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  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with student body organisations on the effects of removing student maintenance grants.

    Joseph Johnson

    My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministers regularly meet stakeholders from across the Higher Education sector to inform policy development including on Higher Education student support.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment she has made of the potential role of ports on Teesside in the decommissioning of offshore oil installations.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We are setting up the OGA to have a strong role in the decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure in the UK Continental Shelf. OGA are developing a decommissioning strategy, working closely with industry and government, to reduce the costs and increase the efficiency of decommissioning, and to encourage technology development. OGA is seeking to develop a more competitive model for decommissioning which stimulates market solutions and innovation. Decommissioning represents opportunities for UK industry to compete for business and I would encourage companies to engage to give themselves the best chance of winning contracts.

  • Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that arms exports from the UN to Yemen are not being used in breach of export control policy and provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and aims to operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis against all of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, which includes; ensuing exports are consistent with the UK’s obligations under the United Nations arms trade treaty.

    We undertake appropriate checks using both open and other sources when considering licence applications. To ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, this will involve Desk and Post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and relevant experts from other Departments.

  • Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2015 to Question 3711, how many arms export licences the Government has granted to Saudi Arabia subsequent to the information provided in that Answer; and what items were so licensed.

    Anna Soubry

    Licensing data shows 67 licences were granted to Saudi Arabia.

    Please note that data from licensing decisions made between 1 April and 30 June 2015 is scheduled to be published as Official Statistics at 9.30am on Tuesday 20 October 2015; and data from licensing decisions made between 1 July and 30 September 2015 is scheduled to be published as Official Statistics at 9.30am on 19 January 2016.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the labelling of goods produced in Israeli settlements with World Trade Organisation law.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK observes its obligations under the WTO Agreements. The UK’s laws and practices on designations of origin for products produced in Israeli settlements are compatible with those obligations.

  • Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of the university maintenance grant on student numbers.

    Joseph Johnson

    I refer the hon Member to my answer to question 6380

    “

  • Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Huddleston on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much support the British Business Bank has provided to small and medium-sized enterprises in Mid Worcestershire constituency since its creation.

    Anna Soubry

    Since 1st November 2014, the British Business Bank has been an operationally independent public limited company, which is wholly owned by Her Majesty’s Government. Between November 2014 and August 2015, the British Business Bank have facilitated over £1.56m of lending to 40 businesses in Mid Worcestershire.

  • Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Huddleston on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which 10 sectors received most support from the British Business Bank in (a) Mid Worcestershire constituency, (b) Worcestershire and (c) the UK since that bank was established.

    Anna Soubry

    Since 1st November 2014, the British Business Bank (BBB) has been an operationally independent public limited company, which is wholly owned by Her Majesty’s Government. The tables (attached) highlight BBB programmes by sector for Mid Worcestershire, Worcestershire and the UK. Start-Up Loans are presented separately for breakdowns beyond region.

  • Stephen McPartland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Stephen McPartland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen McPartland on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the proposal in paragraph 1.154 of the Autumn Statement 2014 to introduce income contingent loans for postgraduate taught Master’s students, what progress the Government has made on introducing that policy.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government has consulted on the proposal for an income contingent loan of up to £10,000 for Postgraduate Taught Master’s students.

    We are analysing responses to the consultation and expect to publish a response in the autumn.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Alistair Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Government has spent on promoting its statement of principles for online retailers.

    Nick Boles

    None, the Government published the UK wide Statement of Principles on Gov.UK. These endorse the principles drawn up by Citizens Advice Scotland, Citizens Advice and the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. The statement of principles has been promoted by those organisations to both retailers and consumers and a copy placed on their websites.