Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the potential effect on fuel prices of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
BEIS analysis is that changes in the price of crude oil are the main driver of changes in the national average retail prices of fuels such a petrol and diesel. Other factors include currency exchange rates and the balance of supply and demand for these fuels in the wholesale petroleum products markets.
Crude oil and petroleum products are traded through liquid international markets. The UK benefits from a diverse range of import sources alongside UK domestic production and will continue to do so after we leave the EU.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings her Department has had with the bioethanol industry to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
BEIS Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the country with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations, including the Bioethanol industry. We will continue to engage across the business population to ensure their priorities are reflected and that businesses have the latest information on how to prepare themselves for Brexit, including through a targeted series of roadshows and events.
The Government also has a business readiness website designed to keep businesses and consumers informed about what no deal might mean for them, with information on a range of measures that may need to be taken in order to prepare. These notices are being regularly updated with the latest information, for example BEIS have published 18 sector specific guides with the top three to six priorities per sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive business search tool: https://www.gov.uk/brexit.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on fuel prices of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Nifco and (b) other organisations which form part of the car manufacturing supply chain to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Government is in regular dialogue with businesses, including those in the automotive supply chain, to help ensure all companies are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances.
We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing.
We are prepared for no-deal but there is more work to be done. The Chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available to mitigate any short-term effects and to boost the potential of the UK economy. A £10m Business Readiness Fund for business organisations and trade associations will support businesses in preparing for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit ahead of 31 October 2019.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings her Department has had with the bioethanol industry to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings her Department has had with major supermarkets on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
This Department engages regularly with major supermarkets to understand their concerns about leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
In particular, the Retail EU Exit Panel contains a number of major supermarkets and serves as a forum for cross Government engagement with the sector. This is in addition to individual meetings with Officials on specific EU Exit issues.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings her Department has had with businesses on Teesside to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
BEIS Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the country with businesses of all sizes and their representatives, trade associations and local enterprise partnerships, including through regular meetings. We communicate regularly with intermediaries to ensure businesses obtain information quickly and efficiently. We will continue to engage across the business population to ensure their priorities are reflected and that businesses have the latest information on how to prepare themselves for Brexit, including through a targeted series of roadshows and events.
The Government also has a business readiness website designed to keep businesses and consumers informed about what no deal might mean for them, with information on a range of measures that may need to be taken in order to prepare. These notices are being regularly updated with the latest information, for example BEIS have published 18 sector specific guides with the top three to six priorities per sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive business search tool https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-brexit-check
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of the £370m investment funding the Department has allocated to Post Office branches has been allocated to (a) the North East and (b) Thornaby Post Office.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Government has provided nearly £2 billion in investment since 2010, and is providing a further £370 million between April 2018 and March 2021. The allocation of funding to specific branches and regions is an operational matter for Post Office Limited. However, branches all over the country have benefited, with the network at its most stable in decades. Over 7,500 branches have been modernised, there are nearly a million additional opening hours per month and over 4,400 branches open on Sunday.