Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Dec 2018
Leaving the EU: State Aid, Public Ownership and Workers’ Rights
"I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I know everybody says this, but I will come to that later, when I address broadband specifically. I agree that improving that infrastructure is essential.
The recent research from the IPPR that I mentioned earlier concludes that the public place more weight …..."Laura Smith - View Speech
View all Laura Smith (Lab - Crewe and Nantwich) contributions to the debate on: Leaving the EU: State Aid, Public Ownership and Workers’ Rights
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Dec 2018
Leaving the EU: State Aid, Public Ownership and Workers’ Rights
"I am grateful once again to my hon. Friend, who makes some excellent points on devolved Governments.
Long before the formation of the EU, British workers’ rights were largely gained through industrial organisation and collective bargaining. Many statutory rights that have been introduced have simply extended those rights so that …..."Laura Smith - View Speech
View all Laura Smith (Lab - Crewe and Nantwich) contributions to the debate on: Leaving the EU: State Aid, Public Ownership and Workers’ Rights
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 11 Dec 2018
Leaving the EU: State Aid, Public Ownership and Workers’ Rights
"Thank you to my hon. Friends the Members for Barnsley East (Stephanie Peacock) and for Stroud (Dr Drew), to the hon. Members for Glasgow East (David Linden) and for Henley (John Howell), and to all other hon. Members who made interventions. I thank the SNP Front-Bench spokesperson, the hon. Member …..."Laura Smith - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 16th October 2018
Asked by:
Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to (a) understand and (b) tackle the issues that (i) carers and (ii) parents face in (A) retaining, (B) entering and (C) progressing in work.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
(i) Carers
The Government is committed to supporting carers to provide care as they would wish, and to do so in a way that takes account of their own health and wellbeing, access to education, employment and life chances.
Our Call for Evidence on carers in 2016 highlighted the practical challenges of balancing work and caring responsibilities. In June 2018 we published an action plan setting out a cross-government programme of targeted work to support carers over the next two years. That includes action to support employers to improve working practices and flexible working and to help carers to stay in work and return to work, as well as improving advice on financial support.
(ii) Parents
The Government has taken numerous actions to help people balance work and family. We have introduced 30 hours of free childcare for working parents of 3- and 4-year olds and we are giving working parents more help with the costs of childcare. Under the Coalition Government we also extended the right to request flexible working to all employees and introduced shared parental leave and pay: evaluation of both changes is ongoing.
At Spring Budget 2017, the Government committed £5m to supporting parents and careers back into work following a career break for caring. The Government has commissioned research to identify the barriers to both carers and parents in returning to work following a break for caring. We are seeking to tackle those through encouraging employers to set up supportive, flexible returner opportunities.
Written Question
Thursday 13th September 2018
Asked by:
Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the effect of proposed changes to stage lighting under the EU energy efficiency regulations on (a) the UK arts industry and (b) other sectors such as schools.
Answered by Claire Perry
Since BEIS officials raised this issue with the Commission we have seen a new draft of the regulation which now includes a technical exemption for stage lighting. Prior to voting at the Regulatory Committee, due to take place at the end of the year, we will carry out a cost benefit analysis for the UK, and will continue to consult on the draft regulation and listen to any concerns raised by interested parties.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 12 Jun 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"The British Retail Consortium has estimated that up to one third of retail jobs could disappear by 2025 as a fundamental transformation of the market occurs. Does the Minister agree that providing retail workers with the opportunity to upskill and reskill is critical to avoiding mass job losses over the …..."Laura Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 May 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"Have the Government made any assessment of whether social care providers will go bankrupt this year due to the ruling on sleep-in shifts and the minimum wage, and whether this will have any impact on social care? If so, will they provide that assessment to the House?..."Laura Smith - View Speech
View all Laura Smith (Lab - Crewe and Nantwich) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 30 Jan 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"3. If he will take steps to regulate executive pay. ..."Laura Smith - View Speech
View all Laura Smith (Lab - Crewe and Nantwich) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 30 Jan 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"Does the Minister acknowledge that there is sufficient compelling evidence to conclude safely and beyond any reasonable doubt that collective bargaining significantly reduces income inequality?..."Laura Smith - View Speech
View all Laura Smith (Lab - Crewe and Nantwich) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Friday 12th January 2018
Asked by:
Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
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 made an assessment of whether markets have been found to act against consumer interests.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
We will issue a Consumer Green Paper in due course that will tackle areas where markets are not working for consumers.