Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, for what policy reason retailers may not sell 125ml servings of wine in taster packs.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Under the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988, prepacked sparkling wine can already be sold in 125ml quantities and prepacked still wine in 100ml quantities.
When options to reform the relevant legislation were considered, and following conversations with industry, we focused on introducing quantities that stakeholders had indicated as most beneficial for the industry. We will continue to keep the metrology legislative framework under consideration as part of our wider review of metrology EU assimilated law in line with the Government’s commitment to Smarter Regulation, reducing burdens on businesses and promoting innovation and growth.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support electric vehicle manufacturing in the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) aims to support the creation of an internationally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK. The government continues to work with industry via the ATF to unlock strategic investments in gigafactories, motors and drives, power electronics, and fuel cell systems.
In the coming months, after engagement with industry, the government will build on the ATF and the long-term Advanced Propulsion Centre R&D programme to take decisive action to ensure future investment in the manufacturing of zero emission vehicles.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to attract battery recycling investment to the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Critical Minerals Refresh published in March, sets out our approach to delivering on the Critical Minerals Strategy, and confirms our participation in the Minerals Security Partnership. Working with international partners, this aims to spur investment in supply chains across four pillars, including recycling and reuse, and will support our work to accelerate a circular economy of critical minerals in the UK.
The Government is also funding record investment in battery innovation and commercialisation, including in recycling. The £541m Faraday Battery Challenge is supporting projects such as REBLEND, which is developing commercial processes to directly recover valuable cathode active materials (CAM) for reuse in automotive batteries. The project is led by Ecoshred, with University of Leicester, University of Birmingham, Minviro, Iconichem Widnes, Watercycle Technologies, Ecolamp Recycling, and Cornish Lithium.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) she has and (b) her predecessors have had with businesses on removing illegally-mined gold from their supply chains.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Since the creation of the position of Secretary of State for Business and Trade, there have been no such discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of gold mined for import into the UK on the UK's environmental footprint.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Business and Trade has not assessed the potential impact of gold mined for import into the UK on the UK's environmental footprint.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) she and (b) her predecessors have had discussions with their Mercosur counterparts on the status of gold in negotiations around a UK-Mercosur trade agreement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK is not negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the Mercosur bloc. Neither the Secretary of State nor her predecessors have discussed the status of gold within any possible future negotiation with their Mercosur counterparts.
Mercosur countries are important partners for the UK. We are working to strengthen our trading relationships in a way which supports sustainable development, removes barriers to trade, and helps British businesses to export.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to introduce penalties for failure to register land holdings with HM Land Registry; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Land Registry does not hold enforcement powers to impose penalties for failing to register land holdings and this department has no plans to introduce such penalties. However, there are consequences for failing to register land which can impact the landowner’s ability to deal with the land.
For unregistered land, transactions such as transfers, leases or mortgages trigger compulsory first registration. Failure to apply for first registration within two months means that the transaction does not take effect at law.
For registered land, the transactions referred to above do not take effect at law until they are completed by registration.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any penalties apply for failure to register land holdings with HM Land Registry.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Land Registry does not hold enforcement powers to impose penalties for failing to register land holdings and this department has no plans to introduce such penalties. However, there are consequences for failing to register land which can impact the landowner’s ability to deal with the land.
For unregistered land, transactions such as transfers, leases or mortgages trigger compulsory first registration. Failure to apply for first registration within two months means that the transaction does not take effect at law.
For registered land, the transactions referred to above do not take effect at law until they are completed by registration.