Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will extend the business loan scheme to ensure that dental practices are able to access financial support where necessary.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is open to eligible businesses operating in most sectors, including dental practices.
In order to be eligible for the CBILS, businesses must:
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
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 support small travel agencies facing financial difficulties as a result of cancellations, refunds and loss of income during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government recognises the extremely difficult circumstances many businesses are currently facing. The Government has launched an unprecedented set of support measures. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) offers financial support to smaller businesses that are losing revenue, and seeing their cashflow disrupted, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Firms with a turnover of up to £45 million can apply for a loan, invoice finance, asset finance or overdraft of up to £5 million for up to six years.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Industrial Strategy on the protection of intellectual property.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government wants the UK to be the most innovative economy in the world and be the best place in which to start and grow a business. The UK’s world-leading IP framework has a key role to play in this.
As part of the Industrial Strategy the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carried out a call for views seeking ways to maximise the incentives of the IP system to stimulate collaborative and increase licensing opportunities for IP rights. A number of interventions were implemented as a result to ensure that the IP framework continues to underpin and support the UK’s innovation economy.
The IPO has made it a priority to explore the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies and has also worked with industry to address issues outlined in the Sector deals such as that of the Creative Industries. In addition, the IPO has been working to integrate IP into the developing Local Industrial Strategies under the Place Foundation.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
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 a Patent application takes a minimum of two years to be examined and granted.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We recognise the need to offer a timely service to those who need it, alongside a flexible service that allows applicants to develop their technology as their patent application progresses. We also offer a prompt grant option.
Applicants have up to two years to request examination of their application; they can request to accelerate their application if a suitable reason is provided, enabling a patent to be examined and granted in less than a year.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will include a policy on reducing the effect of carbon monoxide poisoning in the updated Fuel Poverty Strategy for England; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government takes the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home seriously and is taking steps to raise awareness of and tackle these risks. A summary of Government activities can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can affect families at any income level. We are grateful for the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group’s response to our consultation on updating the fuel poverty strategy. We are currently considering all responses to the consultation and we will publish a Government response in due course.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what investment his Department has made in university and other institutions researching into energy from waste with heat recovery.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds high quality research and innovation as part of the Government’s wider ambition to increase the UK’s total R&D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. UKRI works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.
Current examples that relate to generating energy from waste include £1.7m from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council through the Global Challenges Research Fund for a project led by the University of Leeds to facilitate the production of biogas, clean water, and the recovery of nutrients, from nutrient rich waste.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the environmental consequences of that Government establishing coal-fired power stations throughout the world.
Answered by Claire Perry
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently met his Chinese Counterpart at the UK-China Energy Dialogue in December 2017, where they discussed a wide range of issues around transitioning to a low carbon economy, including China’s efforts to reduce the amount of coal in its energy mix. Last year the UK and Canada established the Powering Past Coal Alliance - which now counts over 70 members - to encourage countries, businesses and other organisations around the world to advance the transition from unabated coal power generation.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that have been lost as a result of commercial evictions arising from land acquisition by Lidl.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The information requested is not available from official sources. Land acquisition deals are a commercial matter for the parties concerned, and the use/reuse of purchased land is for the relevant local authority.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what targets are planned as part of the RIIO-2 process to ensure gas distribution networks (a) raise awareness of and (b) take steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
This is a matter for Ofgem. I have asked Ofgem to write directly to the Honourable Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department takes to prevent the sale of faulty and substandard carbon monoxide alarms that do not meet the EN 50291-1 safety standard; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Carbon monoxide alarms are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which require that products must be safe before they can be placed on the market.
Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to take action to remove or recall products which do not comply with the regulations and the Office for Product Safety and Standards will work with them to monitor the safety of these products.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 traders must ensure that goods are as described and of a satisfactory quality and be fit for a particular purpose if that purpose was made known to the consumer.