Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding for research has been allocated by the EU to UK institutions in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, and (c) 2016-17.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regularly publish statistics on UK participations in Horizon 2020, the main EU programme for research and innovation funding. As part of Horizon 2020, between 2014 and 2017 UK organisations have been allocated €4.0 billion research funding. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-participation-in-horizon-2020-september-2017.
The European Commission publishes data on the 2014-20 European Structural and Investment Funds programmes. Over €1.6bn has been allocated for research and innovation to the UK. Further information can be found at: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/countries/UK# .
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many new companies were started in Stafford constituency in each of the last three years.
Answered by Margot James
The Office for National Statistics has published user requested statistics regarding the number of enterprise “births” in UK Parliamentary Constituencies. A “birth” occurs when a business appears on the Inter-Departmental Business Register, following registration for either VAT or PAYE.
The following table gives “births” in the Stafford Parliamentary Constituency for the most recent three years available.
Stafford Parliamentary Constituency
2013 - 405
2014 - 415
2015 - 380
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses the Manufacturing Advisory Service has assisted in Stafford constituency since May 2015.
Answered by Claire Perry
A study carried out by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills found that 13% of all projects funded by the government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service between (2012 - 2016) were located in the West Midlands, however the service was closed in (March) 2016. However, figures are not broken down to specific areas or towns.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Stafford constituency.
Answered by Margot James
We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow and the right conditions are in place for companies to invest for the long-term.
Small businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub also acts as the first port of call for local businesses seeking advice or support. Since its launch in May 2014, the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub has engaged and supported 4340 businesses and it has helped 385 individuals to start up a new business.
Since November 2014, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated over £4.3m* to 87 businesses in the constituency of Stafford. This includes 54 Start-up Loans at a value of £415,957.
Stafford constituency is also part of the Midlands Engine. A key part of the Government’s strategy for fuelling growth in the region is the £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is a result of close collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It aims to transform the finance landscape for smaller businesses in the Midlands, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation. The Fund launched its first wave, £120m of Debt and Small Business funds, at the end of August.
*This does not include ENABLE funding data as this is not available at a constituency level.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Margot James
We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow and the right conditions are in place for companies to invest for the long-term.
Small businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub also acts as the first port of call for local businesses seeking advice or support. Since its launch in May 2014, the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub has engaged and supported 4340 businesses and it has helped 385 individuals to start up a new business.
Since November 2014, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated over £4.3m* to 87 businesses in the constituency of Stafford. This includes 54 Start-up Loans at a value of £415,957.
Stafford constituency is also part of the Midlands Engine. A key part of the Government’s strategy for fuelling growth in the region is the £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is a result of close collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It aims to transform the finance landscape for smaller businesses in the Midlands, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation. The Fund launched its first wave, £120m of Debt and Small Business funds, at the end of August.
*This does not include ENABLE funding data as this is not available at a constituency level.