We are committed to supporting all workers across the UK and have recently brought forward several reforms which will help protect workers in the retail and distribution sector.<\/p>
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In April 2022 we made sure 2.5 million people received a pay rise raising the National Minimum and National Living Wages. This was the largest ever cash increase to the National Living Wage and will put over £1,000 a year into a full-time workers\u2019 pay packet, helping to ease cost of living pressures.<\/p>
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Additionally, on 6 July we brought forward legislation to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses, which restrict staff from working for multiple employers, to contracts where the guaranteed weekly income is equivalent to or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Hunt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Loughborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Hunt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-26T13:10:38.757Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Distributive Trade: Conditions of Employment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to protect workers' rights in the retail and distribution sector in response to the Taylor Review.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "39815"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490525", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490525/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministerial Statement of 4 November 2019 makes clear that the pause on shale gas exploration and extraction applies specifically to operations that require Hydraulic Fracturing Consent. The definition of associated hydraulic fracturing is set out under section 4B of the Petroleum Act 1998 (inserted by Section 50 of the Infrastructure Act 2015), and involves the injection of more than 10,000 cubic metres of fluid in total, or more than 1,000 cubic metres of fluid per stage.<\/p>
Activities outside of this definition are not included in the pause.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-26T09:25:27.813Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fracking"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to explore alternative methods to fracking for extracting shale gas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "39817"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490083", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490083/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Under the terms of the supply licence enforced by Ofgem, gas and electricity suppliers cannot charge more for one payment method compared with another, unless it costs more to provide the preferred payment method to customers.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-25T11:36:33.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Billing"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that energy customers using a preferred payment method are not disadvantaged compared with customers using other payment methods.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "38647"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1484695", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1484695/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 enables the Government to scrutinise and \u2013 if necessary \u2013 intervene in qualifying acquisitions which may raise national security risks. We will not hesitate to use these powers where our national security is at risk.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4414", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Scully"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sutton and Cheam"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Paul Scully"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-07T12:34:06.963Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "National Security and Investment Act 2021"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the Gambling Commission's decisions on control of assets, in so far as those decisions may affect national security, within the scope of the National Security and Investment Act 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "27590"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1470139", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1470139/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The National Audit Office (NAO) is independent of Government and sets its own agenda for investigations. It should be noted the Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO has complete discretion in determining which areas of public spending to scrutinise.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4414", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Scully"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sutton and Cheam"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Paul Scully"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-22T16:15:08.43Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-06-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bounce Back Loan Scheme"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will hold discussions with the National Audit Office about the production of a follow-up to the report on the Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4064", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Steve Baker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Steve Baker"} ], "uin" : "17928"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453141", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453141/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is not intending to publish these documents as they are draft, working documents that do not reflect the final \u201cElectricity Generation Costs Report 2020\u201d[1] which has been published online. As such they have been withheld under Environmental Information Regulation 12(4)(d).<\/p>
<\/p>