Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 impact of the relative increase in the cost of stamps on the ability of customers to send (a) letters and (b) greeting cards.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
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 impact of the relative increase in the cost of stamps on small businesses that (a) design and (b) sell greeting cards.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of the cost of stamps on small businesses.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and (b) tariff liberalisation for palm oil imports on (i) deforestation and (ii) loss of habitats in palm oil supplying countries.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department’s Impact Assessment, published in July 2023, shows that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could boost UK GDP by around £2.0 billion each and every year when compared to projected GDP in 2040. The Impact Assessment also includes assessments made relating to palm oil, deforestation and loss of habitats. The UK is committed to tackling illegal deforestation within our supply chains, and our agreement to join the CPTPP does not change that.
The report of the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission, published in December 2023, concluded that “it is unlikely that CPTPP will lead to an increase in palm oil being grown on deforested land”.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will publish quarterly updates on the (a) implementation and (b) operation of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to provide transitional support to people for the provision of neonatal care leave and statutory neonatal care pay between 24 May 2023 and the expected date of implementation of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 in April 2025.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will bring forward legislative proposals requiring companies to have a policy within its HR processes on supporting those undergoing fertility treatment.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory right to paid leave for people undergoing fertility treatment.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidance to employers on support in the workplace for those undergoing fertility treatment.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions her Department has had with trade unions on the (a) views and (b) experiences of postal workers following the reduction of opening hours at Royal Mail customer service points.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Discussions with Trade Unions on changes to working practices are an operational matter for Royal Mail as a private company. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.