Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting the access of fireworks to (a) professional operators and (b) organised and regulated displays.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is considering a range of approaches to reducing the harm and distress from the use of consumer fireworks while preserving safe and responsible use and recently consulted on measures to further restrict access to consumers of certain products. The consultation closed on 7 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing responses. Decisions on any future legislative changes will be informed by the evidence received.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of limiting the use of fireworks to specific times and days.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Existing legislation already restricts the use of fireworks between 11pm and 7am, with later cut-off times for Bonfire Night, New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year. The Government recently concluded a public consultation on targeted reforms to fireworks and pyrotechnics legislation, launched in response to public and parliamentary concerns about noise, safety and misuse. The consultation closed on 7 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing responses, which will help inform decisions on any future legislative or policy changes.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has considered the potential merits of introducing a fit and proper person test for people applying for licenses to store and sell fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The existing framework already includes licensing requirements for the storage of fireworks above prescribed quantities and for the year-round supply of fireworks to consumers outside the permitted seasonal sales periods. Applications for licences to store fireworks above prescribed quantities are determined by the relevant licensing authority in accordance with the Explosives Regulations 2014. Retailers must also comply with statutory requirements governing the sale of fireworks, including age restrictions, which are enforced by Trading Standards authorities. The Government made no formal assessment of introducing a fit and proper person test for applicants seeking licences to store or sell fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory licensing scheme for all businesses selling fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The existing framework already includes licensing requirements for the storage of fireworks above prescribed quantities and for the year-round supply of fireworks to consumers outside the permitted seasonal sales periods. Applications for licences to store fireworks above prescribed quantities are determined by the relevant licensing authority in accordance with the Explosives Regulations 2014. Retailers must also comply with statutory requirements governing the sale of fireworks, including age restrictions, which are enforced by Trading Standards authorities. The Government made no formal assessment of introducing a fit and proper person test for applicants seeking licences to store or sell fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling fire services to consider anti-social behaviour risks when considering granting licenses to sell and store fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has not made a formal assessment of enabling fire and rescue services to consider anti-social behaviour risks when granting licences to store fireworks. Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for certain fireworks storage licences, while local authorities are responsible for licences permitting sales outside the permitted selling periods.
There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are sold illegally or misused. The police and local authorities have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of powers available to the Government to restrict and suspend the sale and use of fireworks during periods of exceptional fire risk.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government keeps under review the measures available to respond to periods of exceptional fire risk. We will continue to consider whether the existing framework remains appropriate in light of the available evidence and engagement with relevant partners. During periods of elevated wildfire risk, those using or organising fireworks should follow advice from Government and local fire and rescue services, take account of local conditions, and undertake appropriate risk assessments.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on the reliability of Royal Mail parcel deliveries.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The government has been clear that Royal Mail’s quality of service has not been good enough.
The Government has discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the company and Ofcom, as the independent regulator, and they know there is more to do to improve stability and reliability for customers, but it is welcome that the most recently released quality of service figures, for Q1 26/27, show an improvement.
Ofcom has opened an investigation into Royal Mail’s quality of service performance for 2025-26 and Royal Mail has published a quality of service improvement plan alongside a £500 million investment into frontline resourcing.
The government will continue to press royal Mail for improvements in service quality.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
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 merits of extending the Pubs Code to cover all leased pubs.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Government recognises the importance of a diverse and competitive beer market, including the role of independent breweries in supporting local economies and consumer choice. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. Its findings are currently being reviewed alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next months. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.
Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016. I will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
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 merits of introducing a guest beer agreement in England.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Government recognises the importance of a diverse and competitive beer market, including the role of independent breweries in supporting local economies and consumer choice. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. Its findings are currently being reviewed alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next months. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.
Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016. I will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of internal investigations into (a) parcels and (b) replacement parcels that are determined missing by (i) Evri and (ii) other delivery companies.
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)
I met senior officials from Ofcom on 17 December and again on 11 March.
I am clear delivery companies must do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.
Ofcom has written to delivery operators to remind them of their obligations and is gathering evidence of compliance with applicable Consumer Protection Conditions.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, sellers are responsible for the delivery of goods bought online until they are in the consumer’s physical possession and is responsible if anything goes wrong with the consumer’s parcel, including goods delivered damaged or lost in transit, to liaise with the courier to find out what went wrong.