Gordon Marsden Portrait

Gordon Marsden

Labour - Former Member for Blackpool South

First elected: 1st May 1997

Left House: 6th November 2019 (Defeated)


Gordon Marsden is not a member of any APPGs
10 Former APPG memberships
Arts and Heritage, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Osteoporosis, Osteoposis, Ovarian Cancer, Tourism, Leisure and the Hospitality Industry, Veterans
Shadow Minister (Education)
18th Sep 2015 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills)
18th Sep 2015 - 11th Oct 2016
Shadow Minister (Transport)
7th Oct 2013 - 18th Sep 2015
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
26th Oct 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills)
12th May 2010 - 7th Oct 2013
Commons Science and Technology
1st Oct 2009 - 6th May 2010
Education & Skills
12th Jul 2005 - 8th Nov 2007
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
31st Jan 2002 - 5th May 2005
Education & Employment
9th Nov 1998 - 11th May 2001


Division Voting information

Gordon Marsden has voted in 2484 divisions, and 25 times against the majority of their Party.

27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 22 Labour No votes vs 111 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 184 Noes - 293
25 Jun 2018 - National Policy Statement: Airports - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 119
23 Feb 2015 - Serious Crime Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 28 Labour Aye votes vs 178 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 201 Noes - 292
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 69 Labour Aye votes vs 138 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 256
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour No votes vs 139 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 233
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour No votes vs 141 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 46 Labour No votes vs 126 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 205 Noes - 228
29 Apr 2009 - Gurkha Settlement Rights - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 28 Labour Aye votes vs 238 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 246
4 Nov 2008 - Employment Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Labour Aye votes vs 212 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 53 Noes - 408
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 49 Labour Aye votes vs 227 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 206 Noes - 298
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 47 Labour Aye votes vs 226 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 194 Noes - 306
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 45 Labour Aye votes vs 226 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 183 Noes - 308
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 82 Labour Aye votes vs 136 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 196
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour Aye votes vs 159 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 141 Noes - 216
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 39 Labour Aye votes vs 240 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 190 Noes - 332
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Labour Aye votes vs 229 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 173 Noes - 309
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 56 Labour Aye votes vs 231 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 304
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 61 Labour Aye votes vs 215 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 176 Noes - 336
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 62 Labour Aye votes vs 216 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 286
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 58 Labour Aye votes vs 217 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 181 Noes - 314
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Labour Aye votes vs 233 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 318
28 Mar 2007 - deferred divisions - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 18 Labour No votes vs 265 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 250
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 111 Labour Aye votes vs 197 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 375
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 96 Labour No votes vs 207 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 337 Noes - 224
14 Jun 2006 - Parliamentary and Local Elections (Choice of Electoral Systems) - View Vote Context
Gordon Marsden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 17 Labour Aye votes vs 68 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 72 Noes - 168
View All Gordon Marsden Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Robert Halfon (Conservative)
(71 debate interactions)
Kelvin Hopkins (Independent)
(31 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Education
(350 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(78 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(58 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Higher Education and Research Act 2017
(121,034 words contributed)
Technical and Further Education Act 2017
(80,907 words contributed)
Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
(2,080 words contributed)
University of London Act 2018
(1,554 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Gordon Marsden's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Gordon Marsden

4th November 2019
Gordon Marsden signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 4th November 2019

Post Office Closures in Blackpool South constituency

Tabled by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
That this House expresses its concern about the announcement of closures at three post offices in Blackpool in the last few weeks, Marton, Waterloo and Mereside; notes that this leaves local residents without a range of post office services and without access to free withdrawal facilities at ATMs attached to …
2 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 2
23rd October 2019
Gordon Marsden signed this EDM on Tuesday 29th October 2019

Persecution of Christians

Tabled by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - Godalming and Ash)
That this House notes the 2019 report of Aid to the Church in Need entitled Persecuted and Forgotten? which shows that the Christian population of Iraq has declined by 90 per cent within a generation from 1.5 million before 2003 to less than 150,000 today; recognises that any Daesh resurgence …
43 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 15
Labour: 12
Scottish National Party: 8
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Liberal Democrat: 2
Green Party: 1
View All Gordon Marsden's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Gordon Marsden, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Gordon Marsden

Monday 20th November 2017

3 Adjournment Debates led by Gordon Marsden

Gordon Marsden has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

1 Bill co-sponsored by Gordon Marsden

Football Regulation Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Christian Matheson (Ind)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
34 Other Department Questions
11th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students studying higher education in further education colleges received maintenance grants in the last year for which figures are available.

Statistics showing the number of English applicants awarded maintenance grants are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’.

http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx


Data provided by the SLC indicates there were 33,700 English applicants awarded maintenance grants for HE courses associated with publicly-funded further education colleges in the academic year 2014/15.

A course can be held at a campus of the associated institution or at a franchise location, therefore numbers of applicants to courses associated with an institution may not necessarily reflect the numbers studying at the institution. An awarded applicant will only receive payments once SLC have received confirmation from the applicant’s provider that the student has been registered on the course.



8th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what date the second wave Area Reviews for further education college providers he plans to commence.


As we have set out in the published information relating to the second wave of area reviews, the first steering group meeting, which will be in the Marches and Worcestershire area, is scheduled to take place on Monday 18 January 2016.

8th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which colleges he plans are to be included in (a) the third wave Area Reviews for Lancashire (Pennines) further education colleges and (b) in the fourth wave Area Reviews for Lancashire (Coastal) further education colleges.

We have published indicative information in relation to the future waves, 3 to 5, of the area reviews. This includes the proposed reviews for the Lancashire area. I met with the Lancashire College Group yesterday and discussed with them the timing of the two Lancashire reviews and the colleges to be included in each. We will review the future waves in light of further discussions and ongoing assessment of risk and we will publish updated information on this in due course.


10th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what consultations he or officials in his Department have had with (a) further education college representatives, (b) further education providers and (c) sector skills councils about the structures on board composition of the proposed Institute for Apprenticeships announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.


The creation of the Institute for Apprenticeships has been informed by feedback from employers and employer groups such as the CBI, as well as organisations working alongside our employer-led trailblazers to develop new apprenticeship standards. This includes representatives of training providers and sector skills councils.


The chair and board members of the Institute will be appointed though a public appointments process in 2016.


10th Dec 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff were employed by full-time equivalence (a) in total and (b) by region in the National Apprenticeship Service in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2014-15; and how many staff will be employed by full-time equivalence in the National Apprenticeship Service in (A) 2015-16, (B) 2016-17 and (C) 2017-18.

The National Apprenticeships Service is housed within the Skills Funding Agency. The tables below outline the total number of staff employed by full-time equivalence and by region in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2014-15; and how many staff will be employed by full-time equivalence in (A) 2015-16, (B) 2016-17 and (C) 2017-18.

*The Skills Funding Agency is unable to forecast future headcount.


Year

Total

Region

2010-11 (as at 31 March 2011)

Headcount 382

East Midlands – 33 East of England – 32 London – 37 North East – 26 North West – 36 South East – 33 South West – 35 West Midlands – 27 Yorkshire & Humber – 36 National - 87

2012-13 (as at 31 March 2013)

Headcount 340

London – 54 Central – 66 North East – 64 North West – 40 South East – 39 South West – 51 National - 26

2014-15 (as at 31 March 2015)

Headcount 317

London – 54 Central – 66 North East – 64 North West – 40 South East – 51 South West – 39 National - 3

2015-16 (as at 11.12.15)

Headcount 245

N/A

2016-17*

Not available

N/A

2017-18*

Not available

N/A


26th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what consultation his Department carried out with (a) students and their representative bodies and (b) other people and bodies before announcing that university maintenance grants would be abolished.



I refer the Hon Member to my reply to the hon Member for Newport West to question UIN 11271.


26th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what timetable he plans to abolish university maintenance grants, including the timetable for laying associated regulations.

New students starting full-time courses from 1 August 2016 onwards who would otherwise have received a grant will qualify for an increased loan for living costs. The total living costs support available in 2016/17 under the new student support arrangements for eligible students on the lowest incomes is increasing by 10.3% when compared with 2015/16.


The Government expects to lay amendments to the Student Support Regulations covering student support for 2016/17 shortly.

26th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of replacing maintenance grants with loans on students from faith backgrounds which discourage the accrual of interest.

The Government expects to publish an Equality Analysis of the changes to student support for the 2016/17 academic year alongside the regulations.


18th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the higher education sector on extending the new postgraduate loans scheme to part-time taught masters students aged over 30.


A consultation on support for postgraduate study was launched in March of this year. The consultation sought views on the Government’s intention to introduce a new loan scheme for taught Master’s study and a review of how to broaden and strengthen support for postgraduate research. Consultation responses have been analysed and the Department is preparing its response.

18th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how he plans for part-time taught masters students who study at a minimum of 50 per cent intensity, but not by means of distance learning, to access the proposed new postgraduate loans scheme.


A consultation on support for postgraduate study was launched in March of this year. The consultation sought views on the Government’s intention to introduce a new loan scheme for taught Master’s study and a review of how to broaden and strengthen support for postgraduate research. Consultation responses have been analysed and the Department is preparing its response.

18th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote the availability of loans to part-time students.


The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has developed marketing materials and information aimed at part time students and these are made available online and through schools and further education colleges as part of the annual Student Finance Tour. Since the new non-means tested part time fee loans were introduced in 2012 the number of students taking out loans has risen from 34,000 in 2012/13 to 55,000 in 2013/14.

18th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the higher education sector on extending the loan book to part-time students who wish to undertake a second degree.

We have extended fee loans for those already holding a degree to students wishing to retrain in engineering, technology and computer science. We continue to examine what more we can do to support part-time including the availability of additional fee loans and are engaging actively with the sector on these issues.

18th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which of the proposals in Higher education: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published by his Department on 6 November 2015 are intended to enhance part-time higher education.


Proposals in the Green Paper, ‘Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’ will benefit both full-time and part-time higher education. Through the Teaching Excellence Framework all students will get better value for money and have more information about the courses they are applying for. Our proposals on social mobility and widening participation will apply to all students and creating a competitive, well regulated higher education system will benefit current and prospective part-time students as well as full-time.


We have taken steps to support part-time students including introducing non-means tested fee loans and extending loans for those already holding a degree to students wishing to retrain in engineering, technology and computer science. We continue to examine what more we can do to support part-time and are engaging actively with the sector on this issue.

9th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the likely impact of freezing the earnings repayment thresholds for 24+ Advanced Learner Loans on the Resource Account and Budgeting charge of outstanding debt which will be written off for 24+ Advanced Learner Loans.


We estimate the RAB charge under option 1 (freeze threshold for all Plan 2 loans, existing and new borrowers from April 2016 to April 2021) will decrease by about 5 percentage points from the current level of 55% to 50%.


Further information on the impact of freezing the earnings repayment thresholds for 24+ Advanced Learning Loans on future repayments is shown in the Consultation on freezing the student loan repayment thresholds, which has been published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-threshold


9th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes to student loan repayment thresholds on repayment regimes for those students who take out 24+ Advanced Learner Loan and who study for an Access to HE qualification but then do not complete an HE qualification.

Where a learner takes out a loan to fund an Access to HE Diploma course, and then goes on to complete their HE Diploma course, then the 24+ Advanced Learning Loan is written off.


The impact of freezing the threshold for students who take out 24+ Advanced Learning Loans to study for an Access to HE qualification but do not complete an HE qualification will be similar to the impact for all 24+ Advanced Learning Loan borrowers.


Estimates of the impact of freezing the repayment thresholds for 24+ Advanced Learning Loans borrowers are illustrated in the consultation document, which has been published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-threshold

9th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes to student loan repayment thresholds on repayment regimes for students who take out 24+ Advanced Learner Loan and who study for a Level 3 qualification who then study for and complete an HE qualification.

The impact of freezing the threshold for students who take out 24+ Advanced Learning Loans to study Level 3 qualification who then complete an HE qualification will be similar to the impact for all HE borrowers.


Estimates of the impact of freezing the repayment thresholds for HE borrowers are illustrated in the consultation document, which has been published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-threshold

9th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the Resource Account and Budgeting charge of outstanding debt which will be written off for 24+ Advanced Learner Loans in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) models the proportion of loans which we expect will not be repaid – the resource accounting and budgeting charge (RAB charge). The RAB charge is estimated to be 50% in 2013-14 and 55% in 2014-15. BIS is collecting data on learners as it emerges and based on this data we regularly review and update the RAB charge estimate.


We publish the RAB charge once a year in BIS’ accounts.

4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to apply the freeze of the student loan repayment threshold on which his Department has recently consulted to the repayment of 24+ Advanced Learner Loans.


As set out in the consultation, because both higher education student loans and 24+ Advanced Learning Loans share a repayment threshold, the change will equally affect both groups of learners.


The Spending Review announced that the Government has decided to implement a repayment threshold freeze for all borrowers with post-2012 (‘Plan 2’) loans. The repayment threshold will be £21,000 at April 2016, and it will not be uplifted until at least April 2021, when the threshold will be reviewed. This threshold remains higher in real terms than that of the loans taken out before 2012.

4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's policies of providing bursaries and mathematics enhancement programmes to teaching staff in the further education sector on the total number of mathematics teachers in that sector; and on what evidential basis he made the decision to offer bursaries and mathematics enhancement programmes to teaching staff in the further education sector.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) began offering bursaries to graduates to train to teach maths in the academic year 2013/14. 61 and 136 people took up such bursaries in 2013/14 and 2014/15, respectively. It is estimated that 167 maths bursaries will be taken up in 2015/16.


The maths enhancement is a joint BIS/Department for Education supported programme and commenced in the academic year 2013/14. During 2013/14 and 2014/15 over 2,450 existing further education teachers participated in the maths programmes. During 2015/16 we are continuing to support access to a pipeline programme to enhance the maths skills of existing teachers. This is being delivered by the Education and Training Foundation. We have not made an estimate of the number of programmes that will be taken up in 2015/16.


Emerging findings from the evaluation of the further education (FE) workforce programmes have shown a positive impact on the confidence and effectiveness of FE teachers delivering maths either as a core subject or in vocational context. The evidential basis for intervention in maths teaching was based on the clear need to raise the Maths attainment rates of students in further education; and improve the quality of Maths teaching as identified by Ofsted inspection reports.


4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2015 to Question 13325, how many mathematics enhancement programmes his Department offered people in the further education sector in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15; and how many such programmes he estimates his Department will offer in 2015-16.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) began offering bursaries to graduates to train to teach maths in the academic year 2013/14. 61 and 136 people took up such bursaries in 2013/14 and 2014/15, respectively. It is estimated that 167 maths bursaries will be taken up in 2015/16.


The maths enhancement is a joint BIS/Department for Education supported programme and commenced in the academic year 2013/14. During 2013/14 and 2014/15 over 2,450 existing further education teachers participated in the maths programmes. During 2015/16 we are continuing to support access to a pipeline programme to enhance the maths skills of existing teachers. This is being delivered by the Education and Training Foundation. We have not made an estimate of the number of programmes that will be taken up in 2015/16.


Emerging findings from the evaluation of the further education (FE) workforce programmes have shown a positive impact on the confidence and effectiveness of FE teachers delivering maths either as a core subject or in vocational context. The evidential basis for intervention in maths teaching was based on the clear need to raise the Maths attainment rates of students in further education; and improve the quality of Maths teaching as identified by Ofsted inspection reports.


4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2015 to Question 13325, how many bursaries his Department offered people to become mathematics teachers in the further education sector in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15; and how many such bursaries he estimates his Department will offer in 2015-16.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) began offering bursaries to graduates to train to teach maths in the academic year 2013/14. 61 and 136 people took up such bursaries in 2013/14 and 2014/15, respectively. It is estimated that 167 maths bursaries will be taken up in 2015/16.


The maths enhancement is a joint BIS/Department for Education supported programme and commenced in the academic year 2013/14. During 2013/14 and 2014/15 over 2,450 existing further education teachers participated in the maths programmes. During 2015/16 we are continuing to support access to a pipeline programme to enhance the maths skills of existing teachers. This is being delivered by the Education and Training Foundation. We have not made an estimate of the number of programmes that will be taken up in 2015/16.


Emerging findings from the evaluation of the further education (FE) workforce programmes have shown a positive impact on the confidence and effectiveness of FE teachers delivering maths either as a core subject or in vocational context. The evidential basis for intervention in maths teaching was based on the clear need to raise the Maths attainment rates of students in further education; and improve the quality of Maths teaching as identified by Ofsted inspection reports.


4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) discussions he has had and (b) consultations he has undertaken with sector stakeholders on potential changes to earning repayment thresholds for 24+ Advanced Learner Loans.


The consultation Freezing the student loan repayment threshold covered both higher education student loans and 24+ Advanced Learning Loans. Stakeholders with an interest in 24+ Advanced Learning Loans were notified of the consultation when it was published.

27th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many 24+ Advanced Learner Loans his Department estimated would be issued to people over the age of 24 studying for Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15; what budget his Department allocated to such loans in each of those years; how many Advanced Learner Loans were issued for that cohort in each of those years; and how many of the issued loans were for (i) access to Higher Education courses and (ii) Level 3 and 4 qualifications.

The “New Challenges, New Chances” consultation stage impact assessment “Further Education—Level 3+ Loans” published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 16 August 2011 contained estimates as follows:

  • For the 2013-14 financial year, it was estimated that 186,000 learners aged 24 and above would be supported to start level 3 and level 4 courses. This estimate included both starts supported through loans for the academic year starting in September 2013 (when these loans were introduced), and grant-funded starts prior to that. No separate estimate of loan-funded learners was available.
  • The estimate of starts to be funded by 24+ Advanced Learning Loans for 2014-15 financial year was 171,000. These estimates also included Apprenticeships which were removed from 24+ Advanced Learning Loans in March 2014.

The number of students the budget supports depends on the level of demand and the cost of the courses that students choose. The skills investment strategy published by BIS on 1December 2011 confirmed the budget for further education loans as £129 million in 2013-14 and £398 million in 2014-15. These budgets were not revised.

The 24+ Advanced Learning Loans paid in England report by the Student Loans Company published on 14th October 2015 shows 55,900 learners in the 2013/14 academic year cohort were issued with loans for qualifications at level 3 and above, and 55,100 learners were issued to the 2014/15 academic year cohort.

Data is not available to split the loans issued between Access to HE Diploma courses and other level 3 and level 4 courses. We can, however split the number of approved applications in this way, with the caveat that approved applications are not indicative of actual starts. These are shown in the table below.


2013/14

2014/15

Level 3 and level 4

56,220

56,850

Access to HE Diplomas

15,590

14,440

Source: Student Loans Company

26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many teachers were employed in teaching mathematics subjects in the further education sector in England at the start of (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15 and (f) 2015-16 academic years.

This Department does not hold this information. The Further Education (FE) sector is independent of government and responsible for its own operations. We therefore do not collect information about the numbers of English or mathematics teachers employed by FE institutions.


This Department has ongoing discussions with FE stakeholder organisations about the importance of increasing the number of teachers of mathematics in the sector, as set out in our FE Workforce Strategy published in 2014. The government, through its support of bursaries and other workforce programmes, provided 199 bursaries to individuals to become maths teachers in the Further Education sector in 2013/14 and 2014/15, and also supported 2450 existing teachers to take maths enhancement programmes.


Area Reviews of Post-16 education and training are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas. All reviews will include consideration of the need for sufficient, high quality maths and English teaching. As independent organisations, colleges and providers will determine the number of teachers they need to deliver this provision.


26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many teachers were employed in teaching English language subjects in the further education sector in England at the start of (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15 and (f) 2015-16 academic years.

This Department does not hold this information. The Further Education (FE) sector is independent of government and responsible for its own operations. We therefore do not collect information about the numbers of English or mathematics teachers employed by FE institutions.


This Department has ongoing discussions with FE stakeholder organisations about the importance of increasing the number of teachers of mathematics in the sector, as set out in our FE Workforce Strategy published in 2014. The government, through its support of bursaries and other workforce programmes, provided 199 bursaries to individuals to become maths teachers in the Further Education sector in 2013/14 and 2014/15, and also supported 2450 existing teachers to take maths enhancement programmes.


Area Reviews of Post-16 education and training are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas. All reviews will include consideration of the need for sufficient, high quality maths and English teaching. As independent organisations, colleges and providers will determine the number of teachers they need to deliver this provision.


26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the possibility that organisational changes resulting from further education area reviews may reduce the number of teachers employed to teach (a) mathematics and (b) English language subjects in the further education sector in England.

This Department does not hold this information. The Further Education (FE) sector is independent of government and responsible for its own operations. We therefore do not collect information about the numbers of English or mathematics teachers employed by FE institutions.


This Department has ongoing discussions with FE stakeholder organisations about the importance of increasing the number of teachers of mathematics in the sector, as set out in our FE Workforce Strategy published in 2014. The government, through its support of bursaries and other workforce programmes, provided 199 bursaries to individuals to become maths teachers in the Further Education sector in 2013/14 and 2014/15, and also supported 2450 existing teachers to take maths enhancement programmes.


Area Reviews of Post-16 education and training are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas. All reviews will include consideration of the need for sufficient, high quality maths and English teaching. As independent organisations, colleges and providers will determine the number of teachers they need to deliver this provision.


26th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with further education sector stakeholders on increasing the number of mathematics subjects teachers in that sector.

This Department does not hold this information. The Further Education (FE) sector is independent of government and responsible for its own operations. We therefore do not collect information about the numbers of English or mathematics teachers employed by FE institutions.


This Department has ongoing discussions with FE stakeholder organisations about the importance of increasing the number of teachers of mathematics in the sector, as set out in our FE Workforce Strategy published in 2014. The government, through its support of bursaries and other workforce programmes, provided 199 bursaries to individuals to become maths teachers in the Further Education sector in 2013/14 and 2014/15, and also supported 2450 existing teachers to take maths enhancement programmes.


Area Reviews of Post-16 education and training are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas. All reviews will include consideration of the need for sufficient, high quality maths and English teaching. As independent organisations, colleges and providers will determine the number of teachers they need to deliver this provision.


22nd Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the possible savings to his Department of the outcome of post-16 area-based reviews.

Yes. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit supporting the area reviews will advise Hon. Membersas a matter of course when reviews are due to be undertaken in any part of their constituency.


Area reviews should take place as quickly as possible, the typical timescale being 3-4 months but this could vary depending on the number of colleges and complexity of the local issues involved.


The reviews are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas whilst also ensuring the long term sustainability of colleges to support productivity. Their purpose is not to secure savings to Government. However, early evidence from the pilot reviews indicates that there is potential for the reviews to secure efficiency savings.


All applications to open a free school, academy, school sixth form or university technical college will be assessed on a case by case basis against the published criteria and taking account of local needs and circumstances.

22nd Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how long the process of undertaking a post-16 area-based review will take in each area for which they are planned or already underway.

Yes. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit supporting the area reviews will advise Hon. Membersas a matter of course when reviews are due to be undertaken in any part of their constituency.


Area reviews should take place as quickly as possible, the typical timescale being 3-4 months but this could vary depending on the number of colleges and complexity of the local issues involved.


The reviews are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas whilst also ensuring the long term sustainability of colleges to support productivity. Their purpose is not to secure savings to Government. However, early evidence from the pilot reviews indicates that there is potential for the reviews to secure efficiency savings.


All applications to open a free school, academy, school sixth form or university technical college will be assessed on a case by case basis against the published criteria and taking account of local needs and circumstances.

22nd Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether an (a) free school, (b) academy, (c) school sixth form and (d) university technical college will be allowed to open while a post-16 area-based review is still taking place.

Yes. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit supporting the area reviews will advise Hon. Membersas a matter of course when reviews are due to be undertaken in any part of their constituency.


Area reviews should take place as quickly as possible, the typical timescale being 3-4 months but this could vary depending on the number of colleges and complexity of the local issues involved.


The reviews are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas whilst also ensuring the long term sustainability of colleges to support productivity. Their purpose is not to secure savings to Government. However, early evidence from the pilot reviews indicates that there is potential for the reviews to secure efficiency savings.


All applications to open a free school, academy, school sixth form or university technical college will be assessed on a case by case basis against the published criteria and taking account of local needs and circumstances.

22nd Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether hon. Members are always informed when a post-16 area-based review is announced for an area which includes their constituency.

Yes. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit supporting the area reviews will advise Hon. Membersas a matter of course when reviews are due to be undertaken in any part of their constituency.


Area reviews should take place as quickly as possible, the typical timescale being 3-4 months but this could vary depending on the number of colleges and complexity of the local issues involved.


The reviews are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas whilst also ensuring the long term sustainability of colleges to support productivity. Their purpose is not to secure savings to Government. However, early evidence from the pilot reviews indicates that there is potential for the reviews to secure efficiency savings.


All applications to open a free school, academy, school sixth form or university technical college will be assessed on a case by case basis against the published criteria and taking account of local needs and circumstances.

21st Jul 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with her colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to the decision being taken to overrule the rejection of a planning application for gas storage made by Halite Energy in Preesall, Lancashire.

None. The Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility development consent order application was redetermined by way of a written representation procedure pursuant to Rule 20(2) of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010. All representations received under the 2010 Rules or otherwise were taken into account in the decision to grant development consent.

21st Jul 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with Lancashire Council, Wyre Council, environmental groups and local residents' associations prior to the decision being taken to overrule the rejection of a planning application for gas storage made by Halite Energy in Preesall, Lancashire.

None. The Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility development consent order application was redetermined by way of a written representation procedure pursuant to Rule 20(2) of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010. All representations received under the 2010 Rules or otherwise were taken into account in the decision to grant development consent.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the median income from work was of residents of Blackpool South constituency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015 to date.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of people in employment in Blackpool South constituency were earning (a) the minimum wage or below and (b) the living wage or below in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013, (v) 2014 and (vi) 2015.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

31st Oct 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of encouraging hairdressers to obtain hairdressing qualifications.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the petition P002432, “The regulation of the Hair, Barber and Beauty industries”, 20 May 2019, Official Report, Volume 660, Column 6P.

31st Oct 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Hairdressing Council on the (a) regulation and (b) registration of hairdressers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the petition P002432, “The regulation of the Hair, Barber and Beauty industries”, 20 May 2019, Official Report, Volume 660, Column 6P.

3rd Sep 2019
OYO
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions she has had with (a) representatives of the hospitality company industry and (b) the Competition and Markets Authority on OYO's business model and practices.

Any concerns should be raised directly with the Department, DCMS (who support the tourism industry) or the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

3rd Sep 2019
OYO
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to OYO's UK website for lettings and bookings for guest houses and bed and breakfast outlets, if she will make an assessment of the appropriateness of the business model and practices of that company.

Any concerns should be raised directly with the Department, DCMS (who support the tourism industry) or the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

3rd Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what independent input the Oil and Gas Authority has sought to inform their investigations concerning the pumping of liquids by Cuadrilla into their fracking site at Preston New Road in Lancashire.

In February 2019, the OGA announced it would work with recognised and independent geologists and scientists to carry out a scientific analysis of the data gathered during Cuadrilla’s operations at Preston New Road between October and December 2018. This work includes inputs from the British Geological Survey (BGS), Dr Ben Edwards, Nanometrics Inc and Outer Limits Geophysics; further information can be found on the OGA website. Additionally, during operations the OGA seeks expertise from external experts, including the BGS and from Bristol University.

10th Jun 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK economy of the Government's Industrial Strategy proposals to increase the number of people undertaking a high-tech PhD.

The Government has made significant progress in delivering our Industrial Strategy commitments. Through the Industrial Strategy, the Government has committed to increasing overall investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027 and 3% in the longer term.

In order to reach the 2.4% R&D target, we need to continue to attract, retain and develop research talent. This is why the government is investing in talent programmes delivered by the National Academies and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Government has increased its investments in PhDs to support the delivery of this target and the Industrial Strategy Grand Challenges including:

  • In 2017, we announced funding of £300m over four years to increase the number of PhDs and fellowship programmes which will develop research talent and attract the brightest minds to the UK.
  • In April 2018, we announced a sector deal between government and industry that will put the UK at the forefront of the AI industry. As part of this, UKRI has invested £100m in 16 Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) to support 1000 new AI PhDs.

Alongside this, UKRI invests in CDTs more broadly, including the recent £446m investment in 75 CDTs across the engineering and physical sciences.

10th Jun 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions has he had with (a) university groups and (b) UK Research and Innovation on the sustainability of current funding for PHD qualifications.

I regularly meet with universities, university groups and UKRI to discuss a number of issues. The government’s target to reach a total of 2.4% of GDP invested in R&D by 2027 will mean increasing the numbers of highly trained people working in research and innovation, including PhD graduates. In 2017/18, UKRI’s direct funding was supporting around 22,000 studentships, about 22% of the UK total. In addition, Research England’s QR Research Degree Programme (RDP) supervision fund provides more than £250 million of annual funding contributing to the costs that universities face in supervising research degree programmes.

In many cases, this investment is also made in partnership, leveraging further support from higher education institutions and industry to maximise the impact from the public investment. For example, in 2019, UKRI invested £100m in 16 new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in Artificial Intelligence, based at 14 UK universities with 300 partners. Project partners are investing £78 million in cash or in-kind contributions and partner universities are committing a further £23 million, resulting in an overall investment of more than £200 million.

Given the large commitments partner universities make to these investments, we are mindful of the need to maintain sustainability. UKRI is currently developing a plan for the delivery of the government’s 2.4% target with stakeholders to ensure that we not only achieve these ambitious targets but do so in a manner that is sustainable and ensure long-term impact.

11th Apr 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on European Research Council grants for UK researchers between June 2016 and March 2019 of the UK leaving the EU.

The table below outlines the number of awarded European Research Council grants in the UK since 2016.

2016

2017

2018

Starting Grant

66

75

66

Consolidator Grant

60

59

55

Advanced Grant

41

65

47

Proof of Concept Grant

30

27

31

Synergy Grant

-

-

3

Total

197

226

202

Further information can be found at https://erc.europa.eu/projects-figures/statistics.

11th Apr 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the (a) British Academy, (b) Royal Society and (c) Wellcome Trust on the effect on British academics of being able to participate in joint bids with EU colleagues for future European Research Council grants as a result of the extension to Article 50.

BEIS regularly engages with stakeholders in the science, research and innovation community on the impact of EU exit on British academics.

This includes with the British Academy, Royal Society and Wellcome Trust through the High Level stakeholder working group on EU Exit, universities, research and innovation, chaired by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation.

11th Apr 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) Universities UK, (b) UK Research and Innovation, (c) Office for Students on whether the UK will participate in the Horizon Europe scheme from 2021 following the extension to Article 50.

I chair a High Level stakeholder group on EU Exit. This group meets monthly to discuss EU Exit issues related to universities, research and innovation and is attended by a wide range of stakeholders including Universities UK, UK Research and Innovation and Office for Students.

Horizon Europe is still being negotiated through the EU Institutions, but we have been clear that we would like the option to associate to the Programme. Further details on Horizon Europe need to be finalised before we can make an informed decision on future UK participation.

In any scenario, the Government remains committed to continuing to back UK researchers and innovators by supporting measures to enable world-class collaborative research.

6th Jul 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the findings of the 2016 Apprenticeship Pay Survey.

The 2016 Apprenticeship Pay Survey report will be published in due course.

21st Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the British Council on the merits of the continued UK participation in the Erasmus Plus programme (a) in the next two years and (b) after the UK leaves the EU.

Stakeholder engagement is a central element of our plan to build a national consensus around our negotiating position; we are listening and talking to as many organisations, companies and institutions as possible.

My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has been clear that Britain will remain truly global – the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too.

We recognise the value of international exchange and collaboration in education and training, as part of our vision for the UK as a global nation.

It is too early to speculate on the UK’s future relationship with specific EU programmes, including Erasmus+.

21st Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with higher education providers and institutions on continued UK participation in the Erasmus Plus programme (a) in the next two years and (b) when the UK leaves the EU.

Stakeholder engagement is a central element of our plan to build a national consensus around our negotiating position; we are listening and talking to as many organisations, companies and institutions as possible.

My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has been clear that Britain will remain truly global – the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too.

We recognise the value of international exchange and collaboration in education and training, as part of our vision for the UK as a global nation.

It is too early to speculate on the UK’s future relationship with specific EU programmes, including Erasmus+.