Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the description of the Start Up Loans Scheme as Government Backed in providing clarity to prospective applicants about the Government’s financial support for the scheme, including whether the Government (a) underwrites and (b) guarantees the lending provided.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Start Up Loans programme provides access to finance for individuals seeking to start or grow a business. The programme is described as government-backed because the programme and its lending are funded by government through the British Business Bank. A Start Up Loan is an unsecured personal loan, rather than a government guarantee of borrowing from another lender. The individual borrower remains personally responsible for repaying the loan, and this is made clear to prospective applicants. Lending decisions are made by Start Up Loans’ finance providers, following assessment of an applicant’s business plan, affordability and creditworthiness.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that businesses and employers are contributing to enhancing social mobility through (a) apprenticeships, (b) internships and (c) employment practices.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Plan to Make Work Pay aims to improve fairness at work, ensure equal treatment and opportunity, and support low-paid workers.
Too many young people are struggling to access high-quality opportunities. That is why this government is working with businesses to develop new foundation apprenticeships: to give more young people a foot in the door at the start of their working lives whilst supporting the pipeline of new talent that employers will need to drive economic growth.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the selection criteria is for membership of the Hospitality Sector Council.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Hospitality Sector Council’s Terms of Reference is publicly available, outlining that membership is by invitation only and is subject to final agreement by DBT Ministers in consultation with the joint chairs. Members are selected to provide a breadth of knowledge and experience across the hospitality sector and Government. All members are selected in a personal capacity and will be expected to speak for their areas of expertise rather than the specific interests of their organisation.
Membership is reviewed by DBT and it may be amended to take account of changing priorities in the sector to ensure appropriate representation and expertise is maintained.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Oscar Mayer Limited on its employment practices.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Ministers meet regularly with business organisations and trade associations. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly on GOV.UK.
This Government has introduced the Employment Rights Bill, representing the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. This includes day one protections from unfair dismissal, banning exploitative zero hours contracts and ending fire and rehire.