Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he expects to receive the outcome of the Personal Insolvency Review.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Personal Insolvency Review is the most significant review of the personal insolvency framework in England and Wales since the introduction of the current regime in 1986. The review is ongoing, and the Government expects to finalise options for reform in the coming months.
Any proposed reforms to the personal insolvency regime will be subject to public consultation.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a programme to subsidise domestic electric battery manufacturing.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The battery sector currently employs 10,500 people across the UK and is one of the frontier industries highlighted in our Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.
The Government recently made the UK's largest single commitment to battery R&D and commercialisation of £452 million to 2030 in the new Battery Innovation Programme (BIP).
BIP targets technical skills gaps to develop engineers and scientists of the future, connects academic researchers with UK industry, and funds investor partnerships that improve access to investment for innovative battery companies ready to commercialise and scale in the UK.
This sits alongside DRIVE35, our long-term £2.5 billion commitment to zero emission vehicle manufacturing which provides capital support and additional R&D funding for strategic vehicle technologies, like batteries, accelerating their commercial scale-up.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to create firework-free zones.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No assessment has been made of the potential the merits of giving local authority the powers to create fireworks control zones. Building on the work of my predecessor, I will continue to engage with counterparts in Scotland to understand the impact Firework Control Zones have made before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales.
The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing measures to stop the underage sale of fireworks online.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No assessment has been made of the merits of increasing measures to stop underage sale of fireworks online. There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally, or misused. Sales offences in Great Britain are enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the penalty for retailers who sell to children is a fine and/or three months in prison.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of exposure to (a) glyphosate, (b) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and (c) heavy metals in period products on public health.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety. As part of this Officials are reviewing the need for any further research and testing for harmful chemicals and heavy metals in period products to complement the consultation.
We are working closely with DEFRA who advise that studies carried out in the EU on chemicals in period products found that the chemicals identified were present only in low concentrations, with no evidence of significant risks to human health. Defra is continuing to monitor research in this area.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that (a) private sector employers apply their company sick pay policies consistently and transparently, and (b) workers, particularly those who are disabled or living with long-term health conditions, are fully informed of and able to access their entitlement to sick pay.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Government sets the approach to statutory sick pay (SSP), providing a vital safety net to workers. Through the Employment Rights Bill, Government is ensuring SSP is available from the first day of sickness. It is for employers to decide if they wish to provide an occupational sick pay scheme that goes beyond these requirements.
Employers play a vital role in addressing health-related economic activity. That is why we appointed Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working review, published 5 November. Following the review, Government has committed to testing new employer-led approaches to support individuals to remain in work.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of banning fireworks to support veterans with PTSD.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
At this time no assessment has been made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of banning fireworks. However, the Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting veterans, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action.
The Government has also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes new guidance for those running community fireworks events, and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that menstrual products are subject to the (a) the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, (b) UK Cosmetics regulation and (c) other relevant regulations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Period products are not regulated as a medical device in the UK. They are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which require that only safe products, in their normal or reasonably foreseeable use, are placed on the market. There are obligations on producers and distributors to, where reasonable, sample test products to check safety. During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to set a timeline for the consultation on leave and pay for parents of critically ill children.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has already committed to publish a terms of reference and timeline for its ongoing review of employment rights for unpaid carers this autumn. This will also outline the scope and include a timeline for consulting on employment rights for parents of seriously ill children.