First elected: 7th May 2015
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults
Gov Responded - 3 Feb 2022 Debated on - 4 Jul 2022 View Kevin Hollinrake's petition debate contributionsThe Government should bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity. It should be permitted subject to strict upfront safeguards, assessed by two doctors independently, and self-administered by the dying person.
Ban Driven Grouse Shooting
Wilful blindness is no longer an option
Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and Mark Avery (Wild Justice) believe that intensive grouse shooting is bad for people, the environment and wildlife. People; grouse shooting is economically insignificant when contrasted with other real and potential uses of the UK’s uplands.
I request a full public inquiry into death of my son, Matthew Leahy. (20 yrs.)
Gov Responded - 2 Aug 2019 Debated on - 30 Nov 2020 View Kevin Hollinrake's petition debate contributionsMatthew was taken to, ‘a place of safety’, and died 7 days later.
24 others died by the same means, dating back to the year 2000. An indicator that little was done to address the growing problems.
Something went terribly wrong with the NHS Mental Health Services provided to my son.
These initiatives were driven by Kevin Hollinrake, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Kevin Hollinrake has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about leave and pay for employees whose children have died.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 13th September 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the property and affairs of missing persons; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th April 2017 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make the offence of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug aggravated when the person to whom the drug is supplied or offered is under 16; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to abolish business rates; and for connected purposes.
Consumer Telephone Service Standards Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)
Non-Disclosure Agreements (No. 2) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Maria Miller (Con)
Whistleblowing Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Mary Robinson (Con)
Disposable Barbecues Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Largan (Con)
Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021
Sponsor - Mike Amesbury (Lab)
Banking Services (Post Offices) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Duncan Baker (Con)
National Health Service Reserve Staff Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
Ground Rents (Leasehold Properties) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Eddie Hughes (Con)
Freehold Properties (Management Charges) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Preet Kaur Gill (LAB)
Banking (Consumer and Small Business Protection) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Charlie Elphicke (Ind)
Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Chalk (Con)
Parental Rights (Rapists) and Family Courts Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Louise Haigh (Lab)
Planning (Appeals) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - John Howell (Con)
Minimum Service Obligation (High Street Cashpoints) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Huw Merriman (Con)
National Health Service (Prohibition of Fax Machines and Pagers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)
Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)
Banking and Post Office Services (Rural Areas and Small Communities) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Luke Graham (Con)
Child Maintenance (Assessment of Parents' Income) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Heidi Allen (LD)
The number of referrals the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Specialist Fraud Division (SFD) has received from the National Crime Agency (NCA) for charging decisions under the Money Laundering Regulations for the last three years are as follows:
CPS data is available through its Case Management System (CMS) and associated Management Information System (MIS). The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not break down figures that constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
However, the CPS is not able through either CMS or MIS to breakdown referrals to differentiate whether they were made by the police or other investigative organisations in England and Wales. On this occasion we have been able to provide the data because of a recent manual review, so whilst we have endeavoured to produce figures that are as accurate as possible, this data is subject to human error.
The official statistics relating to crime and policing are maintained by the Home Office and the official statistics relating to sentencing, criminal court proceedings, offenders brought to justice, the courts and the judiciary are maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) receives a large number of reports and referrals from multiple different sources relating to a wide range of offences. Whistleblower referrals have been routinely published in the SFO Annual Report on Whistleblowing Disclosures since 2017. The figures are set out below:
The SFO does not hold a detailed breakdown of the number of referrals within each of the other categories requested. However, the total number of all other referrals made to the SFO within the time period requested are set out below:
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has robust assurance processes in place to ensure effective decision-making on whether to open, continue, or close a criminal investigation into a corporate entity. This includes the SFO’s Case Evaluation Board (CEB) and Case Review Panels (CRPs), both of which are chaired by the SFO General Counsel.
The CEB reviews intelligence submissions against the Director’s Statement of Principle and assesses strategic and tactical risks, costs, and resource implications to make an informed recommendation to the Director on whether to initiate or decline an investigation. CRPs seek to scrutinise all cases at least twice a year to ensure that sound judgement and appropriate investigative and legal expertise are being used in cases, and that cases are progressing appropriately and comply with all relevant legal and operational guidance.
While the SFO exercises independence in its individual casework decisions, I am regularly updated by the Director and her senior leadership team on the SFO’s casework.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), by its specialist nature, takes on a relatively small number of large, complex economic crime cases which can take several years to investigate. This means that small changes in case numbers can lead to significant fluctuations in in the SFO’s conviction rate.
Against this context, in 2020-21 the SFO’s conviction rate for individuals was 67 percent, which included three convictions in the $1.7bn Unaoil bribery case and one guilty plea in the Petrofac bribery case. No corporations were brought to trial in 2020-21. The SFO also secured two Deferred Prosecution Agreements against corporates in 2020-21, returning £47.4m in fines and penalties to the UK taxpayer and compelling these organisations to reform.
I have had no discussions with the Director of the Serious Fraud Office on a renewal or extension to the five-year appointment to that post, which is not due to come to an end until August 2023.
The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold data on the number of UK-based businesses with an annual turnover at the intervals provided in the question.
The Office for National Statistics publishes annual data on UK-based business with an annual turnover of between (a) £0-£49,000, (b) £50,000-£99,000, (c) £100,000-£249,000 etc.[1]
[1] ONS, UK Business: Activity, Size and Location (Table 11)
The Department already supports the British Business Bank (BBB) in its counter fraud activities and will continue to do so.
We work in partnership with BBB to support their compliance with the Government Functional Standards in Counter Fraud including the:-
Further, we are working to strengthen the future approach to fraud. The department is currently working with BBB on an updated fraud strategy to address the challenges associated with the Bounce Back Loan and which for instance includes:-
Lenders accredited to deliver the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme are subject to the terms of Guarantee Agreements, which they must abide by to be eligible to make a claim under the Government guarantee.
The recovery principles outlined in these agreements are no less stringent than those applied to standard commercial lending.
All lenders continue to be subject to a robust audit and assurance process by the British Business Bank. If lenders don’t meet their obligations in the Guarantee Agreement the Bank can take remedial action including cancellation of the guarantee.
The Government has already committed to introduce identity verification for all directors at the point of incorporation with Companies House. Third parties that seek to form companies are already required to be supervised for anti-money laundering purposes. Under the reforms announced by the Government in September 2020, third parties will be required to register with Companies House and have their supervision confirmed before they will be permitted to request company formations.
The Government’s White Paper on “Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance: Proposals for Reform” was published in March this year and proposed the introduction of managed shared audit as part of a package of measures, which together aim to improve corporate governance, quality of accounting, auditing and their regulation, and competition and resilience in in the FTSE 350 audit market, for the UK’s largest companies.
The Government is currently considering all submissions from stakeholders, in response to the White Paper and will publish a Government response to the consultation in due course.
The Government’s White Paper on “Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance: Proposals for Reform” was published in March this year and proposed the introduction of managed shared audit as part of a package of measures, which together aim to improve corporate governance, quality of accounting, auditing and their regulation, and competition and resilience in in the FTSE 350 audit market, for the UK’s largest companies.
The Government is currently considering all submissions from stakeholders, in response to the White Paper and will publish a Government response to the consultation in due course.
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has since December 2019 been undertaking a transformation programme to prepare for its transition to the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA). As part of this, the FRC has established a dedicated stakeholder engagement team to enable more extensive engagement and dialogue with investors, boards, auditors and other stakeholders on how the UK’s corporate governance and stewardship frameworks can continue to improve and embed good practice. Further details of this expanded outreach programme can be found in section 6 of the regulator’s latest Annual Report published in July 2021:
The new ARGA will take forward this dialogue and partnership working in line with new statutory objectives, as set out in the Government’s White Paper on ‘Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance’: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/restoring-trust-in-audit-and-corporate-governance-proposals-on-reforms.
The Government is planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course. The strategy will set out the immediate actions we will take for reducing emissions from buildings, as well as our approach to the key strategic decisions needed to achieve a mass transition to low-carbon heat.
The Government has conducted a call for evidence on Insolvency Practitioner regulation, which included seeking evidence and views on possible reforms of the regulatory framework. The Government will publish its response in due course.
The Government remains committed to reviewing the UK whistleblowing framework and will carry this out once sufficient time has passed for there to be the necessary evidence available to assess the impact of the most recent reforms. The scope and timing of such a review will be confirmed in due course.
The most recent change introduced in 2017 was a new legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures made to them by workers.
The Government aims to deliver up to double the renewable electricity capacity at the next Contracts for Difference round at end of this year compared to AR3, while spending an estimated £1billion in 2020/21 to encourage the deployment of low carbon heating in homes and businesses through the Renewable Heat Incentive. We have also announced the Clean Heat Grant, the Green Heat Network Fund and will launch the Green Gas Support Scheme later this year.
While the Post Office is publicly owned, it is a commercial business that operates independently of the Government. With a network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, it is inevitable there will be variations in the number of branches open at any one time. Where branches do temporarily close, the Post Office strives to find solutions, like mobile vans and other types of outreach services, before reinstating a bricks-and-mortar service offer.
I am committed to ensuring that everyone in the country can access essential services via the Post Office conveniently and locally. That is why Post Office Limited must ensure Network Access Criteria are met. These ensure that 99% of the population are within three miles of their nearest post office and 90% are within one mile, with additional requirements set for rural, urban and deprived urban customers.
The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers are prepared to shine a light on wrongdoing and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recrimination. We have also been clear that there will be no reduction in workers’ rights.
The Government remains committed to reviewing the UK whistleblowing framework and will carry this out once sufficient time has passed for there to be the necessary evidence available to assess the impact of reforms. The most recent change introduced in 2017 was a new legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures made to them by workers.
This year, the eyes of the world will be on the UK as we host the G7 and COP26. Business action on climate is vitally important to achieving a successful summit and presidency and meeting net zero emissions by 2050. Together these provide an excellent opportunity to showcase businesses as global leaders in tackling climate change in the year leading up to COP26.
The Government has appointed my Hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Andrew Griffith) as the UK Net Zero Business Champion for COP26. Andrew will drive the action needed to encourage UK businesses to sign up to the Race to Zero. This sends the strongest signal to markets, supply chains, governments and consumers that businesses are committed to the Net Zero transition.
We have met our emissions reductions targets to date, and to monitor emissions across all sectors of the economy, BEIS publishes an annual assessment of projected emissions, including those from business and industry, as part of the department’s Energy and Emissions Projections (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections).
The independent GB regulator, Ofgem, defines a microbusiness as - employing 10 or fewer full-time employees with an annual turnover of 2m Euros or less OR typically spending £10,000-£12,000 per year on gas or electricity.
An energy supply licence obligates suppliers to proactively identify their microbusiness customers and provide information on their formal complaints process. If microbusinesses cannot resolve their complaints in this way, they can complain to the Energy Ombudsman.
Ofcom, the independent UK telecommunications services regulator, has put in place general conditions, which all communication providers must follow, that offer protections to businesses of any size relating to specific provisions on contracting, tariff information, billing procedures and number porting. Ofcom's rules also provide additional protections to businesses with fewer than 10 employees, including access to alternative dispute resolution and protections against mis-selling. All providers must be registered with either the Consumer Ombudsman or the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
The Government takes the view that larger businesses are better able to represent their interests by negotiating contracts for supply, and to make use of approved dispute resolution procedures where necessary.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Historical Shortfall Scheme was designed for postmasters and companies who had or have a direct contract with Post Office, and therefore the individual or company had potential contractual liability for shortfalls found under previous versions of Horizon. On this basis, companies such as McColls and Co-Op were eligible to apply for the scheme. Claims could include consequential losses where appropriate. Assistants of postmasters or employees of other companies are not be eligible, as they had no contract with or contractual liability directly to the Post Office.
The Historical Shortfalls Scheme was designed for postmasters or companies who were not part of the group litigation and have had issues with historical shortfalls recorded in Horizon and want these to be investigated and addressed. Claimants in the settled litigation were therefore not eligible for the Historical Shortfalls Scheme.
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK.
While the Government sets?the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. As such, the number of postmasters employed by McColls and who were subsequently removed as managers on grounds of alleged Horizon shortfalls are an?operational matter for?Post Office Limited.
?I have asked Nick Read, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the Hon. Member about this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.??
Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement the EU State aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period. The rules are an exclusive competence of the European Commission and it is not within the power of the United Kingdom or any EU Member State to unilaterally vary or suspend them.
The Government has announced that following the end of the Transition Period, a new domestic subsidy control regime will replace the EU State aid rules. The treatment of firms in difficulty will be considered as part of the work to develop the new regime, which will also take into account, amongst other factors, the arrangements agreed under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Announcements on the new regime will be made in due course.
We are in regular discussions with businesses about their investment plans for hydrogen projects, including those that are ready for very near-term deployment. In addition we are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy.
We recently published the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) for hydrogen and fuel cells which identified that up to 15,000 jobs per annum by 2050 could be created through domestic hydrogen opportunities.
We are also looking to formalise regular engagement between Government and industry to discuss and drive development if the UK hydrogen economy. This will consider how we can best work together to retain and expand jobs and skills in hydrogen and related sectors; as well as developing the UK supply chain.
We are in regular discussions with businesses about their investment plans for hydrogen projects, including those that are ready for very near-term deployment. In addition we are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy.
We recently published the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) for hydrogen and fuel cells which identified that up to 15,000 jobs per annum by 2050 could be created through domestic hydrogen opportunities.
We are also looking to formalise regular engagement between Government and industry to discuss and drive development if the UK hydrogen economy. This will consider how we can best work together to retain and expand jobs and skills in hydrogen and related sectors; as well as developing the UK supply chain.
The Government is currently considering a broad package of reforms to Companies House to ensure it is fit for the future and continues to contribute to the UK’s business environment. This would amount to the most significant reform of the UK’s company registration framework since a?companies?register was first introduced in 1844, and it is important, therefore, to take the time to get it right.
The consultation received a significant number of responses and an official government response with proposals for the way forward will be published in due course.
Companies House ensures it has the appropriate amount of resources to effectively manage the register. Staffing levels are made available in the Companies House Annual Report which is published after the end of the financial year.
The Department’s consultation received a significant number of responses and an official government response with proposals for the way forward will be published in due course. An assessment of the staffing levels required to implement the recommended reforms will be finalised as the proposals are finalised.
As proposals under the consultation have not yet been finalised, the staffing levels required have not been finalised.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
Low carbon electricity, including solar – whether at the household level or the national level – is central to the transition to the smart and flexible energy systems of the future.
Since 2010, we have quadrupled the electricity we generate from renewables – installing 99% of the UK’s solar capacity and over 800,000 installations – exceeding our historic projections on solar PV deployment. We now have over 13.3GW of solar capacity installed in the UK, which is enough to power over 3 million UK homes.
The Smart Export Guarantee, which came into force on 1 January 2020, gives small scale low-carbon electricity generators, such as homes with solar panels, the right to be paid for the renewable electricity they export to the grid. Renewable generators now have a several competitive tariffs to choose from, in some cases even higher than the FIT export tariff.
Permitted development rights have been introduced allowing the installation of solar panels up to 1 megawatt on domestic properties, schools, businesses and farm buildings without any need for planning permission.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides grant funding to innovative businesses in many different ways, including Innovate UK‘s SMART grants, which deliver ambitious R&D innovations that can make a significant impact on the UK economy.
Through the Clean Growth Strategy, BEIS has committed £900 million of public funds to innovation, which includes £177 million to further reduce the cost of renewables.
We are also investing over £3 billion to support low carbon innovation in the UK up to 2021, to ensure that the UK continues to reap the benefits from the transition to a low carbon economy.
The Government recognises the impact that sport and physical activity has on physical and mental health, and the importance of welfare and wellbeing for everyone participating in sport at all levels.
The Government's role in the support of bidding for and hosting major sporting events is set out in the Gold Framework. The Gratitude Games do not meet the criteria as set out in the Gold Framework and therefore would not be within scope for support. We encourage all organisations to continue to work together to support mental health through sport and physical activity.
The Gambling Act Review is wide-ranging and aims to ensure that the regulation of gambling is fit for the digital age. We will publish a white paper setting out our conclusions and next steps in the coming months.
Ministers and officials have meetings with various stakeholders to support ongoing work and policy development. There has also been a wide-ranging series of meetings to support the Gambling Act Review, including with representatives of the racing industry. Records of ministerial meetings are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.
It is up to the individual (including professional athletes) to check the rules of each country they intend to travel to ahead of time, whether an EU member state or non-EU country, in case they need to apply for a visa, work permit, or provide other documentation. UK nationals are able to travel visa-free to the Schengen Area for short-term visits (up to 90 days in 180) for a limited number of activities, including attending sporting events, tourism and short-term study. For those undertaking longer-term stays (exceeding the 90 days limit), a visa and/or work permit may be required directly from the host nation.
The ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ published 22 February advises that indoor entertainment and visitor attractions can resume at Step 3, which will commence no earlier than 17 May. This includes indoor play centres.
The timings outlined in the roadmap are indicative, and the Government will be led by data, rather than fixed dates. Before taking each step, the Government will review the latest data and will only ease restrictions further if it is safe to do so. The indicative, ‘no earlier than’ dates in the roadmap are all contingent on the data and subject to change.
Each full step of the roadmap will be informed by the latest available science and data and will be five weeks apart in order to provide time to assess the data and provide one week’s notice to businesses and individuals.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Review of the Gambling Act 2005. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions was 9 February.
The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December with a Call for Evidence, which runs until 31 March. The Review aims to strike the right balance between preventing harm and respecting consumers’ freedom of choice. More information about the Call for Evidence and how to make a submission is available here:
Best and most versatile agricultural land (BMVAL) is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework and Natural England’s ‘Guide to assessing development proposals on agricultural land’ as land in grades 1, 2 and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification.
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) remains the starting point for our new relationship. The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter of the TCA puts in place a framework that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade.
We are open to discussions with the EU on steps we can take to reduce trade friction; however, these cannot be on the basis of dynamic alignment with EU rules, as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.
Defra is working with the Canal and River Trust on the current review of the Government’s annual grant funding for the Trust, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review will inform a decision about any future grant funding from 2027.