Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses in Bradford East have received support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
None.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 125224 on Employment Tribunals Service: Data Protection, whether it is his Department's policy to take into consideration the outcomes of previous Employment Tribunal decisions during the recruitment of prospective candidates.
Answered by Dean Russell
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not consider the outcomes of previous Employment Tribunals in relation to the recruitment of prospective candidates. Personal data in relation to candidates is anonymised for selection panels in the early stages of selection.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Good Work Plan: Proposals to support families, published on 19 July 2019, whether it is still his Department's policy to bring forward legislative proposals on flexible working; and when he plans to publish a response to that consultation.
Answered by Dean Russell
The Government responded to the flexible working elements of the “Good Work Plan: Proposals to support families” consultation in September 2021. This document “Making Flexible Working the Default” consulted on a range or proposals to make flexible working more accessible. The government will publish its response in due course.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the Economic Advisory Council on employment rights and protections.
Answered by Dean Russell
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy meets regularly with my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a wide range of policy issues. The Department welcomes the creation of the Economic Advisory Council, values the advice and expertise of the group, and looks forward to such expertise contributing to the Government’s prioritising of economic stability in a period of global economic challenge and volatility.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2022 to Question 45829 on Conditions of Employment: Enforcement, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward these legislative proposals.
Answered by Dean Russell
The creation of a single enforcement body will be a significant undertaking which requires primary legislation. No decision has been taken on timing.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Growth Plan 2022, published on 23 September 2022, CP 743, what recent discussions his Department has had with trade unions on bringing forward legislative proposals to require unions to put pay offers to a member vote.
Answered by Dean Russell
The proposals mentioned above will require Primary legislation. The Government intends to bring this forward when parliamentary time allows. The passage of any Bill will give trade unions the opportunity, via Members of Parliament, to share any concerns or constructive suggestion they may have on this policy.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford 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 a recent assessment of revoking the Working Time Regulations.
Answered by Dean Russell
We are proud of the UK’s record on employment standards, having raised domestic standards over recent years to make them some of the highest in the world. In leaving the EU we regained the ability to regulate autonomously, and the Government is therefore conducting a comprehensive review of all retained EU law to ensure that our regulations, including worker rights, are tailored to the needs of the UK economy and help create the conditions for growth and investment.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford 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 assessment of the potential merits of introducing no-fault dismissals for higher earners.
Answered by Dean Russell
The UK has a strong labour market. We now have over 730,000 more employees on the payroll than pre-pandemic and unemployment has fallen to 3.5%. We are immensely proud of our flexible and dynamic labour market, which allows businesses in every region of the UK to create jobs and increase participation. The UK also has one of the best employment rights records in the world, including one of the highest national minimum wages – larger than those in similar economies such as France, Germany and Japan. The government is always considering how we can improve the labour market.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with trade union officials since taking up the post on 6 September 2022.
Answered by Dean Russell
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s relationship with the trade unions is essential to developing and delivering our policies. Ministers and officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy engage regularly with the trade unions on a variety of issues.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford 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 potential impact of the reforms to the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment regulations on (a) pay and (b) working conditions.
Answered by Dean Russell
Changes were last made to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations in 2014. The Regulations were improved to make sure that they continued to provide appropriate levels of protection for employees, while making the process of transferring employees from one organisation to another as smooth as possible for the businesses involved.