Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with Oldham Council on the potential effect on small businesses in Oldham of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions her Department has had with Oldham Council on the potential effect on energy prices of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what equality impact assessment has been undertaken on the franchising of 74 crown post offices to WHSmith announced in October 2018.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Impact assessments in respect of the franchising of Crown Post Offices to WHSmith are an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon. Member on this matter. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)
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 transpose the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive into UK Law.
Answered by Margot James
The Non-Financial Reporting Directive[1] will be brought into force by The Companies, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Non-Financial Reporting) Regulations 2016 in time for the financial year commencing on or after 1 January 2017. The Regulations were laid in both Houses on 7 November 2016. Transposition will meet the minimum requirements of the Directive which is the Government’s preferred approach to EU implementation.
The implementation of the Regulations will be supported by the Financial Reporting Council’s Guidance on the Strategic Report and guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority. Further detail on the transposition of the Directive is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/non-financial-reporting-directive-uk-implementation
[1] Directive 2014/95/EU on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups.
Asked by: Debbie Abrahams (Labour - Oldham East and Saddleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth on 4 August 2015, and followed up on 11 December 2015, on behalf of a constituent, with regard to Government support for small-scale hydro power.
Answered by Amber Rudd
Unfortunately officials in the Department of Energy and Climate Change were unable to locate the original correspondence from the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth’s constituent. I can confirm that following an electronic copy being sent from your office on 12 April 2016, I have now responded on 13 April 2016.