Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the number of households who disconnect their energy supply due to the cost; and what assessment they have made of this figure.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government does not hold the data requested.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend that the UK will continue to (1) operate the Artist's Resale Right, and (2) participate in the EU Resale Right Directive 2001/84/EC after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Henley
The (Artists’) Resale Right Directive will be retained in UK law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which means that UK artists and estates will continue to enjoy its benefits.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to commission, or support the issue of, postage stamps to commemorate the contribution made by UK troops to operations in Iraq between 2003 and 2009.
Answered by Lord Henley
Matters relating to postage stamps, including special commemorative stamps, are the responsibility of Royal Mail.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund of £4.7 billion, recently allocated to the Research Councils, they estimate will go to the cultural and creative industries; and what proportion of the first round of spending will be allocated to the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
We are increasing research and development investment by £4.7 billion over the period 2017-18 to 2020-21. As part of this, the new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) will help capitalise on our strengths in science and innovation.
In the 2017 Budget we announced an initial investment of £270 million in 2017-18 for the ISCF to kick start the development of disruptive technologies which have the potential to transform the UK economy. The first wave of investments will include funding challenges to develop batteries to power the next generation of electric vehicles, robotics systems for hazardous environments, and new medicine manufacturing technologies.
Details of further ICSF investments for 2017-18 will follow in due course.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement on 28 November that they intend to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement, whether the UK, once a signatory to the agreement, will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK has been a long-standing supporter of creating an international patent court for Europe. The decision to proceed with ratification provides a tangible realisation of the UK’s commitment to continue to play a full role in relation to our European partners while we remain a member of the EU.
This decision should not be seen as pre-empting the UK’s objectives in the forthcoming negotiations with the EU. It is also without prejudice to the UK’s future position on the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union once the UK has left the EU.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to introduce the Better Markets Bill.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
This Government is committed to delivering serious reform to make the UK a country that works for everyone. This year we consulted on a number of measures to be taken forward in the Better Markets Bill. We are carefully considering the responses and will respond, setting out the next steps, in due course.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the UK will ratify the Unified Patents Court Agreement.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The result of the referendum has given rise to a number of issues concerning the UK’s future involvement in a unified patent system. I cannot yet confirm whether the UK will ratify the agreement on a Unified Patent Court but we are actively looking at options, considering the legal and political context.
As I stated at the recent Competitiveness Council, I hope to be able to provide more information when the Council next meets at the end of November.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to implement the EU Trademarks Directive 015/2436.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force.
During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they estimate that the UK Local Division and the London section of the Central Division of the Unified Patents Court premises in Aldgate Tower will be completed.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The building work at the premises at Aldgate Tower is now largely complete.
Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the decision of Birmingham Assay Office, pursuant to the Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013, to open an office in Mumbai on 18 July that will use a mark for silver to be imported into the UK that is similar to the established anchor mark used for domestic production; and whether they will publish any assessment they have made of the prospective impact of that decision on the Birmingham silversmithing trade.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Hallmarks are not an indication of geographic origin and are already applied widely to articles manufactured in places other than the location of the four UK Assay Offices, including to articles manufactured outside the UK.
Government has received four representations expressing concern about the decision of Birmingham Assay Office, pursuant to the Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013, to open a sub-office in Mumbai.
An impact assessment of the costs and benefits of removing the restrictions on overseas hallmarking was published alongside the government consultation on the proposals in 2012, and covered the whole of the hallmarking sector. The Impact Assessment estimated that there would be a benefit to business of £3.44 m. A copy of the impact assessment can be found on the Parliament website accompanying the Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013.