Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will establish an additional public holiday for St George's Day.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions – such as cultural, historical, military and religious events.
While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
The current pattern of bank holidays is well established and accepted and we have no plans to change it.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Second Report of the Business and Trade Committee of Session 2023-24 on UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, HC483, published on 19 February 2024, whether a debate will be held on a substantive motion on the UK’s accession to that Partnership before the period the treaty is laid before Parliament under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 concludes on 22 March 2024.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is committed to effective scrutiny of its trade agenda and has put in place a comprehensive framework for scrutiny of free trade agreements (FTAs). This includes a commitment to seek to hold a general debate on a new FTA where one is requested by the relevant Select Committee in a timely manner, subject to parliamentary time. The Government's view is that a general debate is the appropriate mechanism for Parliament to debate a new FTA.
The scheduling of parliamentary business is not a matter for the Department for Business and Trade, but the Government is aware of the Business and Trade Committee’s request for a debate.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take legislative steps to require Fujitsu to compensate the sub-postmasters impacted by the Horizon IT System.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The extent of Fujitsu’s culpability for the scandal will not be clear until the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry reports. However, Ministers have made clear that the taxpayer should not have to meet all the costs of the scandal. In the light of such comments – which have attracted widespread public support – Fujitsu have recently apologised publicly for their role in the scandal and have accepted that they have a moral obligation to contribute to its costs. The Government welcomes these statements and will continue to discuss matters with Fujitsu.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will meet representatives of Royal Mail to discuss adherence to the universal service obligation.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Ministers and officials meet with Royal Mail regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the universal postal service provider, including the overall provision of the universal service obligation.
I recently met the CEO of Royal Mail’s parent company to raise concerns about Royal Mail’s performance and he recognised that the current level of service is not good enough and has said that improving quality of service is his top priority. I note that Royal Mail has recruited an additional 3,000 postmen and is continuing to actively recruit new postal staff. I will continue to raise the issue if service levels do not improve.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what her Department's policy is on lenders threatening to charge additional fees and penalties on the repayment of loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme; and whether her Department has taken enforcement action against such lenders.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
As part of the scheme design, no early repayment fees or other lender-levied fees of any type following drawdown were permitted.
The Lender Audit and Assurance Programme verifies appropriate administration of Covid Loan Scheme portfolios by accredited Delivery Partners in line with their contractual obligations. If any concerns are identified, remedial actions are agreed with Delivery Partners to rectify areas failing to meet guarantee requirements.
Should a person or organisation have any particular concerns or incidents to raise, these can be directed to the British Business Bank via the contact form available at: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/contact-details/.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what rules and regulations apply to the operation of Bounce Back Loan Scheme agreements as of 24 January 2024; and whether lenders may (a) levy fees and (b) charge additional interest under the scheme.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Bounce Back Loan scheme provided financial support to businesses across the UK that faced disruption as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A lender could provide a six-year term loan from £2,000 up to 25% of a business’ turnover, up to a maximum of £50,000. The scheme gave the lender a full (100%) government-backed guarantee against the outstanding balance of the facility.
As part of the scheme design, no early repayment fees or other lender-levied fees of any type following drawdown were permitted. The Government covered the first 12 months of interest, which meant that borrowers paid 0% interest for the first year. Following that, an interest rate of 2.5% per annum applies.
A list of frequently asked questions is available on the British Business Bank’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/faqs-for-small-businesses/.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recourse is available to a business if they suspect that (a) a lender and (b) an organisation or person acting on behalf of a lender is not complying with the regulations of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme rules were developed with the British Business Bank, who accredited lenders to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Any business concerned about compliance with the scheme rules, by a lender or an organisation or person acting on behalf of a lender, should follow the lender’s complaint process in the first instance, before pursuing with the Financial Ombudsman Service, if required.
Further information can be found on the Financial Ombudsman Service website: https://sme.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/complain/complaints-can-help/borrowing-money/government-backed-loan-schemes-context-covid-19-pandemic.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will conduct a review into the regulation of (a) sales of caravans and (b) management fees at static caravan sites.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Caravan park owners and operators are subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other business which has dealings with consumers.
For example, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods purchased (including caravans) have to be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose.
The CRA also protects consumers from unfair contractual terms being applied by traders such as park operators.
We are further strengthening the enforcement of this framework in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. Therefore, the Government has no plans to further regulate the sales of caravans.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will have discussions with Royal Mail on compensating people who have experienced delays receiving mail.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Royal Mail is a private business and the Government does not have a role in its commercial or operational decisions, including its policies on compensating users for postal delays.
As the independent regulator of postal services, Ofcom requires Royal Mail to provide fair and reasonable remedies and redress in respect of delays to deliveries under its universal service obligation.
Under Section 89 of the Postal Services Act 2000, Royal Mail is required to publish its terms and conditions, including compensation policies, for certain products and services on its website.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2023 to Question 947 on Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Pesticides, when her Department plans to publish the report by the Trade and Agriculture Commission; and how much notice her Department plans to provide to hon. Members that the treaty will be laid.
Answered by Greg Hands
We are expecting to receive the Trade and Agriculture Commission’s report on 30 November. It will be published and laid in Parliament shortly thereafter.
The treaty text was published and presented to Parliament on 17th July 2023. It can be found on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accession-protocol-of-the-uk-to-the-cptpp
The Government will work with relevant Select Committees to coordinate timelines as far in advance as possible to facilitate scrutiny work.