Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 review the cumulative effect of operating costs, including energy, staffing, compliance, and taxation, on the viability of hospitality businesses; and what consultations he is having with industry representatives on those matters.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation.
This includes regular engagement with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council which provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.
We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 merits of using mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answered by Justin Madders
This government is committed to access to justice, and I share the interest of the Rt. Hon. member’s in reducing the burdens of litigation through Alternative Dispute Resolution. The CAT Rules afford the Tribunal significant powers to encourage and facilitate Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing its Review of the Whistleblowing Framework.
Answered by Justin Madders
The previous Government commissioned a review of the UK’s whistleblowing framework. This report, conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, is currently being reviewed by the Department of Business and Trade and will be published in due course.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 merits of the use of mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve regulatory disputes. However, the decision on whether to use mediation, and whether it is appropriate in a particular case, is primarily a matter for the parties in any dispute.
Further, the Competition Appeal Tribunal is an independent specialist tribunal with significant expertise in the hearing and deciding of cases involving competition or economic regulatory issues. Any decisions or directions in relation to case management or party conduct are an independent judicial matter considered on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 class actions on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.
Answered by Justin Madders
Supporting consumers (including businesses) in accessing redress is of the utmost importance to this Government, and how consumer protection could be improved is kept under regular review.
So-called ‘class actions’ are just one avenue for consumers to seek redress and can provide a helpful avenue to do so where many individuals have claims substantially similar in nature. My department’s remit is limited to collective actions brought in relation to competition issues, where this tool can improve access to justice where bringing a claim would otherwise be impractical or unaffordable.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) the Competition and Market Authority and (b) other sectoral regulators on the use of mediation to resolve regulatory disputes.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve regulatory disputes without the expense of litigation.
However, the decision on whether to use mediation, and whether it is appropriate in a particular case, is primarily a matter for the parties in any dispute.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Small Business Commissioner on the (a) awareness and (b) use of mediation in the small business sector.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The department is working closely with The Small Business Commissioner (SBC) as we develop our proposals for the upcoming late payments consultation.
The Small Business Commissioners office continues to engage closely with businesses and stakeholders across the UK to raise awareness of the SBC service, which includes the role that the SBC can play in mediation between small businesses and their larger partners. Alongside mediation the SBC also conducts investigations into formal complaints of non-payments by large businesses and can provide additional support to small business as they try to deal with late payments.