Written Question
Wednesday 25th May 2022
Asked by:
Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 7 April (HL7355) what steps they will take, if any, against British petrol retailers who have not passed on to consumers the entire five pence cut in fuel duty from the 23 March Spring Statement.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is clear that retailers should pass the 5 pence per litre cut in Fuel Duty on to consumers immediately.
The CMA has been closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so. The Government is ready to support the CMA to use their powers to act against petrol stations if there is evidence that they are infringing competition or consumer law. This could ultimately lead to fines or legally binding commitments from companies to change their behaviour.
Written Question
Thursday 7th April 2022
Asked by:
Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent profiteering by companies increasing their prices following the five pence cut in fuel duty announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Spring Statement on 23 March.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains committed to tackling consumer rip-offs and bad business practices, including profiteering.
The CMA monitors firms suspected of profiteering to challenge unjustifiable price increases and stands ready to take enforcement action where there is evidence that competition or consumer protection law has been broken.
The Government continues to monitor the operation of consumer markets and keeps all options under review to ensure good value and service for consumers.
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 27 Apr 2021
Employment Rights Act 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order 2021
"I thank the Minister for her explanation of what she quite rightly describes as a small but important change. I congratulate the Independent Workers’ Union on its court victory and the work done in relation to tackling what is not a new challenge but something that emerged many years ago …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Employment Rights Act 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order 2021
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 27 Oct 2020
Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) Regulations 2020
"My Lords, I chose to re-engage with the legislation—in which I played a part as the Bill passed through Parliament—to make just two very small points, which I am reinforcing from the time when I contributed originally.
My first point is to agree to and support the regulations, as I …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) Regulations 2020
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 09 Oct 2020
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Obligations of Hospitality Undertakings) (England) Regulations 2020
"I commend the excellent speeches that have been made. I have no expertise in the relative danger of playing rugby or gathering to shoot grouse compared with the best man dancing with the bridesmaid with whom he is already living, or, for that matter, socially distanced tap dancing, which people …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Obligations of Hospitality Undertakings) (England) Regulations 2020
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 29 Sep 2020
Trade Bill
"My Lords, I shall address Amendments 9 and 10. I do not have anything as profound to say as my noble friend Lord Stevenson about Walter Bagehot, but I have something to say about the importance of our parliamentary democracy. There has been considerable recent debate, both publicly and in …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 23 Jun 2020
Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
"My Lords, it had been my intention to speak on the final day of Committee but, because of an administrative blip, my name went in at entirely the wrong time.
I am pleased that the Government have been prepared to move on this area, as they have on other parts …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 09 Jun 2020
Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
"My Lords, I concur with many of the comments that have already been made. I support the thrust of the Bill.
I want to talk about the immediate situation and, therefore, the moratorium. I welcome it but, like my noble friend Lord Stevenson, I think that, in its initial implementation, …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
Written Question
Wednesday 27th May 2020
Asked by:
Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) immediate, and (2) future estimated, decrease in income for universities from international students; what assessment they have made of the impact of any such decrease on universities' ability to maintain research capacity; and what plans they have to review the (a) timing, and (b) relevance, of the Research Excellence Framework.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the 2018/19 academic year, tuition fees from international students at UK higher education providers accounted for around £6.9bn of sector income. The Government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education sector, including student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19, on international student numbers, including restrictions on travel.
We are working with the sector to assess the potential implications for university research sustainability. In order to support this, we have established a joint BEIS/DfE Ministerial Taskforce on University Research and Knowledge Exchange Sustainability to engage with university sector experts, Devolved Administration and research funders to identify and assess risks of impacts, and to consider approaches to help manage these. The aim is to sustain the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery and beyond.
The Research Excellence Framework is operated jointly by the 4 UK HE Funding Bodies, who have recently gathered views on the revised timings for the REF. The Funding Bodies intend to report on the outcome and next steps by the end of May. The role of the REF in identifying and supporting research excellence with impact remains fundamental to maintaining the quality and capability of the university research base and its contribution to UK economy and society.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 21 May 2020
Covid-19: Businesses and the Private Sector
"I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Dobbs, on his initiative in getting this debate. I assure him that I am neither elderly nor infirm. In my two minutes, I wish to emphasise the importance of both private and not-for-profit organisations and businesses, not only in seeing us through these last …..."Lord Blunkett - View Speech
View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Businesses and the Private Sector