Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts

Thursday 14th September 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)]

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. That is the nub of what we are dealing with: we have passed the Act, which is a great first step, but we now need to implement it inside our ecosystem. There are going to be great advantages, some of which have already been identified in terms of cost. There are also advantages in data collection. We believe that we can greatly increase our trade finance to SMEs; currently trade finance for exporting is perhaps not the most accessible. We believe that the digital mechanism for data collecting will greatly increase the ability to access finance and reduce its cost, so we see benefits everywhere around this legislation.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, while supporting my noble friend Lord Holmes, I want to ask my noble friend the Minister two questions. The first is about the transferability back into a paper form in cases where there has to be default due to a lack of digital experience. Secondly and perhaps more importantly, given that other international bodies have not yet come on board with this very useful initiative by the British Government, is it not a good idea to confirm what nature of law is to apply in each document coming through this system?

[Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)]

I thank my noble friend for that. The purpose and intent of the Act is to give equal weight to paper and digital proof of ownership—bills of lading, letters of credit et cetera—so they can be in either form. On the legal regime, the Bill is modelled on the United Nations law, so it comes from, as it were, a higher authority, but through custom and practice and mercantile law over the last 300 years or so, maritime law is governed largely under English law. There is therefore an easy adoption and an understanding that mercantile trade can continue under English law. As the rest of the G7 countries come forward and adopt similar legislation, I am sure we will find alignment in these matters.

Baby-changing Facilities

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts

Tuesday 6th June 2023 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to oblige cafés, restaurants and other businesses serving food and drink to provide adequate baby-changing facilities.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade (The Earl of Minto) (Con)]

Although building regulations already require consideration to be given to baby-changing facilities at the design stage of non-dwellings, we need to also consider the impact that further obligations would have. Most hospitality businesses are SMEs, which may not have the resources, or indeed the space, to install suitable facilities.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

I much appreciate those remarks from my noble friend. However, as many parents and guardians of infants find it inconvenient, if not embarrassing, when in restaurants and other outlets serving food and drink where adequate baby-changing facilities are not available, will the Government now consider amending Section 20 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to add a requirement for such facilities, wherever practicable, to those already covering the provision and maintenance of toilet facilities?

[The Earl of Minto (Con)]

My Lords, I think we can all agree that the principle of free access to baby-changing facilities in as many different hospitality situations as we can reach is desirable. Under the existing building regulations there is already a requirement for new non- residential properties to consider this, as well as for buildings which are undergoing substantial reconstruction.