Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with EU-based businesses on UK-EU trade relations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government regularly engages with UK and EU businesses as we strengthen the UK-EU relationship. This includes engagement through formal channels such as the UK TCA Domestic Advisory Group and the Trade Strategy’s open call for input, as well as Ministerial roundtables.
As part of my visit to Brussels on 26 February, I held a roundtable with EU industry representatives on improving UK-EU trade relations. On 6 March, Minister Gustafsson led a business roundtable with Irish businesses regarding bilateral trade and investment opportunities. We will continue to engage businesses ahead of the UK-EU Summit.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to consult UK businesses ahead of the UK-EU May Summit.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government regularly engages with UK and EU businesses as we strengthen the UK-EU relationship. This includes engagement through formal channels such as the UK TCA Domestic Advisory Group and the Trade Strategy’s open call for input, as well as Ministerial roundtables.
As part of my visit to Brussels on 26 February, I held a roundtable with EU industry representatives on improving UK-EU trade relations. On 6 March, Minister Gustafsson led a business roundtable with Irish businesses regarding bilateral trade and investment opportunities. We will continue to engage businesses ahead of the UK-EU Summit.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking through the Product Safety and Metrology Bill to improve safety standards in relation to the (a) use and (b) sale of lithium-ion batteries.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has some of the strongest consumer product safety laws in the world, that already requires businesses to only make safe products available on the market, including lithium-ion batteries. The powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will allow us to update the regulatory framework, if we determine that is necessary to ensure the best protections for consumers.
In the meantime, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, as the national regulator, is taking action to prevent unsafe products, including lithium-ion batteries, from being sold in the UK.