Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101454]
Norman Lamb: For the period 1 April 2011 to 21 March 2012, the departmental expenditure on refreshments with the Department’s catering services contractor BaxterStorey is shown in the following table.
| £ | |
The expenditure, which includes both food and drink, is for meetings where visitors and staff were present. We are unable to differentiate between expenditure for staff or visitors.
The Department’s policy is that hospitality should only be ordered for meetings where visitors will be present.
Duke of York
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse was of expenses paid to HRH the Duke of York between 22 July 2011 and 30 December 2011. [101542]
Norman Lamb: HRH The Duke of York has honoured a number of pre-existing overseas diary commitments since he announced on 21 July 2011 that he was relinquishing his role as UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment. The list of official overseas visits undertaken by HRH the Duke of York between 22 July 2011 and 30 December 2011 is shown in the following table. These visits were approved by the Royal Visits Committee, undertaken in agreement with FCO and/or UKTI and in support of HMG objectives. The list does not include official military visits undertaken in HRH The Duke of York's capacity as a senior member of the royal family.
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| Date | Country visited | Funded by (1) |
| (1) Excludes all air travel. | ||
FCO and/or UKTI are paying certain expenses, including accommodation and in-country travel costs (but excluding all air travel) for official overseas visits undertaken by HRH The Duke of York. FCO and/or UKTI are also paying associated expenses for his supporting staff.
The total cost to UKTI for these visits will be available on the UKTI website following the publication of UKTI's audited accounts for the year ending March 2012. The cost for the FCO visit is expected to be available when The Duke of York publishes his annual review in the summer.
Air travel to and from countries and in-country is paid for by The Royal Travel Office. Further information can be obtained from the Grant-in-aid for Royal Travel by Air and Rail Annual Report that forms part of the Royal Public Finances annual report. Details can be found on the British Monarchy website:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/Royalfinances/AnnualFinancialReports/Annualfinancialreports.aspx
EU Internal Trade
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of (a) UK firms that trade with other EU member states and (b) people employed in those firms; and if he will make a statement. [101662]
Norman Lamb: Figures produced by HM Revenue and Customs based on administrative data indicate that there are almost 200,000 traders in the UK which either import goods from or export goods to other EU member states. A figure covering goods and services trade is not available, but since services account for over a quarter of UK trade with the EU by value, the figure for goods and services traders may be significantly higher.
There are no estimates of the number of people employed in those firms trading with other EU member states.
Half of all UK trade is with the EU, totalling around £450 billion of goods and services in 2010. EU data for goods and services trade in 2011 are planned for release in July 2012.
Exports: Bahrain
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Bahrain are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are under each licence. [101391]
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Mr Prisk: A list of the strategic export control licences that remain extant for Bahrain will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Exports: Egypt
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Egypt are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are in each licence. [101679]
Mr Prisk: A list of the strategic export control licences that remain extant for Egypt will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Exports: Libya
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Libya are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are in each licence. [101680]
Mr Prisk: The following strategic export control licences remain extant for Libya:
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Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there no generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.
Exports: Syria
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Syria are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are under each licence. [101390]
Mr Prisk: The following strategic export control licences remain extant for Syria:
| Application type | Annual report summary | Goods value (£) |
|
Promoting the supply of all-wheel drive vehicles with ballistic protection |
||
| Application type | Annual report summary |
|
Heading sensors for hydrophone arrays, hydrophones, towed hydrophone arrays |
Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there no generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.
Exports: Tunisia
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Tunisia are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are in each licence. [101681]
Mr Prisk: The following strategic export control licences remain extant for Tunisia:
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Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there are generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.
Exports: Yemen
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK strategic export control licences to Yemen are currently extant; and what the nature and quantity of the licensed goods or services are under each licence. [101392]
Mr Prisk: The following strategic export control licences remain extant for Yemen:
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Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there no generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.
Foreign Companies
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will estimate the number of jobs created by overseas companies which decided to locate their European headquarters in the UK in each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement; [101660]
(2) what information his Department holds on the number of overseas companies which located their European headquarters in the UK in each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [101661]
Mr Prisk: The relevant data are collected by UK Trade and Investment. The following tables provide figures for the number of new European Headquarters (EHQs) located in the UK and the number of new jobs created as a result of these location decisions, for financial year 2010/11 inclusive.
It is an established convention that Minsters of one Administration cannot see the documents of a previous Administration. I am therefore unable to provide the information requested.
| UKTI Number of new jobs associated with new EHQs in the UK | |
| Number of new jobs from new EHQs in the UK recorded by UKTI | |
| Source: UKTI Database | |
| UKTI recorded new EHQs in the UK | |
| Number of new EHQs recorded by UKTI | |
| Source: UKTI Database | |
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Higher Education: Private Sector
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department or the agencies reporting to his Department, collect data on non-completion rates in private higher education institutions of students who are eligible to receive student loan funding. [101938]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the agencies reporting to the Department, do not hold the data requested on non-completion rates in private higher education institutions of students who are eligible to receive student loan funding. The BIS Technical Consultation of August 2012 stated that we intend to ensure that all higher education providers whose students access student support funding are required to provide sufficient and proportionate information to students and the public.
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has a role in intellectual property policy development. [101215]
Norman Lamb: The overall lead for development of intellectual policy rests with this Department, through the Intellectual Property Office, which is an agency of the Department. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my noble Friend Baroness Wilcox, leads on intellectual property issues.
Intellectual Property Office
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who the members are of the four expert advisory groups advising the Intellectual Property Office; and what the remuneration is of each such member. [102207]
Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has established four informal expert advisory groups to peer review all aspects of its research programme. The members of expert advisory groups receive no remuneration but are able to claim travel and subsistence to attend meetings.
| Trade and Development Research Expert Advisory Group | |
| Name | Organisation |
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| Trade Marks and Design Rights Research Expert Advisory Group | |
| Name | Organisation |
| Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group | |
| Name | Organisation |
|
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) |
|
| Patents Research Expert Advisory Group | |
| Name | Organisation |
Mature Students
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women aged over 24 years were studying for qualifications at level 3 and level 4 or above in England in the latest period for which figures are available; and in which curriculum areas they were studying; [101951]
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(2) how many (a) men and (b) women aged over 24 years were enrolled for study at level 3 or above at each incorporated college of further education in England in the latest period for which figures are available. [101952]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 26 March 2012]: Table 1 shows the number of enrolments by adults (aged 24+) on level 3 and level 4 or above further education courses in England, by gender and sector subject area in 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are available.
I have made data available in the Libraries of the House which show the number of enrolments by adults (aged 24+) on level 3 and level 4 or above further education courses in England, by gender and each general further education college in 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are available. These totals do not match those in Table 1 as only aims at general further education colleges are included.
Information by sector subject area is only available for enrolments. One person can be enrolled on more than one course.
| Table 1: Adult (aged 24+) enrolments on level 3 and level 4 or above further education courses by gender and sector subject area, 2010/11 | |||
| Level | |||
| Sector subject area | Gender | Level 3 | Level 4 or 5 higher |
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| Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except the total which is rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Information in this table is based on all Government-funded learners, including apprenticeships, workplace learning, community learning and education and training provision taken at general further education colleges (including tertiary), sixth form colleges, special colleges (agricultural and horticultural colleges and art and design colleges), specialist colleges and external institutions. 3. These data include education and training, apprenticeships, work place learning and community learning provision. 4. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||
Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women in England who are following courses leading to qualifications at level 3 or above are aged (i) 24 to 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 41 to 50, (iv) 51 to 60, (v) 61 to 65 and (vi) 66 and above. [102279]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of adult (aged 24+) learners participating on further education courses, level 3 and above, in England by gender and age band in 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are available.
| Table 1: Adult (aged 24+) participation on Level 3 and above further education courses by gender and age band, 2010/11 | ||
| Gender | Age | Level 3 and above |
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| Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten except the total which is rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Information in this table is based on all government-funded learners. 3. These data include Education and Training, Apprenticeships, Work Place Learning and Community Learning provision. 4. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||
Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Property Development
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage banks to work in partnership with small to medium-sized property developers and construction firms to develop new projects. [102115]
Mr Prisk: There are a number of Government schemes delivered through the banks which have been designed to facilitate and encourage banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses of all sectors. These schemes will help businesses to access the finance that they need to develop new projects. The recently launched National Loan Guarantee Scheme is just one example of the Government's continuing intervention and support in this area. The Enterprise Finance Guarantee has also been extended to further incentivise bank lending to firms lacking sufficient track record or collateral to secure bank finance.
Additionally, in his 2012 Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer made announcements which will benefit property developers and construction firms looking to develop new homes. The Government are investing £150 million more in the Get Britain Building fund (increasing its total value to £570 million). The fund will support the delivery of up to 16,000 new homes, by supporting construction firms in need of development finance. The Government have also said that they will consult on the potential role a social housing Real Estate Investment Trust could play to support investment in the social housing sector.
Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to reinstate the research and development scorecard. [102208]
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Mr Willetts: The Department is currently considering a proposal to re-instate the scoreboard as a series of raw data sets. A decision will be made shortly.
Technology Strategy Board: Expenditure
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Technology Strategy Board spent in each region in each of the last three years. [94110]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 February 2012]: Regional information is only available for the Technology Strategy Board’s spend on its collaborative R and D activity—other areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The collaborative R and D spend by region in each of the last three years is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |||
| Financial year | |||
| Region | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 (1) |
| (1) Up to 29 February 2012. | |||
Training
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the Prime Minister's contribution in debate of 21 March 2011 in response to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), Official Report, column 707, what
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training licences have been reviewed and to which countries; and which of these licences have subsequently been revoked. [101394]
Mr Prisk: An export licence would only be required for the provision of military training where the provision of that training involved the transfer of controlled military technology. All relevant export licences were reviewed in the wake of the events in the Middle East and North Africa last year. Of the strategic export licences revoked since February 2011, the following Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) for Libya included an element of training of this type.
Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there no generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.