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1135247

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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	Energy: Debts
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 plans he has to include increased protections for indebted customers of failed energy suppliers in the forthcoming Energy White Paper.
tabling member constituency	Leeds West
tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
uin	270353
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Ofgem, in its supplier licensing review, is considering options to improve the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) experience for consumers, including protections for those in debt with the failed supplier.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Future Energy Retail Market Review, a joint review with Ofgem, we are considering how to ensure consumers are appropriately protected in the future.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:05 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

1135250

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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	Energy
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 his Department is taking to minimise the cost to consumers affected by energy suppliers that cease trading.
tabling member constituency	Leeds West
tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
uin	270354
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Ofgem, through the the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process, works to minimise the financial impact when customers are moved away from a failed supplier. It is for Ofgem, as expert regulator, to scrutinise the costs and consider any claim on the industry levy. In some instances the new supplier has absorbed all the costs of taking on customers.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure consumers are protected in an evolving market, Ofgem is reviewing their approach to licensing, and considering options to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the SoLR process.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:11 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

1135275

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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 Agencies: Vetting
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 discussions he has had with employment agencies on the practice of blacklisting.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Peter Kyle
uin	270409
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government takes blacklisting extremely seriously. Blacklisting is completely unacceptable and has no place in modern employment relations. The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 make 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>The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with employment agencies on this matter and no assessment has been made of the prevalence of blacklisting by employment agencies. However, since the introduction of the 2010 regulations, no evidence has been presented to the Government or the Information Commissioner that these practices are recurring, whether this be in employment agencies or elsewhere.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 270410 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:20 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1135276

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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 Agencies: Vetting
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 the prevalence of blacklisting by employment agencies.
tabling member constituency	Hove
tabling member printed	Peter Kyle
uin	270410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government takes blacklisting extremely seriously. Blacklisting is completely unacceptable and has no place in modern employment relations. The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 make 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>The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with employment agencies on this matter and no assessment has been made of the prevalence of blacklisting by employment agencies. However, since the introduction of the 2010 regulations, no evidence has been presented to the Government or the Information Commissioner that these practices are recurring, whether this be in employment agencies or elsewhere.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 270409 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:20 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1135371

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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	Bereavement Leave: Parents
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 plans he has to introduce a statutory right to paid leave for bereaved parents who experience ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	270284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The loss of a child, including the loss of a pregnancy, is devastating for parents.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is currently working to implement a new statutory right to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay for eligible parents who lose a child under the age of 18, or suffer a still-birth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. We expect the new right will apply from April 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The policy provides a statutory minimum and we encourage employers to go beyond this where possible. Many employers will have an existing compassionate leave policy or will operate one on a discretionary basis following such losses during pregnancy. We strongly encourage employers to be sensitive and considerate at such a time.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 02/07/2019 14:10:01 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1134810

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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: Pregnancy
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 the Government is taking to ensure that employers meet their legal obligations to pregnant employees.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	269738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken a number of steps to increase employers’ awareness of their legal obligations to pregnant employees. This has included working with ACAS to develop comprehensive advice and guidance and updating the content on the GOV.UK website. The Government’s recent consultation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination also asked how effective the current approach is in helping employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations. We will be publishing the Government response in due course.</p><p>The Equality Advisory and Support Service advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. Where an employer fails to meet its obligations, a pregnant employee can seek redress through an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 269739 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134811

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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: Pregnancy
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 action will be taken against employers who do not meet their legal obligations to pregnant employees.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	269739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken a number of steps to increase employers’ awareness of their legal obligations to pregnant employees. This has included working with ACAS to develop comprehensive advice and guidance and updating the content on the GOV.UK website. The Government’s recent consultation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination also asked how effective the current approach is in helping employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations. We will be publishing the Government response in due course.</p><p>The Equality Advisory and Support Service advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. Where an employer fails to meet its obligations, a pregnant employee can seek redress through an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 269738 question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134832

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Construction: Musculoskeletal Disorders
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 effect of joint and muscle ill health on the construction industry.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	269753
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not conducted an assessment on the effect of joint and muscle ill health in the construction industry. The firms within the construction sector are best placed to conduct their own assessments to develop a better occupational health model for the industry.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:49 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1134850

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Intellectual Property: Music
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 plans to reform the process of registering an artist or band’s name with the Intellectual Property Office so that evidence is required before an artist or band name can be formally registered.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	269691
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s intellectual property framework is under constant review to ensure it works for both right holders and users and continues to be a stimulus for innovation and growth.</p><p> </p><p>Where an application is made to register an artist or band’s name as a trade mark, the application is examined by the Intellectual Property Office in accordance with the Trade Mark Act 1994 and Rules 2008. Some requirements are essential in order to obtain a filing date. This includes the full name and address of the applicant (who becomes the ‘proprietor’ once the mark is registered) as it is an essential requirement for filing an application. The name of the applicant must be a correct legal name (particularly in the case of companies) and not a trading name or style. For trade mark applications which include the name of a famous individual or group, Section 3(6) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 will be considered. Section 3(6) of the Act states that a trade mark shall not be registered if or to the extent that the application is made in bad faith.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone can oppose the registration of a trade mark during the application process, once it has been published following examination. If a third party believes that an application has been filed in bad faith - where, for example, facts not visible or apparent to the examiner are known by that third party - then an opposition can be filed on that basis, prior to the mark being registered. The requirement for evidence exists at this stage. This opposition procedure provides a robust mechanism for all parties to submit detailed submissions and evidence.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:26 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1134851

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Trade Marks: Fraud
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 his Department is taking to prevent individuals and companies from fraudulently registering trademarks with the Intellectual Property Office.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	269692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Intellectual Property Office has a comprehensive procedure in place with regards to the registration of trade marks and examines every application in accordance with the Trade Mark Act 1994 and Rules 2008 to make sure that it meets the requirements for filing. Section 3(6) of the Act states that a trade mark shall not be registered if or to the extent that the application is made in bad faith.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone can oppose the registration of a trade mark during the application process, once it has been published. Therefore, if a third party believes that an application has been filed in bad faith then an opposition can be filed on that basis, prior to the mark being registered. Opposition can be made through the Intellectual Property Office’s low-cost tribunal service. This provides a robust mechanism for all parties to submit detailed submissions and evidence in order to resolve any dispute that has arisen regarding ownership of a particular name. A similar mechanism is in place following the registration of a mark, via the ability for third parties to apply for the invalidation of a trade mark.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 02/07/2019 14:09:32 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy