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1138507

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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	Postal 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 estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) the Post Office Ltd and (b) sub-Postmasters for collecting parcels in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	276226
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. 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>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. The Post Office provides parcel services on behalf of Royal Mail and the costs of those services are a commercial matter between the two businesses.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/07/2019 15:31:48 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1138508

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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	Postal 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 assessment he has made of the effect of Royal Mail's parcel postbox expansion on the income of (a) the Post Office Ltd and (b) sub-Postmasters.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	276227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. 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>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. The Post Office operates in a range of competitive markets, including mails, and Government is not involved in the commercial activities in those markets.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/07/2019 15:31:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1138509

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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	Postal 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 assessment he has made of the effect of Royal Mail's parcel postbox expansion on the sustainability of Post Office branches.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	276228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. 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>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. The Post Office operates in a range of competitive markets, including mails, and Government is not involved in the commercial activities in those markets.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/07/2019 15:32:03 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1137818

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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 Office: Herbert Smith Freehills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 272157, in what capacity the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills is acting on behalf of Post Office Limited; and for what reason that firm was not listed in the six law firms framework agreement, as outlined in Question 272157.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	275136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>A reference to Herbert Smith Freehills was omitted from my answer to Question 272157 inadvertently. I can confirm that the six law firms previously listed provide legal support to Post Office Limited and are permitted to subcontract to others within the terms of their contract with the Post Office. In addition, Post Office Limited has instructed Herbert Smith Freehills in respect of the Group Litigation.</p><p> </p><p>The selection of law firms to provide legal services to Post Office Limited is an operational matter for the company in which Government plays no role.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/07/2019 15:32:29 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 129146 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1137849

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	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	Hospitality Industry: Sexual Harassment
	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 recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of the use of non-disclosure agreements for incidences of sexual harassment in the fast food hospitality sector.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	275108
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>Any form of sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace is clearly unacceptable. The Government does not accept any behaviour that causes people to feel intimidated or humiliated in the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has consulted on proposals to prevent the misuse of confidentiality clauses in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. It will be publishing a response with its final proposals, in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We have launched a consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace led by the Government Equalities Office. This consultation welcomes suggestions of alternative interventions to prevent and better monitor cases of sexual harassment and discrimination.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 15/07/2019 13:30:15 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1137415

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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, whether he has held discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on extending the period of statutory maternity leave.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	274539
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>In the UK, employed pregnant women and new mothers have a ‘day one’ right to 52 weeks of Maternity Leave; and, if eligible, they are entitled to 39 weeks of pay.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has no current plans to extend the period of statutory Maternity Leave, and so I have not had any discussions on this subject with my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 15/07/2019 13:30:54 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1137480

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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: Bullying
	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 bring forward legislative proposals to ban bullying in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
	tabling member printed	Darren Jones
	uin	274614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>Any form of bullying and harassment is unacceptable and has no place in today’s workplace. Current legislation provides robust safeguards for employees against harassment in the workplace. This covers harassment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, religion or believe, sexual orientation or age. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the Protection from Harrassment Act 1997 make intentional harassment a criminal offence.</p><p> </p><p>However, whilst it is important to have a safety net of legislation to protect employees from the worst form of abuses, the best way to address bad behaviour is through cultural change within the workplace. Employers can, for example, establish good practices through a clear anti-harassment policy and ensuring all staff receive training in this area.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 15/07/2019 13:31:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1137504

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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	Pyramid Selling: Unemployed 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 steps he is taking to ensure job seekers are not targeted by multi-level marketing companies.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	274627
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>There are existing provisions to protect job seekers contained within the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (as amended).</p><p> </p><p>Under GDPR the processing of personal data is generally prohibited, unless it is expressly allowed by law or the data subject has consented to the processing. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous. Job seekers can therefore use these provisions to ensure their personal data is not being used inappropriately for purposes they have not consented to. Should anyone feel that their data has been misused under the provisions of GDPR they can contact the Information Commissioners Office.</p><p> </p><p>The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (as amended) restrict an employment business or agency from using work seekers’ personal information and precludes them from sharing that information with multi-level marketing companies. The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate investigates complaints of an employment business or agency passing on personal information erroneously.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 11/07/2019 13:03:22 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1137065

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2019
	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	Care Workers: 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 provide more details on his plans for dedicated employment rights for care workers.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	273332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the challenges of balancing work and care. Improving support for carers to do so is a key part of the action plan that we published in June 2018</p><p>The Department is working with colleagues across Government to consider the question of dedicated employment rights for carers alongside existing employment rights (such as the right to request flexible working and the right to time off for family and dependants). We intend to bring forward a consultation in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 09/07/2019 14:53:00 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1137132

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2019
	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	Supermarkets: 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, what assessment the he has made of the merits of the application of Oxfam’s supermarket scorecard on human suffering in global supply chains for his Department’s policies.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	273754
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes campaigns such as Oxfam’s ‘Behind the Price’ with the supermarket scorecard that is a part of it and which includes scores for the fair treatment of women.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the positive competitive environment which benchmarks of this type help to create, whereby businesses aim to be at the top of an annual ranking. At the same time, such benchmarks enable consumers, investors, civil society and regulators to challenge those businesses who could improve, using this evidence base.</p><p> </p><p>The retail sector recognises it has a responsibility on these issues and is pioneering responsible sourcing practices. The Government welcomes industry initiatives in this context such as the British Retail Consortium’s ‘Better Retail, Better World’. The Government is determined to eliminate exploitation of workers in the food supply chain in the UK. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 increased specialist support for victims and it requires businesses to be transparent about their supply chains. The Government response to the independent review of the legislation will set out how it intends to strengthen this approach further.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 273756 273757 question first answered 15/07/2019 13:33:26 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy