Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to provide support to people who claim to have been sacked for trying to unionise whilst working at Rockstar North.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is looking into the matters in relation to Rockstar North. Section 152 of the Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 protects employees from dismissal for being or seeking to be a member of a trade union. An employee who considers they were unfairly dismissed can bring a claim to an employment tribunal.
It is a fundamental part of our employment framework that workers have a voice in the workplace and can utilise their right to organise via trade unions. Indeed, the government is strengthening protections for trade union membership and activities through the Employment Rights Act.
The government is always willing to engage with employers, including Rockstar North, to ensure that they comply with their obligations.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Evri and other delivery companies on leaving parcels unattended on doorsteps.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It is unacceptable for delivery companies to leave parcels unattended on doorsteps where that has not been requested by a customer.
The government wants to see all operators provide a good level of service, including incorporating customers’ preferences on deliveries. However, Evri and other delivery companies are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions.
Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.
Ofcom engages regularly with all parcel operators to understand their approach to implementation of, and compliance with, its consumer protection measures.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support women in the workplace with flexible working.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Flexible working can make work more inclusive for those facing barriers to staying in and getting on at work, including women navigating parenthood, caring responsibilities, health conditions, and other personal circumstances.
We are changing legislation through the Employment Rights Bill to make it more likely that flexible working requests are accepted.
Where employers do reject a request, they will be required to explain the basis for their decision.
We also intend to run a public consultation in early 2026 on a new process for employers planning to reject a request to prompt dialogue about what types of flexible working might be feasible.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with D&D London on the closure of 35 TGI Fridays branches.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We understand that this will be a concerning time for workers at TGI Fridays, and we stand ready to support those impacted. Affected employees will be able to access Government support, including Universal Credit and Job Centre Plus to help them find new jobs, through its Rapid Response Service. DBT officials are monitoring developments and are in touch with administrators.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
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 with flexible working.
Answered by Justin Madders
Through the recently introduced Employment Rights Bill, we are amending existing legislation to ensure employers accept flexible working requests, except where they are not reasonably feasible. These changes will support employees to access flexible working, including women. We know flexible working is particularly important supporting women who combine work with caring responsibilities.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether there have been changes to the licence agreements issued to UK Seabed Resources Limited since January 2021.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
There have been no changes to the licence agreements issued to UK Seabed Resources Limited since January 2021.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential costs and benefits to the UK of UK Seabed Resources Limited's two International Seabed Authority exploration licences.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Department for Business and Trade has considered the potential future impacts to the UK in holding two Deep Sea Mining exploration licences and have found there is an opportunity for the UK to take a lead in this emerging market with potential for growth and revenue through taxation. This is subject to the establishment of strong, enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines adopted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and where there is sufficient scientific evidence available to assess the potential impact of deep-sea mining activities on marine ecosystems.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government response to the consultation entitled Health is everyone’s business, published on 4 October 2021, whether he plans to incorporate proposals within that consultation on tackling ill health-related job losses into the Employment Rights Bill.
Answered by Justin Madders
This Government is committed to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay in full and updating Britain's employment protections, so they are fit for our modern economy and the future of work. As set out in the Plan to Make to Work Pay we are committed to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. We will remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all workers and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the Plan, including an Employment Rights Bill that will be introduced to Parliament within 100 days of taking office.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether employees of postmasters who lost earnings due to issues arising from the failures of the Horizon IT System will be eligible for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
As per the Horizon Shortfall Scheme eligibility criteria which are published on Post Office’s website, individuals must have, or have previously had, a contract directly with the Post Office to be eligible for compensation.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will establish an additional public holiday for St George's Day.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions – such as cultural, historical, military and religious events.
While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
The current pattern of bank holidays is well established and accepted and we have no plans to change it.