Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 potential effect on the UK car industry of tariffs in the event that no agreement is reached in the current negotiations between the UK and the EU on the future relationship.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We are confident that we can reach a deal and will continue to work hard to reach an agreement with the EU for as long as there is a constructive process ongoing. The Political Declaration sets out our ambition for a zero tariff and zero quota Free Trade Agreement; reducing the costs and processes associated with trade is in the interests of people and businesses across the UK and the EU.
Extensive engagement has been taking place between the Government and the automotive sector on future trade negotiations. We shall continue to work with companies over the next few months to ensure that they are well prepared for the end of the transition period.
In addition, the Government has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK’s automotive sector.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 issued advice to energy companies on doorstep cold-calling during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The energy regulator Ofgem has a duty to protect the interests of consumers.
Ofgem rules to protect consumers subject to doorstop sales activity, include requirements that companies and their representatives only recommend tariffs that are appropriate to a consumers circumstances and preferences and that a record of the information provided to a consumer is kept for two years.
In an open letter published on 16 June, Ofgem set out their expectation that face to face activities should be in line with Government Covid-19 guidelines.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason tanning salons are currently unable to open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are being eased; what assessment he has made of the risks of their opening; and what guidance he can provide on how to mitigate those risks.
Answered by Paul Scully
On 23 June, the Government published guidance for close contact services, including tanning salons, on how they can reopen safely once they are able to do so.
We are taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, working with businesses, trade associations and medical experts on the safest way to reopen close contact services like massage therapists, beauty salons and tattoo parlours, where there is often greater risk of transmission due to prolonged periods of face-to-face contact and close proximity between staff and customers.
We intend to allow close contact services, such as reflexologists and tattoo parlours to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.
Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and making any changes to our approach depends on us continuing to meet the five tests.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the UK will retain its membership of the (a) European Committee for Standardisation and (b) European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation, after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK’s National Standards Body and the UK member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). BSI is independent of the UK Government, and the European standards organisations CEN and CENELEC are independent of the European Union.
BSI has made clear its preference to remain a member of the European standards organisations. We are working with BSI to ensure that our future relationship with the European Standards Organisations continues to support a productive, open and competitive business environment in the UK.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council plans to allocate to Centres for Doctoral Training in the next funding round.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) plans to allocate approximately £492m to Centres for Doctoral Training in the next funding exercise.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 extent of the practice of insolvent companies failing to pay redundancy payments to staff they have dismissed.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has made the relevant statutory payments from the National Insurance Fund under the provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to the former employees of insolvent employers, as listed below:
In the year 2016 – 2017
Number of claims from employees received: 63,589
Number of insolvent cases: 6,994
Total amount paid: £250,846,496
Of which were:
Redundancy, arrears of pay and holiday pay: £179,898,774
Compensatory Notice Pay: £46,955,219
Protective Awards: £20,333,935
Pension payments: £3,933,676
For the year to date (up until end of December 2017)
Number of claims from employees received: 45,784
Number of insolvent cases: 4,940
Total amount paid: £187,577,458
Of which were:
Redundancy, arrears of pay and holiday pay: £140,026,948
Compensatory Notice Pay: £33,697,391
Protective Awards: £12,931,388
Pension payments: £2,992,746
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Insolvency Service has received an application from the administrators of Palmer & Harvey for financial assistance with the payment of redundancy pay to staff.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Eight companies in the Palmer & Harvey group entered into administration on 28 November 2017. A further company entered into administration on 15 December 2017. Matthew Callaghan, Ian Green and Zelf Hussain of PWC were appointed joint Administrators.
Around 2,500 staff were subject to immediate redundancies with around a further 450 retained to assist the Administrators in managing the business to an orderly closure.
Administrators are not required to apply for financial assistance in such cases. Where an employer enters into formal insolvency, with subsequent job losses, and there is a shortfall of redundancy, notice, wages, holiday pay and pension contributions to employees, the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service is in place to process those claims and make payments in accordance with the statutory limits.
As at 12th January 2017, 2,384 claims had been received, out of an expected total of 2,959. Approximately 80% of claimants received some form of payment before Christmas. Where claims are outstanding we are proactively liaising with the claimant and/or the Administrators to obtain the necessary information and aim to process the claim with 48 hours of receipt of the necessary information.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 established a market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by Margot James
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our Department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 (a) has drafted or (b) is drafting a market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by Margot James
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our Department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 (a) has carried out or (b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by Margot James
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our Department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.