The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to promote its statement of principles for online retailers.
Nick Boles
The UK wide Statement of Principles is on GOV.UK. At an adjournment debate last month I proposed a roundtable on online retail delivery charges. This is being planned for December. The statement of principles will be discussed at the meeting.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects to respond to the consultation on postgraduate study, student loans and other support.
Joseph Johnson
The consultation response is currently being analysed and the Department expects to respond in the Autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether any arms export licences have been (a) suspended, (b) revoked or (c) refused in relation to Saudi Arabia in 2015.
Anna Soubry
No export licences have been suspended, revoked or refused in relation to Saudi Arabia in 2015.
However, Saudi Arabia was “Rejected” on 3 multiple destination Open Individual Export licences (OIELs), with a recommendation in each case for the exporter to submit an application for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) for consideration on its own merits on a case by case basis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeff Smith on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the factors which explain why academics and researchers emigrate.
Joseph Johnson
Academic research is increasingly international and collaborative. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commissioned Elsevier to examine how the UK research base compares internationally, and what trends may influence the UK’s future standing.
The report, ‘International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base – 2013‘[1], highlighted UK as a focal point for global research collaboration and researcher mobility. It acknowledged international collaboration and researcher mobility as being core to the maintenance and further development of the UK’s world-class research base, and found that over 70% of active UK researchers were internationally mobile between 1996 and 2012.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris White on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of adults that will be participating in non-apprenticeship vocational training by 2020 in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Warwick and Leamington constituency.
Nick Boles
The Department does not produce forecasts for participation in further education.
The funding available for adult skills up to 2015/16 is outlined in the Skills Funding Letter. The letter sets out the Government’s priorities for the budget and it is for providers to decide how they use their adult skills funding to reflect those priorities and meet the needs of learners and employers in their local area.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-letter-april-2015-to-march-2016
Information on historic participation in government funded further education by geography is published online at the FE Data Library:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-further-education-and-skills
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings his Department has had with representatives of (a) the Taxpayers’ Alliance, (b) the Confederation of British Industry, (c) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (d) the Adam Smith Institute, (e) the Freedom Association, (f) the Politics and Economic Research Trust and (g) the Midlands Industrial Council in the last 12 months.
Joseph Johnson
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published up to 31 March 2015 and can be accessed on Gov.uk at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=Ministers&publication.
Further publications of Ministerial meetings will be published in due course across Government in the usual way.
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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 collaboration is taking place between universities, space companies and the European Space Agency on developing nuclear engine technology for future spacecraft.
Joseph Johnson
European Space Agency has no active nuclear engine programme and we are not aware of any activities taking place with regards to such technology in the UK.
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 the level of trade was between Israel and the UK in 2013-14; and what steps he is taking to increase bilateral trade with Israel.
Anna Soubry
Bilateral trade in goods and services between the UK and Israel was £4.6 billion in 2013 (Source: Pink Book 2014). Figures for 2014 covering trade in both goods and services will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 30 October in the 2015 edition of the Pink Book.
UK Trade and Investment engage in promotion activities which focus on promoting the UK’s financial services, healthcare and food and drink sectors to the Israeli business community.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the progress achieved by the UK Business and Human Rights Action Plan against the aims and objectives set out in it.
Anna Soubry
Progress on the UK’s National Action Plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is covered in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy annual report, last published in March 2015. We have made considerable progress, for example on improved reporting requirements. We will continue to update our action plan, reflecting the progress we have made as well as covering other related action taking place across Government such as the Modern Slavery Act.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the employment conduct abroad of companies which are based in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Nick Boles
We have made no such assessment. However, the UK was the first country to publish a National Action Plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which sets out the Government’s expectation of business behaviour wherever they operate, including complying with all applicable laws and honouring the principles of internationally recognised human rights when faced with conflicting requirements.
Company directors of UK-based businesses also have a duty to act to promote the success of the company, and in doing so have regard for a number of factors including the interests of the company’s employees. To demonstrate this consideration, companies are required to report information on employee matters, where necessary for an understanding of their business.
Furthermore, the Home Office will shortly be introducing regulations that will require businesses with a turnover of £36million to report on the measures they are taking to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not present in their supply chains.