To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of issues relating to construction
and security at Liverpool Hope Hospital, Manchester Uptown, and the University of
Sheffield, what plans they have to improve (1) the oversight, (2) the management,
and (3) the quality of the outcome, of construction projects in the UK.
<p>The Government is committed to improving the productivity and performance of the
construction sector. For this reason, we published the Construction Sector Deal in
2018, which aims to transform the productivity of the sector.</p><p> </p><p>One key
element of the Sector Deal is £420 million of combined investment from industry and
the Government in digital and offsite manufacturing technologies. Digital techniques
deployed at all phases of design will deliver improved safety during the construction
and operation of buildings, producing better, surer results. Offsite manufacturing
technologies will help to minimise the wastage, inefficiencies, and delays that affect
onsite construction.</p>
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban the production and export
of pesticides and herbicides which are banned for use in the UK, including (1) paraquat,
and (2) 1,3-dichloropropene.
<p>On the production of pesticides and herbicides, depending on the amounts produced,
the manufacture of paraquat and 1,3 dichlorophene are regulated under the Control
of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH) which implements an EU directive
in this area. The COMAH Regulations will continue to apply to Great Britain after
the Transition Period.</p><p> </p><p>The export from the UK of paraquat and 1,3-dichloropropene
is regulated under Regulation (EU) 649/2012 on the export and import of certain hazardous
chemicals, known as the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation. Companies intending
to export any of these chemicals from the UK must notify the importing country via
the exporter’s Designated National Authority.</p><p> </p><p>For the UK the Designated
National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive (HSE). <br></p><p>Paraquat and
1,3-dichloropropene additionally require the explicit consent of the importing country
before export can take place. The exchange of information that PIC provides allows
the importing countries to make informed decisions on the import of those chemicals
and on how to handle and use them safely.</p><p> </p><p>Similar arrangements to PIC
will come into force at the end of the Transition Period on 31 December.</p>
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that online retail
businesses pay corporate taxation (1) at similar levels to high street retailers,
and (2) which is relative to profits.
<p>Corporation tax is charged on profits that businesses generate from the activities
they undertake in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Significant measures have been put in place
to counter arrangements designed to shift profits derived from UK activities overseas.</p><p>
</p><p>Furthermore, the UK is actively involved in continuing OECD discussions which
aim to deliver a fairer and more sustainable approach to the taxation of highly digital
businesses.</p>