Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether any of his Department’s spending in response to the Ukraine crisis will be accounted for as Official Development Assistance.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department’s spending on energy generators, donated to Ukraine, will be accounted for as Official Development Assistance.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation to impose a duty on all companies, including parent companies, to prevent (a) human rights abuses and (b) environmental abuses in their global supply chains.
Answered by Paul Scully
The UK has a strong record on human rights and environmental awareness and protection, much of which results from our framework of legislation. The UK Government expects all British companies to adhere to the rule of law and build respect for human rights and the environment into all aspects of their operations both domestically and in other territories.
The Companies Act 2006 includes the need for Public Interest Entities with 500 or more employees to describe its business relationships which are likely to cause adverse impacts, and how it manages risks arising from matters such as environmental considerations and human rights.
Under international law, there is no requirement for States to regulate the extraterritorial activities of their businesses. It is up to individual States to protect against and prosecute human rights and other abuses that are committed within their borders.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding (a) categorised as Official Development Assistance and (b) not categorised as Official Development Assistance her Department has provided to programmes in Colombia in each year since 2019.
Answered by George Freeman
Information on the level of ODA funding for work in Colombia for 2019 and 2020 is available on the Government website for Statistics on International Development (SID). The 2021 amount will not be available until the completion of the SID return for 2022.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to reform copyright laws to ensure that (a) performers, (b) musicians and (c) other artists receive equitable remuneration for streaming income.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government has just launched a comprehensive programme of work to investigate the issues raised by the Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Select Committee’s inquiry into the economics of music streaming. This includes research into the impact of an equitable remuneration right and extensive stakeholder engagement to strengthen the evidence base needed to determine whether intervention is warranted.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of implementing a mandatory minimum cancellation period for the employment of freelance staff.
Answered by Paul Scully
Although freelancers are generally understood to be self-employed, a freelancer could be either self-employed, a limb (b) worker or an employee depending on the reality of their relationship with their employer or engager.
Current legislation is clear that an individual’s entitlement to employment rights is based on whether they are a limb (b) worker or employee. The Government recently consulted on two policy proposals to tackle issues with non-guaranteed hours contracts, such as employers cancelling shifts at the last minute. These are a right to reasonable notice of work schedules and a right to compensation for short notice shift cancellation. We are analysing consultation responses, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will respond in due course.
Self-employed freelance workers do not have employment rights as they are in business for themselves, but their contract for services may specify a minimum cancellation period.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the takeover of strategically significant UK-based companies by private equity firms on the national interest.
Answered by Paul Scully
The UK is open for business and we welcome investment in our economy. The details of mergers and takeovers are primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned. However, the Government acknowledges that there are instances when such transactions might result in broader concerns. This is why there is an established process for considering whether there are specific public interest reasons for Ministers to intervene in mergers under the Enterprise Act 2002. These include matters relating to national security, financial stability, media plurality and public health emergencies. The Government has recently strengthened those powers through the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he made of the potential merits of the Government exercising its powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 to intervene in the acquisition of Morrisons by US private equity firm Fortress.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State, BEIS officials and I have regular discussions with the Competitions and Markets Authority on a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Competitions and Markets Authority on the proposed takeover of Morrisons by US private equity firm Fortress.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State, BEIS officials and I have regular discussions with the Competitions and Markets Authority on a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent private equity companies (a) taking over UK-based firms and (b) sending profits arising in the UK to overseas tax havens.
Answered by Paul Scully
The UK is open for business, and we welcome investment in our economy. The details of mergers and takeovers are primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned, and there is an established process for considering whether there are specific public interest reasons for Ministers to intervene in mergers under the Enterprise Act 2002. These include matters relating to national security, financial stability, media plurality and public health emergencies. The Government has recently strengthened those powers through the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change and UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency had with representatives of the Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience programme in Malawi on the impact of the Government's decision to reduce funding for that programme, during her visit to that programme in August 2021.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As part of my visit to Malawi in August, I visited the Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience programme in Balaka district. I met with programme partners and, in my role as International Champion for Adaptation and Resilience for COP26, we discussed the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in the district and the importance of locally led adaptation activities such as watershed management, climate smart agriculture, and access to finance.