Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection legislation regarding forced obsolescence where manufacturers intentionally terminate (a) software and (b) cloud infrastructure required for physical consumer products to function.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The department considers the current consumer protection framework to be adequate in providing protection against unfair practices.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods or digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and as described by the seller. A trader can upgrade, fix, and improve the features of, or add new features to, digital content so long as it continues to match any description given by the trader. It must also continue to conform with any pre-contract information as to main characteristics, functionality, and compatibility provided by the trader.
Government has also recently given the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new powers to ensure designated digital firms provide services on fair and reasonable terms. These powers focus on the most powerful firms, supporting competition and tackling harmful practices in UK digital markets. In May, the CMA launched a Strategic Market Status designation investigation into Microsoft's business software, including cloud. This investigation is expected to conclude in February 2027.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will introduce mandatory minimum service and functionality periods for smart home devices to prevent sudden product obsolescence.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The department considers the current consumer protection framework to be adequate in providing protection against unfair practices.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods or digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and as described by the seller. A trader can upgrade, fix, and improve the features of, or add new features to, digital content so long as it continues to match any description given by the trader. It must also continue to conform with any pre-contract information as to main characteristics, functionality, and compatibility provided by the trader.
Government has also recently given the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new powers to ensure designated digital firms provide services on fair and reasonable terms. These powers focus on the most powerful firms, supporting competition and tackling harmful practices in UK digital markets. In May, the CMA launched a Strategic Market Status designation investigation into Microsoft's business software, including cloud. This investigation is expected to conclude in February 2027.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the volume of electronic waste generated annually by the premature withdrawal of software and cloud infrastructure support for functional hardware devices.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not have an assessment of the volume of electronic waste generated as a result of the withdrawal of support.
Defra takes electronic waste seriously. Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is regulated to incentivise reduction in the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
The regulations require producers to report products they place on the market in the 15 EEE categories. Producers must then finance collections and treatment of a proportionate amount of household WEEE each year.
Reports on EEE and WEEE are available on GOV.UK here. The data does not specify the reason for the waste arising.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which public body is paying the salary of Jonathan Lofthouse, director of turnaround and recovery for NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire region; and what salary is being paid to Mr Lofthouse.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The individual is being paid by Health Humber Partnership on their existing salary. This information is in the public domain, disclosed in Humber Health Partnership organisation’s Annual Report and Accounts. The salary is £290,275.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been allowed to pay taxes late without penalty in each of the last five years.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs does not hold centrally a dataset that identifies how many individuals have been allowed to pay taxes late without incurring a penalty in each of the last five years.Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what were the findings of the review by JMM & Associates – People Matters into leadership issues at the Humber Health Partnership (Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust).
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Considering the findings of the JMM & Associates’ People Matters review is a matter for Humber Health Partnership, consisting of the Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust, as the employer. Confidentiality and general data protection regulations apply to an employment related investigation.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what action NHS England took following the findings of the review by JMM & Associates – People Matters into leadership issues at the Humber Health Partnership (Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust).
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Considering the findings of the JMM & Associates’ People Matters review is a matter for Humber Health Partnership, consisting of the Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust, as the employer. Confidentiality and general data protection regulations apply to an employment related investigation.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the (a) advice and (b) approval that was given by NHS England in regard to (i) former CEO Jonathan Lofthouse leaving the Humber Health Partnership, (ii) former chair Sean Lyons leaving the Humber Health Partnership and (iii) the appointment of Lyn Simpson as interim CEO at Humber Health Partnership (Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust).
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Appointment and leaving decisions are primarily a matter for Humber Health Partnership or individuals in, or entering into, a contractual relationship with Humber Health Partnership.
Accountability for recruitment decisions sits within the local trust. Contractual obligations must be met and governance followed in line with the requirements of the trust, and if appropriate, the requirements of NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, or HM Treasury. NHS England is satisfied that appropriate governance has been followed.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the (a) advice and (b) approval that was given by NHS England in regard to (i) former CEO Jonathan Lofthouse leaving the Humber Health Partnership, (ii) former chair Sean Lyons leaving the Humber Health Partnership and (iii) the appointment of Lyn Simpson as interim CEO at Humber Health Partnership (Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust).
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which public body is paying the salary of Jonathan Lofthouse, director of turnaround and recovery for NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire region; and what salary is being paid to Mr Lofthouse.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.