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  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what advice she has received from the (a) Video Standards Council and (b) Games Rating Authority on proposed amendments to the meaning of the term supply in the Video Recordings Act 1984 to include adults providing children with access to recordings categorised as containing age-inappropriate content.

    Matt Hancock

    Following public consultations involving representations from classification bodies, child welfare groups, local authorities, content producers and many others, since 2010 we have legislated twice to strengthen the protections provided by the Act. This has ensured that retailers now cannot sell or rent any age-inappropriate DVDs or video games discs or cartridges to children. It also ensures these products are all labelled with relevant British Board of Film Classification (DVDs) and PEGI (video games) age ratings and content advice. This means adults have better information to help them make responsible decisions about the material children can access.

    We will continue to work with industry and the age ratings bodies to encourage further promotion of the BBFC and PEGI age ratings to consumers including through initiatives such as BBFCInsight and AskAboutGames.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for completion of Sir John Parker’s report on diversity on corporate boards.

    Margot James

    Sir John Parker is conducting an independent review. We expect he will report his findings by the end of the year.

  • Julian Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Julian Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for the technological competitiveness of the UK of the proposed takeover of ARM Holdings by the Japanese company Softbank; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The UK remains open for business and we welcome firms that want to invest in growth here. The UK’s technological innovations, skilled workforce and competitive business environment make it one of the world’s best destinations for investment.

    ARM Holdings is a highly respected company who have achieved great things: working with the UK’s Takeover Panel, Softbank have published a set of clear and binding undertakings, including that ARM’s global headquarters would remain in Cambridge and that the UK workforce would at least double if the acquisition is finalised. This provides reassurance that ARM would continue to develop leading-edge technology in the UK as part of the UK technology industry.

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether electricity companies are required to provide financial compensation to business customers who are affected financially by delays in connection to the electricity network.

    Jesse Norman

    Electricity network companies are required, under specified circumstances, to make a payment to business customers where agreed connection dates are missed. For distribution connections these arrangements are covered by the Guaranteed Standards of Performance.[1] For transmission connections any payment to the customer for late delivery of a connection would be set out in the customer’s bilateral connection agreement.

    [1] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/698/contents/made

    “

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an estimate of the cumulative effect of the tobacco control measures introduced in the last 10 years on small independent retailers before the publication of the Government’s next smoking strategy.

    Nicola Blackwood

    Tobacco control measures are reviewed regularly, including by statutory requirement. The impact of individual measures is also assessed in advance of implementation through impact assessments which are made publicly available.

  • Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase the energy efficiency of private rented sector dwellings.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 requires that all landlords of domestic (and non-domestic) privately rented property in England and Wales ensure that, from 1 April 2018, their properties reach at least an energy performance rating of E before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants, unless a prescribed exemption applies.

    The Department is currently developing guidance documents to assist landlords in complying with their obligations under the regulations, and to support enforcement authorities in fulfilling their duties.

  • Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of dwellings in the UK have an EPC rating below band E; and what proportion of measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation have been in dwellings with an EPC rating below band E.

    Gavin Barwell

    On 29 July 2016, 5% of dwellings in England and Wales where an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has been produced are rated band F and 2% are rated band G.

    Information on the proportion of measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation carried out in dwellings with an EPC rating below band E is not held centrally.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to re-examine the potential merits of establishing a materials catapult for manufacturing.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government recognises the importance of manufacturing to the UK economy and we have continued to invest significant funding through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. This has led to the launch of two new programmes designed to offer additional cutting edge equipment and expertise and extend the Catapult’s services to more manufacturing sectors; and to enable UK SMEs to become more productive and to win more business. We have also provided funding for the Catapult to establish two new centres in the North East – the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre at Darlington and the National Formulation Centre at NETPark in Sedgefield.

    Innovate UK manages development of the Catapult network on behalf of Government.

    It has rigorously considered the potential merits of establishing a Materials Catapult for Manufacturing and has concluded that there is no robust case to establish a Materials Catapult at this time. This decision has been confirmed within the last month and my Department does not intend to re-examine this assessment.

  • Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) groups and (b) individuals his Department has invited to work with the Government on developing a strategy for carbon capture and storage in the UK.

    Jesse Norman

    The Department continues to engage with the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry, including with individual developers and the CCS Association as well as others such as the Committee on Climate Change, on the next steps on CCS in the UK. The Department also continues to host the CCS Development Forum, which brings government and the CCS industry together.

    In addition, BEIS officials are providing support to Lord Oxburgh’s CCS Advisory Group which will report to Government on their findings and recommendations on the future of CCS in the UK.

  • Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions Ministers in (a) his Department and (b) the Department for Energy and Climate Change before its merger with his Department have had with industry representatives on the future trajectory of the carbon price floor in 2016.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Department has a wide number of conversations with industry representatives on a number of issues surrounding wholesale electricity, markets and decarbonisation, which includes the carbon price floor. However, policy responsibility for its future trajectory lies with HM Treasury.