Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to increase financial assistance for the regeneration of coalfield communities.
Answered by Margot James
The Government believes that local places themselves should be empowered to deliver the right investments to support economic growth and regeneration in their communities. In England, Local Enterprise Partnerships have had crucial roles in administering all funding for local economic development and regeneration. The nature of economic development in the other three nations of the UK, however, is a matter for the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to introduce a new regeneration strategy for coalfield communities.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is committed to helping every part of the country share in prosperity, unlocking investment in local areas and driving regeneration forward. In recent years, the Government has invested in supporting economic growth and prosperity in regions across the country, such as through City Deals and with the Local Growth Fund in England.
The Government’s flagship Industrial Strategy has place at its heart. Driving growth across the whole of the UK by building on the strengths and opportunities of different places is central to its wider ambition of boosting productivity and earning power. To build an economy that works for all we must therefore help all our cities and towns to reach their full potential. Our varied approach will support places that are struggling as well as building on clusters of high productivity in different parts of the country. We will publish our Industrial Strategy White Paper later this year, setting out our plan for full and long-term delivery.
The Government is developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a programme of investment to reduce inequalities between communities and increase productivity across the UK, in line with our modern Industrial Strategy. The Government will work with the all devolved administrations at the earliest opportunity as a part of this process, in advance of a full public consultation. We welcome the input of all stakeholders in this process, and encourage communities to bring ambitious regeneration proposals forward.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people in Ogmore constituency whose tariffs will change as a result of the Government's proposals to safeguard customers on the poorest value tariff.
Answered by Margot James
Ofgem is considering options to protect vulnerable consumers and has yet to announce a formal proposal. Alongside this Ofgem has announced a package of measures to help consumers move away from poor value tariffs.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to further regulate the insolvency service.
Answered by Margot James
The Insolvency Service is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; I have no plans to change the regulatory arrangements for the Department. However, I also have ministerial responsibility as oversight regulator for the insolvency profession and as such will continue to ensure that confidence in the insolvency regime is maintained.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the infringement of intellectual property through social media.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Intellectual Property Office has commissioned independent research into the role that social media plays in directing consumers to physical counterfeit goods.
The research looks at the role that social media plays in the sale and distribution of counterfeited and pirated physical goods from six representative sectors: alcohol, cigarettes, clothing, footwear, perfume and watches. The study attempts to assess the scale, impact and characteristics of infringements by reviewing the current literature and government and industry data, as well as a 3,000 person online consumer survey.
The report will be published shortly, and will be available on the IPO website.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that the provisions of Directive 89/48/EEC relating to professional qualifications are retained in UK law when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Margot James
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and ensure a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will convert existing European Union law into domestic law, wherever practical.
The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to respond to the recommendations of the Competition and Market Authority report on the energy sector, published in December 2016.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is carefully considering the recommendations of the Competition and Market Authority and will be responding soon.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what options his Department provides to people whose application for a Start Up Loan has been unsuccessful due to their credit score.
Answered by Margot James
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 44747.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
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 provide any alternative support for people who have been refused a Start-up loan due to their credit score.
Answered by Margot James
The Start Up Loans Company assess applications based on a range of factors including business viability and affordability. If an application does not meet the lending criteria an applicant will be signposted to a number of credit reference agencies to obtain a copy of their credit report. Additionally, they will be signposted to other lending organisations and charities that may be able to help them.
There are also other Government supported schemes to help people who want to set up and grow a business. The 39 Growth Hubs across England provide support to help businesses start-up and grow with the Business Support Helpline also providing information and guidance. In addition, individuals and small businesses can access the British Business Bank’s Business Finance Guide, which aims to ensure individuals understand the finance options available to them.