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  • Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage more women to franchise their businesses.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government offers a wide range of support to all types of businesses to start up and grow, including franchises, for example through the Growth Accelerator, the New Enterprise Allowance, mentoring and the Start Up Loan scheme.

    Women-led small and medium-sized businesses contribute around £82 billion to the economy. 42% of the 15,000 mentors trained through the Get Mentoring initiative are women and have contributed to the 27,000 strong mentoring network at www.mentorsme.co.uk. The latest figures show that over 37% of Start Up Loans have gone to female entrepreneurs.

    We will continue to work closely with the Women’s Business Council and others to help ensure that more women see starting and growing their own business as a real option.

    “

  • Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new businesses have been registered in Swindon since 2010.

    Michael Fallon

    Companies House confirms that since 2010, 5,308 companies have been registered in Swindon. This figure is based on company registration data from postcode areas, which can cross town boundaries, and should be considered an approximation.

  • Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the situation in North Korea.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We remain extremely concerned by the ongoing situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) especially regarding the nuclear threat and human rights.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2013 annual human rights report listed the DPRK as a country of concern. Compelling reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations, including the curtailment of fundamental freedoms and the continued use of political prison camps, are especially worrying. I met the US Special Envoy for DPRK Human Rights, Robert King, on 6 May to discuss how we can maintain international pressure on this.

    The security situation remains deeply troubling. Recent statements implying that the DPRK is considering a further nuclear test, coupled with the DPRK’s March decision to launch ballistic missiles in clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions and to conduct live-fire artillery exercises, have only served to heighten tensions in the region. The UK continues to closely monitor the situation with our allies.

  • Pauline Latham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Pauline Latham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pauline Latham on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make representations to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence regarding its technology appraisal of ipilimumab.

    Norman Lamb

    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 663W.

  • Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-29.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to reply to questions 192679, 192680 and 192681 on children: daycare, tabled on 18 March 2014 for answer on 24 March 2014.

    Nicky Morgan

    I have done so.

  • Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, columns 307-8W, on children: day care, what the breakdown is for the £500 grants available to set up new nurseries, childminders for disabled children and after schools clubs; how many of the 4,417 applicants continue to have a childcare business; and what plans he has for the funding of the scheme.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The Childcare Business Grants scheme was launched in April 2013 to help those wishing to start a new childcare business with start-up costs. To date, 4,501 applications have been received, of which 425 have been for £500 grants. Information is not available on the number of applicants that continue to have a childcare business.

    A breakdown of the £500 grants approved is in the table.

    Type of Grant application

    Number of applications

    Disabled childcare

    146

    Nursery

    191

    Out of School Club

    69

    *Other

    19

    Total applications:

    425

    Source: Liberata, management information

    *Other (Childcare on domestic premises) – this category represents childminders working from domestic premises with three or more employees.

    We recently announced that the scheme will be available for new applicants up to the end of 2014 or until the £2m fund is exhausted.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on (a) press, (b) marketing, (c) advertising and (d) other aspects of communications relating to the Youth Contract in each year since its introduction.

    Esther McVey

    As with any new programme it is right and responsible to ensure all who are, or could be, affected are properly informed. Since the Youth Contract was launched in April 2012 it has provided opportunities for over 250,000 people. The spend in each of the categories specified is as follows:

    Financial Year

    2012/13

    2013/14

    Total

    Press

    £ 9,872

    NIL

    £9872

    Marketing

    £10,167

    £ 7,578

    £17,745

    Advertising

    £72,010

    NIL

    £72,010

    Other communications

    £27,231

    £34,650

    £61,881

    Total

    £119,280

    £42,228

    £161,508

    The marketing category relates to spend on local face-to-face activity bringing together jobseekers and employers with opportunities.

    In the ‘other communications’ category, we have supplied details of spend on leaflets, posters, exhibition stands and video production.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on consultants working on the Youth Contract in each year since its introduction.

    Esther McVey

    DWP does not have any consultants working on the delivery of the Youth Contract.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have benefited from Youth Contract wage incentives, by region, in each year since the Youth Contract was introduced.

    Esther McVey

    The latest information that we hold on Youth Contract Wage Incentives was published in February 2014 and can be found at the link below. We do not collect payment data in a form that allows it to be reported at regional level.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283873/youth-contract-feb14.pdf

    “

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been paid out in wage incentives under the Youth Contract, by region, in each year since its introduction.

    Esther McVey

    The latest information that we hold on Youth Contract Wage Incentives was published in February 2014 and can be found at the link below. We do not collect payment data in a form that allows it to be reported at regional level.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283873/youth-contract-feb14.pdf

    “