Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what specific steps his Department is taking in response to the statutory report filed with his Department by the Joint Administrators of Blackmore Bond plc on the conduct of the Directors of Blackmore Bond plc during the three years immediately prior to the company going into administration.
Answered by Paul Scully
The content of the joint administrators’ report on the conduct of the directors of Blackmore Bond Plc is currently being investigated by the Insolvency Service.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
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 adequacy of sanctions available to the Registrar of Companies in the event of repeated failures by company directors to meet statutory deadlines for submitting documents to Companies House.
Answered by Paul Scully
A range of fines and criminal sanctions attaches to the late filing of statutory documents with Companies House, where compliance is monitored on an ongoing basis. Compliance rates suggest that the existing regime provides an appropriate balance between incentivising adherence to filing deadlines and penalising those who fail to meet them
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2020 to Question 83925, on Conditions of Employment: Re-employment, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent businesses from firing and rehiring employees.
Answered by Paul Scully
Despite the unprecedented package of support provided by this Government, some employers will need the flexibility to be able to offer different terms and conditions to ensure the sustainability of their business and avoid redundancies. However, using threats about firing and re-hiring as a negotiating tactic is unacceptable and if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.
Laws are in place to ensure that there is fair procedure in redundancy and dismissal matters as well as contractual terms and conditions cannot discriminate unlawfully. If the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress. Both employee and employers can contact ACAS, who provide free advice to workers and employers to enable them to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
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 merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to prevent or discourage companies from (a) laying off and (b) rehiring staff on less favourable terms.
Answered by Paul Scully
Despite the unprecedented package of support provided by this Government, some employers will need the flexibility to be able to offer different terms and conditions to ensure the sustainability of their business and avoid redundancies. However, using threats about firing and re-hiring as a negotiating tactic is unacceptable and if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.
Laws are in place to ensure that there is fair procedure in redundancy and dismissal matters as well as contractual terms and conditions cannot discriminate unlawfully. If the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress. Both employee and employers can contact ACAS, who provide free advice to workers and employers to enable them to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the criteria for assessing the income of housing benefit claimants trying to set up a small business.
Answered by Margot James
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Work and Pensions have regular discussions across a wide range of topics of mutual interest, including ways in which to best support those seeking to set up a business. However, no specific discussions have taken place specific to housing benefit claimants.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce a decision on Government funding for the Levenmouth Rail Link as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal.
Answered by Claire Perry
On 20 July the UK and Scottish Government’s agreed an ambitious city deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland which will see over £1 billion of public and private sector investment channelled into Scotland’s capital and the surrounding region. As part of this deal the UK Government has committed £300 million of new funding for the area; investment which will drive research and development, innovation and the creation of new jobs across the region for years ahead.
With regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link, the Hon. Gentleman will be aware that rail infrastructure is a devolved matter and his query should be directed to the Scottish Government.