Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring employment policies reflect the needs of sectors with high levels of (a) youth and (b) seasonal employment.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State, responsible Ministers and policy officials meet regularly with their counterparts in HM Treasury about a range of issues including on the Plan to Make Work Pay and the Employment Rights Bill.
The Bill will deliver significant benefits to the UK, including, better working conditions, more secure work, reducing inequalities and improving industrial relations.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
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 potential impact of (a) flexible and (b) seasonal work patterns in the (i) beer and (ii) pub sector the recruitment and retention of staff.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In my capacity as co-chair of the Hospitality Sector Council I regularly meet with businesses in these sectors to discuss the issues they face, including their challenges around recruitment and retention of staff.
We have extended our Hospitality Sector Work based Academy programme to a further 26 areas, offering jobseekers training in a working environment, work experience, and a guaranteed interview with participating employers, with the aim of addressing staffing shortages in the sector.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is considering designating Fujitsu as a high-risk vendor, in the context of the failures of the Horizon system.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The High Risk Vendor process is not one that the Department for Business and Trade is responsible for.
We welcome Fujitsu’s acknowledgement of their moral obligation to contribute to the cost of the Horizon scandal. Fujitsu have also announced they will voluntarily not bid for new contracts unless requested by Government. The contract with Fujitsu to supply the Post Office Limited’s IT system is time limited - we are working with the Post Office and Fujitsu to ensure the transition is as soon as practically possible.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to reduce imports of software and hardware for key industries from countries that may pose a risk to national security.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Our import controls and sanctions regimes play an important role in supporting the UK's foreign policy and national security objectives including by restricting the import of controlled goods from any source country and specified goods from those countries subject to UK sanctions.
The Government does not speculate on future import controls or sanctions as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our import controls and the sanctions regime.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress her Department has made on negotiating a free trade agreement with India.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
I am pleased to confirm that round 8 is currently underway in India.
As you know, both nations have come to the table with the very highest of ambitions and a willingness to work together towards a mutually beneficial deal.
We are now working through substantive issues like goods market access, services, and investment, and are starting to see a way forward that works for both sides.
However, we will only sign when we have a deal that is fair, reciprocal, and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the economy.