Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will establish an additional bank holiday to honour veterans on the Monday after Remembrance Sunday.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the sacrifices made by so many veterans and the huge debt of gratitude owed to those who have served their country.
The current pattern of UK bank holidays is well established and accepted. Whilst an additional bank holiday may benefit some sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate she has made of the value of rail exports in (a) 2023, (b) 2024, (c) 2025 and (d) 2026.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Research published by Oxford Economics in 2021 estimated that the rail industry contributed £43 billion Gross Value Added to the UK economy in 2019, supporting 710,000 jobs.
The ONS data shows that in 2022 the UK exported £433 million rail transport services and £293 million worth of railway equipment in this year.
For the 12 months to November 2023, ONS goods data shows that the UK exported £453 million worth of railway equipment. Services data is not available for this time period.
We do not have estimates for the value of UK rail exports in 2024 or in future years. However, this Government will continue to help UK companies to export from the rail sector and our Export Strategy sets out the support we provide through our network of international trade advisers, sector specialists, UK Export Finance, and the export support service.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an estimate of the value of (a) rail industry and (b) all exports in the last 12 months.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Research published by Oxford Economics in 2021 estimated that the rail industry contributed £43 billion Gross Value Added to the UK economy in 2019, supporting 710,000 jobs.
The ONS data shows that in 2022 the UK exported £433 million rail transport services and £293 million worth of railway equipment in this year.
For the 12 months to November 2023, ONS goods data shows that the UK exported £453 million worth of railway equipment. Services data is not available for this time period.
We do not have estimates for the value of UK rail exports in 2024 or in future years. However, this Government will continue to help UK companies to export from the rail sector and our Export Strategy sets out the support we provide through our network of international trade advisers, sector specialists, UK Export Finance, and the export support service.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take legislative steps to require Royal Mail to (a) notify Ofcom of and (b) publish live data on ongoing failures to maintain the universal service obligation.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Ofcom has powers to monitor Royal Mail’s performance and requires the business to publish quarterly reports and an annual summary of its performance against its delivery service targets. In its review of postal regulation last year, Ofcom decided that the existing quality of service standards for universal service products remain appropriate. It noted that it receives regular information from Royal Mail, including at delivery office-level, which allow it to engage with the company and exert pressure when necessary.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the environmental duties under the Companies Act 2006 relating to mining activities.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Companies Act 2006 requires directors of all companies to have regard to environmental matters when performing their duty to promote the success of the company.
The reporting requirements of the Companies Act provide transparency in relation to how directors have had regard to environmental matters, enabling companies and their directors to be held to account for actions which may have environmental impacts.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the P&O Ferries’ ships European Causeway and European Highlander, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of Part 4 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 on wages for ferry crews.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Government is clear that anyone entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW) should receive it. In 2020, the government legislated to ensure that seafarers who are working in the UK territorial sea are entitled to be paid the minimum wage, regardless of where they ordinarily work or where their ship is registered.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what representations she has received from employers in the shipping industry on the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on seafarers and the Accommodation Offset.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) continues to review the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) on seafarers and the Accommodation Offset, and will respond in due course.
Every year, the LPC proactively engages with workers, employers and other stakeholders, and invites all interested parties to submit evidence to their consultations on the minimum wage, the accommodation offset and other low pay issues. The Government is grateful for these representations, and they are all considered carefully.
DBT works closely with the Department for Transport in relation to seafarers’ wages, and on other relevant matters.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to respond to the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on seafarers and the Accommodation Offset.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) continues to review the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) on seafarers and the Accommodation Offset, and will respond in due course.
Every year, the LPC proactively engages with workers, employers and other stakeholders, and invites all interested parties to submit evidence to their consultations on the minimum wage, the accommodation offset and other low pay issues. The Government is grateful for these representations, and they are all considered carefully.
DBT works closely with the Department for Transport in relation to seafarers’ wages, and on other relevant matters.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on offsetting accommodation costs in seafarers’ wages.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) continues to review the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) on seafarers and the Accommodation Offset, and will respond in due course.
Every year, the LPC proactively engages with workers, employers and other stakeholders, and invites all interested parties to submit evidence to their consultations on the minimum wage, the accommodation offset and other low pay issues. The Government is grateful for these representations, and they are all considered carefully.
DBT works closely with the Department for Transport in relation to seafarers’ wages, and on other relevant matters.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to bring forward legislative proposals to permit the use of electronic balloting by trade unions.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Before responding to the Knight Review recommendations on electronic balloting for trade union ballots, the government was required by Section 4 of the Trade Union Act 2016 to consult relevant organisations, including professionals from expert associations, to seek their advice and recommendations.
We have done this and are now finalising our consideration of Sir Ken’s recommendations before we issue our response.