Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to enhance the powers of (a) police forces and (b) other relevant authorities under the Digital Markets Act to require the removal of dangerous items for sale on online platforms.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act will allow all public enforcers of consumer law, including Trading Standards, to apply for online interface orders to take down digital content that breaks the law. These powers are planned to commence in April.
Government recently introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which will allow Government to update the product regulatory framework to better protect consumers from unsafe products, including those sold online. The Bill will allow Government to introduce regulations that provide powers for Relevant Authorities to take action against non-compliance with product safety requirements, including those introduced on online platforms.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to allow not-for-profit Community Interest Companies to receive the associated advantages of non-profit organisations.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
While Community Interest Companies (CICs) must satisfy the Regulator that their primary purpose is to benefit a community, they can still generate profit, albeit with restrictions on profit distribution and as long as profits are primarily used to benefit the community.
CICs occupy a middle-ground between private enterprises and charities, providing unique advantages and opportunities. Compared to non-profit organisations, CICs have greater flexibility, no trustees, and can pay directors. CICs benefit from the risk-taking features of a company and access the debt market for loans. The Secretary of State does not intend to change the associated advantages of CICs.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking with (a) Deliveroo, (b) Uber Eats and (c) Just Eat to end the contracting-out of their workforce accounts for use by people illegally working in the UK.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is alert to the risks associated with substitution in the platform economy, particularly the role it can play in facilitating illegal working by irregular migrants.
I met recently with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum and the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to discuss this.
We are looking closely at the extent to which Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have implemented the commitments they made earlier this year to implement systems to conduct right to work checks on substitute riders, and I have recently written to them seeking further detail on how this is operating in practice.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing grants to enable small and medium-sized film and TV production companies to attend trade fairs.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports film and TV businesses to meet international buyers and partners at key events both in the UK and overseas. In addition, businesses can access DBT’s export services via Great.gov.uk, including the UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisers in England, Help to Grow and the Export Support Service.
The creative industries are one of the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors. The Industrial Strategy will be published alongside a Creative Industries Sector Plan in Spring 2025 which will set out a 10-year plan to drive growth in the creative sector. We are reviewing our Export Services as part of our work in the Industrial Strategy, our Trade White Paper and on better support for small businesses.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to make representations to the Department for Transport's open consultation entitled Smarter regulation: proposed changes to legislation for electrically assisted pedal cycles, published on 29 February 2024.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
As part of a cross-Whitehall approach my Department, through the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), works closely with the Home Office and Department for Transport (DfT) to ensure activity in relation to e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries is aligned. OPSS has worked with DfT during the development of the electrically-assisted pedal cycles consultation and will continue to collaborate as the consultation progresses.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many deaths have been caused by dangerous or counterfeit e-bike chargers in each of the last nine years.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Office for Product Safety Standards (OPSS) is aware of three fatalities in 2022 and 11 fatalities in 2023 from fires related to e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries or chargers. This is drawn from data supplied by UK fire and rescue services, shared with OPSS. Incidents are complex as often multiple products are involved that can be safe and compliant when used individually, but become unsafe when used in combination.
Lithium-ion battery fires involving e-bikes can cause catastrophic damage to property, it is not always possible to identify whether products involved were unsafe, counterfeit or non-compliant given the damage they can sustain.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing regulations to improve fire safety measures for e-bikes.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Under existing UK law, e-bikes must be safe before they are placed on the market. E-bikes are in scope of the Supply of Machinery Regulations (2008) which includes obligations on manufacturers to mitigate safety risks, including fire.
Last year, the Government consulted on the Product Safety Review, seeking views on proposals to reform the UK’s product safety framework so it is fit for the digital age and meets consumers’ and businesses’ needs. Responses to the consultation are currently being analysed. The Government intends to publish its response later this year, which will summarise the findings and set out future plans.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the Office for Product Safety and Standards' timetable is for publishing the findings from the Product Safety review consultation which closed on 24 October 2023.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) is currently analysing responses to the Product Safety Review consultation. The Government intends to publish a response later this year which will summarise the findings and set out future plans.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many coroners' reports have asked the Office for Product Safety and Standards to take action against dangerous or faulty e-bike chargers in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has received two coroner’s reports relating to concerns about the safety of e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries and chargers. The reports were received in August 2023 and in January 2024, and OPSS’ responses will be published on the judiciary.uk website.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made provision for (a) familiarisation costs and (b) other transition costs to help ensure Citizens Advice can answer queries on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
My department works very closely with Citizens Advice, providing funding on behalf of all Whitehall departments and the Welsh Government to support the provision of advice and advocacy including consumer. We are providing total funding of £44 million in the current financial year. We were also able to provide an additional one-off uplift of £3 million at the end of the previous financial year and will continue to work closely with Citizens Advice on their priorities and resources as the current year progresses.