Tag: Ivan Lewis

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the variation in average unit retail price of petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon

No formal assessment has been made of the reasons for the variation in average unit retail prices of petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Retail fuel prices are determined by the demand and supply fundamentals in local areas. Prices will reflect the underlying cost of crude oil, the process to refine it and transport it so that it is available for consumption at the pump.

Variations in prices are determined by changes in supply and demand factors both for crude oil and for individual products.

On 5 September 2012, the OFT launched a call for information (CFI) to investigate claims that the UK petrol and diesel sectors are not working well. In their January 2013 report they concluded that:

“Overall, on the basis of the evidence collected, it appears that competition in the UK road fuels sector is working relatively effectively”.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2015-01-13.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last met the Chief Executive of Invest NI.

Mr David Gauke

Treasury Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, whether HM Revenue and Customs’ national minimum wage enforcement team have any staff located in Northern Ireland outside the city of Belfast.

Mr David Gauke

The Government takes the enforcement of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

The National Minimum Wage team in Northern Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff with all using Belfast as a base location.

However, as I explained in my previous response, HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what services Healthcare UK offers to organisations based in the devolved regions.

Matthew Hancock

As a constituent part of UK Trade and Investment, Healthcare UK has responsibility for the provision of support and assistance to new and existing healthcare exporters of goods and services across the UK and for promoting the UK and all its constituent parts to foreign investors.

The devolved administrations are responsible for devising and implementing additional programmes to meet the particular needs of companies based in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and for promoting Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to foreign investors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, how many people are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage enforcement team based in Belfast.

Mr David Gauke

The Government takes the enforcement of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

The National Minimum Wage team in Northern Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff with all using Belfast as a base location.

However, as I explained in my previous response, HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the direct financial benefit of the abolition of air passenger duty bands C and D to airports in Northern Ireland.

Priti Patel

The abolition of Air Passenger Duty bands C and D cuts up to £52 per passenger off the cost of a journey originating in Northern Ireland, including connecting flights.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the commitment made by the UK Government in its economic pact with the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2013, what specific actions he has taken to encourage British embassies in emerging markets to promote jobs and growth in Northern Ireland.

Mr Hugo Swire

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) works to support business from across the United Kingdom. Over the last few years we have expanded our diplomatic presence in key high growth markets, which has allowed us to increase engagement and reach, including in the fastest growing cities outside major capitals. This network works for open Markets and free trade conditions, promotes the UK through the GREAT campaign, and supports individual companies in pursuit of specific business opportunities.

United Kingdom Trade and Investment works closely with Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland’s trade and investment organisation, to ensure that all our businesses have access to the full range of UKTI services, as well as the additional support provided by each of the devolved administrations. In June 2013, the FCO organised a very successful G8 summit at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. The G8 Summit demonstrated to the global community that Northern Ireland is a first class destination for business and tourism. In October 2013 Invest Northern Ireland, working with UKTI, organised an investment conference which attracted 121 international companies. Inward investment visits for the period from October to December 2013, following both the G8 Summit and the investment conference increased by 162% year-on-year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Regional Air Connectivity Fund has been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland since that fund was created.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Regional Air Connectivity Fund has not currently been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland.

The fund can be used maintain existing domestic air connectivity to London where there is a risk that an existing link may be lost, and to provide financial support to develop new routes from airports of less than five million passengers per year.

Northern Ireland is well-connected by air to London with over 18,000 flights per year between the two Belfast airports and the five main London airports, carrying over two million passengers. The first use of this fund was announced earlier this summer to protect the air route between Dundee and London through a Public Service Obligation.

With regards to providing Start-up aid for new routes, the Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes. The Department for Transport expects to publish this guidance in the autumn.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many delegates from manufacturers based in Northern Ireland were invited to the BIS Manufacturing Summit 2014 held on 19 June 2014.

Michael Fallon

Information on the regional location of Manufacturing Summit delegates was not requested as part of the registration process. However, from the limited data available we have identified one Northern Ireland-based manufacturing company which was invited to the Manufacturing Summit. This particular company decided not to send a representative.

For future summits we will be looking at ways to create a more diverse mix of CEO-level participants from across manufacturing industry. Proactive suggestions from Hon Members would be welcome as part of this process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many applicants for the Start-Up Loans Scheme have been received from Northern Ireland; and what value of such loans have been provided for new businesses in Northern Ireland since the scheme was launched.

Matthew Hancock

To date there have been 913 applications for Start-Up Loans in Northern Ireland including applications that have been withdrawn, declined or still in progress. Of these applications, 120 loans with a value of £562,110 have been drawn down to date.