Blog

  • Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on increasing the range of services provided by the Post Office network.

    Jenny Willott

    Post Office Ltd, with its network of over 11,500 branches, is well placed to become a provider of front office services for Government, helping citizens interact with Government either face-to-face or online.

    While public services must be competitively tendered, Post Office Ltd has shown that it can very effectively bid for and win new work. It has won every Government contract it has bid for the past three years in highly competitive tendering processes.

    In particular, in 2012 it successfully bid for the competitively-tendered DVLA framework contract for Front Office Counter Services (FOCS). This contract runs to 2020 and is available to other Government departments. For example HM Passport Office recently moved its services with Post Office Ltd onto FOCS and this Department and the Cabinet Office are in close contact about a range of other opportunities.

    Furthermore, Post Office Ltd was recently one of the successful bidders for the Cabinet Office’s online identity assurance contract, ensuring that Post Office Ltd can play a role in the delivery of modern, online Government services.

    Whilst I continue to highlight to my colleagues the opportunities available to Government from using the Post Office network and contracts such as these, individual contracts are a matter for the services in question and their respective public bodies and departments. I have not had recent discussions specifically with the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on increasing the range of services provided by the Post Office network.

    Jenny Willott

    Post Office Ltd, with its network of over 11,500 branches, is well placed to become a provider of front office services for Government, helping citizens interact with Government either face-to-face or online.

    While public services must be competitively tendered, Post Office Ltd has shown that it can very effectively bid for and win new work. It has won every Government contract it has bid for the past three years in highly competitive tendering processes.

    In particular, in 2012 it successfully bid for the competitively-tendered DVLA framework contract for Front Office Counter Services (FOCS). This contract runs to 2020 and is available to other Government departments. For example HM Passport Office recently moved its services with Post Office Ltd onto FOCS and this Department and the Cabinet Office are in close contact about a range of other opportunities.

    Furthermore, Post Office Ltd was recently one of the successful bidders for the Cabinet Office’s online identity assurance contract, ensuring that Post Office Ltd can play a role in the delivery of modern, online Government services.

    Whilst I continue to highlight to my colleagues the opportunities available to Government from using the Post Office network and contracts such as these, individual contracts are a matter for the services in question and their respective public bodies and departments. I have not had recent discussions specifically with the Welsh Government.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Start Up Loan scheme in Wales to date; what the take-up has been under this scheme to date; and how much has been lent to which businesses in each constituency in Wales in each of the last three years.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Start-Up Loans Scheme was extended to Wales in October 2013. To date 249 loans have been committed with a value of over £1.52m.

    The table below sets the number of loans made in each constituency and their value:

    Welsh constituencies

    Number of loans

    Value of loans

    Aberavon

    6

    £38,700

    Aberconwy

    2

    £10,500

    Arfon

    2

    £24,000

    Blaenau Gwent

    5

    £12,000

    Brecon and Radnorshire

    2

    £7,500

    Bridgend

    9

    £58,000

    Caerphilly

    7

    £42,250

    Cardiff Central

    6

    £37,500

    Cardiff North

    5

    £41,500

    Cardiff South and Penarth

    12

    £83,600

    Cardiff West

    6

    £55,500

    Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

    9

    £49,250

    Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

    12

    £35,000

    Ceredigion

    7

    £19,100

    Clwyd South

    7

    £54,500

    Clwyd West

    8

    £43,500

    Cynon Valley

    8

    £35,000

    Delyn

    1

    £5,000

    Dwyfor Meirionnydd

    2

    £22,000

    Gower

    13

    £50,500

    Islwyn

    5

    £35,550

    Llanelli

    7

    £27,000

    Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

    7

    £53,000

    Monmouth

    10

    £75,284

    Montgomeryshire

    7

    £36,500

    Neath

    4

    £9,500

    Newport East

    11

    £77,470

    Newport West

    11

    £78,350

    Ogmore

    4

    £23,998

    Pontypridd

    6

    £36,000

    Preseli Pembrokeshire

    6

    £23,000

    Rhondda

    6

    £36,300

    Swansea East

    8

    £47,500

    Swansea West

    8

    £57,650

    Torfaen

    6

    £91,000

    Vale of Clwyd

    3

    £12,000

    Vale of Glamorgan

    5

    £21,000

    Wrexham

    2

    £12,500

    Ynys M“n

    4

    £47,500
  • Julian Brazier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Julian Brazier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Brazier on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what audit he has made of the performance of the Student Loans Company.

    Mr David Willetts

    Each year the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Devolved Administrations set Student Loans Company (SLC) stretching performance measures which are confirmed in an Annual Performance and Resource Agreement (APRA) letter. BIS closely monitors SLC’s performance against these measures throughout the year. Monitoring arrangements include formal quarterly reviews of SLC’s performance which are conducted by Ministers and senior officials.

    Each year the SLC publishes externally audited information on its performance in its Annual Report and Accounts. The APRA letter and SLC’s Annual Report and Accounts are available on SLC’s website: http://www.slc.co.uk/

    “

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has carried out an equalities impact assessment of the changes to disabled students’ allowances which were announced on 7 April 2014.

    Mr David Willetts

    The announced changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) will be subject to a full equality analysis to determine the impact of these changes on students with protected characteristics. The equality analysis will be given full consideration before regulations are laid before the House.

    These changes will apply to all full-time, full-time distance learning, part-time and postgraduate students in higher education applying for DSA for the first time from the 2015/16 academic year. DSAs are not available to further education students, as the Government provides Learning Support funding to further education colleges and providers to help meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, whether the Law Officers’ Departments have any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

    Oliver Heald

    These arrangements are kept under review.

  • Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the value of regional and local BBC services in discussions on the future financing of the BBC.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The value of all BBC services, including its local and regional services, should be considered as part of the review of the BBC’s Charter. Government has yet to announce the timing, scope and process for Charter Review, so it would be premature to make any assessment at this point.

  • Julie Hilling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Julie Hilling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Hilling on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to take steps to bring music video ratings into line with BBFC standards.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Parents tell us they want age ratings on music videos which are unsuitable for younger children.

    We recently consulted on legislation to introduce BBFC age ratings for music DVDs unsuitable for children under 12. We expect to introduce the legislation to Parliament within the coming months and will bring the new age rating requirements into force as soon as possible.

    I also welcome the commitment the music industry has made to pilot BBFC age ratings for online music videos.

  • Andrew Bridgen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Andrew Bridgen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Bridgen on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that superfast broadband is available in remote areas of the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    A new £10 million competitive fund opened on 21 March to market test innovative solutions to deliver superfast broadband services to the most difficult to reach remaining areas of the UK.

    The pilot projects will explore how to reach these areas; and we’ll use learning from the pilots to inform future government investment decisions

  • Meg Hillier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Meg Hillier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Meg Hillier on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effects of betting shops located in areas with high levels of deprivation on those areas.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The Health Surveys for England and Scotland show that the relationship between gambling related harm and deprivation is mixed. The proposals I announced yesterday will ensure that betting shop customers are subject to greater protections wherever they are based – whether that be areas of deprivation or otherwise.