Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will visit the new Robotics Living Lab at the Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, to make an assessment of its contribution to sustainable approaches for fashion manufacturing.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the importance of the Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) at Manchester Fashion Institute for its key role in helping modernise the fashion industry. Officials have visited the Lab and recognise how, by combining robotics and digital technologies, RoLL supports small businesses and contributes to the UK’s wider goals of achieving low-carbon, high-value manufacturing.
The Ministerial team's plans for engagement, including regional and local visits, are revisited regularly.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will include the role of the UK fashion industry in the Invest 2035 strategy.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Industrial Strategy will support the whole economy, through an improved operating environment, long-term stability and greater dynamism for new entrants to emerge.
As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, DCMS will invest in the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme, backing emerging UK designers with funding for London Fashion Week. DBT will continue to champion international trade promotion for the fashion sector through initiatives like guest programmes and key international trades shows.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the UK fashion industry’s contribution to (a) economic growth and (b) employment in the UK.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The department engages with key businesses and trade associations across the UK to support the fashion and textiles industry’s resilience and growth, including export support. The department has strong relationships with the British Fashion Council and the UK Fashion and Textiles Association (UKFT). The latest report from the UKFT estimates the industry contributed around £62 billion to UK GDP in 2021, supporting 1.3 million jobs across the country.
Our Industrial Strategy will support fashion and the whole economy through an improved operating environment, long-term stability and greater dynamism for new entrants to emerge.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support women in the workplace with flexible working.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government knows how important flexible working can be to help women with caring responsibilities manage their work and personal commitments. It can also be equally important for carers of vulnerable adults as well as employees with long-term physical or mental health conditions.
That is why the Government, through the Employment Rights Bill, is increasing access to flexible working by making it the default except where not reasonably feasible. These measures will support all employees, including women, to access flexible working. The changes in the Bill will require employers to accept flexible working requests where it is reasonably feasible to do so.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recent European Commission decision to extend anti-dumping duties on e-bikes from China for another five years.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 6 February, the Secretary of State decided to extend anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Chinese folding e-bikes, and revoke these measures on non-folding e-bikes. This followed evidence-based transition reviews from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). This continues the necessary protection for folding e-bikes producers in the UK, whilst limiting the impact on our consumers and importers, and reflecting the needs of the UK market more generally.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with representatives from (a) the cycle manufacturing industry and (b) cycle manufacturing industries outside the UK on anti-dumping duties on (i) e-bikes, (ii) bicycles and (iii) bicycle components from China.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 6 February, the Secretary of State extended anti-dumping and countervailing measures on Chinese folding e-bikes and removed non-folding e-bikes from the measures. This followed evidence-based transition reviews from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). This continues the necessary protection for UK folding e-bikes producers, whilst limiting the impact on our consumers and importers. A transition review of the anti-dumping measure on Chinese bicycles and certain bicycle parts is currently underway by the TRA. The Secretary of State met with UK manufacturer Brompton Bicycle on 7 March during his visit to Japan.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many sub-postmasters from (a) Manchester Gorton constituency, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the North West were wrongfully convicted due to the Horizon system; and if she will provide this breakdown by ethnicity.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
We do not have the regional breakdown of the number of postmasters with overturned convictions according by ethnicity. So far 101 convictions have been overturned by the Courts across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is the Government’s opinion that there were many more wrongful convictions. We have announced that we will bring forward legislation so that Parliament can overturn them. The number of people whose convictions will be overturned by the legislation will depend on its precise terms.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what representations her Department has received from BAME sub-postmasters about the Horizon system.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Individuals making representations do not generally report their ethnicity, therefore, we do not hold this information.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many sub-postmasters from (a) Manchester Gorton constituency, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the North West voluntarily left the Post Office due to issues with Horizon, broken down by ethnicity.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
We do not have the regional breakdown of the number of postmasters who voluntarily left Post office due to Horizon. However, we know that at least 2,700 overall postmasters have been affected by Horizon issues as there have been 2417 Horizon Shortfall Scheme applicants (and a further 336 eligible late claims to date); 101 overturned convictions; and 492 who are currently eligible for the Group Litigation Order Scheme.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will list the number of sub-postmasters affected by Horizon, broken down by ethnicity.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Department for Business and Trade does not collate information regarding the number of sub-postmasters affected by Horizon according to ethnicity.