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833W<br />
Written Answers<br />
1 DECEMBER 2010<br />
Written Answers<br />
834W<br />
Proportion of the population who have applied for unsecured credit and<br />
the outcome of this application (w<strong>here</strong> the outcome is known) in the<br />
last six months<br />
Credit<br />
product<br />
Proportion of the<br />
population who<br />
applied for credit/<br />
loans<br />
(percentage)<br />
Application<br />
was rejected<br />
(percentage)<br />
Percentage of<br />
total population<br />
Credit card 8 24 1.9<br />
Unsecured<br />
3 33 0.7<br />
loan<br />
Overdraft<br />
2 29 0.8<br />
facility<br />
Store card 1 19 0.3<br />
Mail order 1 14 0.2<br />
Car finance<br />
1 9 0.1<br />
loan<br />
Notes:<br />
1. Based on 2009-10 YouGov data, sample size 13,172.<br />
2. The statistics in the table need to be interpreted with caution. Due<br />
to data limitations, we are unable to say how many individuals were<br />
refused credit completely in the last six months. For instance, a<br />
borrower may have refused a credit card, but was able to secure an<br />
overdraft facility. In addition, the values in the table cannot be<br />
summed, to produce statistics on the proportion of the population<br />
refused credit. This is because some borrowers may have been rejected<br />
for more than one credit product. Certain credit products have been<br />
excluded such as payday loans and home credit, which are unlikely to<br />
be offered by banks and building societies.<br />
Departmental Food<br />
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business,<br />
Innovation and Skills whether his Department has<br />
guidelines on ensuring that food used for his Department’s<br />
official functions is of domestic origin. [25438]<br />
Mr Davey: The Department’s contracted catering<br />
and conference supplier Baxterstorey are accredited to<br />
the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Scheme and are fully<br />
compliant, demonstrating robust support for enhanced<br />
animal welfare, environmental responsibility, quality<br />
produce and supporting British producers.<br />
The Department ad<strong>here</strong>s w<strong>here</strong>ver possible to the<br />
five key objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement<br />
Initiative (PSFPI). These objectives run in parallel to<br />
those of Baxterstorey, which form part of the policies<br />
that result in the approach to sustainable and ethical<br />
procurement. For example all eggs used on the departmental<br />
estate are British, Lion Brand standard and free range<br />
and 99% of all pork and bacon products are British and<br />
supplied by Red Tractor accredited suppliers.<br />
Higher Education: Admissions<br />
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Business, Innovation and Skills what the participation<br />
rate was of people aged 18 years in each income<br />
quintile entering higher education for the first time in<br />
the latest period for which figures are available. [27759]<br />
Mr Willetts: The Department does not publish<br />
information in the form requested. Latest figures show<br />
that 15% of pupils aged 15 in 2003/04 who claimed free<br />
school meals (FSM) at English maintained schools<br />
progressed to HE by the age of 19 in 2007/08. The<br />
equivalent figure for young people who did not claim<br />
free school meals is 33%.<br />
FSM eligibility is means tested and the majority of<br />
FSM young people are from households in receipt of<br />
some form of income support. Some 14% of young<br />
people claim free school meals.<br />
These figures have been estimated using matched<br />
data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher<br />
Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the<br />
Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner<br />
Record. Figures for 2008/09 will be available next year.<br />
The Department uses a number of measures to monitor<br />
progress on participation of disadvantaged students,<br />
such as those from low participation neighbourhoods,<br />
and low socio-economic groups. However, figures in<br />
this answer have been provided as receipt of FSM is<br />
directly related to family income.<br />
Higher Education: Finance<br />
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer<br />
of 11 November 2010, Official Report, column 480W,<br />
on higher education: finance, what the outcomes were<br />
of his discussions with the Secretary of State for Work<br />
and Pensions. [27309]<br />
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business,<br />
Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member<br />
for Twickenham (Vince Cable) and I have discussed the<br />
proposed changes to higher education funding and<br />
student finance at Cabinet. Our statements to the House<br />
of Commons on this subject reflect the Government<br />
position, as agreed at these meetings.<br />
Local Enterprise Partnerships<br />
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to<br />
fund the development of Local Enterprise Partnerships;<br />
by what mechanisms such partnerships will he be able<br />
to bid for funds from his Department to fulfil their<br />
duties; and if he will make a statement. [27714]<br />
Mr Prisk: No central Government spending has been<br />
allocated specifically to fund the activities of local<br />
enterprise partnerships. As set out in the White Paper<br />
on Local Growth local enterprise partnerships will be<br />
expected to fund their own day-to-day running costs<br />
and will also want to consider how they can obtain the<br />
best value for public money by leveraging in private<br />
sector investment. The mechanisms for how local enterprise<br />
partnerships may bid for centrally available funds, such<br />
as the regional growth fund, will be specific to the fund<br />
itself. Details regarding how to access the regional<br />
growth fund can be found on the Department’s website<br />
at the following address:<br />
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/regional-economicdevelopment/regional-growth-fund<br />
Manufacturing Industries: Trade Competitiveness<br />
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State<br />
for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to<br />
support competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.<br />
[27090]