Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 estimate of the number of businesses which have stopped trading due to the extended producer responsibility scheme.
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 Department has not made an estimate of the number of businesses that have stopped trading due to the extended producer responsibility scheme. The Department for Business and Trade is committed to supporting businesses to start, invest, grow and export through a range of measures, including improving access to finance, reducing barriers to trade, promoting investment, and providing practical support through the Business Growth Service and UK Export Finance.
The scheme is led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and is designed to ensure that producers bear the full net costs of managing household packaging waste, thereby supporting increased recycling and a more circular economy.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 increase the annual quota British car manufacturers can export tariff free to the United States of America.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK remains the only country to have secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota - saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually.
We will continue to engage with the US Administration, and with the UK autos industry, on how we can best deliver for them.
Supporting the sector remains a priority for this Government, and we will keep industry informed to support business planning and future investment decisions.
The UK's landmark economic deal with the US will protect thousands of jobs, support key British industries, and help drive economic growth.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will review the adequacy of current guidance for hospitality venues on the admission of assistance animals, including the distinction between fully trained assistance dogs and those in training.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Strong protection already exists in the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.
This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and disability organisations on the recognition of assistance dogs not accredited by Assistance Dogs UK.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Strong protection already exists in the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.
This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 help ensure that businesses sympathetically consider when their customers are receiving palliative care in debt recovery and repossession cases.
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 Government recognises the importance of responsible and fair practices for debt recovery and understands the negative impact that aggressive or wrongful pursuit of debt can have on individuals. Firms which collect on consumer credit agreements or mortgages must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which expects firms to treat customers fairly and has a range of supervisory and enforcement tools to address breaches of its rules. The FCA also requires that firms consider customer vulnerability, including health conditions, to ensure staff have the right skills and capability to respond.
The Government also has a number of measures in place to help people to avoid repossession, as well as providing protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reducing the permissible noise limits of fireworks and (b) restricting their sale to Category F1 and F2 fireworks available only in licensed shops.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property. I continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including businesses, consumer groups and charities shortly to gather evidence on the issues and impacts with fireworks as part of ongoing review on potential regulatory reform as well as carefully considering reviewing all the feedback we have received.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 benefits of using digital twin technology in major infrastructure projects.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP) aims to develop the UK’s capability in digital twinning technologies, and to enable the digital interconnection of infrastructure and other sources of data. This will enable more efficient design, construction, and operation of infrastructure assets, improving delivery of public services and provide greater certainty and confidence to business to invest. The delivery of the NDTP will contribute to the Growth Mission, the Clean Energy Mission, and support the operation of several priority sectors within the Industrial Strategy.
Information about the NDTP can be found at: National Digital Twin Programme. gov.uk
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
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 help support Ukraine’s (a) reconstruction and (b) economic recovery.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Through the 100-Year Partnership Agreement, the UK is committed to supporting Ukraine’s long-term stability and growth, driving its recovery as a modernised and resilient economy. We work closely with the Government of Ukraine to understand their immediate and long-term reconstruction priorities.
By promoting UK expertise, my department ensures UK companies contribute effectively to Ukraine’s reconstruction and economic recovery while advancing UK economic growth.
Initiatives include the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce, developing war risk insurance solutions, extending the bilateral Free Trade Agreement, fostering tech collaboration via the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, and leading trade missions to strengthen economic ties.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) businesses and (b) people in Woking that will benefit from the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Economic Prosperity Deal is a unique deal that ensures the most important UK industries are protected. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ around 29,000 people across the South East with around 2,500 people in Woking employed in the automotive industry. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.
We will continue to act in Britain's national interest - for workers, for business and for families including in Woking.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) businesses and (b) people in Woking that will benefit from the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
This comprehensive agreement is estimated to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, increase UK GDP by £4.8 billion and boost wages by £2.2 billion each and every year in the long run. This deal will unlock new opportunities for businesses and consumers in every corner of the UK. The South-East's world-leading medical technology industry, will benefit from Indian liberalisation of medical device tariffs, allowing them to tap into India's vast and rapidly growing market.
We will set out further information on the regional impacts of this agreement in our Impact Assessment.