Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether her Department has had discussions with Post Office Limited on the future of the Crown post office in Dingle, Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the Post Office Network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Although the future of each branch is an operational matter for Post Office Limited, the Department has had previous discussions with Post Office Limited regarding the future of the Crown post office in Dingle, Liverpool. Post Office Limited has assured the Department that they are wholeheartedly committed to serving the community in Dingle and they are currently considering all the options available to maintain access to Post Office services when the current contract comes to an end on 4 December 2019.
I have therefore asked Nick Read, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member to provide further information on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of pay between assignment (PBA) contracts on equal pay; what the average length of time workers have been on PBA contracts in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Government does not hold data on the average length of pay between assignment contracts. Alongside the Government response to Matthew Taylor’s review of modern working practices, we launched a public consultation that covers, amongst other areas, the issue of pay between assignment contracts. As part of this, we asked for information on the use of these contracts. The consultation recently closed. We are considering the responses and we will set out next steps shortly.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the implications for his Department's policies are of the findings of the recent report from the North West Business Leadership Team on the effect of the UK leaving the EU on manufacturing in the region; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
We will continue to engage with the North West Business Leadership Team and manufacturing industry more widely as we negotiate to leave the EU. Facing up to challenges together, but also exploiting the opportunities that will become open to us, will be vital for the future of UK economic growth.
We remain committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to own and grow a manufacturing business by cutting business taxes, slashing red tape and investing in new scientific infrastructure on a record scale. Through our Industrial Strategy, we will make sure that we are using all the tools we have to stimulate growth in places such as the North West. That means using our record investments in infrastructure to unlock growth in every part of the country; using the major new investment in research to support innovative manufacturing businesses across the country; and encouraging inward investment into the parts of the country where we need to get growth going faster.
Over the past few years, we have invested over £1.5 billion through the Local Growth Fund, in the North West for projects to boost local economies. The Regional Growth Fund that supports eligible projects and programmes raising private sector investment to create economic growth and lasting employment, has, since its launch in 2010, resulted in over 46,000 jobs being contracted, of which 21,426 are in manufacturing. According to the EEF, the North West was the number one region in the UK in terms of manufacturing output in 2016.
In the Liverpool region, LCR 4.0 will deliver fully subsidised support to 300 SMEs, enable collaborations between 200 businesses and partners, support 70 new product development cases across a number of firms and create 60 new jobs in supported businesses. The Government has also provided £5 million matched funding to create “Sensor City”, a flagship University Enterprise Zone which enables industry and academic partners in a range of sectors to translate their innovative sensor concepts into commercially viable solutions.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the terms of reference are of the Forum on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation; who the members of that forum are; when that forum plans to meet; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Stakeholder Working Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation had its first meeting on 14 December 2016. Membership of the Group includes representatives from Higher Education, Research and Innovation funders, National Academies, Learned Societies and Business. The full membership and the terms of reference will be published in due course.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed closure of ACAS's Liverpool office on access to justice; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
Acas assesses that there will be no impact on access to justice arising from the closure of the Liverpool Office. Acas is committed to maintaining the service it provides to users of its services in Merseyside. Most customer contact is by telephone and is unaffected. Acas will continue to offer face-to-face meetings in Merseyside as required.