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1166698

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Asda: 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 steps she is taking to ensure there is agreement between (a) Asda’s owners, (b) Asda’s employees and (c) trade unions on the terms of the new deal, known as Contract 6, being offered by Asda to its employees.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
uin	6440
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>Government has regular engagement with retailers.</p><p> </p><p>A legal framework exists which ensures that employers should always treat their employees fairly.</p><p> </p><p>In general, the terms and conditions of employment are for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives).  Once agreed, however, they form a legally binding contract of employment.  While it is always open to either party to seek to renegotiate the terms of the contract, if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.</p><p> </p><p>Both employers and employees are strongly encouraged to follow the guidance available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/your-employment-contract-how-it-can-be-changed when considering changing their terms and conditions of employment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:37:19 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1166704

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Unpaid Work: Pilot Schemes
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 she has made of the implications for her policies of Brighton and Hove City Council’s public consultation on the scale of unpaid work trials; and if her Department will undertake a similar consultation at a national level.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
uin	6441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all employers pay their workers correctly. HM Revenue and Customs considers all worker complaints and will take enforcement action in any cases of abuse.</p><p>We have clarified through guidance that unpaid work trials are not permissible if they are excessive or not part of a genuine recruitment process. They can play an important role in helping people into work opportunities.</p><p>The Government will consider the results of Brighton and Hove City Council’s public consultation once the consultation is concluded.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:39:05 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1166728

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Business: Investment
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 she has made of the effect of share-buy-back schemes on business investment.
tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
uin	6204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department commissioned research in 2018 to establish whether share buybacks are being misused to hit performance targets, inflate executive pay and reduce business investment. The research was published on 19 July 2019. It found no relationship between share repurchases and investment and no evidence to suggest that buybacks are being used systematically to artificially hit earnings per share (EPS) targets.</p><p> </p><p>The research did, however, reveal that the presence of EPS targets in executive remuneration plans correlates with lower levels of investment. The study said that it would be premature to draw firm conclusions but that the area warranted further research. The Department intends to follow this up and plans to commission further research into whether there is a direct link (rather than through the use of buybacks) between executive pay targets and levels of investment and between performance targets and short-term executive decision-making.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:47:05 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1166778

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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	Fireworks
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 she has made of the potential merits of restricting firework use to (a) licensed public displays at certain times of year and (b) organised events.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	6253
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>I have asked the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to compile a fact-based evidence base on the key issues that have been raised around fireworks. This includes looking at data around noise and disturbance, anti-social behaviour, non-compliance, environmental impact, and the impact on humans and animals.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the evidence base is to build a full picture of the data around fireworks in order to identify the key issues and what action - if any - is appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:40:30 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1156420

registered interest
date	25/10/2019
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	Social Enterprises
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 she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the global perception poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the UK has fallen from third to 13th place since 2016 in the list of the best places to be a social entrepreneur.
tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
uin	5433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes the contribution which social enterprises make to local growth and prosperity in our communities up and down the country. The UK’s company law framework allows for a variety of business forms, in part to suit those adopting social or environmental purposes, and we will continue to look at what more can be done to support social entrepreneurship in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 08:22:03 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2867 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1156425

registered interest
date	25/10/2019
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 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, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to oblige banks and building societies to sign an agreement with the Post Office to enable customers to withdraw money from their bank accounts at their local post office.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	5435
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 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 11,600 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>On 8th October 2019 the Post Office announced a new Banking Framework agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. Signing up to this framework was a commercial decision for each bank to make, as banks and building societies have a commercial right to decide. ​ We are pleased that as of 25 October 2019 all 28 high street banks signed up in full. This will ensure that communities across the UK, in particular the elderly and vulnerable, have access to withdraw cash.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:32:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2869 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1156439

registered interest
date	25/10/2019
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	Company liquidations
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 she has made of the effectiveness of incentives for directors to apply for voluntary strike-off to dispose of unwanted companies.
tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
tabling member printed	Mark Tami
uin	5410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>A company can apply to Companies House for a voluntary strike off if it has not traded in the last three months. The process is set out in the Companies Act 2006 and is designed to safeguard those who are likely to be affected by a company’s dissolution. Guidance is also available for directors, and is available on gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 10:09:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1156440

registered interest
date	25/10/2019
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	Companies: Registration
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 she has made of the effectiveness of checks on company registrations in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
tabling member printed	Mark Tami
uin	5411
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Registrar of Companies (Companies House) has a statutory obligation to incorporate a new company on receipt of a validly completed application. When registering a new company, the Registrar is carrying out a function of the state on behalf of the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Companies House undertakes numerous checks on the validity of information, both at incorporation and throughout the life of the company as new information is submitted.</p><p> </p><p>The Department consulted earlier this year on a broad package of possible reforms to Companies House to ensure it is fit for the future and continues to contribute to the UK’s business environment. They are designed to deliver more reliably accurate information on the companies register and enhance Companies House work in support of UK law enforcement efforts to tackle economic crime.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:35:45 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1156106

registered interest
date	24/10/2019
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: 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 support is being provided to elderly or frail Barclays customers to withdraw cash once their ability to use the Post Office facility is withdrawn.
tabling member constituency	Romsey and Southampton North
tabling member printed	Caroline Nokes
uin	4992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>On 8th October 2019 the Post Office announced a new Banking Framework agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. ​27 high street banks signed up in full, but Barclays had uniquely opted out of cash withdrawal services. Whilst this was a commercial decision for Barclays to make, the Government remained concerned about the implications of their decision, especially for vulnerable customers. ​</p><p> </p><p>We are pleased that on 25<sup>th</sup> October after significant encouragement for the bank to reconsider, Barclays announced their decision to reverse their initial decision to opt out of cash withdrawals under Banking Framework 2. This will ensure that all in the communities around the UK, in particular the elderly or frail have access to withdraw cash.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 08:19:28 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes

1156127

registered interest
date	24/10/2019
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	Retail Trade: 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 steps he is taking to prevent job losses in the retail industry.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	4919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Retail remains a high employment sector – approximately 3 million jobs in the UK. More people are involved in retailing than in any other single industry in the country.</p><p> </p><p>There were 84,000 vacancies in the retail sector as of August 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, Government established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and economic health. The Council has agreed its six priority work areas with four already underway. These are: Costs to Business, Skills and Lifelong Learning, Industrial Strategy and Employment workstreams.</p><p> </p><p>As part of wider Government efforts to support adult training, we are also investing £100m to develop The National Retraining Scheme, which will help prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by automation, and help them retrain into better jobs. This funding has allowed us to start delivering the first part of the service, Get Help to Retrain, whilst developing and evaluating as we build-up the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>We have introduced Get Help to Retrain to 6 areas of England and we will be rolling it out across England in 2020. The digital service helps adults understand their existing skills and explore alternative occupations, and training opportunities to develop new skills.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 30/10/2019 16:34:08 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2597 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham