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Written Question
Conditions of Employment
Wednesday 26th May 2021

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

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 (a) employers’ representatives, (b) employee representatives; and(c) devolved Administrations on potential amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Answered by Paul Scully

Ministers meet regularly with stakeholders, including representatives of employers and employees on various employment-related issues, including matters concerning the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Employment Law is a reserved area except in Northern Ireland where it is devolved. BEIS will continue to work with each devolved administration respecting their unique settlements to ensure we build a strong economy across the United Kingdom.


Written Question
Conditions of Employment
Monday 24th May 2021

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

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 ACAS on bringing forward legislative proposals on employment rights.

Answered by Paul Scully

I have monthly meetings with the ACAS Chair, Clare Chapman, and Chief Executive, Susan Clews, that cover both operational and policy matters. ACAS are an important partner for the Department, and provide important insight into workplace issues as we prepare for an Employment Bill.


Written Question
Re-employment
Monday 24th May 2021

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

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 employees who have been subject to dismissal and re-engagement proceedings in the last 12 months.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Department engaged ACAS to gather evidence of how fire and rehire is being used and they have concluded their work. ACAS engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions, as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services.

Officials are now giving ACAS’ due consideration, and the Government will respond in due course.

The Department does not collect quantitative evidence on dismissal and re-engagement.

Employers are however required to notify my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State if they are proposing making more than 20 people redundant. The Office for National Statistics produce detailed statistics on redundancies by industry and individual characteristics.


Written Question
Re-employment
Monday 24th May 2021

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the ACAS report on fire and rehire will be published.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Department engaged ACAS to gather evidence of how fire and rehire is being used and they have concluded their work. ACAS engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions, as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services.

Officials are now giving ACAS’ due consideration, and the Government will respond in due course.

The Department does not collect quantitative evidence on dismissal and re-engagement.

Employers are however required to notify my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State if they are proposing making more than 20 people redundant. The Office for National Statistics produce detailed statistics on redundancies by industry and individual characteristics.


Written Question
Conditions of Employment
Tuesday 26th January 2021

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer to oral Question 910650 of 13 January 2021, how many meetings have taken place between Ministers in his Department and ACAS on fire and rehire employment practices.

Answered by Paul Scully

BEIS Ministers meet with Acas monthly. These meetings cover a variety of employment matters.

Acas is holding independent and impartial discussions with a range of stakeholders on the use of fire and rehire practices to change contractual terms and conditions. BEIS officials have met regularly with Acas to discuss insights from this work and the circumstances when fire and hire practices are used.


Written Question
Green Deal Scheme: Complaints
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the role of the Green Deal Ombudsman is in handling complaints received by him in relation to the Green Deal.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

For complaints about mis-selling, the Financial Ombudsman Service is responsible for initial reviews. For many, but not all, complaints about other Green Deal matters, such as installation quality, the Green Deal Ombudsman is contracted to complete initial reviews.

In all cases, decisions regarding whether a breach has occurred and, if so, whether a sanction should be imposed, are the responsibility of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Complainants do not receive direct correspondence from the Financial Ombudsman Service as part of the reviews of complaints submitted to the Secretary of State. In addition to the work it completes on complaints to the Secretary of State, the Financial Ombudsman Service more generally handles Green Deal complaints about financing issues as part of its statutory role under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Some such complaints may subsequently be referred to the Secretary of State for review and may be the subject of associated correspondence between the Financial Ombudsman Service and the complainant, but such correspondence stands outside of the formal review process.


Written Question
Green Deal Scheme: Misrepresentation
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether people who have sent complaints to his Department on the mis-selling of Green Deal loans by Helms receive direct correspondence from the Financial Ombudsman Service in relation to their case.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

For complaints about mis-selling, the Financial Ombudsman Service is responsible for initial reviews. For many, but not all, complaints about other Green Deal matters, such as installation quality, the Green Deal Ombudsman is contracted to complete initial reviews.

In all cases, decisions regarding whether a breach has occurred and, if so, whether a sanction should be imposed, are the responsibility of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Complainants do not receive direct correspondence from the Financial Ombudsman Service as part of the reviews of complaints submitted to the Secretary of State. In addition to the work it completes on complaints to the Secretary of State, the Financial Ombudsman Service more generally handles Green Deal complaints about financing issues as part of its statutory role under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Some such complaints may subsequently be referred to the Secretary of State for review and may be the subject of associated correspondence between the Financial Ombudsman Service and the complainant, but such correspondence stands outside of the formal review process.


Written Question
Green Deal Scheme: Misrepresentation
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of correspondence acknowledging receipt of a complaint on Green Deal loan mis-selling has been sent by his Department within 15 days in line with departmental targets.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

The Department does not record data on correspondence acknowledging receipt of a complaint on Green Deal loan mis-selling which has been sent by this Department. Complaints on Green Deal mis-selling can be received through a number of routes, including email, post, and official Department and Ministerial correspondence.


Written Question
Green Deal Scheme: Complaints
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the role is of the Financial Ombudsman Service in handling complaints received by his Department in relation to the Green Deal.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

For complaints about mis-selling, the Financial Ombudsman Service is responsible for initial reviews. For many, but not all, complaints about other Green Deal matters, such as installation quality, the Green Deal Ombudsman is contracted to complete initial reviews.

In all cases, decisions regarding whether a breach has occurred and, if so, whether a sanction should be imposed, are the responsibility of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Complainants do not receive direct correspondence from the Financial Ombudsman Service as part of the reviews of complaints submitted to the Secretary of State. In addition to the work it completes on complaints to the Secretary of State, the Financial Ombudsman Service more generally handles Green Deal complaints about financing issues as part of its statutory role under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Some such complaints may subsequently be referred to the Secretary of State for review and may be the subject of associated correspondence between the Financial Ombudsman Service and the complainant, but such correspondence stands outside of the formal review process.


Written Question
Green Deal Scheme: Misrepresentation
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what redress is available for people who have inherited a property associated with a Green Deal loan where there is concern that the person from whom they inherited the property was potentially mis-sold that loan.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

Under the Green Deal Framework regulations, loans can be reduced or cancelled where there has been a breach of the relevant rules, and my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State is satisfied that the consumer has suffered, or is likely to suffer, a substantive loss. This applies to any complaint which meets the eligibility requirements regardless of whether it concerns a Green Deal Plan that was in place at a property prior to a complainant inheriting that property.