Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital on the childminding sector.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has worked extensively with taxpayers, representative bodies and software developers to ensure Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax works well for businesses of all types and sizes.
MTD will help businesses and landlords keep on top of their tax affairs. It places small businesses on a more digital footing, with digital tools helping to reduce errors and making annual tax returns easier.
The government has worked with the software industry to ensure a wide range of options are available to suit different needs and budgets, including low cost and free software supporting those with the simplest affairs. Many products are designed for users who manage their own tax affairs or those new to digital tools.
As with other businesses, MTD will allow childminders to keep better track of their finances, helping their businesses to grow. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.
Asked by: Naz Shah (Labour - Bradford West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many inspections of upholstery and furniture workshops have been carried out by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Between 2019 and the present date, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have inspected 2104 premises whose primary business includes the manufacture of office and shop furniture, kitchen furniture, mattresses and other furniture (based on the Standard Industry Classification (SIC)).
The breakdown by year is as follows:
Year | Number of Inspections |
2019/20 | 304 |
2020/21 | 145 |
2021/22 | 192 |
2022/23 | 419 |
2023/24 | 627 |
2024/25 | 319 |
2025 to date | 98 |
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with regulators and the furniture industry on adopting safer fire safety technologies that reduce smoke toxicity; and what measures they are considering, if any, to encourage the use of inherently fire-resistant materials and innovative design solutions in place of chemical flame retardants.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
As set out in the Policy paper The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture, published on 22 January, the Government will reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to ensure they maintain a high level of fire safety while allowing for manufacturing innovation and facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants.
The Government is committed to improving the communication of information about chemical flame retardants used in upholstered furniture in order to support more informed consumer choices and more effective enforcement as well as the circular economy.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards is engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to inform policy making, including manufacturers, test houses, charities and consumer groups.
Asked by: Adam Thompson (Labour - Erewash)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that the chemical flame-retardant sector is represented in discussions on furniture and furnishings fire safety regulations.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government is committed to maintaining a high level of fire safety for domestic upholstered furniture. The Policy paper The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture published on 22 January sets out the Government’s intention for wider reforms to furniture fire safety regulation and some immediate actions the Government has taken. The Department for Business and Trade is carrying out extensive, targeted stakeholder engagement across industry to inform decision making, including discussions with chemical producers and trade associations. As part of this ongoing work the Government will assess the impact of any proposals.
Asked by: Adam Thompson (Labour - Erewash)
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 the proposed changes to furniture and furnishings fire safety regulations on fire safety.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government is committed to maintaining a high level of fire safety for domestic upholstered furniture. The Policy paper The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture published on 22 January sets out the Government’s intention for wider reforms to furniture fire safety regulation and some immediate actions the Government has taken. The Department for Business and Trade is carrying out extensive, targeted stakeholder engagement across industry to inform decision making, including discussions with chemical producers and trade associations. As part of this ongoing work the Government will assess the impact of any proposals.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they last met representatives of the footwear industry; when the next meeting is to take place; whether that meeting will include heritage craft makers in the footwear industry; and what plans they have to support the continued making and manufacture of shoes and boots in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Department engages with the British Footwear Association (BFA). The BFA attended a roundtable on 24 April 2024 and are due to attend a roundtable with the Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports on 15 October 2024, where there will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the footwear manufacturing sector in the broader context of consumer goods including fashion, textiles, and furniture. The CEO of the BFA attended a Luxury Steering Group with officials to discuss trade promotion opportunities on 18 September 2024.
The Government will introduce a new Industrial Strategy to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth - through securing investment into crucial sectors of the economy.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to integrate 5G networks with public sector infrastructure; and whether she has had discussions with network providers on the role of public sector infrastructure in improving coverage.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Our 2023 Wireless Infrastructure Strategy sets out a range of measures to drive 5G adoption in the private and public sectors to ensure the UK can fully realise the benefits of 5G. This includes a commitment to drive innovation in public services, and for digital connectivity requirements for future users of infrastructure to be at the heart of planning for major infrastructure projects. This includes our commitment that all new hospitals are built with 5G or the equivalent technology.
My Department has regular engagement with network providers to explore how the public sector can be an early adopter of 5G and deliver our ambitions to improve 5G coverage nationally.
We have taken steps to encourage the use of public sector assets for wireless infrastructure deployment, including through the £7 million Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator programme, which helps local councils and the telecoms industry resolve the challenges involved with using publicly owned land, buildings and street furniture to host digital infrastructure.
DSIT has also awarded six local authority pilots a total of £1.3 million through our Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme, to test “smart” multipurpose columns that provide wireless connectivity services and other uses, such as EV charging.
My Department has also published, via the Digital Connectivity Portal, - extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment. This includes technical information, as well as examples of best practice.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication entitled Our Waste, Our Resources: A Strategy for England, published on 18 December 2018, what his policy is on (a) extended producer responsibility and (b) product standards for (i) textiles, (ii) bulky waste items, (iii) construction and demolition materials, (iv) vehicle tyres and (v) fishing gear.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are not exploring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles, furniture, construction and fishing gear while we focus our efforts on delivering EPR for packaging. The Government remains committed to introducing EPR for packaging in 2025.
We are working on product standards for textiles, bulky waste items, construction and demolition material and fishing gear through:
We do not have current plans to consult on EPR or product standards for vehicle tyres, but we will keep this option under review.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received on the effect of shortages of foam and particleboard on the UK furniture industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The issue on the effect of shortages of foam and particleboard on the UK furniture industry has been raised with the Department through correspondence, as well as engagement with the UK furniture sector.
Various factors have contributed to a severe lack of raw materials for manufacturers, including successive storms in the Gulf of Mexico, annual turnarounds at chemical plants in Europe, and technical issues at another plant. This has subsequently impacted the cost of these materials.
The reported issues with the supply of some chemicals used in foam production is a commercial issue and likely a result of an increased global demand on these materials. We will continue to monitor the situation and engage with the furniture sector to gain a better understanding of the situation and its impact.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government took to support the pub industry during the covid-19 lockdown; and what steps he is taking to support the pub industry as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The pub industry continues to have access to a range of government support measures including, but not limited to:
•A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in England, saving around 350,000 ratepayers a combined £10bn.
•A VAT deferral for up to 12 months
•Measures to make it easier to claim back duty on spoiled beer, wine and cider.
•A business grant worth £10,000 or £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors
•The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has supported 1.4 million jobs across the hospitality sector and which runs until October
•Access to affordable, government backed finance through Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBLS) for and larger firms, along with the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises.
•Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until September 30, 2020
In addition to this unprecedented package of support for businesses, the Summer Economic Update announced a VAT rate reduction from 20% to 5% - worth £4.1bn – for hospitality, accommodation and attractions, and the £500m Eat Out to Help Out scheme which entitles every diner to a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, at any participating restaurant, café or pub to encourage people to return to eating out and to support the sector’s recovery. This move will support up to 129,000 businesses, including the majority of pubs that serve food. Over 85% of pubs serve food and will benefit from both schemes. All pubs, including wet-led pubs will also benefit from the proposed regulatory easements in the Business and Planning Bill, which will make it easier, quicker and cheaper to set up furniture in adjacent outdoor spaces and to automatically convert all current licenses to allow pubs to sell off-licence.