Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the number of labour market inspectors in line with the International Labour Organisation benchmark of one for every 10,000 workers.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Government is exploring options for a single labour market enforcement body – we will publish proposals on this for consultation shortly. More recently we announced that this consultation will consider extending the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority’s licensing scheme to further sectors and that we will ensure trade unions and businesses are consulted on the strategic direction of labour market enforcement.
As part of the forthcoming Spending Review we will consider what level of funding is appropriate to ensure that it is adequately resourced to deliver its strengthened remit.
Government is committed to ensuring fair and effective enforcement. We have taken concrete measures to increase the number of labour market inspectors and extend their coverage.
The Good Work Plan went further, setting out a number of measures to improve state enforcement of core employment rights. In addition to introducing state enforcement of holiday pay for vulnerable workers, we also committed to expand protection of agency workers to cover umbrella companies.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to increase prosecution and conviction rates for non-payment of the minimum wage.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (NMW) is a top priority for the Government; we have increased HMRC’s enforcement budget to a record high of £26.3 million for 2018-19.
Last year, HMRC identified a record £15.6 million in arrears of wages for over 200,000 workers. In addition, HMRC issued £14.1 million in financial penalties to employers who breached NMW rules; the highest amount ever.
In addition to civil penalties, since April 2016 Labour Market Enforcement Agencies have been making use of new powers to issue Labour Market Enforcement Undertakings and Orders. A two year custodial sentence and/or unlimited fine is available where a business breaches an LME order.
Prosecution is reserved for the most egregious breaches of NMW law. In most cases it is not the best approach to help workers. Criminal sanctions against employers can mean that workers must wait considerably longer for their lost earnings to be paid back.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to seek reciprocal recognition of unregistered design rights between the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
As expressed in the UK Technical Note on “Other Separation Issues”, where the UK does not have existing domestic legislation to protect certain types of rights, it will establish new schemes. This will preserve the full scope of the unregistered Community design right in the UK.
In respect of reciprocal recognition of EU and UK unregistered design rights, negotiations will take place with the EU as part of the leaving process, which we hope will deal with these matters.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to maintain a continuation of the EEA exhaustion regime in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Exhaustion of rights is one of the IPO’s priorities in preparing for the UK’s exit from the EU, and we are working closely with other departments on this subject.
The current framework means that rights are exhausted after first sale within the EEA. In the draft Withdrawal Agreement the EU and UK have agreed, in principle, that IP rights exhausted in the EU and the UK before the end of the transition period shall remain exhausted in both areas.
We are considering options for the choice of regime in the future.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications were received by Innovate UK from applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
In 2015 the number of applications received by lead applicants from:
(a) England 4,020
(b) Wales 133
(c) Scotland 224
(d) Northern Ireland 50
In 2016 the number of application received from :
(a) England 4,053
(b) Wales 159
(c) Scotland 239
(d) Northern Ireland 54
There is no data available for 2017.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications received by Innovate UK from applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland were successful in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
In 2015 the number of successful applications by lead applicants from:
(a) England 1,059 (26.34% success rate)
(b) Wales 44 (33.08% success rate)
(c) Scotland 62 (27.68% success rate)
(d) Northern Ireland 12 (24% success rate)
In 2016 the number of successful applications by lead applicants from:
(a) England 1,106 (27.29% success rate)
(b) Wales 41 (25.79% success rate)
(c) Scotland 85 (35.56% success rate)
(d) Northern Ireland 19 (35.19% success rate)
There is no data available for 2017.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding Innovate UK awarded to applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Total grant commitments awarded to all applicants/participants from:
2015-2016
(a) England 634,666,900 (core budget only – 285,291,379)
(b) Wales 13,702,138 (core budget only – 12,329,668)
(c) Scotland 32, 371,269 (core budget only – 21,748,053)
(d) Northern Ireland 10,378,401 (core budget only - 3,746,692)
2016-2017
(a) England 658,944,899 (core budget only – 298,702,027)
(b) Wales 18,699,408 (core budget only – 18,129,691)
(c) Scotland 26,786,768 (core budget only – 26,180,878))
(d) Northern Ireland 11,280,825 (core budget only – 9,023,132)
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the number of bids to Innovate UK from applicants in Wales.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
There is on ongoing activities through UK Research and Innovation which brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and funding for university research through Research England. Companies have opportunities to bid for funding projects through connecting services for innovators such as Knowledge Transfer Network and Enterprise Europe Network. Details of funding opportunities are also published on www.gov.uk.
Since 2016, Innovate UK has put in place regional managers throughout the UK, including in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These managers are working with local stakeholders to strengthen relationships with key players in cities and regions, as well as to ensure that businesses throughout the regions and nations understand the offer from Innovate UK. Over the last 12 months Innovate UK have held 10 specific regional events aligned with and co-developed with each region, (e.g. the recent ‘NW Innovation’ event with Jürgen Maier), as well as participating in flagship events such as the Wales Festival of Innovation, Northern Ireland Science Festival, and Great Expedition of the North. We are also participating in innovation strategy boards throughout the UK, including those reporting to Ministers such as the Can Do Forum in Scotland, and Innovation Advisory Council for Wales. This will have real impact as Local Industrial Strategies are developed in the coming year
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to seek formal membership, participation in, or co-operation with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out in her Florence speech, we want to continue working together with the EU to promote the long-term economic development of our continent. This includes continuing to take part in those specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture – and those that promote our mutual security.
In our Future Partnership Paper, “Collaboration on Science and Innovation”, we have made clear that the UK will seek an ambitious science and innovation agreement with the EU. The UK would like to work with the EU on designing this agreement, and would welcome a full and open discussion about all of the options for continued collaboration, including options for UK participation in EU programmes, agencies and other bodies.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to seek formal cooperation with or participation in the European Research Council Executive Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out in her Florence speech, we want to continue working together with the EU to promote the long-term economic development of our continent. This includes continuing to take part in those specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture – and those that promote our mutual security.
In our Future Partnership Paper, “Collaboration on Science and Innovation”, we have made clear that the UK will seek an ambitious science and innovation agreement with the EU. The UK would like to work with the EU on designing this agreement, and would welcome a full and open discussion about all of the options for continued collaboration, including options for UK participation in EU programmes, agencies and other bodies.