Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support women in the hospitality sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is taking important steps through its Employment Rights Bill to protect workers from misconduct in the workplace, including women in the hospitality sector.
We are introducing measures that will restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment and discrimination and strengthen protections for workers who ‘blow the whistle’ on sexual harassment.
The Bill will also require employers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees and introduce an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 78382 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 24 June, 1 August and 15 September 2025 from the hon. Member for Tooting relating to case reference RA69084.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days. The case from 24 June was transferred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to answer, who accepted in error. This case has now been passed back to DBT and I have asked my officials to investigate this. I apologise for the delay.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to protect university workers' terms and conditions when they are transferred to a subsidiary company.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
When a business changes its owner, its employees may be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE). TUPE may also apply when a service transfers to a new provider. If TUPE applies, the employees’ jobs usually transfer over to the new company, and their employment terms and conditions transfer. The new employer cannot change an employee’s terms and conditions if the reason is the transfer itself.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his department will conduct a review into current fireworks legislation to determine whether it is fit for purpose and efficiently protects animals and vulnerable people.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting animals and vulnerable people, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action and review into the current fireworks legislation.
The Government has also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes new guidance for those running community fireworks events, and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Employment Tribunal penalties in deterring repeated breaches of employment law by large employers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has not undertaken such an assessment, however; through the Plan for Change we will ensure employment rights are fit for a modern economy, contributing to economic growth. As part of this we will look at ways of strengthening enforcement options, including the Employment Tribunal Penalty scheme which will move to the Fair Work Agency (FWA) once established.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps are being taken to promote British creative sector exports over the next three years.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Over the next three years, the UK government will boost creative sector exports by increasing trade missions, targeting new and traditional markets, and expanding export finance through UK Export Finance (UKEF). In 2024/25, UKEF provided £14.5 billion in support for UK exports and maintains a nationwide network of export finance managers to advise local businesses. The Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board (CITIB) will be reformed to champion exports, while export promotion will be enhanced through events such as the BFI Film Festival and London Games Festival. The Department also funds the Music Export Growth Scheme which does what its name suggests. Alongside the GREAT campaign, these measures will strengthen the UK’s global creative leadership.
Nov. 24 2025
Source Page: DBT: workforce management information September 2025Nov. 24 2025
Source Page: DBT: workforce management information September 2025