Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of banning fireworks to support veterans with PTSD.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
At this time no assessment has been made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of banning fireworks. However, the Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting veterans, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action.
The Government has also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes new guidance for those running community fireworks events, and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
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 menstrual products are subject to the (a) the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, (b) UK Cosmetics regulation and (c) other relevant regulations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Period products are not regulated as a medical device in the UK. They are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which require that only safe products, in their normal or reasonably foreseeable use, are placed on the market. There are obligations on producers and distributors to, where reasonable, sample test products to check safety. During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to set a timeline for the consultation on leave and pay for parents of critically ill children.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has already committed to publish a terms of reference and timeline for its ongoing review of employment rights for unpaid carers this autumn. This will also outline the scope and include a timeline for consulting on employment rights for parents of seriously ill children.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will introduce routine testing of menstrual products for chemical residues.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require that only safe products, in their normal or reasonably foreseeable use, are placed on the market. There are obligations on Producers and distributors to where reasonable, sample test products to check safety. The Government employs a risk-based approach to product testing, targeting categories with a high potential for danger and do not test period products. During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety. Officials are currently reviewing the need for any further research and testing in this area to complement the consultation.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will publish a framework for the assessment of the potential impact of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US in May which will save thousands of jobs, protect key British industries, and help drive economic growth.
We remain focused on implementing the first phase of the deal so that businesses up and down the country feel the benefits as soon as possible.
We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at addressing specific non-tariff barriers, increasing digital trade, and unlocking new commercial opportunities that benefit both nations. We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of the final deal.
Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will publish an economic impact assessment of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US in May which will save thousands of jobs, protect key British industries, and help drive economic growth.
We remain focused on implementing the first phase of the deal so that businesses up and down the country feel the benefits as soon as possible.
We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at addressing specific non-tariff barriers, increasing digital trade, and unlocking new commercial opportunities that benefit both nations. We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of the final deal.
Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
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 potential impact of proposed reductions to the number of roles in his Department’s overseas network on supporting British exporters abroad.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are creating an overseas network which is ready to deliver for British business.
In June we published our Trade Strategy including a vision for a more effective and agile overseas network, shaped by our assessment of the markets, sectors and opportunities that will drive UK economic growth for the next decade and beyond.
We will focus more of our resource on attracting the high value inward investment the economy needs and tackling market access barriers that hold British businesses back. However, directly supporting British exporters will remain the biggest part of what DBT teams do overseas.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to raise the potential impact of Chinese companies providing military support to Russia during his upcoming trade talks with China.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As the Foreign Secretary has previously said, we are concerned about China’s military backing for Russia, including the provision by Chinese companies of dual-use goods and support to Russia’s military. We continue to call on China to take action and prevent companies within its jurisdiction from providing military support to Russia. We will continue to engage with them at all levels to this end.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the merits of reintroducing the requirement for companies to report their charitable donations.
Answered by Justin Madders
The requirement for companies to disclose charitable donations in their annual reports was removed in 2013. This decision followed a consultation in which two-thirds of respondents supported its removal, after an impact assessment found no evidence that the requirement increased levels of charitable giving.
Removing reporting that is redundant or duplicative is consistent with our ongoing Non-Financial Reporting Review that aims to streamline and modernise non-financial reporting requirements. A consultation will be published at the end of this year offering respondents an opportunity to comment on non-financial reporting requirements relevant to the Annual Report.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on the future of Royal Mail's delivery of the Articles for the Blind service.
Answered by Justin Madders
Section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011 outlines the minimum requirements of the universal postal service and includes the requirement that free-of-charge postal services are provided to people who are blind or partially sighted.
Earlier this year, I met representatives of Ofcom, who reasserted their commitment to ensuring that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of users. The Government has no current plans to change the minimum requirements set out in the legislation.