Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to enforce the ban on the sale and use of illegally modified e-bikes, referred to as "fake e-bikes" in the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes, published on 16 June.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I thank the APPG for their report into this important topic, on which there is cross-Government work to tackle the issues raised and make sure e-bikes are safe to buy and use. Our product safety framework makes clear that consumer products can only be placed on the UK market if they are safe and comply with relevant laws. Businesses, including those modifying or servicing electric bikes, have responsibilities for the safety of those products. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and local authorities enforce the regulations.
E-bikes used illegally on public land is an enforcement matter for the police.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 11 June (HL7370), what representations they have received from the pharmaceutical industry about tariffs imposed by the United States of America.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and other Ministers, as well as officials from my department and across government have been engaging widely with business organisations and companies from across the economy, including those in the pharmaceuticals sector.
We received a number of responses from the pharmaceuticals sector to DBT's Request for Input launched on 3 April to inform our response to US tariffs.
We will continue our extensive engagement with pharmaceutical businesses from across the UK throughout negotiations, ensuring that their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities are fully understood.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 11 June (HL7370), what discussions they have had with the pharmaceutical industry about tariffs imposed by the United States of America.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and other Ministers, as well as officials from my department and across government have been engaging widely with business organisations and companies from across the economy, including those in the pharmaceuticals sector.
We received a number of responses from the pharmaceuticals sector to DBT's Request for Input launched on 3 April to inform our response to US tariffs.
We will continue our extensive engagement with pharmaceutical businesses from across the UK throughout negotiations, ensuring that their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities are fully understood.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what protections, if any, they have secured for the UK pharmaceutical industry in relation to the imposition of tariffs by the United States of America.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 8 May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to get an agreement with President Trump.
The agreement will secure the UK preferential access to the US market for UK pharmaceuticals in case of new US tariffs being introduced in the future, further to any section 232 investigations. These conversations are ongoing, and we will work closely with the US administration to get the best deal for our pharma industry.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of staff shortages in the hospitality sector; and what actions they are taking to address these shortages.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Between February and April 2025, there were 83,000 vacancies in the hospitality sector, which is 21% less than last year.
This is a significant improvement which can be credited to Government’s collaboration with the Hospitality Sector Council in addressing jobs shortages and building the sector’s talent pipeline.
As part of this, we are expanding Hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) which fast track individuals into hospitality vacancies by providing flexible training and support. SWAPs have already seen 10,000 starts in the sector in less than two years.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - 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 the UK–US trade agreement on the safety and welfare standards of agricultural produce.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On 8 May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.
We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef - with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef or chlorinated chicken remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) China, and (2) the United States of America, regarding the introduction of trade tariffs.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have concluded a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.
In April, Minister Alexander travelled to Beijing where he met ministers from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to discuss a range of bilateral and global trade issues, including the trade tariffs.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with Royal Mail about ways of addressing its labour shortages.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Operational decisions, including staffing and recruitment policies, are a matter for Royal Mail as a private business. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Royal Mail concerning increases to the price of postage stamps; and whether the matter of delivery target failures was raised during those discussions.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
As a private business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services and in doing so must work within the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s day-to-day commercial decisions.
It is for Ofcom to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards. Ofcom has powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.
Ofcom is currently undertaking an investigation into Royal Mail’s failure to meet its quality of service performance targets for 2022-23.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of delays in Royal Mail deliveries on the delivery of medicines.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.
Ofcom is currently investigating whether Royal Mail failed to meet its quality-of-service performance targets for 2022-23.
Royal Mail delivers medicines on behalf of a number of organisations, including the NHS. However, the Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s contractual arrangements with its customers, including delivery of medication and the delivery services used.