Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with supermarket retailers on ensuring that loose, packaged and multi-pack fresh fruit and vegetable products are displayed with comparable price-per-kilogram information.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Price Marking Order (PMO) requires traders to display the selling price and, where applicable, the unit price for goods, enabling consumers to compare similar products and assess value for money. The PMO was recently updated so products sold by weight or volume must show unit prices in kilograms or litres. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 confirmed that the price displayed on the shelf must be the price the consumer pays. The Government engaged extensively with industry on these proposals and keeps them under review to support consistent pricing information for consumers.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of unit pricing measures used by supermarkets, including pricing by item, weight and package size for equivalent products, on consumers' ability to compare prices and identify best value for money; and whether his Department has plans to review existing unit pricing regulations to require retailers display prices using a single consistent metric for items.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Price Marking Order (PMO) requires traders to display the selling price and, where applicable, the unit price for goods, enabling consumers to compare similar products and assess value for money. The PMO was recently updated so products sold by weight or volume must show unit prices in kilograms or litres. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 confirmed that the price displayed on the shelf must be the price the consumer pays. The Government engaged extensively with industry on these proposals and keeps them under review to support consistent pricing information for consumers.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will broaden the eligibility criteria for the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme to include more food manufacturing businesses.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Energy-Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme compensates eligible businesses for the indirect costs of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and Carbon Price Support Mechanism, targeting businesses at high risk of carbon leakage, the offshoring of production overseas to countries with fewer climate change policy controls. The Government intends to review the scheme this year and publicly consult on the eligibility criteria. However, any changes to the scheme are subject to available budgets and ministerial approval. I encourage food manufacturing businesses to engage with this review when the opportunity arises.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
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 increased stamp prices for businesses on affordability for consumers of those products, such as magazine media.
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)
As an independent business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services. The government does not have a role in the company’s day-to-day commercial or operational decisions. In setting its prices however, Royal Mail must work within the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Affordability is at the heart of Ofcom's regulatory regime, and it continues to monitor the market, including affordability and impacts on both consumers and businesses. Ofcom is conducting a review of pricing and affordability and will consult on any proposals ahead of the expiry of the current control on Second Class letter prices in early 2027.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department is doing to support independent breweries in England.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government fully recognises the importance of independent breweries and pubs. We are committed to maintaining a beer and pub sector that is diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities, supporting jobs, investment and growth across towns and villages.
We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs, I am currently considering the findings of this review alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next month. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.
Additionally, Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports smaller producers by allowing those producing up to 4,500 hectolitres a year to pay reduced duty on products below 8.5% ABV. At Budget 2025, the Government increased the cash discount for small producers, maintaining the value of SPR relative to main duty rates.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to encourage foreign direct investment in the North West region.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department actively promotes foreign direct investment into the North West through the Office for Investment, which works closely with regional stakeholders to identify, shape and market regional opportunities.
The Government has placed the North West at the centre of its Northern Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy, using large public investments to attract private capital. This includes a multi‑billion‑pound investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (including a new Liverpool – Manchester line via Manchester Airport and Warrington), as well as targeted investments such as the new Digital Campus in Manchester and the National Cryogenics Facility in Cheshire (Liverpool City Region), positioning the North West as a global quantum technologies hub.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to late payment policy on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger businesses; and whether he plans to differentiate between transactions involving SMEs and those conducted solely between larger counterparties when introducing these changes.
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)
On 24 March we published our response to the Late Payments Consultation, outlining legislative measures we will introduce to tackle the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11 billion each year and leads to the closure of 38 businesses every day. In line with the Better Regulation Framework, we published an Impact Assessment that considers how our measures could impact businesses of all different sizes. We have carefully designed measures to tackle late payments whilst supporting UK competitiveness, including allowing an exemption from maximum payment terms for contracts where both parties are large companies.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government’s response to the Future of the Post Office green paper consultation, (a) when the proposed cross‑government working group on the delivery of in‑person government services will be established, (b) how frequently it is expected to meet, (c) which Departments will participate in its work, and (d) whether the Government plans to provide opportunities for external organisations to contribute to the group’s considerations.
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 can confirm that the cross-government working group on the delivery of in-person government services has been established with an introductory meeting held late last year. Departments invited included those involved in the delivery of key in-person services, as well as those with a policy interest in how services are provided. The regularity of future meetings and potential involvement of external organisations are yet to be decided.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
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 resolve operational issues at Reddish Post Office, SK5 6AF and reopen the branch.
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 Post Office is responsible for the day-to-day operation of its network, including decisions related to individual branches. As a result, the Government is unable to provide specific details on the reopening of Reddish post office.
The Post Office has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure and will provide updates to customers and stakeholders as soon as further information becomes available. In the meantime, Post Office report that customers can access services at nearby branches, including Broomfield Post Office.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Royal Mail’s efforts to meet its Quality of Service targets in SK Stockport postcode areas.
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)
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for monitoring Royal Mail’s performance and ensuring that Royal Mail complies with its legal obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.
In October, Ofcom fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality-of-service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.