announced as part of autumn statement. (4 )£10M from UK Space Agency plus additional contributions from TSB, SEEDA and research councils. | |||
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support he plans to provide to space exploration in each of the next two years; what recent reports he has received of assistance given to space exploration by the Government of (a) the US, (b) the Russian Federation and (c) each EU member state; and if he will make a statement. [84554]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, provides funding to the United Kingdom Space Agency for space activities. The one exploration project currently being funded through the European Space Agency (ESA) is ExoMars/Aurora. This is a mission to explore the atmosphere and surface of Mars and is scheduled to be launched in two phases in 2016 and 2018. It is funded by the UK at an average of €14 million per year. In addition there is a nationally funded UK activity of £5.5 million per year to provide instruments for the ExoMars mission and to exploit the science and technology of this and other Mars exploration missions.
The United States was scheduled to be a major partner in ExoMars, but the latest report indicates that they are reconsidering their support with a view to a decision in February 2012. I have also been advised that the Russian Federation are also considering whether they can offer support and a position may be known by early 2012.
ESA member states have agreed to support the ESA ExoMars programme as shown in the following table. Most countries also have a national programme to support instruments. Through ESA, member states are studying options for a Mars mission to follow ExoMars with the ultimate goal of returning samples of material
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from Mars for study in terrestrial laboratories. Germany, Spain and Portugal are also funding studies with ESA of a proposed robotic lunar lander mission to be launched around 2018.
| Participating states | ExoMars % | ExoMars M€ - 2008 ec |
ExoMars is in a critical position, with European support remaining solid, but with the USA reconsidering its role. Once the USA and Russian Federation views are known, ESA will determine the way forward by agreement of its member states.
Space Technology: Russia
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has offered the Russian Federation assistance with the Phobos-Grunt space mission. [84666]
Mr Willetts: Assistance to the Russian Federation has been provided through the European Space Agency (ESA) using capabilities partially supported by the UK as a member of ESA. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has not offered help directly.
Students: Debts
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average debt that will be accrued by each person who enrols on an access to higher education course in 2013-14 and proceeds to complete a three-year Bachelor's degree. [84318]
Mr Willetts: We estimate, based on figures for the average cost per enrolment of an Access to Higher Education course in 2010/11, that the average loan for such a course undertaken by someone aged 24 or above in 2013/14 will be around £2,500. For those participants who are under 24 such courses will remain grant funded.
For those who subsequently begin a three-year degree course in 2014/15 and take-up both a fee and maintenance loan every year, the additional amount borrowed could on average be around £38,000.
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Students: Loans
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the thresholds will be for interest rate increments on the repayment of student loans taken out from the 2012-13 academic year; and if he will make a statement. [83018]
Mr Willetts: Under our proposals, interest on student loans will accrue at (retail prices index) RPI + 3% up until the date when the borrower is due to repay. Full-time students will become liable to repay in the April after they leave their course, and part time students will become liable to repay in the April which falls four years after the start date of their course or the April after they leave their course if that is sooner.
After that date, interest will accrue at a rate of RPI for those earning £21,000 or less. Between £21,000 and £41,000 a linear scale will apply, with interest increasing gradually from RPI to RPI +3%. Those earning £41,000 or more will accrue interest at RPI +3%.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which designated courses at each higher education provider he has authorised to receive student loan funding in the last year; and how much student loan funding was allocated to each designated course. [84089]
Mr Willetts: Eligible full and part-time higher education courses at publicly-funded educational institutions in the UK are automatically designated for student support. Full-time distance learning courses and eligible higher education courses at private higher education providers may be specifically designated on a course-by-course basis at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
I will place in the Libraries of the House a list showing which courses the Secretary of State specifically designated for student support purposes between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011. This includes postgraduate courses which are designated for the purpose of disabled student allowances only.
I will also place in the Libraries of the House a list showing the total amount of tuition fee loan and maintenance loan that was paid to eligible English domiciled students on specifically designated full-time courses at private higher education providers during the 2010/11 academic year.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of student loan funding was awarded to students studying at private higher education institutions in each of the last five years. [84092]
Mr Willetts: The proportion of total student loan funding awarded to students studying at private higher education institutions is given in the following table:
| Percentage | |||||
| Academic year: | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 |
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Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Government will publish its response to his Department's consultation entitled Consultation on potential early repayment mechanisms for students loans; and if he will publish a (a) summary of consultation responses and (b) list of respondents. [84591]
Mr Willetts: The consultation on potential early repayment mechanisms closed on 20 September 2011. The Department will respond in due course. This response will include a summary of all consultation responses and a list of the respondents.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what modelling he plans to undertake to assess the potential effects of his Department's proposals to introduce further education loans for people aged over 24. [85011]
Mr Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will publish both a full impact assessment of further education (FE) loans and an equality impact assessments of FE loans, due March 2012.
The impact assessments will be informed by research and analysis commissioned by BIS. This will include the results of the Online Learner Panel Survey carried out by Opinion Panel, TNS-BMRB work with potential FE students to understand how FE loans might affect their decision to study and further research if deemed necessary.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many submissions he has received in respect of his Department's consultation on plans to introduce further education loans for people aged over 24. [85013]
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Mr Hayes: The Department received 132 separate responses to the further education (FE) loans consultation. In addition, we received feedback from 117 individual learners through the online learner panel.
The consultation has therefore given us a wide range of views, including from public and private learning providers, sector representatives, small and large businesses and other Government bodies.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he plans to make of the number of women likely to be affected by his Department's proposal to introduce loans for further education study for people aged over 24. [85014]
Mr Hayes: In preparing an initial impact assessment for further education (FE) loans the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has estimated that in 2014/15 (the first full year of further education loans) the number of women learners who would start courses and be eligible for an FE loan would be in the region of 100,000.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has commissioned TNS-BMRB to carry out research with future FE students to understand how FE loans might affect their decision to study. The research will include interviews with people from a range of backgrounds including women, and the results will inform both the full impact assessment of FE loans and an equality impact assessment of FE loans, due to be published in March 2012.
Students: Merseyside
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average student loan taken out in St Helens South and Whiston constituency was in each year since 2005. [80956]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table.
| Average student loan paid to those taking out loans, St Helens South and Whiston constituency (1) | |||||
| Average loan paid (£) (2) | |||||
| Academic year | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 |
| (1) Based on address at time of application. (2) Rounded to nearest £10. (3) Tuition Fee Loans were available from academic year 2006/07. Note: Figures are taken as at 31 August at the end of each academic year. Source: Student Loans Company (SLC) | |||||
Students: Sponsorship
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 632W, on students: sponsorship, what steps he plans to take in the event that an insufficient number of employers and charities offer sponsorship for university places. [82857]
Mr Willetts: Pursuant to my answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 632W, a response to the Higher Education White Paper will be published in due course. We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England for advice on increasing the opportunities to attract employer or charity sponsorship for individual places, provided they do not create a cost liability for Government, in the context of their winter consultation on teaching funding and student number controls for 2013/14 and beyond.
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Technology Strategy Board
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value is of unallocated funding overseen by the Technology Strategy Board in each of the next five years. [82776]
Mr Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board's agreed core budget for 2011/12 is £317 million. I cannot be specific on future year allocations, but it will be in the order of £300 million per annum in the current spending review period.
The Technology Strategy Board's current uncommitted funding over the remainder of the spending review period is as follows:
|
|
£ million |
Trade Promotion: Olympic Games 2012
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been allocated to the British Business Embassy to be held at Lancaster House during the London 2012 Olympic Games. [82477]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 24 November 2011]: The estimated budget for the British Business Embassy is £3.28 million, of which UKTI will contribute £2.53 million, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will provide £0.75 million and sponsorship will be sought of £0.6 million.
Training: Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the statement on page 57 of the Autumn Statement (Cm 8231) that the Government will provide £4 million to Skills for Logistics to improve training approaches to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the logistics sector; how will these funds be allocated; who can apply for funding; and if he will make a statement. [84938]
Mr Hayes: Skills for Logistics has secured investment funding from the Employer Investment Fund administered by the UK Commission, of up to £4 million to undertake four strands of work over a two-year period. The investment funding is to work with employers to enhance the attractiveness of the sector to young people and individuals currently not employed in the sector. The investment will build skills solutions that ultimately inform and lay the foundations for a Modern Logistics Guild. This investment works with co investment from larger employers who are looking to establish an employer bond which will underwrite loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for apprenticeship training.
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Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 808, what representations he received about changes to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations before making his autumn statement. [84944]
Mr Davey: As part of my ongoing dialogue with business some have raised concerns that the current Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations gold-plate the acquired rights directive and are overly bureaucratic. I have also had formal representations from business concerning the implementation of the directive in other member states. Recognising that this is a complex area of legislation I have launched a call for evidence to gather views from a wide range of stakeholders in considering the case for change.
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 808, whether he plans to launch a public consultation on reform on the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. [84945]
Mr Davey: There will be a formal consultation on any possible changes to the current Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations should responses from the call for evidence launched on 23 November 2011 indicate that there is a case for change.
Internships
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of employees who are employed as interns in the (a) political, (b) legal, (c) media, (d) fashion and (e) financial services sector; [84097]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people undertaking (a) paid and (b) unpaid internships; [84098]
(3) what estimate he has made of the average length of an internship; [84099]
(4) what proportion of people who undertook an unpaid internship went on to paid employment at the place of their internship in the latest period for which figures are available. [84100]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not hold this information. The graduate internship market is diverse and we welcome the numerous quality opportunities which both public and private employers provide. We will continue to encourage employers to ensure fair access to internship opportunities by advertising their vacancies openly and transparently, and by providing some form of financial support. The Government are clear that those who are entitled to the minimum wage should receive it.
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Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals for a legal definition of an internship. [84101]
Mr Willetts: We have no such plans. Internships are not defined in law: under employment and national minimum wage law, individuals can be employees, self-employed, workers, volunteers or voluntary workers.
An intern's legal status is determined by the nature of the activities they undertake and the relationship with their employer. We have updated our guidance on Business Link and Directgov to provide more clarity on internships for employers and individuals.
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what advice he has received on the legality of unpaid internships. [84594]
Mr Willetts:
As part of the Government's work on examining options on the treatment of interns in relation to the national minimum wage, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has considered the legal issues associated with unpaid internships. However, advice
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from Government lawyers is subject to legal professional privilege. The legal advice relating to unpaid internships is no different to any other legal advice in that regard.
The Department has recently updated guidance on Business Link and Directgov to provide more clarity on internships for employers and individuals.
Internships: Redditch
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of people undertaking (a) paid and (b) unpaid internships in Redditch. [84824]
Mr Willetts: This Department does not hold this information. The graduate internship market is diverse and we welcome the numerous quality opportunities which both public and private employers provide. We will continue to encourage employers to ensure fair access to internship opportunities by advertising their vacancies openly and transparently, and by providing some form of financial support. The Government are clear that those who are entitled to the minimum wage should receive it.