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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

1006924

	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	Carbon Monoxide: Alarms
	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 takes to prevent the sale of faulty and substandard carbon monoxide alarms that do not meet the EN 50291-1 safety standard; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	191292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Carbon monoxide alarms are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which require that products must be safe before they can be placed on the market.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to take action to remove or recall products which do not comply with the regulations and the Office for Product Safety and Standards will work with them to monitor the safety of these products.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 traders must ensure that goods are as described and of a satisfactory quality and be fit for a particular purpose if that purpose was made known to the consumer.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:36:22 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1006949

	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	WH Smith: 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, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on (a) employment patterns and (b) levels of customer service of the planned franchising of 74 Crown post offices to WHSmith.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	191303
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Staff employment patterns and customer service are both operational matters of commercial judgement for Post Office management team. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the Rt hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/11/2018 15:35:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1006970

	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	Cosmetics: Imports
	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 UK plans to maintain current restrictions on the marketing of imported cosmetics that rely on animal testing safety data in future bilateral trade agreements.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	191449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to reduce current restrictions on the marketing of imported cosmetics that rely on animal testing safety data. We are committed to maintaining our existing high levels of product safety and consumer protection.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/11/2018 16:53:31 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1006992

	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	Employment: Electronic Tagging
	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 take steps to ban the microchipping of employees by employers.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	191454
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>If an employer required or encouraged implantation of microchips among its employees, it would raise several legal issues. While I am not aware of any cases being brought to test the legal position, it seems unlikely that such an invasive approach to security or monitoring would be found to be justifiable. So, it is likely to be difficult for an employer to show that such a practice would be consistent with the requirements of data protection legislation, health and safety requirements, and other legal obligations to employees.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 26/11/2018 17:19:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1007769

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2018
	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: Electronic Tagging
	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 he has made of the efficacy of proposals for employers to be able to microchip employees.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	191950
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>We have not yet been asked to assess such proposals. However, it is not for Government to say what practices would be effective or beneficial for a particular employer. As long as their actions comply with all relevant legal requirements, an employer is free to decide what employment practices to follow.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/11/2018 14:57:33 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 86230 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1007894

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2018
	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	New Businesses: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to support graduate women to start their own businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	191923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to a cohesive society, where everyone – no matter what their background – has the opportunity to enter into and progress at work and achieve on merit. We know that companies with diverse workforces perform better and are more profitable. An inclusive economic policy is vital to the success of our Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Supporting female graduates is captured in our Government support offer which is available to all, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. There are now 1.1 million female-led small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. This accounts for 19% of SMEs in the UK, 5% higher than in 2010. The Government is also pleased that the female employment rate is 71% and a higher percentage of women are on FTSE 350 company boards than ever before.</p><p> </p><p>The Government-owned British Business Bank provides Start-Up Loans for individuals wishing to start a business and women account for 39% of recipients. The Bank is also conducting a review into the specific barriers female-led businesses face in accessing Venture Capital.</p><p> </p><p>On 21 September 2018, HM Treasury also launched a review into the barriers women face getting into business. Businesswoman Alison Rose, Chief Executive of RBS Commercial and Private Banking, will lead the government review to identify the extent of these barriers and explore what can be done to overcome them. This review will bolster our work to make it easier for them to access the support they need to get their ideas off the ground and grow their businesses.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/11/2018 16:51:29 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1010191

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Lidl: Land
	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 estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that have been lost as a result of commercial evictions arising from land acquisition by Lidl.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	192723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not available from official sources. Land acquisition deals are a commercial matter for the parties concerned, and the use/reuse of purchased land is for the relevant local authority.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/11/2018 15:04:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1010279

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
	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 support high street retailers increase footfall.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	192882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>This Department is clear that we want all types of retail to thrive now and in the future, and wants to support the sector as it responds to change. This is why in March we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and promote its future.</p><p>In addition, in Autumn budget 2018, we announced a number of measures as part of an Action Plan, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support the sustainable transformation of our high streets. This plan includes:</p><ul><li>A £675m Future High Streets Fund, to support local areas in England to invest in town centre infrastructure, including to increase access to high streets and support redevelopment and densification around high streets. The Fund will also support the regeneration of heritage high streets (up to £55m of the overall Fund). MHCLG has published a fact sheet setting out more details about the Fund<p> </p></li><li>Supporting local leadership with a High Streets Taskforce, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts<p> </p></li><li>A planning consultation to help support change on the high street. This will aim to make it easier for high streets to adapt for the future, with a wider range of retail, residential and other uses. A second consultation will be published in 2019, including how to support the more effective use of tools such as Compulsory Purchase Orders and Local Development Orders<p> </p></li><li>Piloting a register of empty commercial properties to support wider regeneration of our high streets and town centres<p> </p></li><li>Launching an ‘Open Doors’ pilot in five town centres to bring empty properties back into use by matching landlords of vacant premises with local community groups looking for space.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This Action plan is in addition to existing measures including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>An expert panel chaired by Sir John Timpson, whose recommendations informed the budget package. The panel are drawing on existing evidence and their own experiences to investigate the challenges facing our high streets and town centres and to advise on the best practical measures to help them thrive now and in the future. We look forward to receiving their full recommendations.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Future High Street Forum, chaired by the Minister for High Streets. The Forum consists of developers, investors and retailers. It provides joint business and government leadership to better enable our high streets and town centres to adapt and compete in the face of changing consumer and social trends.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Government support for Business Improvement Districts, recognising the important role they play in allowing local businesses to work together to shape and improve their high streets and towns.</li></ul> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/11/2018 14:43:43 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson