Fraud
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services. [156473]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services. However we are using expertise across the Department and its partner organisations for counter-fraud and related activities.
I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
Letter from Tim Moss, dated 16 May 2103:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15 May 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 156473.
Companies House does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
Letter from Richard Judge, dated 17 May 2013:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
The Insolvency Service is currently in the process of transitioning its main IT service provision from IBM to Atos. Whilst the new contract with Atos does not provide specific counter-fraud measures, once our relationship with them has been fully established, we expect to benefit from improved monitoring that will assist in the identification of potentially fraudulent activity.
The Insolvency Service does use two other companies for information gathering in connection with our counter fraud activities. These are Dun and Bradstreet and Experian.
Letter from John Alty, dated 17 May 2013:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15th May 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property is a Trading Fund and Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 17 May 2013:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 15 May 2013, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) about companies used to provide counter-fraud activities and related services.
NMO uses a company to conduct annual penetration tests to ensure that its information technology systems are safe from unauthorised access. NMO also uses the facilities management
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contractors, AMEY, to ensure site security by means of e.g. cameras, security guards and lighting. NMO does not use Atos in any respect.
Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 17 May 2013:
Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
In future, it will procure these services, when required, using the Government Procurement Service Consultancy ONE framework for Financial Audit and Investigation.
Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 17 May 2013:
As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, “if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services”.
Ordnance Survey does not use Atos or any other company to provide such services.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from David Parker, dated 16 May 2013:
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills asking if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and does not use (i) Atos or (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
Letter from John Hirst, dated 17 May 2013:
I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 15 May 2013, UIN 156473 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Met Office has not used Atos for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
The Met Office Counter-Fraud Officer has attended seminars and workshops provided by the PWC Fraud Academy and the Fraud Advisory Panel and uses counter-fraud resources available on the Transparency International UK website.
I hope this helps.
Letter from Alasdair Lewis, dated 16 May 2013:
I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 156473 tabled on 15 May 2013 which asked the following:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
Land Registry does not use Atos for the provision of counter-fraud activities. We do use a range of technological based solutions to combat registration fraud, for example a credit reference supplier. Any external services currently play a small part in our overall strategy. Land Registry does not disclose the services being consumed or the identity of individual suppliers so as not to provide fraudsters with valuable information.
I hope you find this information useful.
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Further Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider increasing investment in tertiary education to bring it in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average. [156103]
Mr Willetts: The UK has an efficient tertiary education system that performs above the OECD average for both the entry and the completion rate for academic degrees. Relative spending levels do not indicate the quality of a system.
There are a number of indicators reporting on tertiary education expenditure in the OECD’s annual publication “Education at a Glance”. These figures are constructed on the basis of internationally agreed definitions and concepts which are not perfectly aligned with our own domestic measures. In international terms, tertiary education corresponds broadly to the UK concept of higher education.
The OECD figures suggest that, in the UK, total funding per full-time equivalent student is a little above the OECD average, although the balance between public and private expenditure is more heavily weighted towards the private sector, largely because of our system of tuition fees and student loans. The Government provides a significant level of financial support to students during their studies, designed to ensure that financial limitations do not discourage students from less affluent backgrounds in pursuing tertiary qualifications.
Green Economy Council
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings of the Green Economy Council have been held since February 2011; what proposals and recommendations it has issued to Ministers; and if he will place on his Department's website copies of all papers discussed at the Council since its inception. [156011]
Michael Fallon: The Green Economy Council has met five times since it was convened in February 2011.
The Council's role is to advise Government on policy development; copies of minutes and papers have therefore not been placed in the Library or on the Department's website.
Higher Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government are taking to ensure the international competitiveness of UK universities. [156101]
Mr Willetts: The Government recognise the important contribution that our higher education (HE) institutions make to the UK through teaching, research and income from export activities. Our HE institutions have a world class reputation for quality which underpins their strong presence in international university league tables, recruitment of international students and in attracting international academics and funding to support research. Government support this competitive position through a range of activities such as:
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The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) which reviews and reports on how well UK HE institutions maintain quality and standards in accordance with the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. This system has a global reputation for success and has influenced parallel developments overseas.
The UK's research funding regime which supports activity of the highest quality and impact. Government funding for research has been protected in the current challenging economic climate, which gives our institutions confidence to continue investment research and related programmes.
Promoting UK HE institutions overseas, through bilateral visits and missions to key overseas partners and the development of agreements, such as the UK India Education Research Initiative and participation in Brazil's Science without Borders programme. This activity aims to enable opportunity for a wide range of UK institutions, covering areas such as international student recruitment, the creation of partnerships between individual institutions and the joint funding of research and programmes.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider increasing investment in innovative research and development in UK universities to bring it in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average. [156102]
Mr Willetts: According to OECD figures, in 2010, 27% of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the UK was performed in the HE sector—above the OECD average of 19%.
The Government recognise the importance of innovative research and development in UK universities and that is why, despite very difficult fiscal circumstances the £4.6 billion per annum funding for science and research programmes has been protected in cash terms and ring-fenced against future pressures during the spending review period.
In addition to the £1.9 billion of capital funding announced in the 2010 spending review a number of announcements have been made for additional capital expenditure in research and innovation totalling £1.5 billion. This includes £300 million for the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund which will enhance the facilities for world class university research, by levering at least double that amount of co-funding from the private sector and charities.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reverse the decline in applications to universities in England and Wales by students from India and Pakistan. [155542]
Mr Willetts: Applicants to UCAS (undergraduates) from India increased from 2011 to 2012 and applicants to UCAS from Pakistan declined:
| Applicants to UCAS (undergraduates) from India and Pakistan | ||
| Year of entry | India | Pakistan |
| Note: Entrants to higher education institutes in England and Wales from India and Pakistan decreased from 2010/11 to 2011/12. Source: UCAS | ||
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| Entrants by domicile English and Welsh HEIs | |||
| 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
| Source: HESA | |||
The Prime Minister's visit to India featured higher education strongly on the agenda. I accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, leading a large delegation of UK Vice Chancellors, who participated in an education roundtable, and interacted directly with students in Janki Devi college, Delhi and publicised a number of new partnerships and scholarships.
The British high commissioner, James Bevan, has made higher education a central theme in many of his public speeches. For example, he listed the top 10 reasons to study in the UK in a speech on 23 November 2012
www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-education-the-best-for-the-brightest
and was published in the Indian national press.
The UK's ongoing support for student recruitment is delivered in a number of ways including:
Promotion via press releases, social media and speeches by the high commission, British Council, and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
British Council Services for International Education Marketing. These are paid for services for the UK higher education (HE) sector to support their work in India including attendance at the UK education exhibitions or university visits. There are two main exhibitions each year which reach over eight key cities in India, and there are also now virtual exhibitions so that students can "tour" UK universities at other times of the year.
Global Education UK website—a student facing web portal to help students in thinking of studying in the UK.
Additionally many universities carry out work directly in India: some have their own offices, use their alumni or sign up agents to promote their institutions.
In the next two years, we aim to reverse the trend in applications from prospective Indian students to UK universities. Through the British Council, we will use outreach events, social media, and other marketing measures to target young Indians, their families and education agents to underline the quality and value of a UK higher education. We will work in close partnership with UK universities themselves.
In the past year the GREAT campaign funded 60 jubilee scholars from India. These students came from over 20 states across India and they will be spending one year in the UK undertaking a full time master's programme. These students will become ambassadors for future students. In addition a promotional film was made on "There's never been a better time to study in the UK". This film was screened across the MTV and CNN IBN networks over a three month period.
BIS supports the UK education sector and the research councils to establish partnerships between UK and Indian HE institutions and also supports this work in
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the longer term. Through joint programmes, joint research and other collaborative activity there is potential for student exchange to be included in their partnership arrangements.
The UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) is a five-year joint UK and Indian Government programme with the objective of enhancing the education and research relationship between India and the UK. The first phase ran from 2006 to 2011 and phase two was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in July 2010 to run from 2011 to 2016. The programme is worth £5 million per year and focuses on four strands: leadership development, innovation partnerships, skill development, and enhancing mobility. The Research Council's UK partnership with India is worth over £100 million in joint research programmes and future activities to promote early researcher exchanges will form part of their work in collaboration with the UKIERI programme.
The British high commission, UKTI and the British Council work together to promote the UK as a destination of choice and the UK is the number one choice for Pakistani students to study higher education outside of Pakistan.
For example, the high commission in Islamabad are running a Chevening scholarship programme and their ‘Celebrating Connections' campaign aims to improve awareness of the links between Pakistan and the UK to further improve perceptions of the UK in Pakistan. The campaign spans education, trade and culture. ‘Education is GREAT’ branding is used at events and in publicity.
UKTI supported a UK based event management company to organise an education fair earlier this year. Over 30 UK universities visited the market and participated in the fair.
The British Council run regular campaigns across the core cities in Pakistan and last year these included:
Employers' road-shows in Pakistan and the UK for Pakistan employers to meet with and discuss potential employment with Pakistani students studying in the UK and also have done the same in Pakistan. This has been very successful for students returning from the UK and also as an incentive for prospective students. These activities have taken place in five cities and involved over 100 employers.
Regular education fairs, exhibitions and campaigns working with media partners.
On line information and support campaigns to support students access linked to higher education institutions in the UK.
The British Council work with education agents to provide effective training and high quality advice for prospective students and work with key Pakistani agencies such as the higher education commission on postgraduate studies in the UK.
Higher Education: Gender
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government are taking to promote gender equality between academics in UK universities. [155610]
Mr Willetts:
The responsibility for staff equality matters rests with higher education institutions (HEIs), as the employers. In the annual Grant Letter to the Higher
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Education Funding Council for England, the Government have encouraged the sector to continue to address long standing equality issues, including more diverse representation at senior levels in HEIs.
Higher education institutions receiving grant funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England also have to meet the requirements of the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 and advance equality of opportunity.
The Equality Challenge Unit, an independent higher education sector body, provides higher education institutions with support on all equality matters and works directly with institutions to help them tackle under-representation among staff groups.
One example of the work it undertakes is the Athena SWAN Charter which recognises and celebrates good employment practice for women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education and research.
Membership is open to any university or research institution committed to the advancement of the careers of women in SET. BIS provides some funding for Athena SWAN via the Royal Society as part of our science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) Diversity Programme.
Higher Education: Wales
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much research and development funding universities in Wales received from central Government in the last year for which figures are available. [155549]
Mr Willetts: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data of income to higher education institutions show the following research grant income from central Government received by universities in Wales in 2011-12:
| £ million | |
| (1) This includes UK central Government bodies, local authorities, health and hospital authorities. Note: BIS Research Councils research grant data excludes income from The Royal Society, British Academy and The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Source: HESA Finance Statistics Return 2011-12 Tables 5a and 5b-available at: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_collns&task =show_colln&Itemid=232&c=C11031&s=5&wvy=any&wvs=1&isme=l | |
Insurance Companies: Billing
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what steps he is taking to encourage insurance companies to sign up to the prompt payment code; [155518]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of late payment by insurance companies on small businesses; [155519]
(3) if he will launch a specific campaign to encourage insurance companies to pay small businesses promptly. [155520]
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Michael Fallon: In November I wrote to the chief executives of companies in the FTSE350, including a number of insurance companies, urging them to sign up to the Prompt Payment Code (PPC). Three quarters of FTSE100 companies are now signatories. Insurance companies that have signed up to the code include Aviva plc, Admiral Group plc, Direct Line Group and Hastings Insurance Services Limited. A full list of companies signed up to the code can be found at:
http://ppc.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/ppc/signatory_paged.a4d
The Government understand how much of a strain late payment can put on all businesses (not just those affected by insurance companies) and have been actively working with both business and the finance community to understand where Government intervention can be helpful.
We will continue to work to strengthen the PPC and encourage greater membership and explore the challenges of late payment in concert with business bodies.
Iron and Steel: Research
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the management of Tata Steel on the continuing operation of research and development facilities in Teesside and Rotherham; and what assistance his Department plans to provide to ensure that research and development facilities for steel technologies in the UK are enhanced. [155621]
Michael Fallon: BIS Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Tata Steel management on a range of issues of importance to the company. In a statement to its workforce on 29 April, Tata Steel reiterated its commitment to retaining a strong R and D capability in the UK.
Government assistance is available to help the UK steel industry to finance research and development; this includes programmes funded by the Technology Strategy Board. The steel industry also has opportunities to participate in collaborative R and D projects funded by the EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel.
Legal Costs
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012. [155611]
Jo Swinson: The Department's financial system has recorded the following expenditure for the periods requested against legal advice and services and legal consultancy:
| Expenditure (£) | |
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent in total on external legal advice from QCs (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012. [156022]
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Jo Swinson: The Department’s financial system does not differentiate between the different levels of external legal advice provided. However, expenditure recorded for the periods requested against legal advice and services, and legal consultancy is as follows:
(a) 7 May 2010 to 4 September 2012: £4,938,652
(b) since 4 September 2012: £1,084,892.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department is since 7 May 2010. [156023]
Jo Swinson: This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the top 20 highest amounts paid for external legal advice by his Department were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; to whom they were paid; and for what reasons the legal advice was sought. [156024]
Jo Swinson: This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking with the automotive industry to promote the UK as the best location for research, development and commercial application of driverless technology in the automotive industry; and if he will make a statement. [155641]
Michael Fallon: The joint industry/government Automotive Council has identified intelligent mobility, which encompasses more efficient management of vehicles and roads—including driverless road vehicles—as one of five strategic technology themes. Work is under way in the council to produce a technology roadmap for intelligent mobility.
A Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Special Interest Group (SIG) and Steering Group was established in January 2013 that will produce a technology roadmap and a high level strategy over the next year. The Robotics and Autonomous Systems SIG and Transport Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) held a joint road mapping workshop on 14 May 2013. A representative of the Automotive Council attended this workshop to ensure cross-linkage with their work. The outputs will help to define the likely time frame and actions required to establish a world leading science base and RAS industry in the UK.
The Transport Systems Catapult, which has been established by the Technology Strategy Board, will focus on innovation for efficient and sustainable ways to move people and freight across national transport systems and will support businesses in bringing innovative products and services to market.
Patents
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many patents have been registered in the UK in each of the last 10 years. [156352]
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Jo Swinson: Patents having effect in the UK may be obtained by one of two routes: either from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or from the European Patent Office (EPO). In each case the respective office conducts a thorough examination procedure before granting a patent. The numbers of patents granted by each route in calendar years 2002-11 are shown in the following table. The numbers of patents granted by the IPO are reported in the IPO's annual fact and figures publication, available from
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/whatwedo/ourpublications/ourpublications-review.htm
Data for 2012 are due to be published shortly. Numbers of patents granted by the EPO with effect in the UK are taken from the EPO Worldwide Patent Statistical Database.
| Calendar year | Patents granted by IPO | Patents granted by EPO | Total |
Pay: Liverpool
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Liverpool are currently paying the living wage and above; and if he will take steps to introduce a national living wage. [155856]
Jo Swinson: Information on how many businesses pay above the living wage is not available.
The Government support businesses that choose to pay the living wage however decisions on what wages to set, above the national minimum wage, are for employers and workers. There are no plans to introduce a national living wage.
Our primary policy to support the low paid is through the national minimum wage. The aim is to help as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high.
The Government recognise that these are tough times and are doing absolutely everything they can to help those on low pay with the cost of living. That is why the Government are cutting income tax for the low paid and have taken 2.4 million people out of income tax altogether since 2010.
Changes to the personal allowance mean that from April 2013, someone on the minimum wage working 29 hours a week will no longer pay income tax and someone working full time (35 hours) on the minimum wage will have seen their income tax bill cut by more than half since 2010.
Most employers choose to pay their employees more than the minimum wage. It is up to them to decide whether they wish to sign up voluntarily to pay a ‘Living Wage'.
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Regeneration: North West
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what amount of funding was spent by the North West Development Agency on regeneration in Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this funding. [155618]
Michael Fallon: Information to enable this Department to provide an answer to the question raised would incur disproportionate costs as the records of the North West Regional Development Agency are now mainly held in archive.
Regulation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department. [155785]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) monitors and collates the costs of regulations introduced by the Department through the statement of new regulation process. This involves taking a strategic look at forthcoming measures to see how regulatory costs and benefits will meet the targets under one in, two out. The estimated costs and benefits of all measures are assessed through impact assessments which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee. All in-scope legislation is also subject to post-implementation reviews to ensure that it is not imposing burdens on business that are disproportionate and/or have not been anticipated.
BIS has been involved in nine Red Tape Challenge themes, which reviewed over 750 regulations. Following consultation with business and civic society, we have committed to scrap or repeal over 50% of these regulations. On two of our early themes, we have already delivered over 75% of the regulatory repeals or simplifications we committed to in the retail theme, and over 50% from the manufacturing theme. Implemented Red Tape Challenge measures are published in the statement of new regulation.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended; [155807]
(2) if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by his Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were. [155951]
Jo Swinson: The one in, one out rule was introduced on 1 September 2010 and applied to regulations introduced from 1 January 2011. One in, two out replaced the one in, one out rule and has applied to regulations introduced from 1 January 2013. Details of regulations introduced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) that fall within the scope of one in, one out (OIOO) or one in, two out (OITO) are published in the statements of new regulation and will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Renewable Energy
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's announcement of 26 March 2013 of £31 million of funding for new nuclear technology, what amount has been set aside for (a) new renewable technology in the UK, (b) enhancements in that sector's supply chain and (c) increased opportunities to commercialise new renewable technologies in that sector; and if he will make a statement. [156124]
Michael Fallon: The Department's announcement of 26 March 2013 of £31 million of funding was for new nuclear technology only.
The Government expect to invest in excess of £800 million in this spending review period directly to support a broad portfolio of innovative low carbon technologies, including renewables.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the size of the global renewables market; what steps he is taking to develop long-term partnerships to enable UK businesses to compete in this market; and if he will make a statement. [156125]
Michael Fallon: Global investment in all clean energy assets is expected to increase from $189 billon in 2012 to $630 billion in 2030(1).
UKTI is developing partnerships in many markets, including China, Taiwan, India and Northern Europe. UKTI continues to support UK companies at key global exhibitions in the UK and overseas and through ministerial visits to build relationships with governments, business and academic institutions.
(1 )Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what analysis he has made of the economic benefits of improving the UK’s supply chain capabilities for (a) onshore wind, (b) offshore wind, (c) solar power, (d) marine energy, (e) geothermal and (f) other renewable energy technologies; and if he will make a statement. [156126]
Michael Fallon: The 2011 Renewable Energy Roadmap updated in December 2012 sets out the Government’s approach to supporting the development of key renewable energy technologies, including encouraging a UK-based supply chain.
Offshore wind is one of 10 sectors across the economy that is considered of strategic importance to the UK economy and BIS is leading work to develop an industrial strategy for offshore wind which will set out the economic benefits from improving the UK’s supply chain capabilities.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has carried out a review of the research and development landscape in the UK for renewable energy technologies; and if he will make a statement. [156127]
Mr Willetts:
On behalf of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Energy
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Strategy Fellow, Professor Jim Skea, to develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.
The Government also completed a review of the low carbon innovation landscape in 2011 which focused on enhancing the delivery of publicly funded innovation support for low carbon innovation technologies. A copy of the review is available in the Library of the House.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish a renewables industry vision statement to allow UK industry to present its ambitions over the next 40 years; if he will make an assessment of whether such a policy would (a) ensure the development of a vibrant UK renewable industry, (b) position the UK as a strong player in the global renewables market, (c) set out how the renewable industry can be an area of economic and strategic national strength and (d) form the start of a commitment for the renewables industry to work more collaboratively with Government in pursuit of a vibrant and globally respected UK industry; and if he will make a statement. [156128]
Michael Fallon: Renewable energy will have a strong role to play alongside nuclear and gas and with increased deployment there will be economic opportunities. This is why the Government announced three energy industrial strategies partnered by industry. We have published strategies for the nuclear and oil and gas sectors and a strategy for offshore wind will be published in the coming months. This will set out Government and industry actions to create a vibrant and strong supply chain for offshore wind and the economic benefits associated with it. The Offshore Wind Industry Council, which I co-chair, met for the first time on 16 May, to build the strong and effective partnership between Government and the industry.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the establishment of a renewables research and development advisory board; and if he will make a statement. [156129]
Mr Willetts: The Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme has a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which advises on the strategic direction, scientific content and co-ordination of research and development (R and D) within the Energy Programme.
Representatives from BIS, the Technology Strategy Board and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) attend the RCUK Energy SAC meetings held three times a year. The membership also includes representatives from universities and business.
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will develop research and development roadmaps for renewable energy technologies to ensure the UK is able to make informed decisions on future renewable options beyond 2020; if he will ensure that these roadmaps analyse the advantages of (a) the realisation of industrial benefits, (b) the development and exploitation of intellectual
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property internationally and
(c)
being seen as a credible international partner; if he will include in any such roadmaps the research outcomes that would support implementation of future technology pathways and detailed illustrative timelines as examples of these pathways; and if he will make a statement. [156131]
Michael Fallon: The Government and their key partners in the Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group (LCICG) have developed Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs) to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low carbon innovation. The aims of TINAs are to identify and value the key technology innovation needs that deliver the greatest benefit to the UK. Building on the TINAs, the LCICG is currently working with industry to develop a strategy for low carbon innovation. This will set out a shared LCICG vision of its members' aims, principles, approach and priorities within technology families for public investment between now and 2020. The intention is for this strategy to be published in autumn 2013.
In 2011 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a Renewable Energy Roadmap that sets out how we are going to reach our goal of generating 15% of our energy use from renewables by 2020. The Roadmap focused on seven key technologies, including offshore wind, marine energy and biomass heat, with a further update to add solar photovoltaics in December 2012. Deployment of these and other renewable technologies could bring significant investment and jobs to the UK. Between 1 April 2011 and 31 July 2012, DECC collated renewable industry announcements totalling around £12.7 billion confirmed and planned investments, with the potential to support of around 22,800 jobs.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Professor Jim Skea as a Strategy Fellow for the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme in May 2012. Professor Skea will develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape to meet the UK 2050 climate change targets.
The roadmap will be developed over five years and updated annually in light of new technological developments and policy change. During this time the Fellow will consult with stakeholders in the research community, government bodies including DECC and the private sector to map out systems of energy innovation for a range of countries and technologies. The Energy Technologies Institute will also provide support and industrial expertise for the development of the roadmap documents. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.
Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract. [155773]
Jo Swinson:
This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, since January 2011,
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central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award at:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
Student Loans
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 73W, on fraud-error and debt, what estimate he has made of the annual savings to the Student Loans Company from the introduction of a check first before paying approach; and what the annual level of fraud reported by the Student Loans Company prior to the introduction of a check first before paying approach was since 2005. [156475]
Mr Willetts: Fraud detection and prevention are key areas of work for the Student Loans Company (SLC). The SLC has always applied a check first before paying approach, but is continuously looking to improve the quality of the data and tools it has to support that approach. It continues to make a valuable contribution to the counter fraud activities of the taskforce sharing good practice developed with support from a range of public and private sector partners. The following table provides a breakdown of the savings made by the SLC through its counter fraud work since 2011-12 when it was able to use new fraud prevention tools.
| Financial year | Savings from counter-fraud activities (£) |
Training
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly-funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year. [155420]
Jo Swinson: The majority of the BIS training budget is delegated to the individual business units. This enables them to target resources to their learning priorities. BIS does not centrally collate details of individual course attendances.
The spend on training in core BIS since its inception in 2009 is
| £ | ||
| Spend | Average spend per head | |
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The focus of centrally managed spend in 2011/12 was on performance management and in 2012/13 was on civil service learning delivered leadership and management courses.
BIS does not collect learning data from its non-departmental public bodies.
Travel
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year. [155401]
Jo Swinson: Information on how many officials have claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses, together with the monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each of the last five years is not held centrally within the Department, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following expenditure has been recorded within the Department's financial system against the subsistence reporting point:
| Financial year | Expenditure (£) |
These data exclude non-departmental public bodies as this information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Unmanned Air Vehicles: Exports
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider subjecting the export of components of unmanned aerial vehicles to strategic export controls. [155500]
Michael Fallon: Components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already subject to strategic export control if they are: (a) specially designed or modified for military use; or (b) specified in the EU dual-use control list. These controls are agreed in the international export control regimes and apply to the items with the greatest strategic importance.