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1278077

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
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
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 15 January 2021 to Question 132902, whether it is his Department's policy that pricing strategies are a matter for businesses that are in a dominant position.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	140076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>The Competition Act 1998 prohibits abuse of a dominant position – abusive behaviour can relate to pricing strategies, for example excessive pricing or setting artificially low prices to stifle competition.</p><p> </p><p>The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for investigating individual and market-wide competition issues in the UK. The Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers to investigate and act if it finds that companies are behaving anti-competitively in a market.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 27/01/2021 17:14:42 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1277364

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide employers with guidance on how they can support victims of domestic abuse; and whether any such guidance will include recommending access to paid leave.
tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
uin	HL12234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>On 14 January 2021, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published the report from its review into how victims of domestic abuse can be supported in the workplace. This report finds that, with the right support, employers can play a key role in helping to lift the lid on domestic abuse.</p><p>Throughout this review, we have heard about the value of employers having a policy on how to support victims in their workforce. We encourage all employers to do this, and wherever possible, offer victims flexibility and leave should they need it to access support.</p><p>The report sets out the next steps for government, including establishing a working group to develop practical solutions to build awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and encourage good practice across all employers.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan grouped question UIN HL12235 question first answered 01/02/2021 15:03:37 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

1277365

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of providing support and advice for employers and employees about domestic abuse on the protection of victims of such abuse at work.
tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
uin	HL12235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>On 14 January 2021, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published the report from its review into how victims of domestic abuse can be supported in the workplace. This report finds that, with the right support, employers can play a key role in helping to lift the lid on domestic abuse.</p><p>Throughout this review, we have heard about the value of employers having a policy on how to support victims in their workforce. We encourage all employers to do this, and wherever possible, offer victims flexibility and leave should they need it to access support.</p><p>The report sets out the next steps for government, including establishing a working group to develop practical solutions to build awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and encourage good practice across all employers.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan grouped question UIN HL12234 question first answered 01/02/2021 15:03:37 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

1277386

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ascertain whether businesses are insisting that staff attend the workplace when they could reasonably be expected to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Wheatcroft
uin	HL12267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>The current Covid restrictions guidance states that you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable to do your job from home. It is important that people stay at home wherever possible to minimise the risk of transmission and Government will continue to reinforce this message when engaging with businesses and representative organisations across a range of different sectors.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 01/02/2021 15:04:58 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4199 label Biography information for Baroness Wheatcroft

1277387

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what sanctions they will impose on businesses which insist that staff attend the workplace when they could work effectively from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Wheatcroft
uin	HL12268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>The current Covid restrictions guidance states that you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable to do your job from home. It is important that people stay at home wherever possible to minimise the risk of transmission and Government will continue to reinforce this message when engaging with businesses and representative organisations across a range of different sectors.</p><p> </p><p>Under existing health and safety laws, employers have a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this and this includes requiring and supporting those who can reasonably work from home to do so.</p><p> </p><p>If employees are concerned that their employer is not taking all practical steps to support working from home, then they can report this to their local authority or the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of actions.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 01/02/2021 14:54:42 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4199 label Biography information for Baroness Wheatcroft

1277403

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Fringe Benefits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether employers can pro-rate company premiums for private medical cover for short-term employees; if so, by how much; and whether employers can pro-rate other benefits such as holiday pay.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL12219
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>Fixed-term employees must not be treated less favourably than a comparable permanent member of staff without an objective justification. Beyond this protection, the terms and conditions of employment, except where they are subject to statutory minimum standards such as the national minimum wage, are a contractual matter for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives). Provided they do not discriminate unlawfully, for example on grounds of race, sex or disability, employers are free to offer the terms and conditions of employment which best suit their business needs.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 01/02/2021 15:04:18 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1277404

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Conditions of Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have published for employers and employees seeking assistance from ACAS in relation to employment contracts and tribunals.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL12220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>Guidance on employment law and employment tribunals is published on GOV.UK for employees and employers. GOV.UK also signposts users to Acas for more detailed guidance on employment issues, including on employment contracts and the process to resolve disputes.</p><p> </p><p>Acas provide free and impartial advice to employers, employees, and their representatives on employment rights; best practice and policies; and resolving workplace conflict. Acas also publish guidance on different aspects of employment law and employment relationships, and a list of these topics can be found on the Acas site: <a href="https://www.acas.org.uk/advice" target="_blank">https://www.acas.org.uk/advice</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 01/02/2021 15:04:38 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1277438

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Bounce Back Loan Scheme
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 default rate for SMEs that took out loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme; and what steps he is taking to reduce that rate.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	138941
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>The preliminary estimate of default rates was published in the BEIS Annual Report and Accounts for 19/20, is based on losses observed in previous programmes which are similar to the Scheme. However these estimates are highly uncertain.</p><p> </p><p>In order to reduce the potential default rate for SMEs, on 24th September my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Pay As You Grow measures. Under the measures, the Government will give all businesses that borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) the option to repay their loan over a period of up to ten years. This will reduce their average monthly repayments on the loan by almost half. UK businesses will also have the option to move temporarily to interest-only payments for periods of up to six months (an option which they can use up to three times), or to pause their repayments entirely for up to six months (an option they can use once and only after having made six payments).</p><p> </p><p>These changes will provide greater flexibility to repay these loans over a longer period and in a way that better suits businesses’ individual circumstances. A business which took out a £30,000 Bounce Back Loan would see their average monthly repayments fall from £532 to £309 (42% reduction) if they repaid the loan over 10 years rather than six. The same borrower could temporarily reduce their monthly repayments to just £63 if they switched to interest-only repayments.</p><p> </p><p>The first Bounce Back Loans repayments will begin in May 2021, and businesses will have the opportunity to request these Pay as you Grow measures before their first repayments fall due.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 21/01/2021 16:09:07 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1277473

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	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, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer to oral Question 910650 of 13 January 2021, how many meetings have taken place between Ministers in his Department and ACAS on fire and rehire employment practices.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire North
tabling member printed	Gavin Newlands
uin	139043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers meet with Acas monthly. These meetings cover a variety of employment matters.</p><p> </p><p>Acas is holding independent and impartial discussions with a range of stakeholders on the use of fire and rehire practices to change contractual terms and conditions. BEIS officials have met regularly with Acas to discuss insights from this work and the circumstances when fire and hire practices are used.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 26/01/2021 17:41:14 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4420 label Biography information for Gavin Newlands

1277516

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
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	Local Restrictions Support Grant: Wholesale Trade
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 potential merits of issuing guidance to local authorities on the eligibility of wholesale distributors for Local Restriction Support Grants.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	139180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on the January Support Package for business was issued on 5<sup>th</sup> January. This guidance makes clear that only business premises that have been required to close due to Covid-19 restrictions will be eligible for Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) where they meet the criteria set out in the guidance.</p><p> </p><p>I recognise that there are some groups of businesses that are not required by law to close, but which are severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. That is why the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that a further £500m in discretionary grant funding via the Additional Restrictions Grant is being made available to local authorities, on top of £1.1bn already allocated in November, which will allow grant support to be provided to severely affected businesses in a way that suits local economies. It is for local authorities to determine the best use of the Additional Restrictions Grant in their area.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 26/01/2021 17:39:37 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford