Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
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 British retailers on the adequacy of working conditions in factories that produce clothing sold in the UK.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Neither I, nor my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State have recently had discussions with British retailers regarding working conditions in the garment industry. I have, however, met with the Director of Labour Market Enforcement who I know is looking at some of these issues as part of her broader remit. I have asked her to keep me updated on this work.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 92300 on Postal Services: Standards, if he will outline the process required to change the statutory minimum requirements of the universal postal service, set out in the Postal Services Act 2011.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The minimum requirements of the universal postal service are set out in section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011. Section 34(5) provides the Secretary of State with the power to amend section 31 by an order which is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, requiring Parliamentary scrutiny and approval before becoming law.
Before the Secretary of State can amend section 31, Ofcom must either review the extent to which the provision made by section 31 reflects the reasonable needs of the users of postal services provided in the United Kingdom in accordance with s.34(1) or review the extent (if any) of the financial burden for a universal service provider of complying with its universal service obligations in accordance with s.44(1). The latter review may result in a report from Ofcom to the Secretary of State recommending a review under s.34(1).
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 92302 on Postal Services: Fees and Charges, what assessment he has made of the (a) 46 per cent price increase of 1st class letter stamps since 2017; and (b) affordability of these services.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
As set out previously, the Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions which includes the price Royal Mail sets for First Class letters. The Government is, however, committed to ensuring that the universal postal service remains affordable and accessible to all users. Ofcom sets the regulatory framework for stamp prices and whilst it does not currently regulate the price of First Class stamps, Ofcom does require that they, alongside all universal postal services, are affordable. Ofcom will be reviewing the appropriate scope and level of the safeguard caps with a statement and consultation in 2023-24.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 92301 on Postal Services: Standards, what assessment he has made of the implications for customers of Ofcom’s decision to retain the Christmas exemption period.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
As the independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to explain the decisions it takes on the regulatory framework. However, in coming to its decision to retain the exemption for the Christmas period, Ofcom carefully considered consultation responses including from consumer bodies. Ofcom will closely monitor Royal Mail’s performance this Christmas, and it reserves the right to propose further action in this area if necessary.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Contact for families with disabled children's survey entitled Out of Energy, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of that survey's findings on families with seriously ill and disabled children who have cut back or stopped using essential disability equipment, in the context of rising energy costs.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As set out in my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement, the Government will work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach to consumer protection in energy markets from April 2024, including assistance for families with disabled children. The Government will consider all relevant evidence, including this survey, in developing its approach.
On top of the Energy Price Guarantee for all households, the Government has announced an additional £1,200 of support for the eight million most vulnerable households to help with the cost of living. In 2023-24, an additional Cost of Living Payment of £900 will be provided to households on means-tested benefits and £150 to individuals on disability benefits.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with Boohoo on (a) workers rights and (b) working conditions in their UK warehouse.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Neither my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State or I have met with Boohoo to discuss the matters raised in recent press coverage. I have, however, met with the Director of Labour Market Enforcement who I know is looking at the issues raised and is in contact with the company. I have asked her to keep me updated on this work.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Ofcom's Residential Postal Tracker Q3 2021 - Q2 2022 published September 2022, what assessment he has made of that report's findings that 25 per cent of consumers have cut back on sending post to be able to afford essentials; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the price of sending post.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
As a private business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions.
In setting prices Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator. This framework imposes price caps, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices and users of postal services, especially vulnerable consumers, are protected from on-going price rises.
Ofcom will include consideration of the findings of its Residential Postal Tracker Q3 2021 - Q2 2022 in its upcoming review of safeguard caps including a consultation and statement during 2023/24.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 4-week suspension of Royal Mail’s quality of service targets over Christmas 2022.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Royal Mail’s quality of service targets for the delivery of universal postal services are set by Ofcom under its regulatory framework which includes an exemption from meeting performance targets during the Christmas period (defined as the first Monday of December until the first working day after the following New Year public holiday). It requires Royal Mail to notify Ofcom and the consumer advocacy bodies and publish, no later than two months from the end of each Christmas period, its performance during that period.
In its recent review of postal regulation, Ofcom decided to retain the exemption as it considered that its current approach remained appropriate.