Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department plans to review the current framework governing Sunday working arrangements, including the potential merits of a universal choice-based approach to worker agreement.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Employment Rights Act 1996 currently provides shop and betting employees in Great Britain with a right to opt out of working on Sundays (unless they are employed to work only on Sundays), subject to certain conditions around providing notice. The government has no current plans to make changes to these provisions.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of Post Office branches that have (a) closed and (b) been put at risk because their host retailer has ceased trading in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government sets requirements for the Post Office network, including minimum geographical access criteria and the overall size of the network. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade regularly monitors Post Office's performance against these requirements and Post Office publishes an annual Network Report setting out its performance against them. The department does not routinely receive information on branches that have closed, or been put at risk because a host retailer has ceased trading. However, Post Office keeps the department informed where there may be a larger number of closures or branches at risk of closure.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of equalising paid time off entitlements for both adopters.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the Plan to Make Work Pay the government committed to a Review of the parental leave system. The Review will provide us with an opportunity to consider the current framework of parental leave entitlements and how they should operate as a holistic system to improve the support available for working families. Planning work is already underway and I can confirm the review will look at Adoption Leave and Pay and Paternity Leave and Pay.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to victims of sexual assault who need to take time off work to attend court and interviews related to the case.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Depending on the nature of the individual’s employment, victims of sexual assault may be able to access a range of leave entitlements allowing them to take time off from work when they need it. There is also practical support employers can offer which can make a real difference, such as signposting, financial assistance and supporting safety in and around the workplace.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) extending adoption leave to more than one parent and (b) introducing the equivalent of paternity leave for adoptive parents.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Employed adoptive parents have broadly the same rights and protections as birth parents. Paternity Leave and Pay already enables employed fathers and partners (including same sex partners) to take up to two weeks leave during the first year following their child's placement for adoption.