Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number and proportion of energy suppliers selling green tariffs that buy 100 per cent renewable power from renewable generators, rather than purchasing second-hand certificates certifying a renewable energy purchase.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Supplier procurement strategies for energy and related certificates are a commercial matter and the Government does not have visibility over which companies are utilising the secondary trading of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates to support their green electricity tariff offerings.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
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 people with pre-existing health conditions living in an area under Tier (a) One and (b) Two covid-19 restrictions do not have to go to a workplace environment that is not covid-secure.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has provided employers with comprehensive guidance on safer working which complements the Department of Health and Social Care’s guidance to clinically extremely vulnerable people. The safer working guidance is clear that employers must be mindful of their responsibilities. We highlight that failure to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and put in place sufficient control measures to manage the risk may be considered a breach of health and safety law. Any issues identified by a worker can be escalated according to the steps in the guidance.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefit of exempting certain business travellers from self-isolation after travel from countries outside England’s travel corridors.
Answered by Paul Scully
This exemption facilitates a limited amount of business activity where the individual has a reasonable belief that the activity would be more likely than not to create or preserve 50 UK jobs or provide equivalent value.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
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) pharmacists, (b) suppliers and (c) other outlets do not profiteer from the price of hand sanitisers.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
On 5 March, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a public statement to reassure businesses and consumers that it is monitoring retail practices during the Coronavirus outbreak. If required, the CMA will take direct enforcement action or advise the Government to take additional measures.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
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 guarantee an adequate supply of isopropyl alcohol for the manufacture of hand sanitiser during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We have a growing effort to secure the supply of hand sanitiser. The Department of Health and Social Care has hand sanitiser in storage and further deliveries are being made. We are working rapidly with wholesalers to ensure a longer-term supply is available.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
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 encourage relevant manufacturing companies to switch production to the manufacture of (a) personal protective equipment and (b) hand sanitiser or its key ingredients.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chancellor is chairing a regular Economic and Business Response Committee with Ministers from across the Government. The Committee will respond to the impact on businesses, supply chains, and the wider economy caused by the pandemic, and will request advice and support from industry where necessary.
Secretaries of State will also hold sector-specific roundtables, including with theaviation, retail, manufacturing, food, insurance, financial services, sport, entertainment and events, and tourism and hospitality industries.
Any business who is able to help should get in touch at: gcfcovid19enquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if her Department will take steps to support employees affected by the closure of IKEA's store in Coventry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
This will be a concerning time for employees and their families, and we are in contact with IKEA regarding the closure. I can equally assure you that Jobcentre Plus through its Rapid Response unit will work with IKEA to understand the level of employee support required and help all affected employees get back into employment as soon as possible.
Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid Response Service is able to provide tailored support and can include some or all the following: