Housing: Students
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to increase the (a) quality and (b) quantity of student accommodation provided by private sector landlords. [89317]
Andrew Stunell: The current legislative framework already contains robust safeguards for all private tenants, including students. Local authorities already have extensive powers to take action against landlords letting poor quality accommodation. We are working closely with them to ensure that any barriers to them using those powers are lifted.
At the same time we have seen a significant increase in the overall supply of private rented accommodation over the last few years: by 2010, the sector had expanded to house some 3.4 million households in England—an increase of one million since 2005. We have supported this increase by refusing to impose unnecessary additional regulation on the sector and encouraging increased
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investment. In the 2011 Budget, we announced changes to stamp duty land tax on bulk purchases and a commitment to look again at the rules on real estate investment trusts in time for this year's Budget. The recently announced independent review of barriers to institutional investment in the sector which will be led by Sir Adrian Montague will build on that work.
Landlords: Blackpool
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has (a) received representations from and (b) had discussions with Blackpool council on selective licensing for landlords. [89940]
Grant Shapps: The Department has received no representations and has held no meetings with Blackpool council regarding the selective licensing of privately rented properties since the general consent for introducing such schemes was introduced in April 2010.
Local Development Frameworks
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps local communities can take to secure revisions in the local development frameworks of local authorities. [89654]
Robert Neill: In preparing local plans, the Government are encouraging councils to conduct early and meaningful engagement with neighbourhoods, local organisations and businesses. Local councils are able to revise their local plans or prepare a new plan at any time. When they do so, they are required by planning law to consult on its preparation and local communities can take such opportunities to seek revisions. Councils must submit their plan for independent examination, and any person who makes representations seeking to change a plan must be given the opportunity to appear before and be heard by the person carrying out the examination.
The Localism Act 2011 provides significant new powers for communities to prepare their own neighbourhood plan for their area. A neighbourhood plan would become a part of the statutory development plan following consultation, independent examination and a successful referendum, and form part of the basis of decisions on planning applications.
Local Government Act 1972
Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to bring forward his proposal to repeal section 150(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 for approval. [82328]
Grant Shapps: We plan to publish a consultation document proposing the repeal of section 150(5) shortly. We will be proposing procedures for implementing the repeal that will ensure that parish councils have the benefit of this important reform as quickly as possible.
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Local Government Finance: Housing
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology his Department used to determine the level of top-slicing from the 2012-13 Formula Grant to fund the most recent new homes bonus allocations. [89180]
Robert Neill: We have allocated almost £1 billion of additional funding to support the new homes bonus over the spending review period, including £250 million for payments in 2012-13, with the rest due to be top-sliced from formula grant. As there was a two year formula grant settlement, in November 2010 we needed to estimate the size of the top-slice. The new homes bonus is based on the annual net increase in the stock of housing that is in use. It is therefore dependent on the change in net additions, long-term empty homes and council tax distribution of those units, plus a premium for affordable housing. Our estimate was based on historical data for each of these components. The provisional new homes bonus allocations in 2012-13 total £431 million, £5 million more than estimated, largely due to higher numbers of long-term empty properties being brought back into use. The remaining £5 million will come from DCLG departmental expenditure limit, but will be reclaimed from Local Government resource in 2013-14.
Mortgages
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether lending decisions made under the New Build scheme will be audited to ensure that lenders maintain high standards of lending; [89368]
(2) how any risk to the public purse will be minimised in the context of the Government's mortgage indemnity guarantee; [89438]
(3) what processes will be put in place to ensure that lenders maintain high standards of lending for mortgage finance made available in the context of the new build scheme. [89439]
Grant Shapps: The Government announced their support for the industry-led new build indemnity scheme, as part of the Housing Strategy. The scheme will help credit worthy households access up to 95% loan to value mortgages, for new build homes and flats. This will enable up to 100,000 families and young people to buy their own home.
The Government are working closely with partners, including the Home Builders Federation, Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Financial Services Authority to finalise the scheme's design. As a requirement of the scheme, mortgage approvals made available will remain subject to current regulatory requirements and lenders' existing approval criteria. In addition, the final scheme design will be agreed with the Financial Services Authority.
Monitoring arrangements will be put in place take account of the scheme's impact. The Government will also conduct an evaluation of the scheme after two years, to ensure that there has been an appropriate and positive effect on the price, demand and supply of new build properties.
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Piers: Redcar and Cleveland
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will provide funding for an additional traditional pier in Redcar and Cleveland. [88845]
Robert Neill [holding answer 12 January 2012]:The development of new piers is a matter for local authorities and their partners. I would note that there are a number of funding schemes supported by the Government which may potentially assist regeneration in seaside towns, including the coastal communities fund, the European regional development fund and the regional growth fund.
I am placing in the Library a copy of the regeneration toolkit that has been published to accompany the Government's response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee report on regeneration (Cm 8264, January 2012).
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will provide funding for an additional traditional pier in Redcar and Cleveland for the purpose of promoting community cohesion. [88849]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today, PQ 88845.
Planning
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Government plan to publish their response to the Draft National Planning Policy Framework. [88321]
Greg Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) of 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 661-62W.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that local planning authorities produce local plans for their areas in accordance with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework. [89119]
Greg Clark: The National Planning Policy Framework aims to strengthen decision making at the local level and reinforce the importance of local plans. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Framework. We are committed to working closely with local councils and the Planning Inspectorate to ensure that appropriate transitional arrangements are in place to support the implementation of the Framework.
Planning Permission: Leiston
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the proposal by Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council that those applying for planning permission for a large development in a town or parish council area should (a) attend town and parish council
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meetings regarding the application and
(b)
fund an independent assessment of the effect of the application if requested by the town or parish council; and if he will make a statement. [87410]
Greg Clark [holding answer 19 December 2011]: Consideration is still being given to the suggestion made by Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council. I would note that the Localism Act will introduce compulsory pre-application consultation on large-scale planning applications between prospective developers and local communities.
Public Houses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the contribution of public houses to community life. [90202]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made a formal assessment of the contribution of public houses to community life.
However, the Government firmly believes that well-run community pubs contribute not only to the local economy, but also to the well-being of the local community, as they are social hubs bringing communities together and encouraging wider social action.
Rents
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average rent as a proportion of average income was for people living in (a) social housing, (b) other affordable housing and (c) private rented accommodation in the latest period for which figures are available. [88513]
Andrew Stunell: It is estimated that, in England in 2009-10, the average rent as a proportion of the average income (excluding housing benefit) of (a) households in the social rented sector was 23%; and (c) households in the private rented sector was 25%. If housing benefit is included in the calculations of average income the proportions were 20% and 24% respectively. Data are not available for (b) other affordable housing.
These estimates are based on data from the 2009-10 English Housing Survey.
Social Rented Housing
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the annual cost of tenancy fraud in social housing. [89373]
Grant Shapps: The National Fraud Authority estimates that tenancy fraud costs around £900 million per year. Replacing the social homes that are being unlawfully occupied—to house those who have effectively been displaced by tenancy fraudsters—would cost several billion pounds.
On 11 January, I issued a consultation which proposes measures that would increase the deterrent to tenants considering cheating the system, enable those who do cheat to be detected more easily and punished more severely, and encourage social landlords to take a more
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proactive approach to tackling social housing fraud. This will help to free up valuable social homes that can then be allocated to those in greatest need.
The consultation closes on 4 April 2012.
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision his Department has made for the payment of salaries paid by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation after 31 March 2012. [89609]
Robert Neill: The running costs budget for the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Commission to cover final winding-up activity in 2012-13 is £760,000. This includes provision for payment of salaries after 31 March 2012.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many board
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meetings the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has held since 1 April 2011; and how many such meetings are scheduled. [89610]
Robert Neill: Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has held six board meetings since 1 April 2011 (to 31 December 2011); and four more are scheduled between 1 January 2012 and the Corporation's dissolution.
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name is of each board member of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation; on how many occasions each has attended a meeting of the board since 1 April 2011; and what salary has been or is to be paid to each in respect of the period from 1 April 2011 until dissolution of the corporation. [89611]
Robert Neill: The requested information can be found in the following table.
| Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation board member attendance and salaries | |||
| Name of board member | Attendance out of six board meetings held between 1 April 2011 to end December 2011 | Salary for 16 months from 1 April to 31 July 2012 (£) | Comments |
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what land assets are to be transferred to Thurrock council by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the assets. [89612]
Robert Neill: The land assets currently held by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation are detailed in the following schedule; at 31 March 2011 (the date of their latest valuation) the monetary value of the assets in the Corporation's accounts was £56,749,000. If the Corporation's land ownership does not change before 31 March 2012, £56,749,000 would reflect the value of the land to be transferred to Thurrock council. However, this position is subject to change before 31 March 2012 as the Corporation is currently in the process of disposing of some of its land holdings, and acquiring others, as part of its continuing regeneration activity.
| Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation property in current ownership | |
| Property name | Address |
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Business, Innovation and Skills
Business: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized enterprises have received assistance from Government schemes in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley in the last 18 months. [89369]
Mr Prisk: The total number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have received assistance from Government schemes is not available. However, information that is held at a constituency level on the number of SMEs supported under the Government's Solutions for Business portfolio, is set out in the following table:
For other schemes under the Solutions for Business portfolio, such as Rural Development Programme for England, Helping your Business Grow Internationally and Work Place Training (including apprenticeships), Knowledge Transfer Networks, information is available only at a national level.
In addition, Government have funded the provision of a range of online information and assistance to SMEs through Business Link, including a regional advisory service, which was supported by England's regional development agencies but closed on 25 November 2011. Information on beneficiaries by constituency and borough is not available so figures for London, provided by the London Development Agency, are set out as follows:
London: 54,804.
Business: Cybercrime
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the level of risk of cybercrime faced by small and medium-sized enterprises following the roll-out of super-fast broadband; and what assistance his Department plans to offer to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in this regard. [88403]
Mr Prisk: In November 2011 the Government published the national cyber security strategy “Protecting and Promoting the UK in a Digital World”. The strategy makes it clear that the cyber crime threat to businesses is increasing and that there is a growing financial impact of information security incidents. While the Government are committed to delivering the best superfast broadband network in Europe, the roll-out of this will not in itself make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more vulnerable to online crime. But as SMEs increasingly turn to the web to deliver their products and services, they can become exposed to new threats. Maintaining confidence in e-commerce as a viable way of doing business is crucial. Investors, businesses, Government and customers each need to be confident that networks are safe to use if the UK is to realise its full potential for growth. It is then crucial that SMEs understand the risks of being online and know how to take action to protect themselves.
The Government have therefore committed £650 million over the next four years to help protect the UK in cyber space, including £63 million specifically to tackle computer-enabled crime. The cyber security strategy sets out a key objective for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to:
“make the UK one of the most secure places in the world to do business in cyberspace.”
BIS and other Government Departments and agencies are therefore undertaking a range of actions to support business, including working to:
Raise business awareness of the cyber threat and the actions they can take to protect themselves, including specific activities aimed at changing the behaviours of SMEs;
Develop a single Government portal for the provision of advice on internet safety to the public and businesses, building on “Get Safe Online”;
Create a single reporting centre to allow the public and business to report computer-enabled crime, including expanding the Action Fraud website;
Create a specialist cyber crime unit within the National Crime Agency, building on the expertise of the Police Central e-crime Unit and the Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) e-crime unit;
Create a joint public/private sector hub to exchange actionable information on cyber threats and strengthen our response to incidents.
The full list of objectives and actions can be found in the cyber security strategy at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/protecting-and-promoting-uk-digital-world
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Business: Finance
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will (a) commission and (b) publish an analysis by region of the data in his Department's finance surveys of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), indicating regional variation in SME's access to bank lending. [89430]
Mr Prisk: Following a consultation on business finance in summer 2010, the Government worked with the banking industry to increase the data available on bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As a result, the British Bankers' Association's Business Finance Taskforce has commissioned a quarterly independent survey of business finance. The SME Finance Monitor will include analysis by region in its first annual report due to be published in March 2012. The survey is based on interviews with 5,000 SMEs each quarter across the UK, and the annual report will have a total sample size of around 15,000 SMEs. The quarterly reports and forthcoming annual reports are publically available at:
http://www.sme-finance-monitor.co.uk/
The Government have no current plans to commission additional analysis on this subject.
Construction: Insolvency
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the construction industry of the provisions relating to payee insolvency contained in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; and if he will make a statement. [89038]
Mr Prisk: The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 makes minor technical amendments to the provisions relating to insolvency which were contained in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. Having introduced a general prohibition on "pay when paid" clauses in construction contracts, the 1996 Act allows their use in cases of insolvency. This is to ensure that same conditions on insolvency apply in construction contracts as in other commercial contracts. A feature of the UK's insolvency regime more generally is that, broadly speaking, the same rules apply to all entities across the economy to provide an element of certainty and predictability as to outcomes in the event of insolvency for those contracting with such entities.
Credit: Interest Rates
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2010, Official Report, column 819W, on loans, what progress has been made following the implementation of the Consumer Credit Directive on (a) tackling the effects of payday loans on those on low incomes and (b) removing credit licences and increasing penalties where there is proven irresponsibility by lenders. [89505]
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Mr Davey: The Government acknowledge that there are real concerns about this type of lending and some of the practices that appear to blight this market. Payday lending is a key area of regulatory focus for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and it monitors the market for evidence of consumer detriment. The OFT has taken enforcement action against a number of companies in the payday loan market for breaches of its guidance but as the market has increased in size it has seen an increase in reported consumer harm. In light of the concerns about this market the OFT will be launching a comprehensive compliance review of its Irresponsible Lending Guidance that will specifically target the payday lending market. The review will focus on identifying those practices that are the cause of most harm to consumers and the findings will be used to take further enforcement action and drive up standards in this market. The OFT will also be increasing its scrutiny of applications for consumer credit licenses by those wishing to engage in this form of lending.
Speechwriters
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many speechwriters his Department employs at each pay grade. [89408]
Mr Davey: The Department employs two speechwriters, both at Grade 7.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns. [89407]
Mr Davey: The Department has not issued specific advice to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of paid interns but if advice is sought from the Department, non-departmental public bodies are referred to "The Common Best Practice Guide for High Quality Internships" published by the Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum, a copy of which can be found on the BIS website:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/higher-education/docs/c/11-1068-common-best-practice-code-for-quality-internships.pdf
Employment Tribunals Service
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) increase the period of employment required before an employee can claim unfair dismissal, (b) introduce protected conversations not open to legal scrutiny and (c) remove Tribunal members with employment experience. [89624]
Mr Davey: We will bring forward legislation to increase the qualification period for unfair dismissal from one to two years, and to allow employment judges to sit alone in unfair dismissal cases, shortly. We announced in November 2011 our intention to consult on the introduction of protected conversations. We are currently considering the detail of proposals and will consult on them later this year.
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EU Grants and Loans
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the total amount of funding made available to each UK region through the (a) European social fund and (b) EU Competitiveness and Employment programme in each of the last five years. [88635]
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Mr Prisk: EU structural and cohesion funds (SCFs) are made available in seven-year funding periods. The current funding period runs from 2007-13. The allocations to the UK for the period 2007-13 are set out as follows. The figures include the European social fund (ESF); the European regional development fund (ERDF) Regional Competitiveness and Employment (RCE) programme allocation; and the ERDF Convergence programme allocation, for a complete picture.
| Country | Operational programme | Fund | Allocation (€ million) |
| (1) Figure takes account of rounding up of figures above. | |||
This table does not include an additional €722 million ERDF funding allocated to transnational programmes (Interreg and PEACE) rather than to specific regionally-based UK-only programmes.
EU Grants and Loans: Northern Ireland
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of EU funding allocated to be spent in Northern Ireland was (a) passed on as additional funding to the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) retained by the Exchequer in each of the last five years. [88375]
Mr Prisk:
Northern Ireland receives EU funds from a number of different programmes within the EU budget. The terms and conditions of these funds vary depending on intended purpose. Some of these programmes are
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operated on a competitive basis and will result in direct contracts between the EU and bodies in Northern Ireland. 100% of the UK's EU funding allocated to be spent in Northern Ireland is in turn allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive. No funding is retained by the Exchequer.
Executives: Pay
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) which sections of companies legislation he plans to amend to bring into force his proposals on executive pay; [89920]
(2) whether he considers that primary legislation will be required to bring into force his proposals on executive pay. [89921]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), will be making an announcement to Parliament in due course.
Foreign Companies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) manufacturing and (b) service businesses have relocated abroad in each year for which figures are available. [89194]
Mr Prisk: There are no suitable data available with which to answer this question. The Office for National Statistics stores and compiles data on the number of births, deaths and the stock of businesses in the UK but has no comparable data on companies' activities abroad.
Higher Education: Admissions
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of home students in England initially enrolled (a) on a science degree switched to either an arts or social science degree and (b) on an arts degree switched to a science degree in each year since 2005. [89965]
Mr Willetts: This information is not held centrally.
Higher Education: North East
Sir Stuart Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents in (a) Middlesbrough constituency, (b) Middlesbrough borough, (c) the Tees Valley and (d) the North East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 19 December 2011; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle. [89889]
Mr Willetts: The latest information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
UCAS have 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
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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 19 December 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. (3) The borough of Middlesbrough has been defined as Middlesbrough constituency. | ||
| On time applicants to courses with a 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. (4) The borough of Middlesbrough has been defined as Middlesbrough constituency. (5) Revised figures. These correct the figures provided in PQs 84160 and 84356 (254 for 2010-11 and 227 for 2011-120). The figures for the Tees Valley include the constituencies of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton North, Stockton South, Darlington, and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. | ||
Insolvency
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to initiate a consultation on the behaviour of suppliers involved in insolvency cases. [89202]
Mr Davey: The Government have previously announced that they would consider the case for updating Section 233 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and the wider issue of termination clauses. BIS officials are currently looking into the evidence and the possible options. This consideration includes the implications for all companies, not just those in insolvency, including any 'knock on' insolvency risk for suppliers. We will then decide how to proceed.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on employment in East Lancashire of the decision by the government of Japan to choose to procure the F35 Joint Strike Fighter; [88647]
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(2) what discussions he has had with BAE Systems on the decision of the government of Japan to choose to procure the F35 Joint Strike Fighter; [88648]
(3) what discussions he has had with the government of Japan on the Eurofighter. [88650]
Mr Prisk: Regarding discussions with the Government of Japan, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth), on 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 408W. In 2011, there was cross-government support for the Typhoon campaign by ministerial colleagues from a number of Departments in discussions with the Japanese Government. Since my visit in June, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, discussed Typhoon with Japanese Government officials during his visit to Japan at the end of October.
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has had no discussions on this matter with BAE Systems although the company has raised it with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment.
No assessment has been made of the effect on employment in East Lancashire following the decision of the Government of Japan to choose to procure the F35 joint strike fighter.
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 September 2011, Official Report, column 1213W, on National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, what safeguards prevent facilities provided through the Remote Access Project being used for political or campaigning purposes. [89742]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, columns 341-2W. As previously advised, the grant offer letters for each project clearly set out the terms and conditions and activity for which the grant has been provided and this does not include carrying out political objectives or campaign activity. All projects are regularly monitored and evaluation of expenditure is undertaken to ensure union activity falls within the scope of the fund.
Overseas Trade
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent assessment he has made of the challenges for British exporters arising from late payments and non-payment from customers in (a) Brazil, Russia, India and China and (b) other countries; [88747]
(2) how many businesses have reported to his Department that their financial position has been adversely affected by late payments and non-payment from customers in (a) Brazil, Russia, India and China and (b) other countries; [88748]
(3) what steps he plans to take to address the issue of late payments and non-payment to UK businesses from customers in (a) Brazil, Russia, India and China and (b) other countries. [88749]
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Mr Prisk: The risk to UK business of late or even non-payment can sometimes be greater when doing business internationally. Analysis for the International Business Strategies, Barriers and Awareness Monitoring Survey 2011, carried out by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), shows no significant difference in getting paid and enforcing contracts in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) as opposed to other countries. 24% of businesses stated that they faced difficulties in getting paid and enforcing contracts in BRIC countries, and in other countries 22% of businesses said they faced such difficulties.
HM Government do not keep a record of companies reporting late payments in each market; however our posts in the BRIC and other countries report to us that they do occasionally receive inquiries from UK business, especially small and medium enterprises (SME's), about late payment and non-payment. UKTI and the Export Credits Guarantee Department address these issues in a number of ways, including:
UKTI works with companies on the ground providing advice and support on the precautions to be factored in when planning an export strategy for entering new markets. It advises UK businesses that getting paid for overseas sales is a combination of them assessing risk, settling on acceptable payment terms and methods and considering insurance to protect a business against problems. To minimise the risks of non-payment, we also advise businesses that they should research the market conditions in their target country and the credit worthiness of potential customers before starting trading.
Where businesses report to us specific instances of these issues we advise that the business seeks independent legal advice, and can provide contacts for this advice. On a case-by-case basis, where an issue is of significant value to the UK economy, of particular complexity, or affects the credibility of doing business in that market more broadly, HM Government may also be able to take this up with the appropriate bodies in that market.
Complementary to the insurance cover available from the private market, the Government, through the Export Credits Guarantee Department, is also able to provide insurance against non-payment risks under its Export Insurance Policy, subject to the risk being acceptable and to compliance with its international obligations.
Patents
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on proposals for the introduction of a single EU court to adjudicate on patent disputes; and what steps he is taking to ensure that patent litigation in the UK is not adversely affected by such proposals. [89475]
Mr Davey: The Government support the creation of a European patent system that will bring real benefits for businesses, consumers and the economy. The current proposals includes creating a single unitary patent and a unified patent court which would deal with the unitary patent and existing European patents.
We made significant progress towards making this a reality in 2011, and are working hard to ensure that the details of the proposals deliver the most effective arrangements for UK business and their representatives who will use the courts.
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Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, columns 245-6W, on regional development agencies: assets, by what means his Department calculated the total valuation of RDA assets cited in his letter to hon. Members dated 18 November 2011; [89772]
(2) what estimate he has made of receipts expected from the sale of former RDA assets in each Government office region; [89773]
(3) by what method his Department estimated the level of receipts expected from the sale of former RDA assets. [89774]
Mr Prisk: The figure in my letter of 18 November 2011 indicated the value of RDA land and property assets transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on 19 September 2011 using end-March 2011 valuations. Some RDA assets were sold between 1 April 2010 and 18 September 2011. A small number of land and property assets are transferring to bodies other than the HCA. Details of receipts from the sale of RDA assets in 2010/11 in their respective regions are contained in the Annual Report and Accounts which have been laid before the House. The Department has not issued an estimate of the level of receipts expected from the sale of former RDA assets.
Regional Development Agencies: Redundancy
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1201W, on departmental redundancy, what estimate he has made of the cost of redundancies at the regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [89569]
Mr Prisk: Redundancy costs at the regional development agencies from April 2010 to June 2012 are currently estimated at £56.4 million. The final cost will depend on the number of staff resigning, transferring elsewhere or leaving for other reasons, prior to closure.
Skilled Workers: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to maintain and increase the level of manufacturing and research skills in the West Midlands. [88896]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 12 January 2012]: In 2010, the Government published the national Skills Strategy which covers skills for the whole economy. It is a demand-led model to help deliver the skills and training that business and individuals need.
The model is not led by Government, but by employers and individuals themselves. The Government have provided them with the support, funding and information they need to make the right choices and shape the skills system to deliver what they need.
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The Government have been working to increase manufacturing and research skills in the West Midlands through programmes such as the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and the Grant for Business Investment (GBI) scheme which have provided funding to a number of firms undertaking major investments in the region, such as Jaguar Land Rover, Ceram and Zytek. These will involve extensive training programmes. The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, announced in December 2011, will support investment in improved skills and training support as well as in research and development and capital equipment.
The new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) which was announced this month will provide a range of specialist assistance to manufacturing businesses across England, including linking SMEs with the apprenticeship programme delivering a minimum of 1,250 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships annually. As one of the UK's main manufacturing regions, the West Midlands is expected to be a major beneficiary of the new MAS.
Student Loans
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of people who have been found to be ineligible for tuition fee loans having been previously informed by Student Finance England that they were eligible in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [88804]
Mr Willetts: Student Finance England does not hold data in the format required to enable the Department to make a reliable estimate. A significant number of students routinely have their entitlement reassessed, and Student Finance England do not readily hold data which would identify individuals who have been found to be ineligible for tuition fee loans having been previously informed that they were eligible.
Student Finance England may reassess an individual's entitlement to a tuition fee loan for a number of reasons. These include, for example, changes in university course, repeating study, or change in mode of study. Such changes can be identified through annual reassessments at the start of each academic year and notified changes of circumstances. Routine internal audit checks can also result in reassessments where errors are identified in students' declarations or in Student Finance England's processing of applications.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many higher education students in each parliamentary constituency were receiving a student loan in 2011. [88824]
Mr Willetts: Final figures for 2011/12 will not be available until November 2012. Final figures for 2010/11 are shown in the following table.
| Number (1) of England domicile HE students paid a maintenance loan in academic year 2010/11, by constituency, 31 August 2011 | ||
| Constituency (2) | Country of constituency | Count of customers |
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| (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest five. (2) Constituency derived from home postcode at time of application in the academic year specified. Source: Data as per Table 4A(i) of November Student Support Statistical First Release for England | ||