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Written Question
Employment: Rother Valley
Thursday 25th January 2024

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase (a) levels of manufacturing and (b) the number of jobs in Rother Valley.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani

Manufacturing plays an important role in the Rother Valley making up ~15% of jobs compared with ~10% for the UK as a whole, according to the ONS Business Registers and Employment Survey.

The Government recently published its Advanced Manufacturing Plan aiming to make the UK the best place in the world to start and scale up a manufacturing business – backed by £4.5 billion of funding and business environment measures.

The Plan expands our Made Smarter Adoption Programme – currently available in Rother Valley – supporting manufacturing SMEs to grow through digital technologies. Over 390 companies have already received the programme’s support in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.


Written Question
Fireworks: Crime
Friday 17th November 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support the police to tackle the use of illegal fireworks.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The Department works with local authorities, the Police, Border Force and Trading Standards to tackle the import or sale of fireworks illegally in the UK.

Enforcement mechanisms are in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused and penalties for many fireworks-related offences can include imprisonment or an unlimited fine.


Written Question
Fireworks: Crimes of Violence
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has taken steps with Cabinet colleagues to make an assessment of the potential impact of the public (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks on levels of assaults on (i) police officers, (ii) ambulance staff, (iii) firefighters and (iv) members of the public.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of the public sale and use of fireworks on levels of assaults on the emergency services or members of the public.

Any assault on a member of the public using fireworks is a police matter. In addition, any attack on the emergency services – including any those involve fireworks – can be dealt with by the police using powers in the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.


Written Question
Fireworks: Regulation
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to introduce new legislation on the (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused.

The Government has no plans to introduce new legislation on fireworks but we continue to monitor the situation and engage with stakeholders to listen to and understand their views.


Written Question
Fireworks: Regulation
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to review the adequacy of fireworks legislation.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused.

The Government has no plans to introduce new legislation on fireworks but we continue to monitor the situation and engage with stakeholders to listen to and understand their views.


Written Question
Funerals
Friday 21st April 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to require funeral firms to offer compensation to customers when funerals are cancelled at short notice.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives consumers rights to redress and refunds including when businesses cancel services that have been agreed. The Competition and Markets Authority recently carried out a market investigation into the funerals sector to ensure these rules were being observed. They have issued guidance to businesses in the sector on their obligations to consumers. Details can be found at: https://competitionandmarkets.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/27/helping-businesses-comply-with-the-funerals-order/. Consumers can seek free advice on their rights from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). The Financial Conduct Authority regulates prepaid funeral plans. Details can be found at: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-regulation-boosts-consumer-protection-funeral-plans-market.


Written Question
Funerals
Tuesday 18th April 2023

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that funeral companies make their complaints policies and procedures clear to all customers.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives consumers rights to redress and refunds including when businesses cancel services that have been agreed.

The Competition and Markets Authority recently carried out a market investigation into the funerals sector to ensure these rules were being observed. They have issued guidance to businesses in the sector on their obligations to consumers. Details can be found at: https://competitionandmarkets.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/27/helping-businesses-comply-with-the-funerals-order/.

Consumers can seek free advice on their rights from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). The Financial Conduct Authority regulates prepaid funeral plans. Details can be found at: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-regulation-boosts-consumer-protection-funeral-plans-market.