Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on costs for businesses.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
We have published an overall impact assessment for the Bill which is available on gov.uk. Going forwards, departments will identify how they will reform their REUL using the powers in the Bill. In doing so they will conduct proportionate analysis of any economic impacts, including the impact on costs for businesses. The Government remains committed to engaging with stakeholders to ensure policy decisions are well informed and result in benefits for UK businesses and the wider population.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that the minimum wage for workers aged between 16 and 18 reflects the level of inflation.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
On 1 April 2023, workers under 18 saw a 9.7% increase in their National Minimum Wage rate to £5.28. The Government aims to increase the National Minimum Wage as much as possible without damaging employment prospects for younger workers. By seeking expert and independent advice from the Low Pay Commission when setting the minimum wage rates, the Government is able to ensure that the right balance is struck between the needs of workers, the affordability for businesses and the impact on the economy.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on the competitiveness of UK-based businesses.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
We have published an overall impact assessment for the Bill which is available on gov.uk. Going forwards, departments will identify how they will reform their REUL using the powers in the Bill. In doing so they will conduct proportionate analysis of any economic impacts, and where relevant this will include the impact on the competitiveness of UK businesses.The Government remains committed to engaging with stakeholders to ensure policy decisions are well informed and result in benefits for UK businesses and the wider population
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consultation her Department has undertaken with businesses and trade bodies on the establishment of the Clean Steel Fund.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays across the UK economy. We will continue to work with the sector to support its decarbonisation efforts and we have already established various funding schemes such as the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support (IDHRS) in this regard.
A decision on the Clean Steel Fund has not yet been taken as we are continuing to work with the sector to understand its decarbonisation investment plans.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what her timeframe is for the establishment of the Clean Steel Fund; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays across the UK economy. We will continue to work with the sector to support its decarbonisation efforts and we have already established various funding schemes such as the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support (IDHRS) in this regard.
A decision on the Clean Steel Fund has not yet been taken as we are continuing to work with the sector to understand its decarbonisation investment plans.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has been made of the (a) impact of potential severe disruption in the global supply chain for steel on the economy and (b) importance of the UK steel industry to the UK's economic security.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
We actively monitor global trade in steel and potential risks to supply chains, and we are fully aware of the difficult conditions and structural overcapacity that are currently facing the global steel industry.
Along with considering a wide range of data on international markets, we are active participants in a number of international fora, that are focused on ensuring consistent and secure supplies of steel. This includes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Steel Committee and the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity.
Steel is a fundamental material across a wide range of manufacturing and construction sectors. The Government recognises the vital role the UK steel sector provides in the UK economy.
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to provide the final wording of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to Parliament.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
Following the substantial conclusion of negotiations on Friday 31 March, the next step will be to officially sign the agreement that the Government has struck with CPTPP Parties. This will take place following the completion of the legal review process, which is now ongoing
The negotiation outcome will be set out in a Protocol of Accession. This document and the UK’s agreed market access schedules will be published at the point of signature.
Asked by: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has met Royal Mail since becoming Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
As Minister responsible for postal services policy, I have met Royal Mail to discuss a range of issues relating to its role as the universal postal service provider.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Answer of 21 January 2020 to Question 3164 on Employment Tribunals Service: Fines, how many (a) warning notices and (b) financial penalty notices were issued to respondent employers under section 150 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 for failure to pay an employment tribunal award in each year since 2016-17.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Workers should receive the money they are owed. We are committed to ensuring this happens and that they are protected from exploitation.
As stated in the answer to HL6685, data held on Employment Tribunal Penalties is derived from a live case management system used for internal purposes which has not been subject to sufficient validation that would be required for us to release this to Parliament at this time.
We will consider what data we may be able to publish on this subject in the future.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the consultation entitled Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales, published on 3 June 2022, when the Government expects to publish its response to that consultation; and how many responses to that consultation have been analysed as of 13 April 2023.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Government has received over 100,000 responses to the consultation on the Choice on units of measurement: markings and sale and will publish its response in due course.