Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will assess the potential merits of inviting the Foreign Affairs Committee to undertake pre-appointment scrutiny of all political appointees to special trade envoy roles.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trade Envoys are political appointees. The Department for Business and Trade conducts scrutiny and due diligence as part of the process for appointing Trade Envoys.
There are currently no plans for the Foreign Affairs Committee to undertake any pre-appointment checks for Trade Envoys.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of pubs that are currently operated under tenancy or lease agreements with pub-owning companies in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Section 25 notices have been issued by pub-owning companies to tenants in West Dorset constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what protections are available to pub tenants who have made improvements to leased premises when facing lease (a) termination and (b) non-renewal by pub-owning companies.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the use of Section 25 notices by pub-owning companies to regain control of pubs for direct company operation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Pubs Code Adjudicator on lease renewal processes used by pub-owning businesses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department has regular dialogue with the Pubs Code Adjudicator regarding any recurring themes in the operation of their duty. This includes questions arising from the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator covering the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consumers are provided with adequate and clear information on the value of extended warranties at the point of sale.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Manufacturers are not required to provide warranties on their products. Whether they choose to do so and under what terms is a commercial decision for them. Where warranties are given, they are benefits in addition to consumers’ rights against the trader under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires that products are fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.
Terms of warranties must be clearly communicated to consumers. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to tackle misleading practices in the sale of extended warranties.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Manufacturers are not required to provide warranties on their products. Whether they choose to do so and under what terms is a commercial decision for them. Where warranties are given, they are benefits in addition to consumers’ rights against the trader under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires that products are fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.
Terms of warranties must be clearly communicated to consumers. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that communities relying on a mobile post office service continue to have provision when vehicles are undergoing repair or maintenance.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government sets the overall access criteria for the Post Office network, but day‑to‑day operational matters – including the deployment and management of mobile post office services – are the responsibility of the Post Office. Where mobile units are temporarily unavailable due to repair or maintenance, the Post Office works to restore services as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption for the communities affected.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance his Department provides to the Post Office to ensure continuity of service in areas served by mobile post offices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government sets the overall access criteria for the Post Office network, but day‑to‑day operational matters – including the deployment and management of mobile post office services – are the responsibility of the Post Office. Where mobile units are temporarily unavailable due to repair or maintenance, the Post Office works to restore services as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption for the communities affected.