Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
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 large clothing companies based in the EU who have stores in the UK on their future relationship with the UK after the UK leaves the European Union.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
This department engages regularly with businesses across a range of sectors including clothing retailers who have stores in the UK. Many of these businesses also have a European base, and we understand their concerns about retaining frictionless trade.
This is why Government has been clear that the best outcome is for the UK to leave the EU with a deal and why, following months of intensive work and detailed discussions, we proposed a third option for our future economic relationship, based on the frictionless trade in goods.
At March European Council, the UK and EU agreed that during the implementation period, the UK would be treated as a Member State for the purposes of international agreements, including trade agreements.
This provides certainty and confidence that there will be no disruption to existing relationships underpinned by international agreements as we move into the Implementation Period.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to increase access to the natural gas network in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government acknowledges the value that a gas connection can bring to households and businesses. However, as energy is a devolved matter, any extensions to the gas network in Northern Ireland would be a matter for a restored Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of European car manufacturing companies on their plans to retain manufacturing bases in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
There has been cross-government engagement with key automotive businesses operating in the UK and EU since the referendum. Ministers meet regularly with senior automotive executives, both through the Automotive Council and individually, to discuss investments. As part of the Industrial Strategy, in partnership with the Automotive Council, an ambitious Automotive Sector Deal has been agreed. The Government is determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many windfarms were built in each of the last three years.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Information requested can be found online in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), which can be accessed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract
The REPD tracks all renewable energy projects, including onshore wind and offshore wind projects, equal to or greater than 1MW as they progress through the planning system to when they become operational.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions has he had with representatives of car manufacturers in the EU on continuing to use British made car parts after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
There has been cross-government engagement with key businesses operating in the UK and EU across the automotive sector since the referendum.
The Department is working closely with the Department for Exiting the EU to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the EU will have on businesses, consumers and other economic actors on both sides of the channel. As my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said we will work hard to get the best deal for Britain.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial support his Department provides to the construction industry.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Government is committed to investing £600m in infrastructure over the next decade and providing £15.3bn in new financial support for housing in this Parliament.
We are driving economic growth and improving people’s lives in the long term by investing £170m through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) in the Transforming Construction: Manufacturing Better Buildings programme. The programme will improve productivity through supporting the development and commercialisation of digital, manufacturing, energy generation and storage technologies for the construction and built environment sectors.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
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 is taking to encourage utilities providers to offer discounts to customers purchasing two or more utilities from a company.
Answered by Claire Perry
In Great Britain, it is a commercial decision for individual energy supply companies as to whether to offer incentives for consumers to purchase more than one of their services. In Northern Ireland, energy policy is largely a devolved matter. The UK Government is working to ensure the resumption of stable devolved government in North Ireland.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many meetings he has had with the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland since the referendum on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy meets with the National Policy Director and the National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses most weeks and they regularly discuss the issues that are affecting businesses in Northern Ireland.
Various officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have had meetings with the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland and continue to do so.
The Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility has not received any requests to meet with the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
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 local authorities in Northern Ireland on city deals.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Government has set out its commitment to work towards a ‘comprehensive and ambitious’ set of City Deals across Northern Ireland.
Officials across Whitehall are engaged with Belfast City Region as they develop their proposals for a City Deal, which my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer committed to taking forward at last year’s Budget.
I look forward to seeing Belfast City Region’s proposals for a City Deal that can drive growth and productivity across the region.