Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
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 she has been made of the effect of preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal on her Department's climate-focused work.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the number of staff in her Department who previously worked on climate change who have moved to a role to plan for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether her Department plans to implement the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change to meet the net zero emissions target without the use of international offsets.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will commission a review of the Pubs Code.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
As required by the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State will review the operation of the Pubs Code for the period of 21 July 2016 to 31 March 2019. The Government is currently considering the format of the review and will ensure all those with an interest, including tenants and pub companies, have an opportunity to contribute.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will review trends in the level of pub closures in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Midlothian.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government does not hold information the information requested.
The Government recognises the important role pubs play in local communities. My Rt Hon Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at Autumn Budget 2018 that the Government was freezing beer duties for the second consecutive year as beer makes up close to 50% of pub sales. Many pubs are also benefitting from the business rates retail discount, announced at Budget 2018, which cuts bills by one third for retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 from April 2019, as well as wider reforms and reductions to business rates.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to implement a pubs strategy to tackle the closure of pubs.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government does not hold information the information requested.
The Government recognises the important role pubs play in local communities. My Rt Hon Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at Autumn Budget 2018 that the Government was freezing beer duties for the second consecutive year as beer makes up close to 50% of pub sales. Many pubs are also benefitting from the business rates retail discount, announced at Budget 2018, which cuts bills by one third for retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 from April 2019, as well as wider reforms and reductions to business rates.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
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 he has made of the variations in (a) shift and (b) holiday patterns of (i) directly employed and (ii) contractor staff working on offshore oil and gas installations on the UK Continental Shelf.
Answered by Claire Perry
Variations in shift and holiday patterns of directly employed or contracted staff working on offshore oil and gas installations on the UK Continental Shelf is a matter for the companies concerned and not for Government.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps are being taken to protect animals from the effects of fireworks.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government encourages users of fireworks to follow safety guidance, including keeping pets safe. We also advise users to be considerate of neighbours by giving plenty of notice.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards’ recent firework safety campaign, delivered with partners including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reached over a million consumers.
Further guidance on how to avoid or reduce stress to animals from fireworks has been published by animal charities, including Blue Cross, and can be accessed from gov.uk.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps are being taken to ensure that fireworks are not accessible to people under the age of 18.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Under the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 there is a ban on the supply of categories F2 and F3 fireworks to people under the age of 18.
All premises supplying these fireworks are required by the Fireworks Regulations 2004 to display a notice highlighting that it is illegal to sell fireworks to people who are underage and for underage people to possess them in public. There is also a ban on the possession of these fireworks in public places by people under 18.
Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to enforce the law and work with businesses to help them comply with the law through practical advice and toolkits. The maximum penalty for supplying category F2 or category F3 fireworks to a person under 18 is a fine or three months imprisonment.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on making shared parental pay and paternity pay a right for all employees from their first day of employment.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
We have started the evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave and Pay schemes this year. This will look at the take up of leave and pay by fathers and partners, barriers to take-up, and how Shared Parental Leave and Pay are being used in practice. As a part of the same process of data collection, we will also gather information on the take up of paternity leave and pay.
The evaluation will improve the evidence base and inform future policy development in this area.