To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
British Business Bank
Tuesday 28th June 2022

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what ministerial directions they have given to the British Business Bank; and what were the contents of those directions.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A Ministerial Direction is a formal instruction by a Minister to the Chief Accounting Office of their department to proceed with a spending proposal. These are available on the GOV.UK website.

In the case of the British Business Bank plc, a Written Direction is a formal instruction issued by or on behalf of the British Business Bank’s Shareholder, the Secretary of State for BEIS, to proceed with a requested course of action after the Board has raised its concerns through a Reservation Notice. With respect to the Government’s Covid-19 Loan Schemes, all these notices are publicly available to view on the Bank’s website and GOV.UK.


Written Question
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Senior Civil Servants
Monday 26th October 2020

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many BAME civil servants there are at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at (1) SCS1, (2) SCS2, (3) SCS3, and (4) SCS4, grade.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy currently employs 21 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) members of staff at SCS1; 3 at SCS2; 1 at SCS3; and 0 at SCS4.


Written Question
UK Research and Innovation: Taxation
Friday 20th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what tax liabilities UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has generated since its inception; what estimates they have of the extent of these liabilities in this financial year and the next; and whether such tax liabilities will reduce the funds available to UKRI for distribution via Research Councils.

Answered by Lord Henley

Like many other non-departmental bodies, UKRI’s tax liabilities include VAT and business rates. As UKRI is a new body, we are working with HMRC and HMT to ensure it pays the necessary and appropriate levels of tax. While details are being worked out, UKRI is meeting all new costs centrally and there has been no impact on Research Council spending. UKRI estimates the potential additional tax impact on running costs, following the creation of UKRI, to be £15m per annum. Further to this, some of UKRI’s capital projects previously qualified for VAT relief, so the impact of UKRI’s new legal status on this is being assessed and will be factored into UKRI’s planning going forward. UKRI and BEIS remain focussed on maximising spend on frontline science and research.


Written Question
Cancer: Young People
Wednesday 15th June 2016

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK companies are subsidiaries of another company that is registered (1) within the EU, or (2) in the rest of the world; and what estimate they have made of the total value of those UK companies.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Companies House’s role is to hold the register of UK companies and make the information available to the public. Its role is not to provide detailed analysis on companies. Providing an accurate figure on the number and value of UK companies that are subsidiaries of other non-UK companies would breach the disproportionate cost threshold given the volume and complexity of the information within the dataset.


Written Question
NHS: Finance
Wednesday 15th June 2016

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the value of (1) imports, and (2) exports, from other EU member states to each local authority area in the UK.

Answered by Lord Price

Regional trade statistics at the local authority level are not available.

Trade statistics showing the value of trade in goods between UK regions/countries (NUTS 1 level) and EU member states are available from the HM Revenue and Customs’ Regional Trade Statistics database.


Written Question
Living Wage
Tuesday 16th February 2016

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the billboards and other poster sites used in the National Living Wage campaign are (1) in London, and (2) in each other region of the UK.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

48 sheets, 6 sheet bus stop posters, and bus interior panels are being used in the National Living Wage campaign. The sites are selected based on a combination of population data, poster site availability, and analysis of data showing regions where recipients of the NLW are expected to be highest. The percentage of 48 sheets and 6 sheet bus stop posters booked in London is 17%.

The percentage of 48 sheets and 6 sheet bus stop posters booked across the UK is:

Northern Ireland 7%; Scotland 15%; Wales 4%; England 74%

The percentage of bus interior panels across the UK (not available in NI) is:

Scotland 10%; Wales 2%; England 87%

The Government’s new National Living Wage is a step up for working people, so it is important workers know their rights and that employers pay the new £7.20 from April 1 this year. Britain deserves a pay rise and as a One Nation Government we are making sure it gets one. The campaign will tell people about their entitlements and is targeted at employers, and workers currently earning the National Minimum Wage.


Written Question
Living Wage
Tuesday 16th February 2016

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much is being spent on (1) billboards and poster sites, (2) television and radio advertising, (3) digital advertising, and (4) other forms of advertising, for the National Living Wage campaign.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The total budget allocated for the National Living Wage advertising campaign is £4.95 million. The campaign will run until the end of April and we expect to come in under budget.

A breakdown of the anticipated costs for the campaign advertising can be found in the table below:

Poster advertising £751,612.69

TV and video on demand (VOD) £1,730,387.70

Social media advertising £354,000

Digital display advertising and Pay per click (PPC) £520,000

Newspaper/magazine advertising £250,000

Radio £299,826

The Government’s new National Living Wage is a step up for working people, so it is important workers know their rights and that employers pay the new £7.20 from April 1 this year. Britain deserves a pay rise and as a One Nation Government we are making sure it gets one. The campaign will tell people about their entitlements and is targeted at employers, and workers currently earning the National Minimum Wage.


Written Question
Living Wage
Tuesday 16th February 2016

Asked by: Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total cost of the advertising campaign for the National Living Wage.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The total budget allocated for the National Living Wage advertising campaign is £4.95 million. The campaign will run to the end of April and we expect to come in under budget.

The Government’s new National Living Wage is a step up for working people, so it is important workers know their rights and that employers pay the new £7.20 from April 1 this year. Britain deserves a pay rise and as a One Nation Government we are making sure it gets one. The campaign will tell people about their entitlements and is targeted at employers, and workers currently earning the National Minimum Wage.