Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
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 effectiveness of Trading Standards in protecting consumers from rogue and incompetent builders in the construction industry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
No such assessment has been made, but the Government is considering options to ensure that our system of consumer protection provides a robust response to both local and national threats for the Consumer White Paper.
The Government has endorsed the TrustMark scheme to reduce the number of rogue and incompetent builders; and to identify local traders who have undergone independent checks for both trade competence and good trading practice. This scheme gives consumers increased confidence and ability to choose registered businesses including builders who adhere to and maintain high standards.
TrustMark is actively involved with Trading Standards to provide further protection to consumers affected by rogue builders.
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
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 number of (a) rogue and (b) incompetent builders in the construction industry; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce that number.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The Department has not made an estimate of the number of rogue and incompetent builders in the construction sector. However, the Government has endorsed the TrustMark scheme to reduce the number of rogue and incompetent builders; and to identify local traders who have undergone independent checks for both trade competence and good trading practice. This scheme gives consumers increased confidence and ability to choose registered businesses including builders who adhere to and maintain high standards.
TrustMark is actively involved with Trading Standards to provide further protection to consumers affected by rogue builders. Where a company has committed a criminal breach of consumer law, Trading Standards can prosecute in the criminal court and the court can impose a fine or imprisonment for a serious offence.
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department has issued to the public on identifying competent builders.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department has not issued guidance to consumers on identifying competent builders. However, the Government has endorsed the TrustMark scheme, which identifies local traders who have undergone independent checks for both trade competence and good trading practice. This scheme gives consumers increased confidence and ability to choose registered businesses including builders who adhere to and maintain high standards.
Further information is available for consumers on the Citizens Advice website at: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/find-a-trader-and-check-you-can-trust-them/.
For free information on their rights and how to take a complaint forward, consumers should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/).
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish the White Paper on modernising consumer markets.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government’s Consumer White Paper is due to be published later this year.
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many jobs there are in the energy sector in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.
Answered by Nick Hurd
In 2015 there were 1250 employee jobs in the energy sector in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.[1]
[1] Nomis – ONS Business Register and Employment Survey – using category D
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether successful bidders to construct any or all of the North West Coast Connection will be held to the same standards as National Grid on the (a) design and technology granted in the consent order, (b) levels of mitigation, such as undergrounding, (c) level of community and stakeholder engagement, (d) mitigating the environmental impacts, (e) impact of traffic and transport and (f) opportunities for local companies to form part of the construction supply chain.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The design and implementation of the proposed competitive regime for onshore transmission assets is properly a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. It is important to note that, regardless of who constructs and maintains an asset, all network operators must be licenced by the regulator and are subject to strict controls to ensure safety, security and reliability. Any successful bidders will be held to the same strict standards that the current incumbent network companies operate by, including in regards to industry codes, grid standards and planning requirements.
Asked by: David Morris (Conservative - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if a consumer-based, cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken on the potential benefits and disbenefits of completing all or part of the North West Coast Connection; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The design and implementation of the proposed competitive regime for onshore transmission assets is properly a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. This would include any analysis or decision on whether to tender for competition any specific projects, including the North West Coast Connection. It is important to note that Ofgem has extensively consulted with industry on these proposals and intends to undertake an impact assessment on the case to tender all, or part, of the North West Coast Connection.