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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 29 Nov 2022
Internal Market Information System Regulations (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021

"My Lords, I am sorry that the very interesting and, to me, quite new explanation for the IMI, and its rather interesting resonances for cultural goods and other material that needs to be notified from country to country, has not attracted a wide number of speakers. However, I will do …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Internal Market Information System Regulations (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 24 Feb 2022
Post Office: Horizon

"My Lords, the Minister will be aware that we have previously raised the question of the powers of the inquiry. Obviously, the inquiry has got going, and quite significant information has already been released. My concern was—I think the Minister has answered this before, but I would like to get …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Post Office: Horizon
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 31 Jan 2022
Economic Crime: Planned Government Bill

"One of the key recommendations of the recent Joint Committee on the Online Safety Bill was that scams and economic crimes on the internet should be in scope of the revised Bill when it comes forward. We obviously await the Government’s response to that, but does this not give the …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Economic Crime: Planned Government Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Thu 08 Jul 2021
Market Surveillance (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021

"My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his usual comprehensive introduction. I know that when the Government speak to any business in your Lordships’ House, they always speak with one voice, and I am sure that we heard only the voice we were meant to hear. However, it …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Market Surveillance (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 10 Jun 2021
Employment Rights

"My Lords, can the Minister confirm that the Government’s response to the recent court cases on the gig economy—on issues that concerned the minimum wage, sick pay and holiday pay entitlements—are that no further changes to employment law are considered necessary?..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Employment Rights
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 08 Jun 2021
Agricultural Exports from Australia: Tariffs

"My Lords, this trade agreement contains an ISDS mechanism, which provides private corporations with the right to bypass the laws and courts of both parties. During the passage of the Trade Bill, the Minister confirmed government support for reforms to the ISDS through the UN Commission on International Trade Law’s …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Agricultural Exports from Australia: Tariffs
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 24 May 2021
Post Brexit: Small Service Businesses

"Further to the question from the noble Lord, the TCA contains no overarching agreement with the EU on short-term work relating to our creative industries and, despite what the Minister says, no bilateral or reciprocal agreements are being signed at the moment. What assessment have the Government made of the …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Post Brexit: Small Service Businesses
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 19 May 2021
10-point Plan: Six Months On

"My Lords, I was surprised that there was no mention of SMRs or AMRs in the Statement. The original plan says that

“further investment in Small Modular Reactors and Advanced Modular Reactors”

will be made, and mentions sums of £125 million and £170 million respectively. Can the Minister update us …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: 10-point Plan: Six Months On
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Apr 2021
Post Office Court of Appeal Judgment

"My Lords, the Minister has confirmed that the inquiry—although, technically, I think it was originally called a review—is looking at corporate governance issues, and that is welcome. Could he answer two specific questions? Have the Government submitted any evidence already in the response to the call for evidence? If not, …..."
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara - View Speech

View all Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Post Office Court of Appeal Judgment
Written Question
Construction: Billing
Tuesday 27th April 2021

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (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 impact of the Prompt Payment Code on SMEs in the construction sector, given that only a small minority of construction businesses are signatories to the Code.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is committed to fulfilling its manifesto commitment to clamp down on non-payment and late payment to support small businesses in the UK.

We have introduced a number of measures to tackle late payment. These include the Payment Practices Reporting Duty which creates transparency in payment behaviour, and the Prompt Payment Code which sets standards and best practice in payment culture. Both measures are applicable in the construction sector.

Since September 2019, suppliers also risk being excluded from winning large Government contracts if they cannot demonstrate prompt payment. This policy applies to Central Government contracts valued above £5m per annum, subject to the Public Contracts Regulations.

In addition, in May 2020 the Government issued a Guidance Note on responsible contractual behaviour in the performance and enforcement of contracts impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government will continue to review behaviours in contracting, including public sector procurement, prompt payment and contract management arrangements.