Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Gustafsson on 11 March (HL5279), whether they are meeting rural partners to discuss the industrial strategy; and if so, which rural partners they have met so far.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that it is essential that the industrial Strategy is informed by the experiences of the individuals, businesses, and local communities it will support. To achieve this, we have been engaging widely across the UK, including with regional stakeholders such as Devolved Governments, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Pan-Regional Partnerships and Business Representation Organisations. Additionally, we have worked through our regionally based teams in England to engage with individual Local Authorities, key local businesses, and local networks and organisations in areas where our eight growth driving sectors are located. We are also considering over 3000 responses to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper Consultation, which has included representations from rural areas.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Gustafsson on 11 March (HL5279), which rural partners they are engaging with as they design the industrial strategy.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that it is essential that the industrial Strategy is informed by the experiences of the individuals, businesses, and local communities it will support. To achieve this, we have been engaging widely across the UK, including with regional stakeholders such as Devolved Governments, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Pan-Regional Partnerships and Business Representation Organisations. Additionally, we have worked through our regionally based teams in England to engage with individual Local Authorities, key local businesses, and local networks and organisations in areas where our eight growth driving sectors are located. We are also considering over 3000 responses to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper Consultation, which has included representations from rural areas.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Gustafsson on 11 March (HL5279), whether "regional growth" mentioned in the Answer includes and accounts for sparsely populated areas or areas classified as predominantly rural.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Regional growth is a core objective of this Industrial Strategy, which will be ambitious and targeted. It will unleash the full potential of our cities and regions, by concentrating efforts on clusters and city-regions with the greatest potential for our growth-driving sectors.
Clusters often cut across local government boundaries, sitting both within and outside of major cities, including extending into in rural areas – particularly for growth-driving sectors which require access to suitable land, water and other natural resources.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the forthcoming industrial strategy, Invest 2035, supports investment, infrastructure and productivity improvement in rural communities.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Green Paper sets out our vision for a credible, 10-year plan to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high-growth sectors that will drive our growth mission, creating a pro-business environment and supporting high-potential clusters across the country.
The Strategy will focus on tackling barriers to growth in our highest potential sectors and places, creating the right conditions for increased investment and ensuring tangible impact in communities right across the UK. Regional growth is one of our objectives and we are engaging widely with businesses, trade unions, devolved governments, local leaders, and academia, to design a package that supports the whole country.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the productivity of businesses where employees work a permanent four-day working week.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
While the government routinely monitors the impact of flexible working, it has made no specific assessment of the four-day week. Additionally, the government has no plans to mandate a four-day week for five-days’ pay. However, we are, through the Employment Rights Bill, giving employees better access to flexible working arrangements, where feasible. Not all businesses will be able to accommodate all forms of flexible working. We want to create a framework that will encourage employers and employees to explore suitable options for flexible working arrangements that suit both parties.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to take steps to prevent UK consumers from purchasing goods produced by forced labour; and what assessment they have made of (1) the decision by the government of the United States to add aluminium to its list of priority sectors for the enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, and (2) European Commission plans to publish an online database of regions and sectors where forced labour is a risk.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to working with international partners and businesses to ensure global supply chains are free from human and labour rights abuses. No UK company should have forced labour in its supply chains.
This Government is reviewing the details of the EU Forced Labour Regulation and US Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act and will continue to engage with our European and US partners to understand the impact on UK businesses as we consider how we best tackle forced labour in supply chains.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Resolution Foundation report Firm foundations: Understanding why employers use flexible contracts, published on 25 April; and what steps they will take to improve situations for zero-hours contract workers.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Flexible contracts are an important part of the UK’s labour market, for both employers with fluctuations in demand, and for individuals who need to balance work around other commitments such as childcare and study.
2022 research from the CIPD found that 62% of zero hours contract workers are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, only a slightly lower fraction than the 66% for other employees.
The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 will give workers – including those on zero hours contracts - the right to make a request to their employer for a more predictable working pattern.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make an assessment of the impact of the Tesco-Booker merger on rural small businesses, such as post offices and village stores.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Investigations into mergers and anti-competitive practices are the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK’s independent competition regulator.
I note that the CMA conducted an in-depth investigation into Tesco’s acquisition of Booker in 2017 and concluded that it did not raise competition concerns.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Tesco-Booker merger on independent shopkeepers.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Investigations into mergers and anti-competitive practices are the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK’s independent competition regulator.
I note that the CMA conducted an in-depth investigation into Tesco’s acquisition of Booker in 2017 and concluded that it did not raise competition concerns.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the changes recently introduced by Booker on independent retailers.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Investigations into mergers and anti-competitive practices are the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK’s independent competition regulator.
I note that the CMA conducted an in-depth investigation into Tesco’s acquisition of Booker in 2017 and concluded that it did not raise competition concerns.