Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether individuals who own more than one business can receive a covid-19 Bounce Back Loan for each of their businesses which requires such a loan.
Answered by Paul Scully
A single business will not be eligible for multiple Bounce Back Loans; however, an individual who owns a number of separate businesses which do not fall under the same group, may apply for a Bounce Back Loan for each separate business entity.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent meetings he has had with representatives of (a) the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and (b) Nissan to discuss the health of the UK automotive industry.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Ministers in the Department have been regularly engaging with with key industry bodies, to understand how we can support the continued resilience and competitiveness of UK manufacturing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organisations include the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Nissan, which has been a critical part of the UK’s automotive industry and the North East’s manufacturing landscape for the past 30 years.
In order to support UK business and industry during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package including government-backed and guaranteed loans. We have made an initial £330 billion of guarantees available, alongside the Coronavirus Job Retention and VAT deferral schemes.
The Government also has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector. Through our landmark Automotive Sector Deal, we have secured joint investment and long-term commitments to develop world-leading battery technologies, positioning the UK as the location of choice for the development and deployment of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
The Government, alongside industry, have jointly committed almost £1.5 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Faraday Battery Challenge to research, develop, and commercialise low carbon automotive innovations. In October last year, we announced up to £1 billion of new money to support research and development, including within supply chains, to support electric vehicle manufacture.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2020 to Question 13518 on Unemployment: Ethnic Groups, what estimate he has made of the average wage of workers from BAME backgrounds.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published estimates of the earnings for different ethnic groups in Great Britain.
In 2018, on average, the median gross hourly pay for people from an ethnic minority background was £11.54.
The full analysis can be found in the link below:
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to amend Ofgem’s remit to incorporate the Government’s Net Zero target.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Ofgem will have an important role in the transition to net zero and already has various powers and duties in relation to decarbonisation, including a duty to consider reductions in targeted greenhouse gas emissions. The regulator is planning to publish a decarbonisation "action plan" in February and we look forward to working closely with Ofgem to help them to implement the contents of the plan.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from the UK automotive sector on the potential effect on car production levels of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We are working closely with businesses across the country to help ensure they are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances. This includes regular engagement with the automotive industry by both BEIS ministers and officials to discuss plans for no-deal.
All Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published in Quarterly Transparency returns published by relevant Departments.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from the UK automotive sector on the potential effect on car production levels of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from the UK automotive sector on potential disruption to manufacturing supply chains in the event of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Government is in regular dialogue with businesses, including those in the automotive supply chain, to help ensure all companies are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances.
We are prepared for no-deal but there is more work to be done. The Chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available to mitigate any short-term effects and to boost the potential of the UK economy. The £10m Business Readiness Fund for business organisations and trade associations will support businesses in preparing for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit ahead of 31 October 2019.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when she last spoke with Nissan on the effect on their operations in the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Nissan is a critical part of the UK’s successful Automotive industry and remains a vital part of the North East’s manufacturing landscape as it has been for the past 30 years. I am in active dialogue with Nissan – most recently in a call with the company last week, and others in the Automotive sector to support investments in new technology, R&D and electrification Nissan’s decisions to produce the new Qashqai, Juke and the all electric Leaf models at its world class manufacturing facility in Sunderland are votes of confidence in the UK’s business environment.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect on the automotive sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The document entitled, “EU Exit: Long-term economic analysis” was laid before Parliament on 28th November 2018 and remains valid. This analysis illustrates the high level impacts on the UK from different EU Exit scenarios with associated costs for five broad sector groups across the economy, including motor vehicles and parts as a key component of the manufactured goods sector.
The macroeconomic modelling tools used for this analysis do not allow for disaggregation of results at individual sector level.
We are working closely with businesses across the country to help ensure they are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances. This includes regular engagement with the automotive industry by both BEIS ministers and officials to discuss no-deal risks and mitigations. Engagement may be bilateral or in group discussions, via trade associations, or through participation in the Automotive Council.
We are better prepared for no-deal than many think but not as well prepared as we could be and we are turbocharging preparations. My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for job losses as a result of the UK withdrawing from the Galileo satellite navigation system.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Government has been in close contact with UK industry throughout the negotiations on Galileo and will continue to work with them.
Whilst these discussions continue, we are also taking action to ensure our vibrant space sector continues to succeed. The UK’s Space Sector has recently published Prosperity from Space, their blueprint for creating an extra 30,000 high skill jobs in the sector by 2030 by working in partnership with Government.