Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support British-based businesses to appoint a responsible person under the General Product Safety Regulations to access to Northern Ireland and EU markets.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is supporting small businesses to understand and comply with the new General Product Safety Regulation.
We have published guidance on the new Regulation in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review, and we are continuing to engage directly with businesses, including through regular drop-in sessions. Firms exporting to the EU should note that EU guidance is now available and may also wish to contact the Government’s Export Support Service.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to ensure that small businesses in Great Britain are aware of his Department's guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988, published on 5 December 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My officials have been engaging regularly with businesses on the new General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland. The guidance for businesses has been shared with the business community in Great Britain and Northern Ireland through existing channels. My officials are also engaging with businesses through drop-in sessions, both before and after the Regulation takes effect in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will meet with online consumers in Northern Ireland experiencing difficulties buying goods from Great Britain.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and are constructively working with all stakeholders, including consumer groups, to protect the UK Internal Market. HM Government continues to support businesses in ensuring a smooth flow of goods between Northern Ireland (NI) and the rest of the UK. This includes through the provision of guidance and advice, as offered through the Trader Support Service and published online.
It is important that we consider consumer views when developing policy. As such, DBT meets consumer representatives from across the UK, and works with the NI Department for the Economy to support people in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to monitor the application of the guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988, published on 5 December 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department will be monitoring the application of the new General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland and will keep the guidance on the Regulation under review to ensure we are supporting businesses to trade freely across the UK.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Record-breaking International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK, published on 14 October 2024, whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the proportion of (a) that investment that will be disbursed in and (b) those jobs that will be created in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The International Investment Summit on the 14th October sought to drive investment across the entirety of the UK. The announcement on 8th of October by bus operator Go Ahead, saw £500 million investment, supporting up to 500 UK manufacturing jobs, to decarbonise its fleet, including creating a new dedicated manufacturing line and partnership with Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer Wrightbus. Furthermore, this investment will accelerate the transition to greener buses across the country including in Plymouth, Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire, London and the Isle of Wight.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Harland and Wolff on their application for an Export Development Guarantee.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State shared an update on the discussions with Harland and Wolff through a Written Ministerial Statement on 22nd July. The statement can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-07-22/hcws15