Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have concerning the proportion of employees working shifts of more than six hours who do not receive payment for the rest breaks to which they are entitled.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In Great Britain, working hours are governed by the Working Time Regulations, which set the maximum working hours and minimum rest breaks workers are entitled to. All workers are entitled to a minimum of 20 minutes’ rest break if they work at least six hours, which may be paid or unpaid depending on the employment contract. Some workers such as shift workers may be entitled to ‘compensatory rest’ if they don’t have the right to specific rest breaks.
Payment for rest breaks is a matter for individual contracts.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they hold on the number of UK companies who have set up (1) companies, and (2) distribution hubs, in the EU since 1 January; and the number of jobs that have been created in the EU as a result.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Companies House does not hold any information on how many companies have set up (1) companies and (2) distribution hubs, in the EU since 1 January, and the number of jobs that have been created in the EU as a result.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding UK implementation of the 2019 Copyright Directive.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The deadline for implementing the EU Copyright Directive is 7 June 2021. The United Kingdom left the European Union on the 31 January and the transition period will end on 31 December 2020. Therefore, the United Kingdom will not be required to implement the Directive, and the Government has no plans to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the effects of a no-deal Brexit; and what was the outcome of those discussions.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
We are working closely with businesses across the country to help ensure they are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances. This includes regular engagement with the automotive industry by both BEIS ministers and officials to discuss plans for no-deal.
Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on the Gov.uk website of the relevant Department.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing extra resources to the Competition and Markets Authority as a result of the UK no longer being a member of the EU.
Answered by Lord Henley
At the Autumn Budget 2017, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer committed £3 billion over the next two financial years to helping departments, including the CMA, and the devolved administrations to prepare for our exit from the EU. As part of the Spring Statement 2018, my rt. hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced that the CMA has been allocated an additional £23.6m in 2018-2019 to prepare for EU exit.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure UK participation in the European competition network after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government intends to ensure that UK competition authorities, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, can cooperate effectively and coordinate closely their activity with the European Commission and the competition authorities of EU Member States. This will be subject to negotiations with the EU and could be achieved through an agreed form of UK participation in the European competition network or through another mechanism.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about retail petrol and diesel price differences across the UK.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
Her Majesty’s Government believes that a competitive market is the best way to keep prices low. Retail fuels markets are subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not collect statistics by the nations or the regions of the UK but it does publish weekly UK statistics retail petrol and diesel prices: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-weekly-statistics. On 9 January 2017 the average retail price for petrol and diesel was 118.0 pence per litre and 121.3 pence per litre respectively.
The AA publishes data on regional retail petrol and diesel price differences across the UK: http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-costs/fuel-prices.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent studies they have undertaken into retail petrol and diesel price differences across the nations and regions of the UK.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
Her Majesty’s Government believes that a competitive market is the best way to keep prices low. Retail fuels markets are subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not collect statistics by the nations or the regions of the UK but it does publish weekly UK statistics retail petrol and diesel prices: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-weekly-statistics. On 9 January 2017 the average retail price for petrol and diesel was 118.0 pence per litre and 121.3 pence per litre respectively.
The AA publishes data on regional retail petrol and diesel price differences across the UK: http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-costs/fuel-prices.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the proportion of people on zero-hours contracts who are seeking full-time employment with guaranteed pay and hours of work.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government has not made an assessment.
ONS statistics published on 9 March 2016, for the fourth quarter of 2015, show that for those individuals on a zero hours contract in their main job, 63 per cent were not looking for more hours or a different job.