Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide guidance to public bodies regarding the use of court action in response to strikes.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The law is well established in this area and the means to enforce it are widely understood. Employers can seek an injunction in the High Court if they believe a union has not followed its statutory obligations in relation to strike action.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to create strategic investment plans for automation and digitalisation to help UK manufacturing businesses.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
Made Smarter, the UK industrial digitalisation programme, helps manufacturers capitalise on new digital technologies, slash carbon emissions and drive-up productivity. This includes a £24m adoption programme supporting SMEs in 5 key manufacturing regions, and a £147m innovation programme to develop new technology. A competition launched in January will invest £6m late-stage robotics and automation innovation in manufacturing.
Budget 2023 introduced Full Expensing, allowing 100% deduction of the cost of qualifying plant and machinery from profits before tax, and a first-year allowance, allowing 50% deduction of the cost of other machinery, from profits during the year of purchase.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what business expansion grants are available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
Businesses of all sizes can access government-backed finance from the British Business Bank. The Start Up Loans Company provides loans and pre- and post-application support to new entrepreneurs, including a year of free business mentoring for successful applicants. The Recovery Loan Scheme helps smaller businesses access loans and other kinds of finance up to £2 million per business group so they can grow and invest. Additionally, SMEs seeking to grow through exports can access the Export Academy and UK Export Finance.
The newly-launched Help to Grow website contains links to the full range of government funding available to small businesses.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) retail, (2) hospitality, and (3) leisure, businesses.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The Spring Budget 2023 announced a £63m fund for public swimming pool providers to help with immediate cost pressures and make facilities more energy efficient. It has also been announced that there will be an increase in Draught Relief from 1 August to 9.2% to freeze the duty charged on a typical pint of beer in the pub and ensure this will always be lower than in the supermarket.
The Autumn Statement 2022 announced a package of changes to business rates worth £13.6bn over the next 5 years in lower bills. This includes a freeze to the multiplier, scrapping the downward revaluation cap and extending and increasing the generosity of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief from 50% to 75% in 2023-24, up to £110,000 per business.
This is in addition to the Energy Bills Relief Scheme, which discounts businesses’ energy bills until 31 March 2023; the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to help the care sector pay their employees the Living Wage.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
All businesses – irrespective of their size or business sector – are responsible for paying the correct National Living Wage (NLW) /National Minimum Wage (NMW) to their staff. The Government is making available up to £7.5 billion in additional funding over two years to support adult social care and discharge - with up to £2.8 billion available in 2023/24 and £4.7 billion in 2024/25. This funding boost will put the adult social care system on a stronger financial footing and help Local Authorities address waiting lists, low fee rates, and workforce pressures in the sector.
If any care worker is concerned that they are being underpaid, we strongly urge them to call the Acas helpline (0300 123 1100) for free, impartial and confidential advice about their rights and entitlements. Acas officers will pass on cases to HM Revenue and Customs for further consideration where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support small rural businesses.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
Government has announced £13.6 billion of support for businesses over the next five years, including those in rural communities. This includes freezing the business rates multiplier for another year and protection for small businesses who lose eligibility for either Small Business or Rural Rate Relief through a more generous Supporting Small Business scheme worth over £500 million
Government has also reversed the National Insurance rise, introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and announced the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, cut fuel duty for 12 months, raised the Employment Allowance to £5,000 and exempted small and micro businesses from regulations where possible.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address labour shortages.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The Government is reforming the skills system to better support people to get the skills our economy needs, which is essential to addressing labour shortages.
The Government is supporting employers in all sectors to develop the skilled workforces they need by investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the Parliament, offering flexible training through Skills Bootcamps, and increased investment in apprenticeships.
In December 2022, the Government published its response to the consultation “making flexible working the default”. This committed to make changes to the Right to Request Flexible Working to boost availability, several of which are being taken forward through the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill.
Additionally, the Department for Work and Pensions are reviewing workforce participation and how we can attract and retain workers, particularly older workers. This will work to address labour shortages in both the short and long term.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the (1) pay, (2) conditions, and (3) employment rights, of workers in the hospitality sector, given the wage inflation seen in that sector over the past year.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
Protecting and enhancing workers’ rights whilst supporting business to grow remains a priority for this government. On 1 April 2023, the Government will increase the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 23 years and over by 9.7% to £10.42. This keeps the Government on track to achieve its manifesto commitment for the NLW to equal two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, providing economic conditions allow. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, sponsored by my Hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn, will ensure that all tips go to staff, and allows staff to bring a claim to an Employment Tribunal if businesses do not fairly distribute well-earned service charges.
Other than ensuring compliance with NMW requirements, rates of pay in the private sector are determined by negotiations between business and workers.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Brexit on investment in businesses.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department has made no such assessment.