Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what criteria his Department has for deciding on locations for data centres.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government does not determine locations for individual data centres. Decisions on where to locate data centres are made by developers, taking account of factors such as access to power, connectivity, land availability, environmental considerations, and local planning policy. The Government’s AI Growth Zones (AIGZ) programme supports projects in areas with the energy, land and infrastructure needed to support future AI and data centre investment, while ensuring impacts on local communities and the environment are appropriately considered.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory requirement for (a) hairdressers and (b) barbers to hold specified qualifications.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
We have no current plans for additional regulation for hairdressers and barbers, but we remain open to evidence. The Hairdressers Registration Act 1964 provides for a UK register of qualified hairdressers and barbers, although registration remains voluntary. Hairdressing salons and barbers are subject to a range of existing requirements, including health and safety and consumer protection legislation. It is important to take an evidence-based approach when making decisions, and the introduction of additional regulation would need to be carefully considered.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory (a) registration and (b) licensing for (i) hairdressers and (ii) barbershops.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
We have no current plans for additional regulation for hairdressers and barbers, but we remain open to evidence. The Hairdressers Registration Act 1964 provides for a UK register of qualified hairdressers and barbers, although registration remains voluntary. Hairdressing salons and barbers are subject to a range of existing requirements, including health and safety and consumer protection legislation. It is important to take an evidence-based approach when making decisions, and the introduction of additional regulation would need to be carefully considered.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to provide local authorities with greater powers to regulate (a) hairdressers and (b) barbers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has no current plans to provide local authorities with additional powers to regulate hairdressers or barbers. The Hairdressers Registration Act 1964 provides for a UK register of qualified hairdressers and barbers, although registration is voluntary. Hairdressing salons and barbers are already subject to a range of requirements, including health and safety and consumer protection legislation, and local authorities may place registration requirements on hairdressing establishments. It is important to take an evidence-based approach to regulation, and any further regulatory measures would need to be carefully considered.
Serious and organised crime can have a damaging impact on local communities and legitimate businesses. The Government announced a £30 million programme in May to tackle criminal activity in cash-intensive high street businesses, and support enforcement activity, including through additional funding for Trading Standards and law enforcement partners.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of data centres on the local community near to where they are situated.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Data centres are critical national infrastructure. They underpin the digital economy, support the development and deployment of AI, and are increasingly important to Britain’s economic and national security. This Government wants more of that infrastructure built in Britain, strengthening our sovereign capability, supporting growth and creating good jobs across the country.
We also believe that communities which host major new infrastructure should see a clear benefit from it. Data centres can support construction and permanent jobs, apprenticeships, local supply chains and wider investment in the places where they are built.
In the majority of cases, data centre planning applications will be determined by the local authority, which will assess relevant local impacts including noise and visual amenity, transport, biodiversity and the local economy. These impacts are highly project-specific and will be considered through the planning process. Data centre projects may also seek consent through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, which includes consideration of Local Impact Reports from relevant local authorities.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has considered establishing a central (a) register and (b) database of vending machines and operators to support compliance monitoring with energy efficiency labelling and refrigerant gas regulations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Refrigerant gases are regulated under the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations, with enforcement sitting with the Environment Agency.
Under the Ecodesign for Related Products Regulations, refrigerated vending machines must meet minimum energy efficiency standards and carry accurate energy labelling. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, regulating on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, conducts risk-based, intelligence-led market surveillance and takes enforcement action where non-compliance is identified.
The Government has not received intelligence indicating a specific prevalence of non-compliant refrigerated vending machines and welcomes evidence from stakeholders which it will keep under review.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of non‑compliant vending machines entering the UK on (a) substandard and unverified energy‑efficiency performance at refrigerated vending machines, (b) the use of restricted refrigerant gases and (c) potential safety hazards for machine operators and consumers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Refrigerant gases are regulated under the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations, with enforcement sitting with the Environment Agency.
Under the Ecodesign for Related Products Regulations, refrigerated vending machines must meet minimum energy efficiency standards and carry accurate energy labelling. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, regulating on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, conducts risk-based, intelligence-led market surveillance and takes enforcement action where non-compliance is identified.
The Government has not received intelligence indicating a specific prevalence of non-compliant refrigerated vending machines and welcomes evidence from stakeholders which it will keep under review.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of non‑compliant vending machines currently in operation within the UK with respect to (a) (i) substandard or (ii) unverified energy‑efficiency ratings for refrigerated vending machines and (b) the use of non‑compliant refrigerant gases.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Refrigerant gases are regulated under the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations, with enforcement sitting with the Environment Agency.
Under the Ecodesign for Related Products Regulations, refrigerated vending machines must meet minimum energy efficiency standards and carry accurate energy labelling. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, regulating on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, conducts risk-based, intelligence-led market surveillance and takes enforcement action where non-compliance is identified.
The Government has not received intelligence indicating a specific prevalence of non-compliant refrigerated vending machines and welcomes evidence from stakeholders which it will keep under review.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that all vending machine operators and suppliers adhere to current (a) energy‑efficiency and (b) refrigerant safety regulations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Refrigerant gases are regulated under the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations, with enforcement sitting with the Environment Agency.
Under the Ecodesign for Related Products Regulations, refrigerated vending machines must meet minimum energy efficiency standards and carry accurate energy labelling. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, regulating on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, conducts risk-based, intelligence-led market surveillance and takes enforcement action where non-compliance is identified.
The Government has not received intelligence indicating a specific prevalence of non-compliant refrigerated vending machines and welcomes evidence from stakeholders which it will keep under review.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of letters detailing fines delivered by Royal Mail not arriving on time on people receiving those letters.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises the concern that arises when important and time-sensitive post does not arrive as expected. I have been clear that Royal Mail’s performance has not been good enough.
Royal Mail is an independent business responsible for delivery operations, and it is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to set and monitor service standards and take enforcement action where necessary.
Ofcom has assured me that it continues to monitor quality of service closely to protect consumers.