Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on the retail and hospitality sectors.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on levels of energy consumption.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on levels of crime.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the costs to his Department of extreme weather events related to climate change on the level of economic growth since 1 January 2020; and what steps he is taking to help reduce those costs through (a) adaptation and (b) resilience measures.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made an assessment of the financial cost to the Department (either in terms of physical damage, disruption to operations or employee productivity) of extreme weather events during the period in question. Officials are working with GIAA and their ongoing cross government review of compliance with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and we will consider their recommendations when these are published. The Government Property Agency manages the department's estate and has responsibility for relevant climate change risk assessments and adaptation plans.
Since October 2023, the Department has supported eligible SME businesses to deal with the impacts of extreme weather events on their premises via the Business Recovery Grants scheme. This formed part of the Government’s wider support package to communities under the Flooding Recovery Framework. Prior to the creation of DBT in April 2023, the scheme was operated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). DBT does not hold data on the schemes managed by BEIS prior to October 2023.
More broadly, DBT is working to deliver on its commitments under the Third National Adaptation Plan - supporting businesses to adapt to the risks of climate change and take advantage of future opportunities for economic growth. This has informed our priorities under the Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Plan for Small Business.
DBT will also be working closely with Defra as they develop the Government's approach to the Fourth National Adaptation Programme, which will apply from 2028, following recent advice from the CCC that the government should prepare for 2°C of warming by 2050).
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September to Question 73453 on Tourist Attractions: Animals, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks governing travel companies that market or sell tickets to animal-based tourist attractions.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 may apply. Goods or services sold in the UK must adhere to consumer regulations, like the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Defra is engaging with tourism industry and animal welfare groups on the delivery of the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 and will set out next steps.
Reputable tour operators should not offer activities that support poor animal welfare. The Association of British Travel Agents, a government approved body, has published guidelines and a list of activities which they classify as unacceptable.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of moving to (a) single and (b) double summer time on cumulative carbon emissions.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted a recent assessment of the impact on cumulative carbon emissions. The Government is fully committed to complying with the statutory duties outlined in the Climate Change Act and reaching net zero by 2050.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress he has made on consulting animal welfare organisations on the review of fireworks legislation.
Answered by Justin Madders
I have met with several animal charities in recent months, including Dogs Trust, the RSPCA and Redwings, through the fireworks working group. I continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks. It is important that we ensure the safe, responsible and considerate use of fireworks for business and consumers alike.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits for businesses of adopting Single/Double Summer Time.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce double summertime, permanent summertime, or other such changes which would require considerable planning and action by business. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we will not be conducting an assessment of the impact on businesses at this time.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in levels of glyphosate in menstrual products; and what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) regulate those levels.
Answered by Justin Madders
Most period products are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which requires all products to be safe and for consumers to be provided with information on the potential risks of a product.
Subject to Royal Assent of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, the Government has committed to consult on this matter to ensure that any changes to the safety provisions of these products are robust and consistent. As part of this, we are considering further research and testing in this area to complement the consultation.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-India free trade agreement on levels of investment in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
This comprehensive agreement is expected to boost increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, increase UK GDP by £4.8 billion and boost wages by £2.2 billion each and every year in the long run.
This deal is expected to make trade between the UK cheaper and easier, which could encourage more businesses to expand and invest. In the East of England, science and technology hubs like Bedford will benefit from reduced tariffs on technologies such as medical devices, alongside improved customs processes.
We will set out further information on the regional impacts of this agreement in our Impact Assessment.