Package Travel Regulations: Consultation
(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Justin Madders)
The current Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 set a series of requirements for organisers of package holidays and linked travel arrangements and provide bespoke protections for travellers. As the way we book holidays evolves, it is important that these regulations remain fit for purpose—for both consumers and travel providers.
The Government’s previous 12-week call for evidence (18 September to 13 December 2023) targeted stakeholder engagement, and externally commissioned consumer research highlighted a number of areas within the regulations that may benefit from revision and reform. This is why we are launching this consultation.
We propose to retain the principle behind the regulations—that consumers should be offered protection when purchasing package holidays. However, there is room to improve the framework to achieve economic growth and regulatory simplification. The proposed changes to the regulations aim to facilitate growth, increase consumer choice, and simplify the existing regulations, making them easier for business to comply with and for consumers to understand.
We intend to look at the following areas as part of the consultation:
Reforming the domestic package market to exempt domestic (UK) holidays that do not contain a booked travel element from the regulations. Other existing consumer protections will still apply.
Reform Linked Travel Arrangements by either removing or simplifying the definition of LTAs.
Examine the case for setting a time limit for third parties to provide redress to organisers where the third party has contributed to the event but has not already provided redress directly to the consumer. This is to respond to difficulties some package organisers have in exercising their right to recoup refund moneys from suppliers.
Further technical changes to make clearer what services are within the scope of the regulations, and to reform measures around insolvency protection.
Next steps
To support these objectives, the Department for Business and Trade has published a consultation on the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which is available on www.gov.uk. The consultation will be open for 12 weeks. We encourage all interested stakeholders to respond. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, the Government will make a final decision on whether and how to change the regulations. I am placing a copy of the consultation in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Rebel Energy: Supplier of Last Resort
(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Miatta Fahnbulleh)
On 1 April, Rebel Energy announced that it planned to cease trading. Following this announcement, Ofgem confirmed that it would seek to appoint a supplier of last resort to protect Rebel Energy’s customers, ensuring no disruption and continuity of service for all customers.
Following a competitive process to get the best deal possible for consumers, Ofgem has appointed British Gas as the SOLR for Rebel Energy customers. British Gas will take on supplying Rebel Energy’s 84,000 domestic customers and 6,000 non-domestic customers.
Customers of Rebel Energy do not need to take any action for now. There will be no disruption in energy supply, which will continue as normal following the switch over to British Gas on 6 April 2025. Funds that current and former domestic customers of the supplier have paid into their accounts will be protected and transferred, where they are in credit. Domestic customers will also be protected by the energy price cap with their new supplier.
Customers of Rebel Energy will be contacted over the coming days about the changes. Once the SOLR process is complete, customers will be able to switch providers or sign up for a new fixed tariff in the usual way, although Ofgem advises them to wait until the SOLR process has been completed. Customers will not be charged exit fees if they decide to switch to another supplier.
Since its introduction, Ofgem’s SOLR process has ensured supplier exits are orderly, costs are minimised and customers experience no disruption to their energy supply as they are transferred to a new supplier. Most recently, it was successfully used to protect approximately 1.8 million customers of the 28 domestic suppliers which exited the market between August 2021 and July 2022.
[HCWS581]
Childhood Obesity
(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)
Today, I am updating the House on the implementation of the TV and online advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink that are due to come into force UK-wide on 1 October 2025. I wish to re-confirm the Government’s view on how the restrictions will apply to brand advertising, and give an update on how we are working with Ofcom and the Advertising Standards Authority, as the regulators, to ensure an effective and proportionate implementation of the restrictions.
This Government have set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever and take action to address the childhood obesity crisis. As part of this ambition, this Government made a manifesto commitment to implement advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on TV and online. These are designed to reduce children’s exposure to less healthy products, based on evidence that they contribute to childhood obesity, as well as incentivise businesses to reformulate their products and help create a healthier food environment for our children. Alongside this and in support of the Government’s growth mission, we want to deliver proportionate regulation that balances the health benefits with the impact on businesses.
To achieve these objectives, the Communications Act 2003—as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022 —sets out that the restrictions will apply to adverts for ‘identifiable’ less healthy food and drink products. ‘Identifiable’ means if persons in the UK could reasonably be expected to be able to identify an advert as being for a less healthy product.
While it is for a court to interpret the legislation, the Government’s view remains that pure brand advertising is not in scope of this policy. This is because the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products, and not adverts that could be reasonably understood to be advertising brands. This has been the consistent position of this Government and was clearly stated to Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We therefore expect that businesses will still have opportunities to promote their brands, provided that their adverts do not identify a less healthy product. For example, brands could promote their non-product attributes, such as corporate social responsibility commitments or customer experience, or advertise the healthier products within their portfolios. We do not expect the perception of a corporate brand, or its association with less healthy products, to automatically bring an advert into scope of the restrictions. The Government do not intend to prevent brands from advertising, but instead intend to give businesses an incentive to innovate and create healthier products.
We understand that businesses need clarity in order to plan and secure future advertising campaigns. We also recognise the considerable investment they have already made in preparing for the restrictions coming into force. The Government have been clear that, while a robust regulatory framework is needed, we expect regulators to act in a way that supports economic growth, and helps industry to make future investment decisions and innovate with confidence.
The Government and the regulators share the same aims: to offer clarity and support to businesses as these restrictions are introduced. While it is of course for the regulators to act independently, we anticipate that they will want to act quickly and firmly on any obvious breaches of the law where a less healthy product is clearly identified in an advert. However, in other instances and where the circumstances make it appropriate, in the Government’s view, the law provides considerable discretion in how the available enforcement tools can be used positively to support a business to move to compliance over a period of time.
The ASA will finalise its implementation guidance following consultation. We know that the ASA is already engaging with industry and will continue to do so following publication of the final guidance later in the spring.
By implementing the advertising restrictions and taking preventative action now, the Government are beginning to fix the foundations of good health, and are protecting the next generation, so that it can become the healthiest ever.
[HCWS579]
Southport Inquiry
(1 week ago)
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The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)
On 29 July 2024, a brutal attack took place at a children’s dance club in Southport. Tragically, the perpetrator murdered three young girls, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, and injured 10 other people. My thoughts remain with their families as they come to terms with this devastating loss, as well as with those injured, and with all those who were present that day who survived the attack but live with the serious emotional consequences. Nothing will ever take away their trauma and loss, and we will ensure they receive the support and care they need in the years to come.
It is of vital importance that there is a clear understanding of how this terrible attack was able to happen, and the lessons learnt, so that we can take all necessary steps to minimise the risk of a future tragedy. That is why I announced in my statement to the House on 21 January that the Government would establish an independent public inquiry to do this.
Today I am formally announcing the establishment of an inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005. It will need to be able to swiftly receive evidence from the full range of relevant organisations. After careful consideration, including the representations made by some of the families and victims of the attack, I have decided to set the inquiry up on a statutory basis from the beginning. The formal date of establishment of the inquiry is today and the inquiry will begin its work immediately.
The inquiry will be chaired by the right hon. Sir Adrian Fulford. Sir Adrian will bring an impartial and extensive legal background to the inquiry, particularly on issues related to policing, the criminal justice system and multi-agency working. In accordance with the provision of section 3(1)(a) of the Inquiries Act 2005, Sir Adrian will sit alone as chair.
The inquiry will take place in two phases. The first phase will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, as well as the events leading up to it—including the perpetrator’s interactions with different public bodies. I am today publishing the terms of reference for this first phase, and I will place a copy in the Libraries of both Houses. A later, second phase will examine the wider issue of young people being drawn into extreme violence and will be informed by the first phase.
The direction of the inquiry’s investigation will be a matter for the chair. The Government will provide support and ensure that the inquiry has the resources needed to fulfil its terms of reference.
I had the privilege of meeting some of the victims and families last month. I would like to put on record my thanks to them for taking the time to meet with me and the safeguarding Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), and sharing their deeply personal experiences. Their courage and strength in recounting these painful memories is greatly appreciated. I know Sir Adrian is planning to travel to meet with them soon, as his first priority.
I also had the opportunity to discuss the public inquiry and how it could be approached to support victims and their families, to ensure they get answers they need and to minimise further distress from this terrible attack. I am grateful for their willingness to engage so constructively in this important conversation. Their input will be crucial in shaping the inquiry’s approach and ensuring the voices of all victims are heard during the process.
[HCWS580]
Equality Law: Call for Evidence
(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Seema Malhotra)
I am pleased to announce the launch of a call for evidence on equality law, an important step in this Government’s missions to break down barriers and make work pay. This call for evidence aims to gather comprehensive insights from expert stakeholders in order to shape future policy development and potential legislative reform.
Equality is a key factor in delivering long-term and sustainable growth across the UK economy. It is essential that individuals can achieve according to their talents, irrespective of their background. This not only maximises individual opportunity but enables businesses to employ the best person for the job, leading to increased productivity, innovation, and economic resilience, driving up household incomes and putting more money in working people’s pockets.
Our goal is to understand how we can better remove barriers to ambition and success for everyone, to improve the lives of working people and strengthen our country as part of our plan for change.
We are seeking evidence and views on the following areas:
the prevalence of pay discrimination on the basis of race and disability;
making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people;
measures to ensure that outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay;
improving the enforcement of equal pay rights by establishing an equal pay regulatory and enforcement unit, with the involvement of trade unions;
improving pay transparency;
strengthening protections against combined discrimination;
ensuring the public sector equality duty is met by all parties exercising public functions;
creating and maintaining workplaces and working conditions free from sexual harassment;
commencing the socioeconomic duty.
We invite responses from anyone with evidence in these areas. Contributions will be crucial in shaping the steps we take towards achieving a fair, prosperous and equitable society for all. A copy of the call for evidence on equality law has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and will be available on www.gov.uk.
[HCWS578]