Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the chemicals and plastics sector.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As members of the chemicals and plastics sectors have themselves noted, this budget had many positive points for manufacturers. This includes measures based around the key pillars of our industrial strategy, including net zero, skills, regional growth and innovation.
Notably, industry has welcomed the announcement that a ‘Mass Balance’ approach to chemically recycled plastic will be introduced, encouraging innovation and investment in new recycling technologies within the UK.
The Budget also announced continued support for Energy Intensive Industries through around £350M of funding across 2024-25 and 2025-26 – this includes chemicals and plastics companies.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the (a) number of factory closures and (b) levels of employment in the automotive industry.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The number of registered business births (registrations), deaths (de-registrations) and stock of active automotive manufacturing businesses from 2018 to 2023 were as follows:
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Births | 510 | 445 | 395 | 570 | 435 | 320 |
Deaths | 390 | 365 | 425 | 440 | 480 | 400 |
Stock | 3,820 | 3,830 | 3,875 | 4,080 | 4,005 | 3,890 |
Source: ONS Business Demography
Employment levels (employees and self-employed) in automotive manufacturing between 2018 and 2023 were as follows:
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Employment (‘000s) | 168 | 167 | 166 | 165 | 151 | 152 |
Source: ONS Employee Jobs and Self-employed Jobs
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence sector.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Budget increased defence spending in real terms by £2.9 billion for next year and we are committed to setting a path to 2.5% of GDP on defence.
The Department's Statement of Intent regarding the Defence Industrial Strategy was published on 2 December. This will ensure the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many thefts of motor vehicle from Network Rail owned car parks there were in each of the last five years; and how many of these resulted in a criminal prosecution.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
According to British Transport Police (BTP) data, there have been 68 thefts of motor vehicles at the 20 Network Rail managed stations between January 2020 and up to and including the 2nd December 2024. Of these, 5 have resulted in criminal prosecution.
Year | BTP Recorded Number of Theft of Motor Vehicle Offences | Recorded Crime that led to prosecution at court (correct as of 03/12/2024) |
2020 | 7 | 1 |
2021 | 7 | 1 |
2022 | 20 | 2 |
2023 | 17 | 0 |
2024 (up to 02/12/2024 only) | 17 | 1 |
During 2020 and 2021 passenger numbers were reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so train station car parks were also likely less occupied during this time.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to not include hybrid cars in the 2030 phase-out of vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The commitment to restore the 2030 phase-out date for new cars with internal combustion engines has always meant that some hybrids will be allowed until 2035, when all new cars will be required to be zero emission. Further details will be set out in the upcoming consultation.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's report on the Employment Rights Bill, published on 21 November 2024, if he will carry out new impact assessments to replace those rated not fit for purpose.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has noted the Regulatory Policy Committee’s opinion on the Impact Assessment for the Employment Rights Bill.
It has always been the Government’s intention to refine our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses, trade unions and the Regulatory Policy Committee.
As is standard, Government will publish updated Option Assessments and Impact Assessments alongside future consultations and secondary legislation to meet our Better Regulation requirements.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many officials in his Department have travelled to the United States of America (a) in the last 3 months and (b) since 5 November 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We look forward to continuing to engage with the current and incoming US Administrations in the usual way. This includes through officials in the British Embassy in Washington DC, and our eight consulates around the United States, who continue to engage businesses and investors to champion UK interests and encourage collaboration and investment to help grow the UK economy.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) the automotive industry and (b) automotive companies.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Department has had regular and frequent engagement with representatives of the automotive industry and automotive companies covering a wide range of automotive issues.
My officials and I also engage with the Automotive Council and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on a regular basis.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether staff in his Department are entitled to bereavement leave.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade allows employees to take up to five days Special Leave with pay in the event of a death of a dependant, close relative or other person in a close relationship.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade offers Shared Parental Leave to all eligible employees in line with the statutory approach.
As part of our Make Work Pay commitment, we will be carrying out a review of the wider statutory parental leave landscape, including Shared Parental Leave, ensuring that the parental leave system offers the best possible support to working families. The Employment Rights Bill means stronger, more family-friendly employment rights for workers and will ensure a fairer and more equal labour market.