Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to reopen the Office for Product Safety and Standards review of Whirlpool tumble dryers following continued consumer concerns.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Office for Product Safety and Standards published a report of its review in April 2019 and issued a decision letter requiring Whirlpool to take action in a number of areas. OPSS has been assessing the response by Whirlpool closely and the investigation remains ongoing.
On 4th June the Office for Product Safety and Standards notified Whirlpool of its intention to serve a recall notice in respect of the remaining unmodified tumble dryers still in use. This is the appropriate next regulatory step.
We are following up on all information referred to us about consumers who have experienced a serious issue with affected machines.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many infrastructure contracts overseen by his Department have been let with the stipulation that a Project Bank Account must be applied in the last year.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Central BEIS have not let any infrastructure contracts over the past year. We do not hold this information for BEIS Arms Lengths Bodies therefore this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the Digital Single Market on the royalties earned in EU countries by UK musicians.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
No such assessment has been made to date. This is because rights holders tend to use collective management organisation (CMOs) to collect and distribute royalties earned in other EU countries. UK and EU CMOs enter into reciprocal agreements with each other to do this. These are private commercial agreements between the parties which we would expect to continue after the UK has exited the Digital Single Market.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury 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 businesses in England that have a statutory duty to report on payment practices and performances; how many of those businesses have defaulted on that duty since its introduction; and what steps the Government have taken in relation to those business that have so defaulted.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Based on 2018 data, we estimate around 15,000 businesses in England to be in scope of the duty to report on payment practices and performance. The statutory duty was introduced last year and applies to businesses’ first full financial year after 5th April 2017; we therefore anticipate the majority of reports to be filed in July and October 2018. The Government will be monitoring this first year of results and we encourage anyone who is concerned that a business might not have complied, or may have made a false statement, to raise this by contacting the Department who will deal with concerns confidentially.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has consulted industry representatives on placing the powers on the prompt payment code within the Office of the Small Business Commissioner.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The recently announced call for evidence on eliminating unfair payment practices will seek views on how the government can go further to deliver a fair payment culture. The Small Business Commissioner provides advice and support to build the confidence and capability of small businesses, including working with the current administrators of the Prompt Payment Code, the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, to foster a culture change in payment practices.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury 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 businesses in England that have a statutory duty to report on payment practices and performances; how many of those businesses have defaulted on that duty since its introduction; and what steps the Government have taken in relation to those business that have so defaulted.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Based on 2018 data, we estimate around 15,000 businesses in England to be in scope of the duty to report on payment practices and performance. The statutory duty was introduced last year and applies to businesses’ first full financial year after 5th April 2017; we therefore anticipate the majority of reports to be filed in July and October 2018. The Government will be monitoring this first year of results and we encourage anyone who is concerned that a business might not have complied, or may have made a false statement, to raise this by contacting the Department who will deal with concerns confidentially.
Asked by: James Frith (Labour - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he last met with representatives of (a) British Gas and (b) Ofgem to discuss future pricing policy.
Answered by Claire Perry
BEIS Ministers and officials meet stakeholders on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues. Current pricing policy is a commercial matter for individual companies.