Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley 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 is taking to support jobs across Liberty Steel’s UK operations in South Yorkshire.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We are closely monitoring developments around Liberty Steel, and my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has spoken with representatives from the company and unions many times in recent weeks. The Government is considering options, however it would be premature to act when the company is looking to find its own commercial solutions.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley 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 is taking to ensure that people are able to cancel their gym memberships during the period of covid-19 restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has produced guidance on rights and responsibilities when contracts such as gym memberships have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds.
The CMA has also created a COVID-19 taskforce and set up an online form to enable consumers to report any business they believe is behaving unfairly during the pandemic. Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly by a business should complete the online form at: https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/.
Consumers can also seek advice on their rights from the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, www.citizensadvice.org.uk which offers a free service advising consumers on their rights and how to take complaints forward.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
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 publish a timescale for the resumption of wedding ceremonies with more than six attendees as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Scully
As set out in the Government’s “COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021”, attendee limits for wedding ceremonies are set out for each step of the roadmap.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley 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 he has been made of the potential merits of extending the eligibility for the Low Income Household voucher included in the Green Homes Grant for claimants of a War Pensions Scheme without a mobility element.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The list of qualifying benefits selected for the low income element of the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme mirrors the eligibility requirements for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. Under ECO, energy suppliers are required to provide low income and vulnerable households with energy efficiency and heating upgrades. We will keep the Green Homes Grant Voucher scheme eligibility, including qualifying benefits, under review.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley 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 he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals after covid-19 restrictions are lifted on ensuring that auction houses offer both (a) in-person and (b) virtual auctions to ensure that they are adhering to non-consumer sale standards.
Answered by Paul Scully
Auction houses must comply with relevant consumer protection law when their activities fall within its scope, and whether these involve in-person or virtual auctions is a matter for the auction house. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute and Citizens Advice provide free advice and information on consumer rights.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
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 his Department has had with business leaders in the hospitality sector on developing a plan to re-open businesses that use the covid-19 personal protective equipment and safety measures businesses invested in during the tiered public health restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
Over the course of the pandemic the government has worked closely with the hospitality sector to understand the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and has responded with a substantial package of business support. We keep all restrictions under constant review.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many start-up businesses in their first year of trading have (a) liquidated and (b) dissolved in the 2019-20 financial year in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) the Sheffield City Region and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber.
Answered by Paul Scully
Companies House is responsible for registering companies. Companies House’s data does not extend to unregistered businesses and is therefore unable to identify start-up businesses. It is also unable to identify if a company is in the first year of trading.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of permitting pubs to sell takeaway alcohol on (a) pubs' financial recovery from the covid-19 outbreak and (b) the economy.
Answered by Paul Scully
Under the current restrictions, hospitality businesses are not permitted to sell takeaway alcohol. This is to reduce instances of social interactions that could undermine the Government’s primary objective of reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Government recognises the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the sector, which is why it has put in place a £284bn package of business support measures including grants of £3000 per month for businesses forced to close. The Government announced on 5 January an extra £4.6 billion to protect jobs and support affected businesses and includes a one off additional grant of up to £9000. Local Authorities in England will be given an additional £500 million discretionary funding to support their local business and builds on the £1.1 billion discretionary funding which Local Authorities have already received.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley 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 is taking to ensure pensioners’ properties are installed with insulation to tackle cold-related illnesses.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Officials in DHSC and BEIS have had discussions on these matters. We recognise the link between ill health and fuel poverty and we are aware of the benefits of insulating properties for all, including pensioner households.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes remains the most sustainable long-term solution to tackling fuel poverty, and therefore in reducing the impact of ill health exacerbated by cold homes.
The Energy Company Obligation is a GB wide energy efficiency scheme worth £640m per year until March 2022 and is focused on low-income and vulnerable households. Households with a resident in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit are eligible.
The Green Homes Grant, launched in September 2020, is a £2 billion programme which will help improve the energy efficiency of homes in England. Of this, around half is specifically for low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households, including those in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. The Green Homes Grant consists of a voucher scheme and a Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LAD). The primary purpose of the LAD scheme is to raise the energy efficiency rating of low income and low EPC rated homes (those with D, E, F or G). Funding is available through LAD to support the retrofit of existing domestic dwellings for all tenure types.