Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to provide legal recognition of Green Reps in workplaces where they are (a) elected and (b) appointed by a recognised trade union.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While there is no separate statutory framework for green representatives, the Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthened rights to reasonable paid time off for trade union representatives and trade union equality representatives. Where a workplace green representative is also a trade union representative, they may benefit from these statutory rights relating to trade union representatives. There are no current plans to introduce a separate statutory framework for workplace green representatives.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to give elected workplace Green reps rights to information, consultation and participation in workplace sustainability and transition planning, including through joint Futureproofing Committees.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While there is no separate statutory framework for green representatives, the Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthened rights to reasonable paid time off for trade union representatives and trade union equality representatives. Where a workplace green representative is also a trade union representative, they may benefit from these statutory rights relating to trade union representatives. There are no current plans to introduce a separate statutory framework for workplace green representatives.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to give the right to reasonable paid time off for elected workplace Green Reps.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While there is no separate statutory framework for green representatives, the Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthened rights to reasonable paid time off for trade union representatives and trade union equality representatives. Where a workplace green representative is also a trade union representative, they may benefit from these statutory rights relating to trade union representatives. There are no current plans to introduce a separate statutory framework for workplace green representatives.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the timetable is for meetings of the Joint Committee established under the UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Officials meet annually for the UK-Faroe Islands FTA Joint Committee, with the latest held on 3rd June 2026 in London. The FTA establishes effective channels for UK officials from the Department for Business and Trade to lobby the Faroes on animal welfare issues, including at the last Joint Committee. Regular engagement with the Faroese Representation in London also enables the UK to raise important issues directly with the Faroese Government.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to include (a) animal welfare and (b) environmental conservation on the agenda of the next meeting of the Joint Committee established under the UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Officials meet annually for the UK-Faroe Islands FTA Joint Committee, with the latest held on 3rd June 2026 in London. The FTA establishes effective channels for UK officials from the Department for Business and Trade to lobby the Faroes on animal welfare issues, including at the last Joint Committee. Regular engagement with the Faroese Representation in London also enables the UK to raise important issues directly with the Faroese Government.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which UK representatives are scheduled to participate in the meetings of the Joint Committee established under the UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Officials meet annually for the UK-Faroe Islands FTA Joint Committee, with the latest held on 3rd June 2026 in London. The FTA establishes effective channels for UK officials from the Department for Business and Trade to lobby the Faroes on animal welfare issues, including at the last Joint Committee. Regular engagement with the Faroese Representation in London also enables the UK to raise important issues directly with the Faroese Government.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department takes when facilities designated as part of national infrastructure do not submit accounts in line with the Companies House deadline.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
All companies must file annual accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Directors are personally responsible for ensuring accounts are delivered on time.
Where accounts are filed late, Companies House automatically imposes statutory late filing penalties. For persistent or serious non-compliance, Companies House has a range of enforcement powers, including financial penalties and criminal prosecution. Enforcement decisions are taken in line with Companies House's published Enforcement Policy and a proportionate, risk-based compliance framework.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/companies-house-enforcement-policy
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of a 50 percent tariff on steel coming into the UK that cannot be made in the UK on the ability of UK manufacturers to provide the required amounts of steel to the UK construction industry.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK producers manufacture a wide range of steel products. They also have under-utilised production capacity. Current demand and production levels were taken into account when setting quota sizes, and further information can be found on GOV.UK.
We will closely monitor implementation of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure it remains effective and the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made as to the potential impact that the new tariff regime from 1 July will have on domestic jobs in the UK steel sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK producers manufacture a wide range of steel products. They also have under-utilised production capacity. Current demand and production levels were taken into account when setting quota sizes, and further information can be found on GOV.UK.
We will closely monitor implementation of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure it remains effective and the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of domestic steel production when quota levels for imports into the UK are reduced.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK producers manufacture a wide range of steel products. They also have under-utilised production capacity. Current demand and production levels were taken into account when setting quota sizes, and further information can be found on GOV.UK.
We will closely monitor implementation of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure it remains effective and the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.