Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to oblige banks and building societies to sign an agreement with the Post Office to enable customers to withdraw money from their bank accounts at their local post office.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,600 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.
On 8th October 2019 the Post Office announced a new Banking Framework agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. Signing up to this framework was a commercial decision for each bank to make, as banks and building societies have a commercial right to decide. We are pleased that as of 25 October 2019 all 28 high street banks signed up in full. This will ensure that communities across the UK, in particular the elderly and vulnerable, have access to withdraw cash.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
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 smart meters that have been replaced as a result of customers switching energy suppliers in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Smart meters continue to record energy consumption accurately when a consumer switches energy supplier, even when the new energy supplier is temporarily unable to operate the meter in smart mode. Smart meters are rarely replaced when a consumer switches energy supplier. Of the total number of smart meters installed in Great Britain as of the end of 2018, less than 0.4% were replaced in the preceding 12 months following a consumer switch.
Smart meters will give households the information to allow them to be more active consumers and more easily act upon poor service or expensive tariffs, and in time make switching suppliers easier and faster.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that researchers in the UK have access to future EU research funding framework programmes after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The UK has a long history of being an important collaborator with and contributor to EU Framework Programmes, including the current Research and Innovation Programme, Horizon 2020.
As we move beyond the current programme, the Government remains committed to creating mutually beneficial opportunities for collaboration with European and international partners. The UK has played a constructive role in the development of the next EU R&I Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, and it is our preference to associate to Horizon Europe if the conditions are right. The Programme must be fully open to third countries and represent value for money for the UK. As a responsible Government, we are also developing a credible and ambitious alternative UK offer.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the ability of UK-based (a) automotive and (b) aerospace companies to source parts from the EU 27 in a timely manner.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Both the UK and the EU share a strong commercial interest in preserving the integrated supply chains of the aerospace and automotive sectors, including those that support the Just in Time processes that ensure the UK's manufacturing plants remain competitive.
The UK has sought to work constructively with the EU to get the best deal for business. The Political Declaration sets out an ambitious plan for a new free trade area for goods, including no tariffs, with ambitious customs arrangements and deep regulatory cooperation. This will be the first such agreement between an advanced economy and the EU, and would ensure parts can be sourced from the EU in a timely manner. The only way to ensure that the UK's automotive and aerospace industries can remain competitive is to agree a deal that provides for tariff free trade and protected access to these vital supply chains.
BEIS Ministers and officials meet regularly with industry through the Automotive Council and the Aerospace Growth Partnership. Through this engagement we encourage companies to engage proactively with their supply chain to prepare for potential no deal scenarios. We are aware that companies in both sectors are stockpiling essential parts to try and minimise disruption in a no deal scenario.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent (a) discussions and (b) meetings (i) he, (ii) Ministers of his Department and (iii) officials of his Department have had with trade unions representing employees of Jaguar Land Rover.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and I met with Unite the Union alongside MPs on 10 January to discuss Jaguar Land Rover. The Secretary of State also met with trade unions on 14 January as part of a discussion regarding Jaguar Land Rover and its importance to the local and national economy, alongside the company, local MPs and other representatives from the Midlands and the North West. I also met with Unite the Union and JLR CEO at the last Auto Council on 15 November. At each of these meetings, Departmental officials were also present.
The recent job losses announced by Jaguar Land Rover are concerning for the affected employees and we will do all we can to support them. We are working closely with the company to ensure that their plans to streamline the business can safeguard a bright future for them in the UK, including through the Jaguar Land Rover Development Partnership.
We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
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 equity of the minimum wage for apprentices.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government asks the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend the Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage such that it increases pay of the lowest paid apprentices without damaging their employment prospects.
In April 2019, the Apprentice National Minimum Wage will increase to £3.90 an hour, from £3.70. This increase, of 5.4%, will be the largest across all the minimum wage rates rises in 2019.
The LPC are currently conducting a review of the minimum wage youth rates and the apprenticeship rate structure. They are due to provide advice on this matter to Government in Spring 2019.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to deal with the use of inaccurate classification of self-employment by companies.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government is committed to providing greater clarity for businesses and individuals on employment status. As Matthew Taylor identified in his review, this is a complex issue and is one of the major challenges for public policy.
We are considering how best to achieve change that works for all. We received over 160 detailed responses to the Employment Status Consultation. We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with Amazon on working conditions of Amazon employees.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister commissioned the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices to consider modern working practices and whether they need to change to keep pace with modern business models. In our response to the review, we committed to firm action and future legislation where appropriate. We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.
BEIS Ministers regularly engage with businesses in the the retail sector, including Amazon, to discuss a range of issues including quality of work.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
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 has made an estimate of the number of people who will see a reduction in their fuel bills as a result of the price cap in the Wolverhampton North East constituency.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department collects tariff data on households based on the 14 geographical, Public Electricity Suppliers regions. As such the department cannot provide estimates at a lower, local level.
Parliament has passed legislation to introduce the energy price cap, protecting up to 11 million households on standard variable and default tariffs. Ofgem are consulting on a price cap, which will save some consumers up to £138.
Asked by: Emma Reynolds (Labour - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with Amazon on working conditions of Amazon employees.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister commissioned the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices to consider modern working practices and whether they need to change to keep pace with modern business models. In our response to the review, we committed to firm action and future legislation where appropriate. We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.
BEIS Ministers regularly engage with businesses in the the retail sector, including Amazon, to discuss a range of issues including quality of work.