The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment on the closure of the Business Growth Service.
Anna Soubry
As a Spending Review decision, closure of the Business Growth Service (BGS) was not subject to a formal impact assessment. We do not expect closure of the BGS to have an impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take in the light of the recent report by the Office of the UNHCR detailing atrocities committed against civilians, particularly women, in the civil war in South Sudan; whether the Responsibility to Protect policy applies in that case; and if so, how it will be applied.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK is deeply concerned by the findings of the recent UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report. The Responsibility to Protect was agreed by all UN member states; it imposes an obligation on all states to protect their populations, and for the international community to assist. Due to the severity of the situation in South Sudan we are taking action on multiple levels. We are raising our serious concerns directly with the government, encouraging the African Union to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, and pressing the UN Security Council to agree an arms embargo. At the UN Human Rights Council we are pressing for a UN Special Rapporteur to be agreed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has received representations from Virgin Trains or Stagecoach since 1 April 2015 on potential variations to the current Intercity East Coast franchise agreement.
Claire Perry
As with all Franchise Agreements, negotiations take place between the Franchise Operator and the Department, and since 1 April 2015 we regularly meet with Virgin Trains East Coast to discuss progress and potential changes to the Franchise Agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she still plans to introduce compulsory resit tests in (a) English reading and (b) mathematics for year 7 pupils who do not reach the required standard at the end of key stage 2.
Nick Gibb
The Secretary of State has already announced the Government’s plans to introduce resits in Year 7. This announcement can found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nicky-morgan-no-tolerance-of-areas-where-majority-of-pupils-fail.
We have been clear that the resits will not be implemented in the next academic year and that we will engage with the education sector to make sure the tests are introduced in a way that works for schools. Further information will be provided in due course.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has made an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of negotiations for leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Davis
The new Department for Exiting the European Union is equipping itself to oversee negotiations to leave the EU and establish the future relationship between the UK and EU. The overall size and scope of the new department, including staffing and budget, are under consideration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data is held by her Department on levels of parental debt owed to schools.
Edward Timpson
The department does not hold data from which to supply the information requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many local authorities permit taxi drivers to charge for carriage of a wheelchair; and how many local authorities specify in their licensing rules that such charges may not be levied.
Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport does not hold information regarding individual licensing authorities’ taxi tariffs or licensing rules.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she expects to be able to announce how carbon capture and storage research and deployment will be funded in future; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
Decisions on which technologies to support with research, development and demonstration funding will be made in due course, in the context of our agreed policy objectives, with a clear focus on targeting investment in areas of demonstrable market failure. A generating station connected to a complete CCS system is an eligible technology for Contracts for Difference under the Contract for Difference Regulations. Contracts for Difference for CCS are awarded on direction of my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Whether or not the Secretary of State would consider awarding a CfDs to a specific project would be subject to the circumstances at the time, including factors such as the value for money and affordability of a project and competing demands on available budgets.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2016 to Question 22596, what assessment he has made of the net negative impact on business of the Employment Appeal Tribunal decision in Bear Scotland and other court decisions relating to holiday pay.
Nick Boles
The Department has produced an Impact Assessment of the implications for business of holiday pay cases such as Bear Scotland. This was published alongside the Deduction from Wages (Limitation) Regulations 2014, which limit backdated holiday pay claims to two years from 1 July 2015. The Impact Assessment can be found on the legislation.gov.uk web site at this link
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/3322/impacts
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with social enterprises and other small and medium-sized enterprises about the potential effect of the closure of the Growth Accelerator Programme.
Anna Soubry
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills continues to have discussions with businesses and their representatives. They have told us that there is strong appetite in the private sector to fill the gap in the market and develop sustainable offers of support.