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  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the existing system for dual support for research in providing stability for research infrastructure and supporting competition of research grants; and what plans he has to review that system’s use.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government’s Productivity plan – “Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation” – reiterated our commitment to excellence in science and research, facilitated through a dual support system.

    In 2013 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published a review of the dual funding system and research income across universities, including analysis of the ways in which UK academics can maximise their impact (available on Gov.uk).

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the Eleventh Report of the Treasury Committee, Conduct and competition in SME lending, Session 2014-15, HC 204, published on 10 March 2015.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Parliament, and its then Treasury Select Committee, dissolved shortly after this report was published and HM Treasury was not able to prepare a response before dissolution.

    HM Treasury is considering the Committee’s recommendations and will be responding to the new Committee in due course.

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many meetings he has held with businesses or industry associations in the (a) aerospace, (b) pharmaceutical, (c) automotive, (d) chemical and (e) financial services sectors since May 2015.

    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.

    “

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to use the Charity Research Support Fund as a means to secure investment from the charitable sector into universities.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government recognises the significant contribution made by charitable funders of research. The charity support element of Quality Related research funding, provided through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), has provided £198m per year over the period 2011-16 to support institutions leveraging funding from the charitable sector.

    Decisions on any funding beyond 2015-16 will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review later this year.

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with which trade associations he has met since his appointment.

    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.

    “

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what advice the Government has received on Government intervention in the steelworks in Redcar and European Community state aid rules; and what discussions his Department has had on this issue.

    Anna Soubry

    I received advice from Departmental officials on the legality of supporting a steel company in difficulty. The state aid rules on giving rescue and restructuring aid to steel companies are clear and all such interventions are prohibited.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeships are available in the North East; and how many applicants for such apprenticeships from disadvantaged backgrounds (a) secured and (b) completed apprenticeships in each of the last 10 years.

    Nick Boles

    Information on the number of apprenticeship starts (first link) and achievements (second link) in the North East is published online at the FE Data Library:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/438150/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378238/apprenticeships-achievements-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

    We do not centrally collect information on the number of apprenticeship applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds who secure and complete an apprenticeship.

    “

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on the Government continuing to sign off arms export licenses for those countries identified as a cause for concern by the Committees on Arms Export Controls and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement.

    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. Government policy is enshrined in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, known as the Consolidated Criteria. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated Criteria and will only issue an export licence where to do so would be consistent with these criteria.

    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.

  • James Cartlidge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    James Cartlidge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Cartlidge on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to extend the loan system available for over 24 year olds for Level 3 vocational and technical programmes to people aged between 19 and 24 year olds.

    Nick Boles

    In determining the way forward on Advanced Learning Loans, the Department will take into account the forthcoming outcomes of the current Spending Review and draw upon the responses that were gathered through an extensive loans consultation last year.

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a policy of requiring cash retentions from the construction industry to be placed in a trust in the event of insolvency.

    Nick Boles

    The Government acknowledges that some people are unhappy with the system of retentions as it stands, but it is an embedded feature of the construction industry. Therefore, our general approach is to work with the industry through the Construction Leadership Council and its supply chain payment charter; endorsing its commitment to zero retentions by 2025.

    That will involve quite far-reaching changes to the way the sector works. With regard to shorter-term measure to require retentions to be held in trust, we must act on the basis of evidence. That is why the Government is commissioning an analysis of the cost and benefit of retention payments to inform future action.