Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
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 cyber security of smart meters; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Security lies at the heart of smart metering systems and has been a key consideration at every stage of system development. Robust security controls have been developed and are independently reviewed regularly to ensure the systems remain protected.
Requirements include the need to protect personal data, detect and prevent unauthorised access and ensure a secure link is in place between the devices and the wider communication network.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what quantitative assessments his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the sectors for which his Department is responsible.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work that will contribute to our exit negotiations, help to define our future partnership with the EU, and inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.
We are examining all areas of the UK economy from a number of perspectives and seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders. Since the EU referendum, BEIS ministers and officials have engaged with over 1,700 businesses and other stakeholders on EU Exit and Industrial Strategy.
Our analysis is constantly evolving and being updated based on our discussions with industry and our negotiations with the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
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 readiness of UK businesses to adopt fourth industrial revolution technologies, in particular (a) machine learning and (b) the Internet of Things.
Answered by Claire Perry
The UK economy has key strengths that will enable businesses to adopt industrial digitalisation technologies, such as a world-leading research and innovation system, pioneering firms in manufacturing servitisation, and the strongest artificial intelligence and machine learning market in Europe. Through a modern industrial strategy the Government is seeking to build upon these strengths. For example, the Digital Strategy outlines ways to make Britain the best place to start and grow a digital business, trial new technology, or undertake advanced research. We are also taking action to improve digital capability skills.
However, we also recognise the challenges businesses face. BEIS is currently considering the independent government commissioned review led by Professor Dame Wendy Hall, and Jerome Pesenti “Growing the Artificial Intelligence Industry in the UK” and has announced £68 million for ground breaking research and development in robotics and artificial intelligence. We are also in the early stages of reviewing the recently published, industry-led ‘Made Smarter’ report, which considers barriers to adoption of digital technologies including machine learning and Internet of Things. We will continue to work with business to overcome barriers and realise the opportunities of the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the adoption of digital technologies by UK businesses.
Answered by Claire Perry
Government’s Digital Strategy includes plans to boost the nation’s digital skills, infrastructure and innovation, and aims to make the UK the best place to invest in tech.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has now chaired two meetings of the Digital Economy Council, which brings together government and leaders from the tech sector. The Council will drive progress on the Digital Strategy, such as stimulating growth and delivering new jobs in the digital economy. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Digital will be chairing his second Digital Economy Advisory Group at the end of the year. The Advisory Group specifically focusses on supporting the tech sectors and helping innovation. Both groups will focus on the implementation of the Digital Strategy, along with feeding into the development of the Digital Charter. Membership of these groups is varied and includes: TechUK, Google, BT, Raspberry Pi and Entreprenuer First. Full membership details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/digital-economy-council-and-digital-economy-advisory-group
Actions we are already taking include launching GREAT.gov.uk, a new digital trade hub to help businesses export, which provides advice and support to current and potential exporters. This includes access to a smart database to connect them with global online marketplaces such as Amazon and Alibaba. We have also negotiated preferential rates with key e-marketplaces, making the UK one of the easiest and best places from which to sell goods online around the world. We are delivering promotions in key overseas markets to promote UK companies on these marketplaces.
The Digital Business Academy is a free online platform created by Tech City UK, to provide the skills needed to start, grow or join a digital business. Currently there are 11 courses available created by University College London, Cambridge University Judge Business School, Founder Centric and Valuable Content. Almost 20% of the academy graduates report that they are starting digital companies after finishing at least one skill. TCUK (and Tech North) have received approx £16 million from government over the last 7 years.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to Question UIN 111926 where I have highlighted our current period of analysis of the recommendations put forward by two very recent reviews – the government review of Artificial Intelligence and the industry-led Made Smarter Review of industrial digitalisation.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to increase the use of wind power and solar energy for electricity generation.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
To increase the use of renewables for electricity generation, we have launched a second Contract for Difference allocation round for emerging technologies, which includes offshore wind. This auction is expected to take place in August with results being announced in September.
No decisions have been taken on future Contract for Difference allocation rounds for onshore wind, solar and other established renewable technologies. We will set out details in due course.
The Feed-in Tariff also remains open to small scale low carbon technologies such as wind power and solar photovoltaic.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of the European Structural and Investment Funds available in the current funding period in each region have been allocated to date.
Answered by Margot James
The amounts of European Structural and Investment Funds committed to projects at present, and the locations of these projects, can be found on the following GOV.UK pages and the websites of the devolved administrations.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-useful-resources
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-emff-successful-applicants
http://cap-payments.defra.gov.uk/
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding from European Structural and Investment Funds has been made available in each region in the current funding period.
Answered by Margot James
A total of €16.2bn is available to the UK through the existing round of European Structural and Investment Funds programmes for 2014‑20. This includes funding across the UK of €5.2bn through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and €243m through the European Marine and Fisheries Fund. Information on the allocations from the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund to England, including allocations to Local Enterprise Partnership areas, and to the devolved administrations is provided on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307492/bis-14-772-uk-allocations-eu-structural-funds-2014-2020-letter.pdf
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of the amount disbursed from the £12 billion Local Growth Fund has been allocated to the London Borough of Newham since that fund was opened.
Answered by Margot James
The Local Growth Fund is awarded to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), who prioritise projects for funding in accordance with their local assurance frameworks.
The London LEP (London Economic Action Partnership) has prioritised the following projects in Newham for receipt of Local Growth Fund:
The first is the renovation of the Carlsberg-Tetley building (£459,145). 50,000sqft of former brewery office space will be renovated to become a creative workspace. The space will be run by the Mill Co Project, a social enterprise which provide a range of affordable workspaces for creative practitioners in East London.
The second is the renovation of the former North Woolwich Station Building (£647,000). This Grade II listed former station will be renovated to become an artists’ workspace. In addition, GLA money will restore almost 8000sqm of derelict track land to the rear of the station as a publically accessible green space. The space will include a substantial new community space, and additional artist studio cabins, with construction being undertaken via a readiness to work programme that will provide training for local young people.
In addition, there is a pan-London Digital Talent Programme (£5m) with outcomes expected to be delivered in east London. Its main aim is to improve London’s advanced digital skills, support 15 -24 year olds and larger numbers of young women, BAME and disadvantaged young Londoners into digital/tech careers.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of energy was generated from renewable sources in (a) the UK and (b) Greater London in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The table below gives the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in the UK since 2010, using the method behind the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Data for 2016 will be available on 29 June 2017. Data is not available for Greater London.
Year | Proportion of energy from renewable sources in the UK (RED method) (%) |
2010 | 3.7% |
2011 | 4.2% |
2012 | 4.6% |
2013 | 5.8% |
2014 | 7.1% |
2015 | 8.3% |
Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, table 6.7, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much EU funding was received by higher education institutions in (a) the UK and (b) Greater London in each financial year since 2010-11.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The table below shows the level of funding Higher Education Institutions in (a) the UK and (b) the London region, received from EU government bodies for research grants and contracts, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund between 2010/11 and 2014/15.
Region | 10/11 | 11/12 | 12/13 | 13/14 | 14/15 |
London (£thousands) | 93,408 | 111,783 | 135,385 | 158,230 | 171,519 |
UK (£thousands) | 496,734 | 589,425 | 694,731 | 787,047 | 821,280 |
Source: BEIS analysis of the HESA Finance Record and the HE-BCI Survey