The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which regulator will have responsibility and oversight of the planned Electronic Communications Code.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Under paragraphs 106 -119 of the Communications Act 2003 OFCOM are responsible for application of the Code to electronic communications providers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce a broadband universal service obligation for businesses.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government has committed to putting in place a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) by the end of this Parliament. Once in place the USO will act as a safety net, giving both households and businesses the legal right to request an affordable broadband connection of at least 10 Mbps (Megabits per second). A connection speed of 10 Mbps will support many small businesses, and will help them make an even greater contribution to our economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the minimum broadband speeds required to help British businesses remain competitive in a global economy.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government recognises the importance of broadband access throughout the UK for businesses in remaining globally competitive. That is why the Review into Business Broadband, jointly led by BIS and DCMS, was announced on 24 February to explore the barriers faced by businesses in accessing the affordable, high-speed broadband they need. That Review is ongoing and will report later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-07-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the changes that have transferred policy on apprenticeships and the responsibility for the Institute for Apprenticeships to the Department for Education, how they plan to ensure that employers and business leaders are involved in future development of policy on apprenticeships.
Lord Nash
Prior to recent Government changes, the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills were jointly responsible for apprenticeships policy. The Department for Education remains fully committed to working with and involving employers and business leaders in the development and implementation of apprenticeships policy.
The Institute for Apprenticeships will be employer-led and have responsibility for ensuring the quality of apprenticeship standards in England. The board will comprise primarily of employers, business leaders and their representatives. This will ensure that employers are fully engaged and continue to play a key role in improving apprenticeship quality.
Employer-led groups will continue to develop apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. Over 1,400 employers are currently involved in designing the new apprenticeship standards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-07-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk to, and effect on, the UK economy and British businesses of the UK being left out of the development by the EU of a digital single market.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The UK remains a member of the EU and will continue to play an active role in the development of the Digital Single Market until the formal and legal process of leaving the European Union has been finalised.
I will be working with colleagues across government to make sure we understand the potential risks and opportunities for our economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-07-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the changes that have placed responsibility for universities within the Department for Education and the responsibility for research, including for the research councils and Innovate UK with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how they plan to ensure that businesses and the university sector work closely together to maintain the UK’s research and science base, and to make the UK an attractive place to innovate.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
This Government has demonstrated its commitment to the UK’s research and science base, protecting £4.7bn funding in real terms at the Spending Review. Our proposals set out in the Higher Education and Research Bill will meet Sir Paul Nurse’s ambition to strengthen strategic leadership and maximise the benefit from the Government’s investment in research and innovation.
A single minister for Universities and Science whose portfolio spans both departments will ensure coherence and integration across universities, research councils and Innovate UK and have a strong input into our industrial strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many proposals they have received from prospective fund managers in response to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority competition for a commercial partner for its proposed Broadband Investment Fund, and when they plan to announce the successful bidder.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has received seven proposals from prospective commercial partners for the proposed Broadband Investment Fund. Officials are currently evaluating the proposals and carrying out due diligence. The government will announce a decision in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when Innovate UK will publish its strategy for 2016–20.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Innovate UK intends to publish its Strategy for 2016-20 in the spring. This will be followed by the publication of Innovate UK’s Delivery Plan for 2016-17. This timetable takes account of the timing of the recent Spending Review.
X
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to bring forward legislation to provide a statutory basis for the independent National Infrastructure Commission.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The National Infrastructure Commission has a crucial role to play in setting out the country’s infrastructure priorities. Since being set up, it has produced three challenging and authoritative reports on smart power, London transport and a long-term strategy for transport in the North, and has recently consulted on its approach to the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
The government remains fully committed to the Commission and we are considering how it can best support the government’s new industrial strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what key market sectors have been identified for priority assistance by Innovate UK.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Innovate UK consults widely to prioritise technology areas for investment and carefully considers issues such as global market opportunity and UK research excellence and business capability.
Innovate UK’s current priority areas are agriculture and food, built environment, digital economy, emerging technologies, enabling technologies, energy, health and care, high value manufacturing, resource efficiency, space applications, transport and urban living. Following the Government’s Spending Review, Innovate UK is considering its strategy for business-led innovation support across the UK’s technology areas for the next Spending Review period, which will be presented to Ministers in spring 2016.