Jim Sheridan

Labour - Former Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North

First elected: 7th June 2001

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)


Jim Sheridan is not a member of any APPGs
Panel of Chairs
26th May 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Panel of Chairs
12th Jan 2009 - 6th May 2010
International Development Committee
19th Nov 2007 - 9th Mar 2009
Armed Forces Bill Committee
19th Dec 2005 - 9th May 2006
Public Accounts Committee
10th Sep 2003 - 12th Jul 2005
Broadcasting
1st Jun 2003 - 1st Jun 2005
Information (C)
19th Nov 2001 - 13th Dec 2004


Division Voting information

Jim Sheridan has voted in 1622 divisions, and 17 times against the majority of their Party.

15 Jul 2014 - Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Labour No votes vs 197 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 498 Noes - 31
15 Jul 2014 - Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Labour Aye votes vs 185 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 56 Noes - 454
15 Jul 2014 - Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Labour No votes vs 191 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 449 Noes - 33
5 Mar 2014 - Judgments - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Labour No votes vs 182 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 360 Noes - 104
5 Feb 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Labour No votes vs 216 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 400 Noes - 175
28 Jan 2013 - Succession to the Crown Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 17 Labour Aye votes vs 154 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 38 Noes - 371
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan 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
Jim Sheridan 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
13 Oct 2011 - Procedure Committee Reports - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Labour Aye votes vs 56 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 63 Noes - 206
18 Oct 2010 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 12 Labour No votes vs 180 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 346
4 Nov 2008 - Employment Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan 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
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan 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
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 62 Labour Aye votes vs 152 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 123 Noes - 224
9 Jan 2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 35 Labour No votes vs 256 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 481 Noes - 46
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 152 Labour No votes vs 162 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 416 Noes - 163
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan 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
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Jim Sheridan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Labour Aye votes vs 218 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 122 Noes - 354
View All Jim Sheridan 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.

Department Debates
Leader of the House
(58 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(43 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(41 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Jim Sheridan has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Jim Sheridan's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Jim Sheridan

23rd March 2015
Jim Sheridan signed this EDM on Wednesday 25th March 2015

PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS

Tabled by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
That this House records its disappointment at five wasted years in which the Coalition Government has failed to reform the parliamentary abuses that continue to undermine the reputation of politics, such as cash for access to politicians and cash for peerages continuing unabated, 99 per cent of corporate lobbying untouched …
13 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 3
Independent: 1
Green Party: 1
20th March 2015
Jim Sheridan signed this EDM on Wednesday 25th March 2015

CARMEN ARISTEGUI AND JOURNALISM IN MEXICO

Tabled by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
That this House expresses its shock that Carmen Aristegui, one of Mexico's independent journalists, has been dismissed for her work in the MVS Noticias (news); notes that Ms Aristegui's four-hour daily programme is very popular and often exposes corruption and human rights abuses; further notes that the targeting of such …
19 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 7
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Jim Sheridan's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jim Sheridan, 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.


Jim Sheridan has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Jim Sheridan

Tuesday 17th March 2015

Jim Sheridan has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Jim Sheridan has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


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
49 Other Department Questions
3rd Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he considers the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada to be a mixed agreement.

In the UK's view, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada includes policy areas that are Member State competence and as such should be a mixed agreement.

3rd Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will urge the European Commission to make public the negotiating mandate for the Trade in Services Agreement.

The Government supports the new Trade Commissioner’s desire to bring greater transparency to trade negotiations. Official EU documents pertaining to trade negotiations should, in the Government’s view, as a matter of principle be published when to do so would not impact negatively on the EU’s ability to secure the best possible deal for Europe.

We have welcomed moves by the European Commission proactively to publish information on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). For the first time the Commission has published the full text of the EU initial offer and the proposal papers put forward by the EU during the negotiations. You may find the FAQs on this site a useful initial source of information. The website address is as follows; http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa.

It is the Government’s view that publication of the TiSA mandate at this stage could hinder these important negotiations but we will keep this under review.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumers of the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between financial sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between pharmaceutical sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between manufacturing sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between energy sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between insurance sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between insurance sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on mutually-recognised standards in financial services as part of negotiations on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The Government wants to use the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to encourage financial regulators from the EU and the USA, as hosts of the largest financial centres in the world, to work with each other and agree consistently high standards in the future. Establishing closer and more effective regulatory cooperation between the world’s two largest financial centres is essential. By working together to agree more consistent rules, the EU and the USA can eliminate the opportunities for regulatory arbitrage and encourage other jurisdictions to follow suit. Closer dialogues also mean that emerging risks can be spotted and addressed together.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on the investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with trades unions on the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with consumer groups on the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with health campaigners on the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with environmental campaigners on the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between agricultural sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials in his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether cross-border use of personal data is being discussed as part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The EU and the USA are exploring cross-border data flows in the context of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), given their importance to international commerce, in particular in services. The European Commission has publicly stated that existing EU rules regarding personal data protection are not on the table.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which existing regulations will not be part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.

One of the main aims of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is to reduce unnecessary regulatory differences between the EU and the USA to encourage greater trade, particularly by SMEs who find overcoming regulatory differences to be a significant barrier to exporting. Both the EU and the USA have been clear that this will not come through lowering levels of consumer and other protections, and where this is not possible regulatory differences will not be eliminated. Reducing regulatory differences could be achieved through various methods such as mutual recognition of regulations, mutual recognition of conformity assessments, use of international standards, and alignment of future regulations. Over half of the projected benefits from TTIP are projected to come from this greater regulatory coherence.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether negotiators are discussing (a) the harmonisation of standards between the EU and US and (b) mutual recognition of standards between the EU and US in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

One of the main aims of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is to reduce unnecessary regulatory differences between the EU and the USA to encourage greater trade, particularly by SMEs who find overcoming regulatory differences to be a significant barrier to exporting. Both the EU and the USA have been clear that this will not come through lowering levels of consumer and other protections, and where this is not possible regulatory differences will not be eliminated. Reducing regulatory differences could be achieved through various methods such as mutual recognition of regulations, mutual recognition of conformity assessments, use of international standards, and alignment of future regulations. Over half of the projected benefits from TTIP are projected to come from this greater regulatory coherence.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will give a formal response to the report published by LSE Enterprise entitled, Costs and Benefits of an EU-US Investment Protection Treaty.

The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the rigorousness of the US judicial system towards business; and under what circumstances he would support a dispute settlement mechanism being included in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will give hon. Members access to the draft text of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations are yet to reach a stage where there are stable and complete draft texts. As such, it is too early for these texts to be shared. However, a final draft agreement will be subject to ratification by each Member State of the EU, as well as the EU itself. As part of this process Parliament will receive the complete draft text of the agreement in good time and have an opportunity to scrutinise it through debates in both Houses.

In addition, the Government will continue to keep Parliament up to date throughout the TTIP negotiations. The agreement has been debated in both Houses and been subject to a Committee inquiry in the House of Lords and reviewed by the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons. My noble Friend, Lord Livingston of Parkhead will continue to write to the European Scrutiny Committee chairs of both Houses and the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on EU-US Trade and Investment after each negotiating round to update them, and the Government can arrange for further detailed briefings to interested Hon Members.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he has made an assessment of the potential effect of automatic energy imports from the US to the EU arising from the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations on EU carbon emission targets.

Concluding an ambitious and comprehensive EU-US trade deal that benefits UK consumers and business, especially small and medium sized enterprises, is a priority for the Government. Improved access to US exports of energy would form part of a successful Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership agreement, helping to diversify the EU’s energy sources, and is therefore an EU priority in the negotiations. Internal EU negotiations on carbon emissions targets are at an advanced stage and involve consideration of the energy profiles of the EU as a whole and of individual EU Member States across the full range of options. These options include the potential role of increased imports of gas, from the US and elsewhere, to help to reduce EU emissions levels in future decades.

Factors such as the time needed to build new export terminals in the US and costs of liquefaction and transport mean that it is likely to be some years before EU Member States could import US gas in significant quantities. Recent events in Ukraine further underline the need for the EU to diversify its energy sources. Making full use of indigenous energy resources is also important for energy security. Here in the UK, the Government continues to work closely with industry to encourage further investment in domestic energy production, including oil, gas, nuclear and renewables.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more public interest groups from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The European Commission has been extensively consulting and reporting back as negotiations progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), for example through the establishment of their own expert advisory group, an open door policy for meetings with interested parties, and stakeholder events open to all interest groups during each round of negotiations. The Trade Commissioner and his senior officials have also contributed extensively to engagement in the UK, by providing evidence to the House of Lords during their enquiry into TTIP and by speaking at meetings and events organised both by the Government and stakeholders. We support their approach, and are happy to continue to encourage them to consult extensively.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more trades unions from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The European Commission has been extensively consulting and reporting back as negotiations progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), for example through the establishment of their own expert advisory group, an open door policy for meetings with interested parties, and stakeholder events open to all interest groups during each round of negotiations. The Trade Commissioner and his senior officials have also contributed extensively to engagement in the UK, by providing evidence to the House of Lords during their enquiry into TTIP and by speaking at meetings and events organised both by the Government and stakeholders. We support their approach, and are happy to continue to encourage them to consult extensively.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more environmental interest groups from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The European Commission has been extensively consulting and reporting back as negotiations progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), for example through the establishment of their own expert advisory group, an open door policy for meetings with interested parties, and stakeholder events open to all interest groups during each round of negotiations. The Trade Commissioner and his senior officials have also contributed extensively to engagement in the UK, by providing evidence to the House of Lords during their enquiry into TTIP and by speaking at meetings and events organised both by the Government and stakeholders. We support their approach, and are happy to continue to encourage them to consult extensively.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from his counterpart in (a) South Africa, (b) Ecuador, (c) India and (d) Indonesia on the investor state dispute mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between energy sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between manufacturing sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between pharmaceutical sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between chemical sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between agricultural sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between agricultural sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between financial sector professionals and himself or senior officials in 10 Downing Street the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between insurance sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between energy sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between financial sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between manufacturing sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between chemical sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

22nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in how many meetings in the last year between pharmaceutical sector professionals and Ministers or senior officials of his Department the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has been discussed.

Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has had discussions with McDonald's Corporation on its relationship with trades unions in the UK.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has not had such a discussion with McDonald's Corporation.

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of companies registered in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK that do not recognise trades unions.

This Department does not hold information on to whether or not individual employers recognise a trade union or not.

You may be interested in the following figures, from the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS), showing percentage of workplaces with recognised unions where the workplace is located in Scotland, the other Government Office Regions and Great Britain as a whole. This does not include information on Northern Ireland workplaces where employment law is devolved.

Government Office Region

Percentage of workplaces with recognised unions

(%)

North East

38

North West

21

Yorkshire and Humberside

34

East Midlands

31

West Midlands

23

East of England

16

London

16

South East

10

South West

13

Wales

31

Scotland

30

Great Britain

22

More information on the WERS data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workplace-employment-relations-study-wers

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the proportion of people that voted in the most recent nationwide elections; and what steps he is taking to encourage more people to vote at future elections.

Turnout across the UK at the European Parliamentary Elections 2014 was 35.4%, slightly higher than 34.5% at the previous election in 2009.

The Government is committed to maximising electoral registration to help support the highest possible turnout in elections.

17th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with employment agencies on the practice of blacklisting.

Blacklisting is an unacceptable and illegal practice and we take any allegations of blacklisting very seriously. I have not had any discussions on the practice of blacklisting with employment agencies. We have referred the allegations made about an international recruitment agency to the Information Commissioner's Office which is looking into the matter.

17th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of blacklisting amongst employment agencies.

Blacklisting is an unacceptable and illegal practice and we take any allegations of blacklisting very seriously. We have always encouraged anyone with evidence of blacklisting to come forward so that we can investigate. Any evidence of blacklisting should be referred to the Information Commissioner's Office. Individuals who believe they are being excluded from employment because of a blacklist should seek redress in the county courts in England and Wales, or Court of Session in Scotland.

17th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the proportion of Royal Mail staff who bought shares in the newly-privatised company in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire and (c) Scotland.

The Government has not made any estimates by constituency, county or country of shares bought by Royal Mail staff.

As part of the Royal Mail Initial Public Offering, each eligible employee has now received 729 shares free of charge. Only 372 of the 147,000 eligible employees opted out of the scheme. Approximately 99.75% of employees accepted the shares that we offered them. Under the Employee Priority Retail Offer, over 15,000 employees (just over 10%) bought additional shares in Royal Mail.

9th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on binding votes for remuneration committees.

The Government's reforms to increase the transparency of executive pay include a requirement that quoted companies put their remuneration policy to a binding vote of the company's shareholders, at minimum, every three years.

Shareholders also have an annual advisory vote on the annual remuneration report, covering what has been paid. Where this is rejected, the company will be required to re-submit their remuneration policy to a binding vote at the AGM the following year.

It is too soon to form firm conclusions about the impact of the Government reforms, which only came into force in October last year.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the reforms and will be taking stock of their impact after the voting season is over.

The Government is keeping this policy area under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in Scotland on the use of zero-hour contracts in Scottish education establishments.

There have been no recent discussions between my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in Scotland directly relating to the use of zero-hour contracts in Scottish education establishments.

21st Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what occasions Ministers from his Department have met (a) representatives of society lotteries and (b) representatives of Camelot or the National Lottery since December 2012.