Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on retaining the (a) CE and ATEX marks and (b) UK as a location to certify products for the European market.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe products are placed on the UK market now and in the future. The Government will engage with business and other stakeholders to assess the risks and opportunities from exiting the EU and ensure that the UK system continues to meets the needs of British businesses and consumers.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he plans to take to ensure that businesses in the UK continue to benefit from the activities of the EU observatory on trademark protection after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU will consider all elements of our relationship with Europe including the EU Observatory. The Government continues to focus on achieving the best deal for the UK once we leave the EU.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons the UK was not a signatory to the Joint Statement issued by the High Ambition Coalition ministers on 11 November 2016 during the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The UK didn’t sign the Joint Statement issued by a Group of High Ambition Coalition members on 11 November 2016 because we considered that the best way for the UK to communicate with the new US administration was through normal channels given the long history that the UK and the United States have of working together on climate change and many other issues.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure the continued recognition of UK firms' existing trademarks and patents in the EU after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
There is no EU patent, so patents can only be granted with effect in individual states, either by applying directly to the relevant national office, or through the European Patent Office, which is not an EU body. These will therefore not be affected by the UK leaving the EU. Patents owned by UK businesses with effect in the UK will continue to be governed by national law.
In contrast, the EU trade mark is a unitary right with effect in the whole of the EU. When the UK leaves the European Union, EU trade marks will still be available to UK business and existing EU trade marks will continue to offer protection in other Member States. We are consulting businesses and considering how existing EU trade marks can continue to provide protection in the UK.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost to UK businesses of resolving future cross-border trademark and patent disputes through court action after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The UK Intellectual Property Office is currently working closely with stakeholders and other government departments to assess the impact that leaving the EU will have on IP rights and their enforcement. The mechanisms for cross border enforcement, access to courts in other jurisdictions and the cost of those disputes in the future will depend to a large degree on what agreements are put in place for broader civil and criminal justice cooperation at the time of exit. It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of those costs at this time.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Department for Education on reskilling in the energy industry.
Answered by Nick Hurd
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a number of issues.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the security of the intellectual property of the European Pressurised Reactor technology to be used at Hinkley Point C.
Answered by Jesse Norman
On 15 September, following the comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State announced new safeguards for future foreign investment in critical infrastructure.
The protection of intellectual property at Hinkley Point C is a commercial matter for the developer.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons his Department has not renegotiated the Contract for Difference for Hinkley Point C; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The commercial terms of the Hinkley Point C contract, including the strike price and protections for consumers, have remained as announced in autumn 2015..
As announced on 15 September 2016, the overall package includes additional commitments from EDF to safeguard against changes of ownership of the developer which have been brought into force through an exchange of letters.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with President Xi at the September 2016 G20 meeting on separating the building of the Hualong One reactor at Bradwell from the agreement on Hinkley Point C.
Answered by Jesse Norman
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy did not attend the September 2016 G20 meeting.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to lay an explanatory memorandum before Parliament on the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The UK’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and to climate action is firm. An explanatory memorandum initiating the UK’s domestic approval of the Agreement was laid on 7th October 2016 with a view to completing domestic procedures before the end of the year.