Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ability of overseas producers to label their products as alcohol free at up to 0.5% ABV in the UK on UK-based brewers that are restricted to 0.05% ABV.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT is working closely with DHSC on the Government’s ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan’, which includes a commitment to consult consumers and industry on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV. This proposal would align UK brewers with international standards and support the growth of the sector, in addition to providing clarity to consumers and producers.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 impact of support for the Mozambique liquefied natural gas project on the UK’s international human rights obligations.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
UK Export Finance is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project. At present, UKEF is engaged in conducting relevant due diligence which has yet to conclude.
UK Export Finance follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights risks and impacts of relevant projects. UKEF will take proper account of relevant factors, including international climate change and human rights issues.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 impact of UK support for the Mozambique liquefied natural gas project on the global clean energy transition.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
UK Export Finance is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project. At present, UKEF is engaged in conducting relevant due diligence which has yet to conclude.
UK Export Finance follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights risks and impacts of relevant projects. UKEF will take proper account of relevant factors, including international climate change and human rights issues.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 impact of support for the Mozambique LNG project on the UK’s international climate diplomacy priorities.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
UK Export Finance is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project. At present, UKEF is engaged in conducting relevant due diligence which has yet to conclude.
UK Export Finance follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights risks and impacts of relevant projects. UKEF will take proper account of relevant factors, including international climate change and human rights issues.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the misuse of non-disclosure agreements in employment tribunal settlements.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government has been clear that NDAs should not be misused by employers to conceal misconduct. There are already legal limitations on the use of NDAs. For example, an NDA cannot prevent a worker from whistleblowing, require a worker to cover up iniquity, or prevent a worker from doing anything that may be required by law.
We recognise that misuse of NDAs is an important issue which warrants further consideration and are actively looking at all options.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the safety of cooking appliances in order to reduce the number of home fires.
Answered by Justin Madders
Regulations require manufacturers to place only safe gas-fuelled and electric powered cookers and ovens on the market. Regulations require gas-fuelled cookers to be installed by a competent and Gas-Safe registered engineer. Landlords must ensure gas safety checks are carried out annually and have a Gas Safety Certificate for their property, and that electrical checks are carried out every five years, and that they obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report.
The current Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will give the Government powers to amend and update existing product safety legislation should this be needed.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that consumers choosing not to share personal data through loyalty schemes are not disadvantaged in terms of (a) pricing and (b) access to services.
Answered by Justin Madders
Recent amendments to the Price Marking Order 2004 will ensure that loyalty pricing does not mislead non-member customers about the price of an item. This reflects the paramount principle that the price payable at the till should be clear and transparent.
Where prices are clear and transparent, businesses are free to introduce loyalty schemes and consumers can make an informed decision about where to shop and whether to join such a scheme.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 Companies Houses to ensure that businesses are adequately insured.
Answered by Justin Madders
Companies House supports the Registrar of Companies in the fulfilment of her functions to incorporate and dissolve companies, and to provide public access to company information by maintaining the public register of companies.
Insurance is a matter for individual companies and businesses. Where insurance is mandatory to operate or trade in a particular sector or environment, it would be for the relevant regulatory body to take action if a particular company’s insurance arrangements were inadequate. In England, Scotland and Wales the Health and Safety Executive enforces the legal requirement for businesses to maintain employers’ liability insurance.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
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 impact of US meat imports on trends in the level of UK farmers (a) lowering animal welfare standards or (b) ceasing trading.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate.
The deal does not change Britain’s high animal welfare and environmental standards. Imports of hormone treated beef or chlorinated chicken remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards.
This is a major opportunity for British farmers to increase their exports to the world's largest consumer market, helping them to grow their businesses.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans her Department to integrate the work of the Industrial Strategy Council with (a) Life Sciences Council and (b) other governance structures.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Sector Plans are being designed in partnership with business, devolved governments, regions and other stakeholders, through bespoke arrangements tailored to each sector. This will vary by sector, but some may include Sector Councils, such as the well-established Life Sciences Council.
There will not be formal reporting structures between Sector Councils and the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council. However, we expect there to be close collaboration including through information sharing and joint-working as part of their role advising government on the delivery of the Industrial Strategy. The Council will continue a programme to engage widely across government.