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1060700

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Small Businesses: Billing
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 the Department has made on tackling delays in payments to small and medium sized businesses.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	220884
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to eliminating the scourge of late payments and bring about cultural change to deliver responsible payment practices. Large UK businesses must report on their payment practices every six months and we have created the Small Business Commissioner to address late payment complaints.</p><p> </p><p>In October, BEIS launched a public Call for Evidence to understand the impact of late payment on SMEs and to seek views on how we can go further to tackle the problem. The call for evidence closed on 29 November with nearly 300 responses. We are currently analysing those responses and will publish a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:35:01 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1060747

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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: Pay
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 made an estimate of the additional cost to Post Office Ltd. if the rate of remuneration for postmasters in main branches was awarded to postmasters in local branches in 2017-18.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	220947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver its strategy and operate as an independent business. Postmasters’ remuneration and management of the branch network are operational matters for Post Office Limited. Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, will write to the Hon Member on these matters. 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 19/02/2019 16:17:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102483 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

1060757

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Working Hours: EU Law
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 it is his policy to replicate the Working Time Regulations after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	220853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Employment law which derives from the EU is implemented in the UK, in statute if necessary. This includes the Agency Workers Directive and the Working Time Directive, which have been transposed into UK law. There is therefore no need to replicate them after the UK leaves the EU. We have committed not to roll back workers’ rights and that commitment includes the protections provided for by the Working Time Directive and the Agency Workers Directive. We also recently laid the Agency Workers (Amendment) Regulations 2019 which if passed will increase protections for agency workers on pay between assignment contracts.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 220854 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:19:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102482 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1060758

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
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	Agency Workers: EU Law
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 it is his policy to replicate the Agency Workers Directive after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	220854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Employment law which derives from the EU is implemented in the UK, in statute if necessary. This includes the Agency Workers Directive and the Working Time Directive, which have been transposed into UK law. There is therefore no need to replicate them after the UK leaves the EU. We have committed not to roll back workers’ rights and that commitment includes the protections provided for by the Working Time Directive and the Agency Workers Directive. We also recently laid the Agency Workers (Amendment) Regulations 2019 which if passed will increase protections for agency workers on pay between assignment contracts.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 220853 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:19:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102481 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1059742

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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: Closures
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 (a) Post Office and (b) Crown Post Office closures on the local economy in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
uin	220235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 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>The management of the Post Office network is an operational matter for the Post Office Limited who are responsible for maintaining the network of branches and achieving the accessibility criteria set by Government. The Post Office does not have a branch closure programme, rather they are franchising branches to ensure services remain in communities and are actively looking for areas of the country where there is a demand for Post Office services, with over 350 local branches opened since April 2017 in new locations. Branches can sometimes close for reasons beyond the Post Office’s control and when this happens the Post Office seeks to restore services for the communities affected.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:13:19 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102489 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty

1059801

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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: Sainsbury's
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 that employees' views are taken into account during the extension of the inquiry by the Competition and Markets Authority into the merger of Sainsbury’s and Asda.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	220331
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Mergers are considered by the independent Competition and Markets Authority under the Enterprise Act 2002.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:14:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102488 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1059802

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Competition and Markets Authority: Trade Unions
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 an assessment of the potential merits of amending the role and function of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to (a) include consultation with trade unions on proposed mergers or takeovers, (b) permanent trade union representation on the CMA and (c) conduct a review of UK takeover laws to consider the effect on and interests of workers.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	220332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Mergers are considered by the independent Competition and Markets Authority under the Enterprise Act 2002. The Government keeps the law on mergers under constant review.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:15:08 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102487 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1059841

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Offshore Industry: Shipping
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 blacklisting of UK seafarers working in the North Sea oil and gas supply chain.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	220192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Blacklisting is completely unacceptable and has no place in modern employment relations. The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 made it unlawful for an individual or organisation to compile, sell or make use of a blacklist of trade union members or those who have taken part in trade union activities.</p><p> </p><p>Any individual or trade union who believes they have been the victim of blacklisting can enforce their rights under the regulations through an employment tribunal or the county court.</p><p> </p><p>The 2010 blacklisting regulations are reinforced by powers in the Data Protection Act 2018, protecting use of personal data, including information on trade union membership and sensitive personal data. The Information Commissioner’s Office regulates use of personal data and investigates breaches of the Data Protection Act 2018. It has the power to take enforcement action, including searching premises, issuing enforcement notices and imposing fines for serious breaches.</p><p> </p><p>The Information Commissioner will shortly open a call for evidence on the implications of modern employment practices in recruitment and selection, and the obligations of employers. If blacklisting is occurring, it should bring it to light. There’s no need to wait for that enquiry to begin however, anyone with evidence should present it to the Information Commissioner’s Office now.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:30:04 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1059869

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Salisbury
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 the criteria were for the Government decision to allocate the city of Salisbury a ministerial champion in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	220212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The unprecedented nerve agent attack in Salisbury and subsequent incident in Amesbury was an act of aggression on UK soil, with the hazardous agent involved resulting in the contamination of multiple sites across Salisbury and Amesbury and the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess.</p><p> </p><p>The attack has resulted in an estimated loss of over 1 million visits to Salisbury which is a key tourist attraction in the region, and a potential loss to the local economy of £56 million. With the imminent completion of decontamination activity, the Department has agreed with Defra, Cabinet Office and other key partners that the focus should now move towards building confidence and long-term economic recovery.</p><p> </p><p>In recognition of these unprecedented events, my noble Friend the rt. hon. the Lord Henley in his role as Local Growth Champion for Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which includes the boundaries of Salisbury and Amesbury has agreed to act as the ongoing single Ministerial point of contact within Government for the leaders of Wilshire Council so that they may continue to raise any legacy issues arising at a political level.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:33:54 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1059916

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Pay
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 11 February 2019 to Question 216363 on Pay, for what reason his Department does not hold estimates of the total value of wages unlawfully unpaid in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Leeds East
tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
uin	220297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government does not hold estimates of the total value of wages unlawfully unpaid.</p><p> </p><p>The enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (NMW) is a top priority for the Government; we have increased HMRC’s enforcement budget to a record high of £26.3 million for 2018-19.</p><p> </p><p>The position of Director of Labour Market Enforcement was created in 2017 with an obligation to assess the scale and nature of labour market non-compliance. The Director draws upon a wide range of information and intelligence, including the Office for National Statistics’ Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.</p><p> </p><p>The Director utilises this intelligence to identify future labour market enforcement priorities for the HM Revenue and Customs Minimum Wage team, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.</p><p> </p><p>The Director’s Labour Market Enforcement Strategy for 2018 to 2019 can be found below: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/labour-market-enforcement-strategy-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/labour-market-enforcement-strategy-2018-to-2019</a>. The recommendations set out within the strategy were overwhelmingly adopted by the Government in December 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 220298 question first answered 19/02/2019 16:16:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102486 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon