Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1000313

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Fireworks: Packaging
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to introduce graphic warnings on fireworks packaging.
	tabling member constituency	Penistone and Stocksbridge
	tabling member printed	Angela Smith
	uin	187354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government promotes the safe and responsible use of fireworks by consumers and there is strict legislation in place which regulates their supply and use. The Government is currently working with a range of stakeholders to raise consumer awareness on firework safety.</p><p> </p><p>Under current UK legislation, there are clear requirements on manufacturers to categorise and label fireworks according to their explosive content, safety distances, noise level, or similar. The label must include instructions on safety distances and means of ignition and safety messages.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has no plans to amend legislation on firework packaging.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/11/2018 17:28:22 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1564 label Biography information for Angela Smith

1000314

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Fireworks: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure young children are protected from firework-related injuries.
	tabling member constituency	Penistone and Stocksbridge
	tabling member printed	Angela Smith
	uin	187355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government promotes the safe and responsible use of fireworks by consumers and there is strict legislation in place which regulates their supply and use.</p><p> </p><p>There are age restrictions in place which prevent the sale of fireworks to those under the age of 16 or 18 dependent on the classification of firework. The law also prohibits those under 18 possessing any category F2 or F3 fireworks in a public place subject to very limited exceptions.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is currently working with industry, retailers, charities and others such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Netmums to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks and to raise consumer awareness on firework safety.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/11/2018 17:28:32 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1564 label Biography information for Angela Smith

1001988

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Fireworks: Noise
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to amend the regulations on the sale or use of fireworks (a) to reduce the maximum decibel level of fireworks purchasable by the general public and (b) encourage the use of low noise fireworks.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	188142
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Government takes firework safety very seriously and the Office for Product Safety and Standards is working with industry, retailers, charities and others, including RoSPA, to promote the safe, responsible, and considerate use of fireworks.</p><p> </p><p>There are already controls on noise levels for fireworks and it is an offence to supply fireworks exceeding 120 decibels to the public. There are no plans to amend the regulations to reduce this level.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/11/2018 17:26:36 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1002130

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made on consolidating guidance on legislation to protect people who are pregnant or on maternity leave as recommended by the Taylor review of modern working practices.
	tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
	tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
	uin	188083
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Last year, Acas published new comprehensive guidance on pregnancy and maternity discrimination and workplace rights and obligations.</p><p> </p><p>This summer we have reviewed the GOV.UK guidance material on the protections for people who are pregnant or on maternity leave and we are now updating and improving signposting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:39:48 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

1002131

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Low Pay Commission: Public Consultation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Low Pay Commission will publish the response to its consultation on (a) the effect of a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours in a contract and (b) alternative means for tackling one sided flexibility.
	tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
	tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
	uin	188084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Low Pay Commission’s consultation, on the effect of a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours in a contract and alternative means for tackling one-sided flexibility, launched in March.</p><p> </p><p>The Low Pay Commission will publish their report, containing the findings from this consultation, in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:40:20 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

1002132

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Industrial Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to further promote better employee engagement and workforce relations in response to the Taylor review of modern working practices.
	tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
	tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
	uin	188085
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>In February 2018, the Government consulted on workforce and employee engagement as part of preparing its response to the Taylor review of modern working practices. We are grateful to the stakeholders who have taken time to comment. We are considering those comments and will be publishing our response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:47:20 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

1002183

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Parental Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the average amount of parental leave taken by (a) women and (b) men in (i) England, (ii) London and (iii) the London Borough of Lewisham in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	188224
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The most recent official data on average length of family-related leave taken by parents is from the Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey in 2009, which collected data from parents of children born in 2008 across Great Britain.</p><p>This shows that in 2008,</p><ul><li>mothers took an average of 39 weeks of maternity leave, up from 32 weeks in 2006.</li><li>amongst fathers who took some paternity leave, 16% took more than two weeks, 50% took two weeks and 34% took less than two weeks of leave.</li></ul><p>This does not contain information on average weeks of unpaid Parental Leave, nor of Shared Parental Leave which was introduced in 2015.</p><p>Information on the amount of leave taken at the regional or local level is not available.</p><p>The full Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey 2009/10 Research Report can be found here:</p><p>https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214367/rrep777.pdf</p><p>We are currently evaluating the Shared Parental Leave and Pay schemes. As a part of this, we are commissioning a new survey which will provide updated information. Subject to the progress of data collection, we anticipate publishing findings in Summer 2019.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 20/11/2018 16:43:25 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1002540

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Employment: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government response entitled Good work: a response to the Taylor Review of modern working practices, published on 7 February 2018, when the first assessment of the quality of work in the UK is planned to be published.
	tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
	tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
	uin	188755
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Developing better jobs for everyone in the British economy is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. We are proud to be the first Government to have taken responsibility for both quality and quantity of work, and are working to promote good work across the UK. We will be setting out our next steps for measuring and improving the quality of work in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 188920 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:41:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

1002543

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices: Acton
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on (a) the average weekly number of customers and (b) revenue generated at Acton Post Office in the six months prior to its closure on 24 October.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	188894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p>I have been informed that Acton Post Office has closed as the site is being redeveloped and that unfortunately the Post Office has not been able to establish an alternative service so far. As this is an operational matter for the Post Office I have asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to you on this matter setting out what steps the Post Office is doing to restore the service as soon as possible. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House<em>.</em></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/11/2018 17:27:00 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1002763

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Employment: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government response entitled Good work: a response to the Taylor Review of modern working practices, published on 7 February 2018, what steps he is taking to promote quality work through sector deals.
	tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
	tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
	uin	188920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Developing better jobs for everyone in the British economy is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. We are proud to be the first Government to have taken responsibility for both quality and quantity of work, and are working to promote good work across the UK. We will be setting out our next steps for measuring and improving the quality of work in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 188755 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:41:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

1003725

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Maternity Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion new mothers in England have taken their full maternity leave entitlement in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	189835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The most recent official data on average length of family-related leave taken by parents is from the Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey in 2009, which collected data from parents of children born in 2008 across Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>This shows that in 2008, 23% of employed mothers took their full statutory entitlement of 52 weeks of maternity leave or more (e.g. by taking annual leave in addition to Statutory Maternity Leave). According to the Labour Force Survey, in 2008 there were 350,000 employed mothers with a child under one.</p><p> </p><p>The full Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey 2009/10 Research Report can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214367/rrep777.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214367/rrep777.pdf</a> . Information on the length of maternity leave is available in Tables 2.11 and 2.12.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently commissioning a new survey which will provide updated information on family related leave and pay entitlements including Maternity Leave. Subject to the progress of data collection, we anticipate publishing findings in Summer 2019.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:42:32 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1005751

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	EU Competitiveness Council
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what issues the UK Government plans to raise at the forthcoming meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council on 29 November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Don Valley
	tabling member printed	Caroline Flint
	uin	190351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry day) taking place on 29 November 2018 was agreed on 9 November by EU Ambassadors. The main items will be legislative discussions on platform-to-business relations, the Single Market Programme and the general safety of vehicles and debates on industrial policy and the future of the single market. A Written Ministerial Statement will be made shortly providing further details.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:46:05 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	389 label Biography information for Caroline Flint

1005752

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government would support another country putting public country by country reporting on the agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Don Valley
	tabling member printed	Caroline Flint
	uin	190352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The UK has led international action to enhance tax transparency. This has included initiating the international work on country by country reporting during its G8 Presidency in 2013, and being the first country to commit to implement the OECD model for country by country reporting with legislation in the 2015 Finance Act.</p><p> </p><p>The issue of public country by country reporting is not on the agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry day) taking place on 29 November 2018, as agreed by EU Ambassadors. The UK has no plans to raise the issue at this meeting, although we would have no objection to another Member State raising it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government believes a multilateral approach to public country by country reporting would help ensure effective implementation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190353 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:32:12 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	389 label Biography information for Caroline Flint

1005753

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the UK Government has to raise the issue of public country by country reporting at the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Don Valley
	tabling member printed	Caroline Flint
	uin	190353
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The UK has led international action to enhance tax transparency. This has included initiating the international work on country by country reporting during its G8 Presidency in 2013, and being the first country to commit to implement the OECD model for country by country reporting with legislation in the 2015 Finance Act.</p><p> </p><p>The issue of public country by country reporting is not on the agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry day) taking place on 29 November 2018, as agreed by EU Ambassadors. The UK has no plans to raise the issue at this meeting, although we would have no objection to another Member State raising it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government believes a multilateral approach to public country by country reporting would help ensure effective implementation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190352 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:32:12 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	389 label Biography information for Caroline Flint

1006122

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to ensure that people who are asked to complete work trials at the outset of employment are classed as workers.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	uin	190917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Individuals on work trials who are asked to complete work for an employer are likely to be classed as ‘workers’ and are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. Work trials may only be unpaid if they are part of a genuine recruitment exercise. An unpaid trial work period lasting a few hours may be reasonable and legal, but an unpaid work trial lasting more than one day is probably excessive and therefore illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. The Government has consulted with employers and trade unions on how to ensure greater clarity and better practice over work trials. We have just finalised new guidance that will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190918 190919 question first answered 20/11/2018 08:49:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1006125

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work: Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to ensure that the November 2018 Government document Calculating the Minimum Wage includes guidance for people who are asked to complete unpaid work trials at the outset of employment.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	uin	190918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Individuals on work trials who are asked to complete work for an employer are likely to be classed as ‘workers’ and are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. Work trials may only be unpaid if they are part of a genuine recruitment exercise. An unpaid trial work period lasting a few hours may be reasonable and legal, but an unpaid work trial lasting more than one day is probably excessive and therefore illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. The Government has consulted with employers and trade unions on how to ensure greater clarity and better practice over work trials. We have just finalised new guidance that will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190917 190919 question first answered 20/11/2018 08:49:27 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1006138

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work: Working Hours
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's definition is of the word excessive in relation to the number of hours people are asked to complete for unpaid work trials.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	uin	190919
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Individuals on work trials who are asked to complete work for an employer are likely to be classed as ‘workers’ and are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. Work trials may only be unpaid if they are part of a genuine recruitment exercise. An unpaid trial work period lasting a few hours may be reasonable and legal, but an unpaid work trial lasting more than one day is probably excessive and therefore illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. The Government has consulted with employers and trade unions on how to ensure greater clarity and better practice over work trials. We have just finalised new guidance that will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190917 190918 question first answered 20/11/2018 08:49:27 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1006153

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Sharing Economy: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the article on the Guardian website on 8 November 2018 entitled Gig economy workers' rights to be given boost in overhaul, what legislative proposals he plans to bring forward on gig economy workers' rights; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	190908
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government does not respond to leaks.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190909 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:43:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1006154

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Sharing Economy: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the article on the Guardian website on 8 November 2018 entitled Gig economy workers' rights to be given boost in overhaul, if he will place in the Library copies of all documents provided to the media by the Government in relation to this article.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	190909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government does not respond to leaks.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 190908 question first answered 19/11/2018 15:43:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1006169

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) Crown post office and hosted Crown post office, (b) franchise post office, (c) Main post office, (d) post office Locals, (e) traditional sub-post office and (f) other types of post office branches there were on 1 November 2018 by (i) region and (ii) Local Enterprise Partnership area in England.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	190965
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Post Office branch network overall is reported annually in the Post Office Annual Network Report which is available at <a href="http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office" target="_blank">http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office</a>. The most recent information (June 2018) on the Post Office network by Government Office Region is below. Apart from the Directly Managed branches the rest of the network is operated on a franchise/agency basis and the groupings below reflect the branch models.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Government Office Region</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Directly Managed Branch</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Hosted Directly Managed Branch</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Main</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Local</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Traditional</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Outreach</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>257</p></td><td><p>277</p></td><td><p>204</p></td><td><p>143</p></td><td><p>889</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East of England</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>355</p></td><td><p>311</p></td><td><p>150</p></td><td><p>1115</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>334</p></td><td><p>187</p></td><td><p>81</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>667</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>NI</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>121</p></td><td><p>199</p></td><td><p>112</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>487</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>148</p></td><td><p>167</p></td><td><p>88</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>486</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>446</p></td><td><p>342</p></td><td><p>184</p></td><td><p>114</p></td><td><p>1115</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>16</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>506</p></td><td><p>361</p></td><td><p>234</p></td><td><p>1399</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>359</p></td><td><p>517</p></td><td><p>325</p></td><td><p>146</p></td><td><p>1384</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>289</p></td><td><p>360</p></td><td><p>341</p></td><td><p>257</p></td><td><p>1271</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>167</p></td><td><p>305</p></td><td><p>241</p></td><td><p>190</p></td><td><p>915</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>346</p></td><td><p>271</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>98</p></td><td><p>908</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorkshire and the Humber</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>326</p></td><td><p>293</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>114</p></td><td><p>956</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>218</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>3353</p></td><td><p>3779</p></td><td><p>2634</p></td><td><p>1572</p></td><td><p>11592</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:14:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1006170

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices: Bank Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many post offices offer Post Office Current Accounts in branch by (a) region and (b) Local Enterprise Partnership area in England.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	190966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Post Office Current Accounts can be serviced across the UK-wide network of over 11,500 Post Office branches, for deposits, withdrawals and balance enquiries. Services can also be accessed over the phone, online and via the Post Office Money Current Account app.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent information available (June 2018) on the Post Office network is available by Government Office Region online: <a href="http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/sites/default/files/Network%20Report%202018%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/sites/default/files/Network%20Report%202018%20FINAL.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:34:55 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1006171

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices: Bank Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial services the Post Office provides at (a) Crown post office and hosted Crown post office, (b) franchise post office, (c) Main post office, (d) post office Locals, (e) traditional sub-post office and (f) other types of post office branches.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	190967
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Financial services such as Everyday Banking, Bill Payment and Postal Orders are available in over 11,500 Post Offices around the UK. Additional Post Office Money services are available on-line, over the phone, and in selected Post Office branches.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:13:56 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1006209

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Minimum Wage: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on youth employment rates of the increase in the minimum wage to £8.21 per hour.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	190818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The National Living Wage (NLW) is applicable for those aged 25 or older and will increase in April 2019 to £8.21 per hour. This will see a full-time NLW worker’s earnings increase by over £2,750 compared to its introduction</p><p> </p><p>April 2019’s rate increase is following recommendations from the independent and expert Low Pay Commission (LPC). The detailed assessment made by the LPC in reaching this recommended rate will be found in their Autumn 2018 report, which will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, the Low Pay Commission also provide recommendations on the youth-related National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates. In April 2019, the NMW for 21-24 year olds will rise to £7.70, the 18-20 year olds’ rate will rise to £6.15, the 16-17 year olds’ rate will rise to £4.35 and the Apprentices’ rate will rise to £3.90. The Low Pay Commission is asked to recommend these rates such that they do not damage the employment prospects of younger workers. Indeed, we have seen youth unemployment (16-24 year olds) decrease by 462,000 workers since 2010.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 20/11/2018 16:42:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1006870

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Fireworks: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to amend the regulations on the sale or use of fireworks to (a) further restrict the sale of fireworks and (b) restrict the use of fireworks to certain specified occasions.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	191262
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Government takes firework safety very seriously and the Office for Product Safety and Standards is working with industry, retailers, charities and others, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Promoting the safe and responsible use of fireworks, whilst taking robust action against those that break the rules, is the best way to reduce risk. We have reached more than a million people through social media, GP surgeries and post offices in our recent campaign on firework safety.</p><p> </p><p>Strict legislation is in place to regulate the supply and use of fireworks, including restricting their availability to the public via a licensing scheme for retailers which only allows for their sale without a license during the traditional firework periods of November 5th, New Year’s Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans to amend legislation to further restrict their sale or use.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:35:38 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1006885

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Public Sector: Disclosure of Information
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of disability discrimination related to (a) mental health and (b) other disabilities against whistleblowers in the public sector.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	191439
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Employment Tribunal Statistics show that the number of claims related to Public Interest Disclosures brought to an Employment Tribunal hearing have increased from 1,489 in 2007/08 to 2,191 in 2017/18. Figures are not available to indicate how many of these claims related to public sector employers, nor to mental health or other disabilities.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:34:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds