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Tag: Chuka Umunna

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the review by Lord Myners of the process of privatisation of Royal Mail will be published in full; and when this report will be completed.

    Matthew Hancock

    The review is intended to inform wider HMG considerations about alternatives to bookbuilding, as recommended by the National Audit Office in its report on the Royal Mail Initial Public Offering (IPO). It will help my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in his own assessment of the system the Government operates for the sale of its assets through IPOs to ensure that Government can meet its full objectives whilst achieving value for money.

    It is not a public review but my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for BIS will make the key findings of the review public.

    It is expected that the noble Lord Myners will complete his review later this year.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many bids to the Export Refinancing Facility have been (a) received and (b) approved since its launch; and how many firms have received funds under the scheme to date.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Export Refinancing Facility (ERF) was launched on 30 April 2014 in order to support UK bids for projects that require finance above £50m.

    The ERF does not provide funds directly to firms but a commitment to banks funding loans to overseas buyers of UK exports to take-out that loan if it has not been possible for the bank to refinance it commercially.

    UK Export Finance officials have held several discussions with exporters, overseas buyers and banks in relation to ERF, with one case currently under discussion.

    It is likely that ERF will be most relevant during periods of constrained liquidity in the banking market. Given current market conditions, export credit transactions are less likely to require ERF in order to take place but the facility remains an important product in UKEF’s portfolio giving it the ability to respond quickly to changes in those market conditions.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total value is of all bids made in each region to each round of the Regional Growth Fund including the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund; how much has been committed to winning bidders in each such region in each such round; and how much such funding has been drawn down.

    Greg Clark

    The tables below provide a breakdown of the value of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) by region and round for RGF applications; the committed allocation of RGF to projects and programmes following due diligence. This data excludes those projects and programmes that have withdrawn. The third table sets out the amount drawn down by operational RGF awards to date and the financial years in which the remaining RGF and eRGF is committed through to 31st March 2017. The data is correct as at 2nd October 2014.

    Projects and programmes in Rounds 1 to 4 have until 31 March 2015 to draw down their funding and projects and programmes in Round 5 will be able to draw down funding until 31 March 2017. The Department agrees a draw down profile with each organisation when they sign their grant offer letter that matches the beneficiary’s own investment schedules and job commitments. The subsequent rate of draw down is then subject to the beneficiaries meeting the conditions.

    RGF Applications (£ million)

    Round 1

    Round 2

    Round 3

    Round 4

    Round 5

    Exceptional

    Total

    East Midlands

    231

    529

    124

    163

    56

    1,103

    East of England

    115

    131

    61

    50

    43

    400

    London

    74

    117

    26

    32

    4

    253

    North East

    343

    335

    353

    215

    98

    34

    1,378

    North West

    519

    535

    414

    322

    81

    9

    1,880

    South East

    185

    154

    145

    191

    24

    22

    721

    South West

    144

    232

    322

    219

    57

    15

    989

    West Midlands

    569

    282

    419

    176

    70

    16

    1,532

    Yorkshire and The Humber

    327

    434

    345

    240

    26

    1,372

    Nationwide

    215

    315

    565

    282

    241

    1,618

    TOTAL

    2,722

    3,064

    2,774

    1,890

    700

    96

    11,246

    RGF Committed

    Round 1

    Round 2

    Round 3

    Round 4

    Round 5

    Exceptional

    Grand Total

    East Midlands

    2

    64

    27

    35

    20

    0

    148

    East of England

    14

    35

    25

    15

    5

    0

    95

    Nationwide

    175

    95

    176

    50

    107

    0

    602

    North East

    34

    61

    111

    30

    55

    21

    313

    North West

    20

    182

    105

    86

    20

    5

    418

    South East

    0

    60

    54

    25

    6

    11

    155

    South West

    4

    71

    82

    13

    22

    5

    197

    West Midlands

    89

    95

    151

    55

    30

    17

    437

    Yorkshire and The Humber

    47

    78

    93

    40

    27

    0

    285

    Grand Total

    385

    742

    834

    349

    291

    58

    2651

    RGF Drawn Down by year (£ million)

    Financial Year

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    2016/17

    Total

    Actual paid – year to date

    465

    161

    551

    252*

    1,428

    Planned for whole financial year

    1165

    167

    133

    2,642

    The difference between the totals in tables 2 and 3 arises because RGF applicants have not always claimed the full grant available to them.

    *This is the actual amount paid to beneficiaries as of 2nd October 2014.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed at each of his Department’s executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and associated bodies and agencies.

    Matthew Hancock

    I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the Hon Member.

    Until 2013, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills did not keep a record of the age of internal apprentices. The table shows the age of both externally recruited apprentices since 2010 and ages of those apprentices embarking on the Departments’ internal apprenticeship programme in 2013. The 2013 figure refers to the ages of those on the Departments’ internal programme. There are no externally recruited apprentices in the 25 years or over category.

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    16 to 18

    0

    0

    0

    1

    19 to 24

    2

    1

    2

    11

    25 years or over

    0

    0

    0

    16

    The Department for Business Innovation and Skills currently has 53 apprentices. We have had 4 successful completions this year.

    16 of these 53 apprentices are under the age of 21 with a further 6 apprentices under 21 expected to join the Department later in the year.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of vacancies currently available on Universal Jobmatch are employee only jobs.

    Esther McVey

    In answering question 195183 we have interpreted “employee only jobs” as meaning “employee owner status jobs.”

    Universal Jobmatch revolutionises the way jobseekers look for work and it has already helped many jobseekers find the jobs they want. It is part of the government’s plan for providing easy online access to government services for all.

    Universal Jobmatch has streamlined our existing services for employers and empowered claimants to take more responsibility for their jobsearch and get more targeted support from advisers.

    It does not capture information on the number and proportion of zero-hours contracts or ‘employee owner’ status jobs.

    Jobcentre Plus guidance stipulates that claimants should not be mandated to apply for a job offering a zero hours contract. It also states that no sanction action will be taken if claimants refuse or fail to apply.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence has taken place between (i) his Department, (ii) Royal Mail, (iii) banks acting as bookrunners, co-ordinators and lead managers and (iv) priority investors since the privatisation of Royal Mail took place; and if he will publish any such relevant correspondence.

    Michael Fallon

    Since the Initial Public Offering, my Department has had discussions with Royal Mail in our continuing role as a minority shareholder in Royal Mail.

    There has been ad hoc contact with the Global Co-ordinators primarily to help with enquiries about the IPO but no formal correspondence.

    It is not appropriate to publish correspondence relating to the above on the grounds that it relates to our shareholding or has been provided to help develop Government policy and to do so would inhibit the free and frank advice or exchange of views for the purposes of internal deliberation.

    This Department has not had discussions or corresponded with the priority investors.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 723W, on conditions of employment, how many and what proportion of vacancies available on Universal Jobmatch are zero-hours contracts jobs.

    Esther McVey

    In answering question 195183 we have interpreted “employee only jobs” as meaning “employee owner status jobs.”

    Universal Jobmatch revolutionises the way jobseekers look for work and it has already helped many jobseekers find the jobs they want. It is part of the government’s plan for providing easy online access to government services for all.

    Universal Jobmatch has streamlined our existing services for employers and empowered claimants to take more responsibility for their jobsearch and get more targeted support from advisers.

    It does not capture information on the number and proportion of zero-hours contracts or ‘employee owner’ status jobs.

    Jobcentre Plus guidance stipulates that claimants should not be mandated to apply for a job offering a zero hours contract. It also states that no sanction action will be taken if claimants refuse or fail to apply.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) between 19 and 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed at the Competition and Markets Authority.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Competition and Markets Authority employs no apprentices at this time.

    As a supporter of apprenticeships, the Government launched the first Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme in 2013.

    As at September 2013, the most recent date for which figures are available, the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme had 100 18-21 year old apprentices employed in permanent posts across government on the 2-year scheme.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what due diligence was undertaken by officials in his Department in relation to the reliability of the gentlemen’s agreement on the holding of Royal Mail shares by priority investors.

    Michael Fallon

    There was no agreement – gentleman’s or otherwise – on the holding of Royal Mail shares by priority investors.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) verbal and (b) contractual agreement was made with priority investors in relation to their shareholders during the privatisation of Royal Mail.

    Michael Fallon

    No verbal or contractual agreement of any description – including future intentions for shareholdings – was made between the Government and any investor in the Royal Mail Initial Public Offering (IPO). Any suggestion that there was a “gentleman’s agreement” is false.