Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what comparative assessment he has made of the level of Dedicated Schools Grant received by Warwickshire and other local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [96461]
Mr Gibb: For 2011-12, the average per pupil Guaranteed Unit of Funding (GUF) for the Dedicated Schools Grant in England is £5,082.54. The GUF for Warwickshire is £4,662.81 per pupil. The Government have published the levels of Dedicated Schools Grant for all local authorities on the Department for Education's website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlement2012pupilpremium
Schools: Sanitation
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made of the effects of the standard of school toilet and washing facilities on children's levels of health and education. [96562]
Mr Gibb: The Department has not made such an assessment, but it does set standards for toilet and washing facilities, which form part of the school premises regulations. Proposals for revising these regulations have recently been consulted upon. The proposals stress that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils, having regard to their ages, number and sex and any special requirements that they may have.
In both the existing and proposed regulations there are wider requirements for pupils' welfare. These include a specific standard for health, safety and welfare. In the proposed regulations the requirement is that:
“school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein must be maintained to a standard such that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of the pupils is ensured”.
We believe that this provides a sufficient safeguard in this area.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans the Department has to improve the standard of school toilets and washing facilities. [95999]
Mr Gibb: The Department recently consulted on revised regulations for school premises, which include standards for toilet and washing facilities. These stress that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils, having regard to their ages, number and sex and any special requirements they may have.
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In total, 175 responses were received to the consultation, which concluded on the 26 January 2012, and these are currently being analysed by officials. When the consultation report is published on the Department's website, it will include details of how each of the proposals was viewed by respondents. These views will be taken into account, including those on toilet and washing facilities, before the standards are finalised.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Data Protection
Mr David Davis: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many cases of (a) data loss and (b) breaches of confidentiality occurred in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in 2011. [95725]
Mr Charles Walker [holding answer 23 February 2012]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 24 February 201 2 :
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about cases of data loss and breaches of confidentiality at IPSA in 2011.
There were two cases of data loss:
An IPSA BlackBerry was stolen during a household burglary. The BlackBerry was security protected and encrypted.
A personal computer owned by an IPSA employee was stolen during a household burglary. The computer did not contain sensitive personal data.
There have been no breaches of confidentiality.
There are two incidents recorded in IPSA's information security log where an email message was sent to the wrong MP. Neither message contained sensitive personal data.
Ministerial Meetings
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the dates were of meetings between representatives of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and Government Ministers since 1 September 2011; which Ministers were in attendance on each occasion; whether matters relating to the pensions of hon. Members were discussed at each meeting; what the outcome was of each meeting; what other matters were discussed; and if he will publish the minutes taken of each meeting [96194]
Mr Charles Walker [holding answer 23 February 2012]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 28 February 2012:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about meetings between representatives of IPSA and Government Ministers.
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Since 1 September 2011 the following meetings between IPSA and Government Ministers took place.
On 21 October 2011 the Chief Executive met the Leader of the House.
On 26 October 2011 the Chief Executive met the Deputy Leader of the House.
On 10 November 2011 the Chief Executive met the Leader of the House.
On 10 November 2011 the Chief Executive met the Deputy Chief Whip.
On 24 November 2011 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Cabinet Office visited IPSA and met several members of staff.
On 8 December 2011 the Chief Executive met the Leader of the House.
On 15 December 2011 the Chief Executive met the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Cabinet Office.
On 16 January 2012, the Chair and the Chief Executive met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Leader of the House and the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
On 24 January 2012, the Chief Executive met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
These meetings covered a variety of issues relating to IPSA's statutory responsibilities, including the commencement and implementation of Schedule 6 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, which transferred the power to determine MPs' pensions to IPSA.
We do not intend to provide further details of these meetings as to do so may inhibit free and frank discussions in the future.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made in increasing the numbers of apprenticeships in UK businesses. [97002]
Mr Hayes: We have seen increases in the numbers of people starting and completing apprenticeships at all levels. Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show a total of 457,200 apprenticeship starts, an increase of 63.5% over 2009/10. Apprenticeship achievements in 2010/11 increased by almost 17% to 200,300.
Apprentices: Hull
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many electrical or electro-technical apprenticeships were offered in the Hull region in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011; [96449]
(2) how many live apprenticeships there were in Hull as of February 2012; and in what fields; [96450]
(3) how many apprenticeships have been (a) offered and (b) filled in Hull since June 2010; [96451]
(4) how many apprenticeships were offered in the Hull region in each year since 2005. [96452]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull local education authority by framework, between 2005/06 and 2010/11, the latest full year for which final data are available. Provisional data for the first quarter of 2011/12 (August to October) show that there were 910 Apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull.
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| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull by framework, 2005/06 to 2010/11 | ||||||
| Framework | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 |
| (1) Base value of less than five. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||||||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by framework is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Table 2 shows the number of National Apprenticeship Service Apprenticeship Vacancies (online system) by sector subject area in Kingston upon Hull on 23 February 2012. Please note that this information is based on the location of the apprenticeship vacancy and is valid only for the date presented.
| Table 2: Apprenticeship vacancies in Kingston upon Hull by sector subject area, as of the 23 February 2012 | |
| Sector subject area | Live vacancies |
| (1) Base value of fewer than five. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Source: National Apprenticeship Service/Apprenticeship Vacancy data | |
A vacancy can be advertised on both the Apprenticeship Vacancies system and also via an employer's own website. Therefore, these figures may not provide a comprehensive picture of all apprenticeship vacancies within an area.
Online reports from Apprenticeship Vacancies are updated on a monthly basis and published by the Data Service on the fourth day of each calendar month at the following link:
http://mireportslibrary.thedataservice.org.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship_vacancy_reports/
Arms Trade: Bahrain
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what permits for arms exports to Bahrain have been approved by Ministers in his Department since February 2011. [96121]
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Mr Prisk: Information on arms exports is published in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. They are available to view at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.bis.gov.uk/eng/fox
Currently this includes information up to 30 September 2011. Information covering 1 October to 31 December 2011 will be published in April 2012 and information covering 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2012 will be published in July 2012.
As an export licence is required to export arms and other military equipment from the United Kingdom, details about what items were licensed for export to Bahrain will be contained within these reports. However, the fact that a licence has been issued does not mean that an export has necessarily taken place. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking account of all prevailing circumstances at the time of application. A licence will not be issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria or other relevant announced commitments. In particular Criterion Two concerns the:
‘respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination’
and states that the Government will not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. If the situation in the country changes or new information comes to light that causes us to have concerns, we can and do revoke export licences where we consider that the proposed export would, in light of the changing situation, contravene the criteria.
Audio Equipment: India
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether his Department has provided assistance to UK Trade and Investment to ensure that wireless microphone equipment pre-tuned to 854-862 MHz that is sold by UK companies to India conforms to Indian laws and regulations; [95799]
(2) what advice his Department received on the legal operating bands for wireless microphone equipment in India prior to UK Trade and Investment's involvement with UK companies distributing equipment in that country; [95795]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with UK microphone distributing companies on the effects of UK Trade and Investment's involvement in facilitating the sale of wireless microphones in India. [95798]
Mr Prisk: Her Majesty's Government (HMG) provides assistance and support to UK-based companies through UK Trade and Investment's dedicated trade and investment team based in India.
In the course of undertaking research for a UK-based company involved in selling wireless microphones in India, UKTI India received advice from local contacts in India on the legality of importing and selling certain
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types of wireless microphones to distributors in India, and passed this on to the company. Prior to this, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in India had received no advice on importing of wireless microphones.
Business: Audit
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies registered in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley and (c) London received a penalty notice for late filing of accounts in each of the last three years; and how many such penalties were overturned on appeal. [96727]
Norman Lamb: Companies House does not hold any information in regional or constituency format. The information could be developed but only at a disproportionate cost; it could only be retrieved as a bespoke product at a cost of at least several thousand pounds.
Copyright: Education
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to paragraphs five and six of the copyright consultation, what research his Department has undertaken to determine the number of audio-visual works and works embedded in them that would need to be licensed under his proposals on the use of works for education. [94316]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 20 February 2012]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 27 February 2012, Official Report, column 70-71W.
Copyright: EU Action
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2012, Official Report, columns 244-5W, on copyright, what advice he sought prior to discussions with the European Commission on an EU-wide copyright exception for data mining; and what economic research was conducted prior to those discussions. [95978]
Norman Lamb: The Government receive a wide range of views from many sources in relation to copyright, and have regular discussions with the European Commission on a wide range of copyright and other intellectual property policy issues, including the interaction of new technologies with the copyright framework. The Government have drawn the attention of the European Commission to the recommendations of the Hargreaves report. It would be a matter for the Commission to decide whether to pursue any proposal for a European-wide exception for commercial data mining, and to undertake any public consultation on it.
Anti-counterfeit Trade Agreement
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what communications he has received from the US Administration on the UK's ratification of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [96003]
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Norman Lamb: Since conclusion of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations in December 2010, the UK Intellectual Property Office has received no official communication from the US Administration on the UK's ratification of the agreement.
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consultations his Department held before the UK signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. [96024]
Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office held a number of stakeholder meetings during the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations. A range of stakeholders including business, internet service providers and consumer interest and open rights groups participated. The last stakeholder consultation was held in September 2010 prior to the final round of negotiations. Interested parties were also invited to submit comments via the Intellectual Property Office ACTA website.
Debts: Advisory Services
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what arrangements are in place to ensure that consumers who opt to choose a private debt management company are directed towards a reputable firm; and if he will make a statement. [96843]
Norman Lamb: All who provide debt management services are required to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has a duty to ensure that applicants for licences are fit to engage in the activities for which they wish to be licensed, and to monitor the continuing fitness of those to whom licences have been granted.
Where the OFT has evidence of unfair practices, action can be taken to refuse or revoke or place conditions on the consumer credit licence of those concerned.
The Debt Managers Standards Association (DEMSA) has approval for its code of practice under the OFT Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS). The DEMSA Code promotes standards above and beyond what the law requires. Consumers wanting to use a DEMSA member can look for the OFT code approved logo on company advertising and literature.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to prevent rogue debt management firms which have had their consumer credit licences revoked from continuing to trade whilst on appeal. [96844]
Norman Lamb: The Government share the concern, expressed by some stakeholders during the Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review, that a small number of rogue firms may be continuing to engage in practices which cause consumer detriment while appealing a decision to revoke their consumer credit licences. The Government are continuing to consider this issue in the context of the wider work to reform the consumer credit regime as a whole including the transfer of regulation to the new Financial Conduct Authority. In doing so, we recognise the importance of ensuring that consumers are well protected while at the same time ensuring that businesses have appropriate recourse to appeal.
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Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of making all providers of debt management and advice services subject to mandatory independent audits for the purposes of ensuring an appropriate duty of care to all consumers. [96845]
Norman Lamb: Firms which provide debt management services are required to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Office of Fair Trading has a duty to ensure that applicants are fit to engage in the activities for which they wish to be licensed and to monitor the continuing fitness of those to whom licences have been granted.
In addition, this Department gave funding to the Money Advice Service to enable them to carry out research which will lead to a reformed debt advice service that will be delivered from 2013. In their plan for the future, published on 22 February 2012, they identified regular, transparent quality assurance of debt advice as one of seven key areas critical to the provision of debt advice and they will be working with the advice sector to take this forward.
Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many senior civil servants left his Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in his Department was during this period; and if he will make a statement. [96258]
Norman Lamb: The numbers of senior civil servants who left the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (excluding agencies) each month since 1 May 2010 were:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Reasons for leaving BIS included resignation, retirement, end of contract and transfer to other Government Departments.
The total number of senior civil servants who left for all reasons was 83. The number in post at the start of the period was 234. The turnover was therefore 35.47%.
Similar information concerning BIS public bodies is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate costs.
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Education: Prisons
Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) literacy teaching and (b) other prisoner education. [96108]
Mr Hayes: This Department is responsible for determining policy on education for prisoners. Ofsted inspects prison education to the same standards and with the same expectations as it applies elsewhere, and it is that organisation's assessments upon which we rely. I ordered a review of prison education on becoming the Minister responsible because of my determination to drive up standards. The Chief Inspector's annual report for 2011 confirmed that this was necessary as, though it indicated that the overall effectiveness of provision in 22 out of 24 establishments inspected was judged to be satisfactory or better, it noted that the high proportion of provision that is no better than satisfactory in prisons and young offender institutions is a concern, with leadership and management and the extent to which provision meets the needs and interests of learners seen as key factors limiting improvement. The annual report also noted insufficient literacy courses.
That is why the new strategy for offender learning, ‘Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation’, which I launched last year, was based on a significant number of responses to our call for evidence and addresses the shortcomings Ofsted identifies. We are procuring new prison education providers, with prison Governors playing a critical role in both the procurement process and the ongoing management of contracts. The new contracts are based on clusters of prisons between which prisoners move, enabling continuity in learning and a much improved focus on the needs of employers in the areas to which those clusters of prisons release. A redistribution of offender learning resource will focus delivery on the beginning and the end of sentences in order to ensure we meet employer need, a key test of effectiveness.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many organisations tendered for the London prisons education contract awarded to A4e; what criteria his Department used in making its choice of provider; and for what reason A4e was awarded the contract. [97347]
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the London prisons education contract awarded to A4e will be reviewed in the light of recent police investigations into that company. [97349]
Mr Hayes: All decisions relating to the funding of individual training providers, including the awarding of contracts, are made by the Skills Funding Agency, not by Ministers or the Department. I have asked the chief executive of Skills Funding to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to the question.
It is vital that Ministers, Parliament, the Skills Funding Agency, learners, teaching staff and the taxpayer each have confidence in the way public funds are being spent. The chief executive of Skills Funding has been asked to provide assurance to the Department that he has no
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concerns with the current contracting arrangements with A4e before issuing them with these contracts or with any future contracts.
Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the European Commission's proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive. [96854]
Mr Prisk: A revised waste electrical and electronic equipment directive (WEEE) was agreed by the European Parliament on 19 January 2012 and will be adopted by the Council very shortly. The new directive raises the environmental objectives of the original, while minimising the administrative burdens placed on business. The Government will consult on necessary amendments to the current UK WEEE regulations and propose other improvements that should be made to the UK WEEE system that are good for business and seek to improve recycling rates.
Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times Ministers in his Department have met officials from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate since May 2010; and when the next such meeting is planned. [R] [96642]
Norman Lamb: The then Minister for Employment Relations, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), met with officials from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate on 5 July 2010. Ministers receive regular updates on the work of this inspectorate and I will be meeting with the inspectors in due course.
EU Social Chapter
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the cost to UK businesses of the EU Social Chapter in each year since its introduction. [96812]
Norman Lamb: There is no longer a distinct and separate “European Social Chapter” as the EU's provisions for social and related matters are fully integrated into the treaties. Specific measures agreed and implemented under these provisions are subject to impact assessments at the time of transposition but once transposed are then fully integrated into domestic law.
Exports: Government Assistance
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support is available for companies seeking to export to (a) Egypt, (b) the Philippines, (c) Vietnam and (d) all other international markets; and if he will make a statement. [96218]
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Mr Prisk: The Government have set out a very clear ambition for the UK's trade and investment agenda. Exporting forms a core work strand of the Government's Plan for Growth.
This Department is supporting UK exports to all markets, including Egypt, the Philippines and Vietnam, through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). Egypt and Vietnam are among UKTI’s top 20 priority emerging and high-growth markets. UKTI's strategy, ‘Britain Open for Business’, launched in May 2011, sets out plans to provide practical support to exporters over the next five years. This can be found on UKTI's website:
Higher Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to making no change to higher education policies in 2013-14. [96596]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has consulted on proposals for reform of the higher education sector, as set out in the higher education White Paper. We will respond to this consultation in due course.
Industrial Action
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what his policy is on the use of (a) recruitment companies, (b) subsidiaries and (c) in-house recruitment processes to provide labour during periods of industrial action; [R] [96637]
(2) what arrangements are in place to prevent vulnerable agency workers from being exploited when recruitment agencies are contracted to provide labour to break periods of industrial action; [R] [96638]
(3) whether recruitment agencies are required to inform agency workers from (a) Bulgaria, (b) Romania, (c) other EU countries and (d) non-EU countries of the industrial context when such companies are recruiting for staff to work on contracts to break periods of industrial action. [R] [96639]
Norman Lamb: Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 prohibits an employment business from knowingly supplying work-seekers to perform the duties of staff taking official industrial action or their replacements. Doing so is a criminal offence. The nationality of the agency workers would make no difference to the offence. Employment businesses are required to provide information about the role a work-seeker takes on with the hirer.
Nature Improvement Areas
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with (i) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (ii) others on the development and implementation of Nature Improvement Areas. [96224]
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Norman Lamb: BIS and DEFRA contact on Nature Improvement Areas has been exclusively in the course of normal Government clearances for the Natural Environment White Paper, which announced the Nature Improvement Area initiative, and the England Biodiversity Strategy.
Paper: Industry
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assist the UK paper and board industry; and if he will make a statement. [96976]
Mr Prisk: The paper and board industry has access to the full range of Government support available which includes Business Link, the Manufacturing Advisory Service, and the Technology Strategy Board. The Deputy Prime Minister announced a third round of the Regional Growth Fund at the manufacturing summit on 23 February. Businesses, including those active in the paper and board industry, have until 13 June to apply and further information on the application process can be found at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development/regional-growth-fund
As part of the autumn statement, we announced a package that will reduce the impact of energy and climate change policies on the cost of electricity for those energy intensive industries, such as paper and board, whose international competitiveness is most affected by these policies. This package of measures will be worth around £250 million to energy intensive industries to reduce their energy bills, subject to state aid approval.
In addition, there will be investment available for commercial and industrial energy efficiency projects through the Green Investment Bank, and on 6 December we launched a £125 million challenge fund to boost UK advanced manufacturing supply chains. Both of these schemes will be open to bids from the paper and board industry.
Rentokil: Temporary Employment
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will investigate whether Rentokil Initial's use of recruitment agencies to provide labour for the Eurostar contract during industrial action on 16 and 17 February and 1 and 2 March 2012 is compliant with Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003; and if he will make a statement. [R] [96644]
Norman Lamb: The Government may investigate further if an official complaint is made to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with representatives from Rentokil Initial on that company's use of recruitment companies to provide labour for the Eurostar contract during industrial action on 16 and 17 February and 1 and 2 March 2012. [R] [96645]
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Norman Lamb: All official meetings are published on the departmental website.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with officials from the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate on the use by Rentokil Initial of recruitment agencies to provide labour for the Eurostar contract during industrial action on 16 and 17 February and 1 and 2 March 2012. [R] [96646]
Norman Lamb: There have been no discussions of this nature.
Science: Females
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support women in science and engineering. [96300]
Mr Willetts: I have asked the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society to develop a diversity programme for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) community. This will build on the academey’s existing and excellent relationships with a diverse mix of STEM institutions, and place a much greater emphasis on challenging the leaderships at all levels to take on responsibility for delivering the change needed to promote equality. This programme aims to tackle the barriers faced by all minority groups as well as those who are economically disadvantaged.
Many of the Department's other STEM partners are contributing directly to the equality and diversity agenda. A broad mix of STEM activities and wider societal programmes are funded from the Science and Research budget and these have a major impact on diversity in the STEM workforce.
Our work on the STEM pipeline has strands which seek to encourage more girls to study science at school and university, through the STEM ambassadors programme. STEMNET actively seeks to ensure that the profile of the ambassadors they recruit adequately represent the local community in which the ambassadors volunteer. At present, around 40% of the 25,000 ambassadors are women.
Within the Royal Society fellowship schemes, the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship is specifically aimed at researchers who require a flexible working pattern and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Research Councils UK fellowships and grants are distributed among gender and ethnic groups with no apparent strong bias to any one group. Through the Concordat to support the career development of researchers and the Vitae programme, RCUK will lead cultural change in the higher education sector. Their ambition is to ensure that the best researchers from a diverse population are attracted to research careers, enhance the quality of research training and employability of early career researchers and enhance the impact of UK researchers by promoting improved career development and management of research staff by research organisations.
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Science: Higher Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage more students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects in higher education. [96299]
Mr Willetts: Science and technical skills play a vital role in ensuring the economic and intellectual prosperity of the UK. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) works closely with the Department for Education to ensure Government policies to attract students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects throughout their educational careers are coherent and consider the needs of both students and future employers.
BIS funds STEMNET, a UK-wide organisation, whose purpose is to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, are encouraged to understand the excitement and importance of STEM in their lives, and the career opportunities to which these subjects can lead. There are currently over 25,000 STEM ambassadors across the UK.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) run a £350 million support programme for strategic and vulnerable subjects. STEM courses receive the most support for activities to increase demand under this programme.
HEFCE are also running a national HE STEM programme, led by the university of Birmingham, from August 2009 until July 2012 with a budget of £20 million, to attract students to STEM subjects at HE.
Students: Fees and Charges
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many institutions have set fee levels below £9,000. [96595]
Mr Willetts: Of the 149 institutions that have submitted access agreements to the Office For Fair Access (OFFA), there are 143 with estimated average tuition fees less than £9,000 (96%) after fee waivers.
The full dataset on fees charged by institutions with access agreements is available on the OFFA website:
http://www.offa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Download-updated-2012-13-data-tables-as-Excel-spreadsheet.xls
Students: Loans
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow student loans to be paid to students wanting to undertake apprenticeships or trade vocational qualifications for initial training courses. [95894]
Mr Hayes: From the 2013/14 academic year, loans will be available for students aged 24 and over taking courses at level 3 and level 4, including advanced or higher apprenticeships.
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Supermarkets: Competition
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he has held with (a) the six largest supermarkets, (b) farmers' representatives and (c) consumer groups on the introduction of a Groceries Code Adjudicator. [96824]
Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not met any of these groups to discuss the Groceries Code Adjudicator. I am responsible for the Groceries Code Adjudicator and I plan to meet representatives of both retailers and suppliers in the coming months.
Supermarkets: Farmers
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of (a) levels of bankruptcy of British dairy farmers and (b) the market power of the six largest supermarkets. [96825]
Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not made any assessment of these issues. The Competition Commission's study of the groceries market, which published its final report in April 2008, considered the market positions of both dairy farmers and large supermarkets. Following this review a Groceries Supply Code of Practice was introduced, and the Government now intends to establish a Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure adherence to the Code.
Temporary Employment
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many agency workers registered as self-employed with limited company status there were in each sector of the economy in each year since 2007; [R] [96636]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of agency workers from (a) Bulgaria, (b) Romania, (c) other EU countries and (d) non-EU countries who are registered as self-employed with limited company status with recruitment agencies in (i) London, (ii) the South East and (iii) England. [R] [96641]
Norman Lamb: The Government do not hold this information on agency workers.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what guidance is available to agency workers from (a) Bulgaria, (b) Romania, (c) other EU countries and (d) non-EU countries on the effects on their statutory entitlements of registering as self-employed with limited company status with recruitment agencies; [R] [96640]
(2) what guidance is available to agency workers from (a) Bulgaria, (b) Romania, (c) other EU countries and (d) non-EU countries when they are recruited to work on contracts to break periods of industrial action. [R] [96643]
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Norman Lamb: Guidance about seeking work through employment businesses in the United Kingdom is available on the Government's website:
www.direct.gov.uk
Third Sector
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to implement the principles of the Best Value Statutory Guidance in respect of (a) giving at least three months' notice to voluntary and community organisations and their service users when reducing or ending funding, (b) engaging with voluntary and community organisations and service users as early as possible before making a decision on the future of the service, any knock-on effects on assets used to provide this service and the wider impact on the local community and (c) making provision for voluntary and community organisations and service users to put forward options on how to reshape the service or project. [95779]
Norman Lamb: The Best Value guidance does not legally apply to central Government Departments or their executive agencies.
However, as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), made clear in his foreword to the revised Best Value guidance, central Government Departments support the fair standards set out in the guidance and have reaffirmed their commitment to the national Compact. The issues raised are covered by the Compact. In January the National Audit Office published ‘Central Government's implementation of the national Compact’, a report which provides commentary on the implementation of the national Compact across Government. DCLG participated fully in the National Audit Office's review of the national Compact implementation and will be following up as appropriate the recommendations within the National Audit Office report to ensure that the Department continues to be a strong model of collaborative working between Government and the voluntary sector.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) signed up to the renewed Compact published in December 2010.
BIS recognises and values the role that the third sector can play across all parts of the further education (FE) and skills system in the successful delivery of learning and skills, particularly in supporting those furthest away from learning and employment. FE and Skills within BIS works widely with the third sector, particularly through a highly consultative dialogue with the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA) to ensure that third sector interests are appropriately taken into account in a systematic way. The Skills Funding Agency (a partner organisation of BIS) endeavours to ensure the third sector is represented in the development and implementation of policy and service delivery. In terms of funding, where a third sector provider is a direct contract holder with the agency we can give assurance that the agency meets the Best Value statutory guidance recommendations in relation to notice periods.
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In the consumer focused voluntary sector, BIS sponsors both Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland—the umbrella bodies for the Citizens Advice service across England and Wales, and in Scotland. It provides core grant-in-aid funding to both charities under schedule 274 of the Enterprise Act. Our funding enables the bodies to provide essential central services to their customers namely the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux (information technology (IT), information, training of staff and volunteers, management services). In return this enables the service to provide central Government with real-time data on the issues facing the public on a wide number of social policy issues.
Trade Promotion: Manpower
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK commercial attachés were active overseas in each of the last two years. [96217]
Mr Bellingham: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
The staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), working to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) objectives, can be broken down into UK-based staff and locally engaged staff who are employed by the embassy. Some staff in the network work across multiple objectives and record the appropriate percentage of their time to each. The following table gives the FY 2010-11 and the current full-time equivalent number of staff working to UKTI objectives in each of these categories. The figures for 2011-12 may be subject to revision at the end of the financial year when the accounts are completed.
| UK diplomats | Locally engaged staff | Total network | |
Trade Promotion: Pay
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average pay was of UK commercial attachés in each of the last two years. [96214]
Mr Bellingham: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
The following table shows the grades and pay scales at which UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has had UK-based officers working as commercial attachés across the world over the last two years. All UKTI officers overseas working to UKTI objectives on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) platform are employed on FCO terms and conditions.
| Grade | 2011-12 Pay scale | 2010-11 Pay scale |
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UKTI also employs locally engaged staff contracted to the local embassies in many markets. The salaries for these staff are set at post and dictated by local market conditions.
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average pay of UK commercial attachés in (a) Egypt, (b) Vietnam and (c) the Philippines was in each of the last five years. [96219]
Mr Bellingham: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
All UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) staff operating abroad do so under Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) terms and conditions. The following table gives the grades of UK-based staff in each of the requested countries and the salary range for those officers as employees of the FCO at 1 January 2010, 1 January 2011 and currently.
We do not hold staff data for 2008 and 2009. We do not disclose actual salary information for individual officers.
| Market | Grade | Payscale |
UKTI also employs locally engaged staff in each of these countries who are contracted to the embassies. The salary for these staff are set at post and dictated by local market conditions.
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UK Trade & Investment: Air Travel
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2012, what the level of aggregate spending on UK Trade & Investment flights was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [96616]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 27 February 2012]: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) operates in 97 different countries and within the UK.
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UKTI's expenditure on air fares is set out in the following table:
| Total (£000) | |
We estimate that the full year spend for 2011-12 will show a 37% reduction over this period.