here - United Kingdom Parliament

835W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
836W
Mr Prisk: The Government are supporting
manufacturing by creating a stable business environment
that will give businesses the confidence they need to
plan and invest. We are doing this by creating a more
supportive tax environment, freeing up credit through
the banking system, reducing regulation, maximising
the flexibility of the labour market and focusing on
training and apprenticeships. The Government announced
in the spending review that they will invest up to £200
million to support manufacturing and business development
focusing on high growth business and innovation
particularly among small and medium sized businesses.
The Government have launched their comprehensive
growth review and this will ensure that all Departments
are actively removing barriers faced by industry.
As part of the phased reporting process, we will
conduct a detailed look into barriers to growth within
advanced manufacturing.
Also on 6 December we will be launching a new
approach to manufacturing that will highlight key
ambitions, identify growth opportunities and set out a
new framework of actions for both Government and
industry.
raise awareness of opportunities in Bahrain, including a
middle east road show in February and a financial
services road show in September. UKTI also staged a
‘Britain in the Region’ event in Dubai in November
aimed at encouraging British companies with regional
headquarters in Dubai into other markets in the middle
east, including Bahrain.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General how many
EU directives are pending transposition into domestic
legislation by the Law Officers’ Departments; and what
estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition.
[27482]
The Attorney-General: The information is as follows:
1. None
2. None.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for
Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer
of 11 November 2010, Official Report, column 485W,
on the Regional Growth Fund, what types of proposals
will meet the criteria to be considered as strategic
investment programmes. [27335]
Mr Prisk: There will be a separate bidding form and
guidance for programme proposals, which will be made
available in early 2011. Programme proposals are therefore
not included within the first bidding round.
UK Trade and Investment: Bahrain
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business,
Innovation and Skills what steps UKTI is taking to
increase trade and investment with the Kingdom of
Bahrain. [27807]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) supports
business with Bahrain through trade and investment
teams based in the British embassy in Manama and in
the UK. UKTI provides a broad range of support for
British companies—from conferences and trade missions
to support for trade fairs and exhibitions—and also
oversees annual trade and economic talks with Bahrain
aimed at prioritising opportunities and improving the
environment for bilateral trade and investment. The
most recent talks resulted in the signature of a bilateral
Double Taxation Agreement in March 2010.
Recent examples of support for business with Bahrain
include visits by the Lord Mayor of the City of London
in February; and by the UK’s Special Representative
for International Trade and Investment, HRH The Duke
of York, in May. UKTI organised scoping visits to
Bahrain in the spring of 2010 focused on the creative
industries and sports infrastructure sectors; and also
organised a UK pavilion of 18 companies at the World
Islamic Banking Conference in Manama in November.
Regular events are organised by UKTI in the UK to
PRIME MINISTER
Pupils: Bullying
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will
establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on the prevention
of and responses to bullying in schools. [27708]
The Prime Minister: The Schools White Paper made
clear our expectation that all schools should take a zero
tolerance approach to bullying. Bullying in schools is
discussed by the relevant Cabinet Committees.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Arts: Cumbria County Council
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for
Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent
assessment he has made of the effect of local authority
funding reductions on arts organisations based in the
Cumbria county council area. [27729]
Mr Vaizey: It is central Government’s role to empower
local communities and local authorities to make the
decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their
area.
The Department will continue to fund the arts through
Arts Council England, who provide support to a number
of regularly funded organisations across the country.
Arts: Sunderland City Council
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment
he has made of the likely effects of local authority
funding reductions on arts organisations in the Sunderland
city council area. [27805]