Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in his Department had with the hon. Member for Milton Keynes North between 1 May 2020 and 31 January 2021.
Answered by George Freeman
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Ministers and Special Advisers have had no one-on-one meetings with my Hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North between 1 May 2020 and 31 January 2021. Ministers have participated in MP-Roundtables, All-MP calls and MP tea surgeries during this period, some of which the Hon. Member for Milton Keynes North attended or received an invitation for. Details of meetings held by civil servants are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timetable is for his Department to make a decision any investigation into the proposed takeover of GKN Plc by Melrose Industries in the interests of National Security.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The procedure for interventions in mergers by Ministers on public interest grounds, including national security, is set out in the Enterprise Act 2002.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on introducing a new statutory entitlement to carer's leave for working people.
Answered by Margot James
We will consider options for carer’s leave carefully and will set out our plans in due course.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on introducing a new statutory entitlement to carer's leave for working people.
Answered by Margot James
We will consider options for carer’s leave carefully and will set out our plans in due course.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the effect of his policies on reducing the gap between the richest and the poorest areas in the UK since 2010.
Answered by Margot James
This Government has made significant progress in addressing the gaps in productivity across the UK. Since 2010, £12 billion has been allocated to local areas via the Local Growth Fund; 10 Devolution Deals have been agreed, further shifting the balance of power away from Whitehall; and £2.6 billion worth of private sector investment has been attracted to Enterprise Zones across England.
Since March 2010, 57% of the rise in employment across the UK has come from outside London and the South East, and 69% of that rise in employment has come from outside London. That means there are over 1.3 million more people in work outside London, and over a million more outside London and the South East since March 2010.
Birmingham is an excellent example of growth occurring outside of London and the South East. More foreign businesses invested in Greater Birmingham & Solihull in 2014/15 than any other LEP region, and the LEP area attracted 73 new FDI projects; investors included world-famous brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, KPMG, Virgin Media and Amazon.
The Industrial Strategy, which my department is delivering, is a critical part of my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister’s vision of an economy that works for everyone, where the benefits of growth are shared up and down the country.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
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 24 October 2016 to Question 49479, whether all EU-derived employment rights will be retained in primary legislation.
Answered by Margot James
Pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2016, all law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the expected cost is of the merger of the Department for Energy and Climate Change with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Answered by Nick Hurd
A breakdown of transition costs will be provided in the Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that the rights contained in the Working Time Regulations 1998 will be (a) protected in the long-term and (b) retained in legislation.
Answered by Margot James
As a Government, we have been clear that we will do nothing to undermine workers’ rights. All law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that the employment rights contained in the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 will be (a) protected in the long-term and (b) retained in legislation.
Answered by Margot James
As a Government, we have been clear that we will do nothing to undermine workers’ rights. All law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.
Asked by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that the rights of part-time and agency workers will be (a) protected in the long-term and (b) retained in primary legislation.
Answered by Margot James
As a Government, we have been clear that we will do nothing to undermine workers’ rights. All law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.