Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to support the accelerated roll out of the Ampthill post office banking hub.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Cash Access UK is responsible for rolling out banking hubs. It usually takes around 12 months for a Banking Hub to be set up by Cash Access UK. Steps include finding a suitable property, negotiating with landlords and signing leases and obtaining any necessary planning approval from the local authority.
Ampthill was recommended to receive a Banking Hub by LINK. Cash Access UK has found a suitable location for the Banking Hub in Ampthill and are now working to get the premises ready. It is currently due to open in Q2 this year. Works are due to start on site this month, subject to lease signing.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Secretary of State for Wales’s oral contribution of 23 January 2024 during the debate on Protecting Steel in the UK, Official Report, column 265, whether her Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned an independent assessment of the potential merits of the multi-union plan for steel production at Port Talbot.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Tata Steel are now conducting a formal consultation period with staff regarding the company’s proposed £1.25 billion pound project to transition to greener steelmaking at Port Talbot.
Prior to this, Tata Steel have been discussing Union’s alternative proposals with them for several months. Ultimately, this is a commercial decision for Tata Steel and engagement with trade unions has always been a process that must be led by the employer.
We are working with Tata Steel to provide up to £100 million pounds funding for a dedicated Transition Board, which includes members from the Welsh Government, to support both affected employees and the local economy.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department’s publication entitled DBT ministers’ overseas travel: July to September 2023, published on 15 December 2023, how much of the (a) £5,711.94 spent on the visit of the Minister of State for Business and Trade to India from 1 July to 4 July 2023 and (b) £6,123.51 spent on his visit to Oman from 12 September to 15 September 2023 was spent on air travel.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
a) Of the £5,711.94, £5.463.14 was spent on air travel to India between 1 July 2023 and 4 July 2023.
b) Of the £6,123.5, £6,123.5 was spent on air travel to Oman between 12 September 2023 and 15 September 2023.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department’s publication entitled DBT ministers’ overseas travel: July to September 2023, published on 15 December 2023, how much of the (a) £14,486.53 spent on her visit to Australia and New Zealand from 13 July to 19 July 2023 and (b) £7,223.21 spent on her visit to India from 24 August to 27 August 2023 was spent on air travel.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
a) Of the £14,486.53, £14,074.71 was spent on air travel between 13 July and 19 July 2023.
b) Of the £7,223.21, £6,668.21 was spent on air travel between 24 August and 27 August 2023.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to encourage the creation of businesses in (i) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (ii) Bedfordshire.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government aims to make the UK the best place in the world to start a business.
The Start Up Loans Company, part of the Government-owned British Business Bank, is creating opportunities for businesses to start and grow. As of October 2023, 13 SMEs in Mid Bedfordshire have received start-up loans to the value of £159,200 and 70 SMEs in Bedfordshire to the value of £838,600.
The government also provides extensive support to aspiring businesses, through the Business Support Helpline, a network of Growth Hubs and GOV.UK website, which provides information on starting up and running a business.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many SMEs in Mid Bedfordshire constituency have received Government funding in each of the last three years.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government aims to make the UK the best place in the world to start, scale up, and grow a business. We provide extensive business support, with over 40 help offers available.
12,469 business support grants totalling some £82.28m were made in Central Bedfordshire between March 2020 and March 2022.These grants provided vital support for businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.
Our Business Support Helpline and Growth Hubs provide expert advice, guidance, and signposting to all types of business. The Government-backed British Business Bank also improves access to finance and is providing over £12.4bn of finance to over 90,000 SMEs.