Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 ensure that (a) small retailers, (b) businesses in the agricultural and horticulture sector and (c) other eligible businesses are able to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is open to eligible businesses operating in most sectors, including small retailers and businesses in agriculture and horticulture. Agriculture businesses may not qualify for the full interest and lender-levied fee payment paid by government.
In order to be eligible for the CBILS, businesses must:
For more information on the scheme, businesses should visit the British Business Bank website: www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/clbils/
The Government has responded to feedback to ensure that companies feel the full benefits of available support through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) by:
The Government will continue to see if there are other areas for improvement across the scheme as a whole.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 ensure the resilience and competitiveness of international energy markets.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented falls in demand in global energy markets and increased market volatility. Ensuring reliability, stability and security of energy supply during this global emergency is vital. The UK remains a strong supporter of free, transparent, and competitive energy markets and we are working closely with actors right across the sector to ensure that global energy systems remain secure and reliable
I attended an extraordinary meeting of G20 Energy Ministers held on 10 April to discuss the impact of the Covid 19 on global energy markets. At that meeting Ministers agreed that ensuring energy market stability and affordable and secure energy are key in addressing the health, well-being and resilience of all countries throughout the crisis response and recovery phases.
G20 Ministers also committed to work together to develop collaborative policy responses to ensure market stability across all energy sources, the security of our energy systems, and the uninterrupted flow of energy.
We continue to monitor market developments and remain in regular contact with G20 and other international partners.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK is not dependent on the supply of (a) foodstuffs, (b) medicines and (c) other essential goods from other countries after the resolution of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Government is working around the clock to support UK manufacturers to continue producing essential goods and products. Industry has risen to the challenge, working with UK suppliers to produce ventilators and other vital equipment.
We have put in place an unprecedented package of Government support to help with business continuity and to give manufacturers and their suppliers the support they need to ensure they can get back up and running after the Covid-19 crisis. These measures include:
- £330 billion of Government-backed and guaranteed loans to support UK businesses.
- The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to help small and medium-sized businesses to access vital financial support.
- Our new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme to allow more firms to benefit from Government-backed support during this difficult time.
- Deferring VAT payments for firms until the end of June 2020, which represents a £30 billion injection into the economy.
- Our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, where small and large employers will be eligible to apply for a Government grant of 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 a month, backdated to 1 March 2020 and available for at least three months.
Our high degree of food security is built on access to a range of sources, including our strong domestic production and imports from a range of stable sources around the world. It is important that we have access to a diverse range of supply through international trade for consumer choice. It is also vital that we supplement domestic production and ensure that any disruption from adverse weather or disease does not affect our overall security of supply.
There are over 14,000 medicines currently licensed for use and marketed in the UK. Whilst some of these are manufactured in the UK, most are manufactured abroad. Where medicines are manufactured here, the active ingredients and excipients for those medicines may be manufactured abroad. It is not possible to manufacture every medicine and the active ingredients and excipients needed for these medicines here in the UK
The production of medicines is complex and highly regulated, and materials and processes must meet rigorous safety and quality standards. However, the Department of Health and Social Care has established robust procedures to deal with any medicine shortages and there is a team within that Department which helps prevent shortages.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 counterfeit goods are sold (a) online and (b) offline.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In 2017 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published ‘Fake Goods, Real Losses – Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK Economy’. This report available at https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/trade-in-counterfeit-products-and-the-uk-economy_9789264279063-en was updated in 2019. The most recent report estimates that the value of imports of counterfeit and pirated goods to the UK accounted for as much as GBP 13.6 billion in 2016.
The report also provides information on the value of counterfeit goods sold in the UK and their originating countries.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of counterfeit goods on UK businesses.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In 2017 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published ‘Fake Goods, Real Losses – Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK Economy’. This report available at https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/trade-in-counterfeit-products-and-the-uk-economy_9789264279063-en was updated in 2019. The most recent report estimates that the value of imports of counterfeit and pirated goods to the UK accounted for as much as GBP 13.6 billion in 2016.
The report also provides information on the value of counterfeit goods sold in the UK and their originating countries.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 value of counterfeit goods sold in the UK that have been imported from overseas, by country, in each of the last three years.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In 2017 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published ‘Fake Goods, Real Losses – Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK Economy’. This report available at https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/trade-in-counterfeit-products-and-the-uk-economy_9789264279063-en was updated in 2019. The most recent report estimates that the value of imports of counterfeit and pirated goods to the UK accounted for as much as GBP 13.6 billion in 2016.
The report also provides information on the value of counterfeit goods sold in the UK and their originating countries.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to tackle the sale of counterfeit cigarettes in Lincolnshire.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Trading Standards are the lead organisation for enforcement of IP at the point of sale, tackling counterfeits and piracy. Local enforcement will be a local matter, in this instance for Lincolnshire Trading Standards.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to tackle the effect of counterfeit goods on UK businesses.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government takes the issue of Intellectual Property (IP) infringement seriously and is working with industry and enforcement agencies on a number of initiatives to tackle this issue. This includes the Intellectual Property Office’s work with the IP Crime Group to coordinate the UK response to tackling counterfeiting and piracy. The IPO funds and works closely with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) based in the City of London Police which is dedicated to tackling serious and organised online piracy and counterfeiting to protect legitimate UK businesses.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to consumer protection of introducing a licensing scheme for UK construction companies and sole traders.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department has regular discussions with the construction industry about how best to achieve the potential benefits of a licensing scheme without the practical drawbacks, as well as other issues that will help improve the standard of work undertaken by firms and sole traders in the sector.
The Government has endorsed the TrustMark Scheme which aims to marginalise unscrupulous traders operating in the home building and repair market ; and to identify local traders who have undergone independent checks for both trade competence and good trading practice. The Government believes this scheme gives consumers increased confidence and ability to choose registered businesses including builders who adhere to and maintain high standards.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 make an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of additional (a) incentives, (b) capital allowances, and (c) financial support for research and development to support the manufacturing industry.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
We are in regular dialogue with companies, business organisations and other stakeholders on how best to support the UK manufacturing sector in a way that delivers value for money for the British taxpayer. Our modern Industrial Strategy will ensure the UK remains one of the most competitive locations in the world for manufacturing investment.
We are investing over £600m in the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and up to £167m in our Made Smarter industrial digitalisation programme. We have increased the permanent level of the Annual Investment Allowance from £200,000 to £1 million for all qualifying investment in plant and machinery made from January 2019 to December 2020 to help stimulate business investment. This will help UK manufacturers develop, adopt and exploit new technologies, and invest in the skills crucial to future success in international markets.
We are making unprecedented increases in R&D and are aiming for 2.4% of GDP to be spent on R&D by 2027 to make the UK the world’s most innovative economy. We have made significant investment into scientific research and development in the manufacturing sector through Waves 1 and 2 of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Some examples of this include: £246m under the Faraday Challenge that helps UK businesses to seize the opportunities presented by the transition to a low carbon economy; £188m for medicines manufacture to develop first-of-a-kind technologies; and £26m for the manufacturing of future materials for advanced manufacturing sectors.
In the most recent Budget, we also announced up to £121m under the Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge to support the transformation of manufacturing through digitally-enabled technologies, subject to business case approval, and industry co-investment.
Finally, Government and industry have committed around £1 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, to research, develop and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies through the period 2013-2023, keeping the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations.