Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to monitor the application of the General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The updated GPSR largely formalises the reality of how many businesses are already operating and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. However, we understand that for some businesses, the regulation will require changes, and we take any concerns extremely seriously.
We have issued guidance, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely within the UK and with the EU. We have regular discussions with businesses and consumer representatives from across the UK to hear their concerns.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government plans to take to monitor the impact of General Product Safety regulations on SME's and sole traders sending goods to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is supporting SMEs to comply with the new General Product Safety Regulation. We have published guidance and have been engaging with businesses directly. We will keep the guidance under review and will continue to engage with businesses directly to monitor the situation and to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his timetable is for the publication of guidance to Great Britain based businesses trading in Northern Ireland on the General Product Safety Regulations 2025 .
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The updated General Product Safety Regulation largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be already adapting in order to continue trading with the EU. We will provide more guidance in this area shortly, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take to review arms sales to Israel.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions, in line with the UK's Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza.
The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to respond to Written Question 1757 on Employment Agencies.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
A response was provided on 21 November 2023.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when her Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Payment handling by employment agencies in the entertainment, sport and modelling sectors.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The government is carefully considering the views and evidence submitted in response to this consultation. The government will publish its summary of responses and next steps in due course.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to suspend arms licences to Israel until a full assessment of its compliance with international human rights law can be carried out.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
All applications for export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Pregnant Then Screwed entitled Leave in the Lurch, Paternity Leave, Gender Equality and the UK Economy, published on 15 June 2023; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Statutory Paternity Leave.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Government has not made an assessment of this report. As set out in our Manifesto, the Government is committed to making it easier for father and partners to take Paternity Leave. In 2019, we also consulted on high-level options and principles for reforming the parental leave and pay system. We have analysed the responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.
The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay is reviewed annually. From April 2023, it increased by September's Consumer Price Index figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.