Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the eight sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government’s approach to 5G and mobile connectivity is set out in the ‘UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Plan’ on GOV.UK. The government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have standalone 5G by 2030, delivered through commercial investment. The Digital & Technologies Sector Plan (GOV.UK) outlines the Industrial Strategy’s approach to 5G and Advanced Connectivity Technologies. We have already begun to invest in ACT, with over £300 million spent since 2022 to promote R&D through the Open Networks Programme and Technology Missions Fund.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
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 the creation of jobs for young people.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Building on the December Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement, the Government recently committed a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5 billion over the next three years. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.
We are also giving businesses the stability they need to invest and create high quality jobs across the UK through our Industrial Strategy. This includes over £1 billion for tailored sector skills packages, as part of which we’ve selected 29 Technical Excellence Colleges to provide high-quality training for jobs in key sectors.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are properly tested using (a) UK manufactured, (b) safe and (c) industry-approved test gas.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Carbon monoxide alarms should be properly tested before they can be placed on the UK market. British Standard EN 50291-1:2018 outlines the test methods and performance requirements of carbon monoxide alarms used in a domestic setting, and British Standard EN 50291:2:2019 outlines the same for carbon monoxide alarms used in recreational vehicles and similar premises.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is going through Parliament at the moment, will provide the powers needed to keep our wide and technical product regulation framework up to date, enabling the UK to maintain its high product standards.