Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff are working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, expressed as (a) number of staff and (b) full-time equivalent hours.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify relevant records, assisting Ministers to meet their obligations to the House, and supporting the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in office. The team is also working to support the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Peter Mandelson. The team is drawing extensively on support from officials across the Department, particularly staff with expertise on historical records management. The team is also working closely with other Whitehall Departments, particularly teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office. We will update the House on this work as soon as is practicable.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any of the staff working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment are also working on the Government response to the Humble address on Mandelson.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify relevant records, assisting Ministers to meet their obligations to the House, and supporting the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in office. The team is also working to support the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Peter Mandelson. The team is drawing extensively on support from officials across the Department, particularly staff with expertise on historical records management. The team is also working closely with other Whitehall Departments, particularly teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office. We will update the House on this work as soon as is practicable.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the staff working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment are dedicated exclusively to that work.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify relevant records, assisting Ministers to meet their obligations to the House, and supporting the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in office. The team is also working to support the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Peter Mandelson. The team is drawing extensively on support from officials across the Department, particularly staff with expertise on historical records management. The team is also working closely with other Whitehall Departments, particularly teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office. We will update the House on this work as soon as is practicable.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the expected timeline is for the publication of the first tranche of documents relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have set up a dedicated team to coordinate work across Government to search historic paper and electronic files and identify documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role and appointment as Special Representative for Trade and Investment in 2001. This Government is committed to complying as quickly as possible with the Humble Address of 24 February while avoiding publication of information that the Thames Valley police believe could prejudice their live investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in public office.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many civil servants are currently working to locate and identify files relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment and has set up a small, Director-led team to co-ordinate work to identify relevant records, assist Ministers to meet their obligations to the House, and support the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in office. The team is also working to support the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Peter Mandelson. The team is drawing extensively on support from officials across the Department, particularly staff with expertise on historical records management. The team is also working closely with other Whitehall Departments, particularly teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of changes to Royal Mail's Universal Service Obligation on the delivery of time-critical NHS correspondence.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has made changes to the obligations imposed on Royal Mail to push the business to improve reliability across all types of postal deliveries.
The government recognises the importance of delivery of time-critical NHS letters. Royal Mail has introduced an NHS barcode to optimise delivery of NHS letters at times of local and national disruption and assist NHS units that continue to rely on post to send urgent correspondence to patients. In addition, NHS England and NHS Providers have produced guidance for NHS organisations, including a case study, to increase awareness and uptake of the variety of Royal Mail services for the timely delivery of letters.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 implications for his policies of the use of formaldehyde and other chemicals in fire retardants for furniture.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As set out in the policy paper the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture, published in January 2025, we are reviewing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFRs) with the aim of maintaining a high level of fire safety while facilitating a reduction in chemical flame retardant use. We will provide a further update in due course.
The FFRs do not mandate the use of chemical flame retardants. Any chemicals used in the manufacture of furniture placed on the UK market, including to meet the FFRs’ flammability requirements, must comply with all relevant UK chemicals legislation.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to meet with fireworks industry stakeholders, such as Fireworks Impact Coalition, to discuss the potential merits of a comprehensive review of current fireworks legislation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has made no assessment to determine if the 120 dB noise limit is sufficiently protecting animals and vulnerable people from harm. The Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting animals and vulnerable people, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action and review into the current fireworks legislation.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department conducted to determine if the 120 dB noise limit is sufficiently protecting animals and vulnerable people from harm.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has made no assessment to determine if the 120 dB noise limit is sufficiently protecting animals and vulnerable people from harm. The Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting animals and vulnerable people, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action and review into the current fireworks legislation.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to hold discussions with (a) fireworks industry stakeholders, such as Fireworks Impact Coalition, and (b) animal welfare focused charities on the adequacy of fireworks legislation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Building on the work of my predecessor, I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on fireworks-related issues.
The insights from these discussions, as well as other evidence gathered on the impact of fireworks on animals and vulnerable people will guide future action. They also helped to inform the public safety campaign that I launched for this year’s fireworks season.
The safety of the public and the impact on people, animals and property will be central in decisions on how the Government proceeds in relation to the regulation of fireworks.