Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will bring into force the provisions of the Easter Act 1928 to fix the date of Easter from 2025.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Easter Act 1928 would set the date for Easter to fall between the 9th and 15th April each year. The Easter Act 1928 remains on the Statute Book but has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act also requires that, before the Order is made, ‘regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body.’ There is no indication that the churches support a move to a fixed date for Easter.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with local authority trading standards departments on the accuracy of fuel pumps at filling stations; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of testing on fuel pumps.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is a part of the Department for Business and Trade. OPSS engages with trading standards on many issues related to protecting consumers, including the enforcement of weights and measure legislation.
Local Weights and Measures Authorities in Great Britain have a statutory duty to report on the level of local weights and measures enforcement work they undertake which includes liquid fuel measuring instruments such as petrol pumps. The latest Section 70 Weights and Measures report covering data for the year up to 31st March 2023 was published in September.
As stated in the report, 19 inspections of LFMIs resulted in prosecution or caution in 2022-23.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many businesses in Yorkshire have received funding from the Global Britain Investment Fund; and what proportion of that Fund has been spent.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Global Britain Investment Fund (GBIF) was launched in April 2022 which brought together several pre-existing funds under one banner. Following the machinery of government change in February 2023, GBIF is now shared between the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
To date 110 businesses have received funding, 4 of which are based in Yorkshire, with a total of £630m grant allocated representing 72% of the total £880m of funding for GBIF across all businesses.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to bring into force the provisions of the Easter Act 1928 to fix the date of Easter from 2024 onwards.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Easter Act 1928, which remains on the Statute Book, would set the date for Easter to fall on the Sunday that follows the second Saturday in April. The Act has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. If the Christian churches agreed on moving to a fixed date for Easter then the Government would consider whether to bring into force the Easter Act 1928 or to make such other legislative provision as may be needed.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
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 health implications of long-term use of talcum powder in (a) infants and (b) adults; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
An assessment of the health implications of long-term use of talcum powder in infants and adults has not been undertaken by the department. Talc as an ingredient can currently be used in various cosmetic products (including talcum powder). Any substance used in cosmetics must adhere to the Cosmetic Regulations.