Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to data on BEIS: ePCS spending over £500 for November 2022, published on 18 April 2023, for what purpose her Department spent (a) £4,173.62 on 1 November 2022, (b) £8,057.75 on 4 November 2022, (c) £5,211.00 on 8 November 2022 and (d) £6,465.49 on 29 November 2022 with Appreciate Group Plc.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The expenditure with Appreciate Group Plc was for the supply of non-cash award vouchers for the Department. These vouchers support the Department’s performance management reward process.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Leader of the House on the indicative timescale for the introduction of the proposed Audit Reform Bill.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government is committed to legislating to reform audit and corporate governance when Parliamentary time allows. The Secretary of State has frequent discussions with Cabinet colleagues; the Government’s legislative programme will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the contribution in Westminster Hall on 23 March by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to bring forward the review of the whistleblowing framework.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers are prepared to expose wrongdoing, and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recriminations.
The Government announced the review of the whistleblowing framework on Monday 27th March. The Terms of Reference for the review are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-whistleblowing-framework.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Product Safety and Standards plan to take steps to assess the safety of vaping; and what she plans to take to ensure the safety of vaping products.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
All vaping products need to comply with existing product safety regulation. Such products must be both safe and compliant with any restrictions relating to their sale. For example, this includes product safety regulations that apply to the batteries and chargers.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for implementing a number of provisions under Part 6 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, with the enforcement of these provisions predominantly delivered by Trading Standards. The regulations ensure minimum standards for the safety and quality of all e-cigarettes and refill containers.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Trading Standards and (b) the Office for Product Safety and Standards on e-cigarette manufacturer Elf Bar overfilling e-cigarette devices.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is part of the Department of Business and Trade. OPSS has discussed Elf Bar e-cigarettes with Trading Standards as part of ongoing discussions regarding the compliance of vape devices with product safety regulations. There is also ongoing work by Trading Standards and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to continue to raise awareness of non-compliant devices and, where appropriate, take enforcement action including withdrawing them from the point of sale.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Office for Product Safety and Standards will be responsible for enforcing the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
We have not made an assessment of potential divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK resulting from the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation, though we continue to watch developments and listen to the issues raised. Any assessment will need to consider the final Regulation once agreed, as well as the outcome of Product Safety Review consultation as this will shape the Government’s approach for the rest of the UK.
Subject to the final EU Regulation we expect that, as is the case now, District Councils and other market surveillance authorities operating in Northern Ireland, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, will enforce the product safety rules applicable in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of potential effect of the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation on creating a divergence in product safety between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
We have not made an assessment of potential divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK resulting from the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation, though we continue to watch developments and listen to the issues raised. Any assessment will need to consider the final Regulation once agreed, as well as the outcome of Product Safety Review consultation as this will shape the Government’s approach for the rest of the UK.
Subject to the final EU Regulation we expect that, as is the case now, District Councils and other market surveillance authorities operating in Northern Ireland, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, will enforce the product safety rules applicable in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to answer Questions 148625 and 148626 tabled on 20 February 2023 by the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
I refer the Hon. Member for Feltham and Heston to the answers I gave her on 6 March, UIN: 148626 and on 7 March, UIN: 148625.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she will publish the (a) results and (b) outcome of the consultation on increasing the scope and powers of the Small Business Commissioner that closed on 24 December 2020.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
Revision to the Small Business Commissioner’s powers, following on from the consultation in 2020, will be considered after the conclusion of the current wider payment and cash flow review, and statutory review of the Small Business Commissioner (SBC). The role of the SBC will also be explored as part of the wider review. We anticipate delivery of a conclusions document in 2023.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has taken steps to help resolve the industrial dispute concerning Royal Mail.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The industrial relations dispute is a matter for Royal Mail, as a private company, and the Communication Workers Union to resolve.
The Government is monitoring the industrial dispute closely and I strongly urge Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to continue negotiations to reach a resolution as soon as possible and minimise the disruption to consumers and businesses.