Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of 18 January 2018 by the Centre for Social Investigation entitled Are employers in Britain discriminating against ethnic minorities.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Centre for Social Investigation’s findings on potential discrimination at the written application stage of recruitment are concerning. The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees and people seeking work because of their race.
The Government’s Ethnicity Facts and Figures website and Business in the Community’s 2018 Race at Work Survey highlight that people from ethnic minorities still encounter disparities in recruitment and progression. In October 2018 the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to make the workplace fairer for people from ethnic minorities, including a Race at Work Charter and a consultation on mandatory ethnicity pay reporting. The consultation closed on 11 January 2019.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 held with Babcock on securing the future of Appledore shipyard.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is in close contact with Babcock regarding the closure of Appledore Shipyard. The Department is liaising closely with the MOD who have spent £1.7bn with Babcock last year. The MOD had explored a range of options with Babcock but this was not enough for Babcock to decide to maintain the Appledore facility.. In the event of job losses being announced, the Government will provide assistance through its Rapid Response Service and is ready to support any employee affected by this announcement.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many citizens of non-UK EU countries work in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
It is not currently possible to establish how many citizens of non-UK EU countries are currently working in The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
We do not centrally hold details of staff working for outsourced companies or agencies.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the ability of UK shipyards to secure contracts to build military vessels for EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Following the publication in 2017 of the National Shipbuilding Strategy Government has established the Maritime Enterprise Working Group (MEWG) to coordinate discussions with industry around growth opportunities. The MEWG has commissioned a market evaluation and competitiveness study of UK Shipbuilding which will report in the New Year. This study will identify a prospective international commercial and naval product mix for UK shipbuilding; analyse market characteristics, prospective clients and competitor strengths and weaknesses. The study will assess the competitiveness and performance levels of UK shipbuilders and will identify actions needed to address any gaps. The Department is supporting this study.
The ability of UK industry to win contracts to build military vessels for EU member states after the UK leaves the EU will remain a decision for EU member states. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working closely with industry and other Government Departments to understand the implications and opportunities presented by the UK's departure from the European Union.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 need to secure an agreement on mutual recognition of judgments and appointments in respect of insolvency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government has made clear that an effective framework of civil judicial cooperation is an important part of the deep and special partnership we want to establish with the EU on exit. It is in the interests of the UK and the EU that there continues to be an effective framework for resolving cross-border legal disputes, including insolvency, after we leave.
This was set out in the Government’s position paper on Civil Judicial Cooperation, “Providing a cross-border civil judicial cooperation framework” issued on 22 August 2017 and confirmed in the White Paper “The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union” published on 12 July 2018.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial support the Government plans to make available to SMEs to assist them in preparing for and meeting the costs of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
We want a future relationship that is broader in scope than any other between the EU and a third country and one that reflects the UK and EU’s shared history and values, close ties, and unique starting point.
We know that SMEs want certainty as soon as possible on what will happen next and how it may impact them. This is why we are pleased to welcome agreement on the terms of an implementation period, which will protect economic and regulatory cooperation and ensure there is no sudden change as we build our future partnership with the EU.
We will continue to publish all relevant material on gov.uk. Businesses can register to get information on the progress of negotiations direct to their inbox by signing up to the DExEU stakeholder bulletin.
In addition, we will continue to listen to businesses up and down the country through our regular engagements.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to introduce a Brexit loan scheme, similar to that made available by the Irish Government, to help SMEs meet the costs of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
We want a future relationship that is broader in scope than any other between the EU and a third country and one that reflects the UK and EU’s shared history and values, close ties, and unique starting point.
We know that SMEs want certainty as soon as possible on what will happen next and how it may impact them. This is why we are pleased to welcome agreement on the terms of an implementation period, which will protect economic and regulatory cooperation and ensure there is no sudden change as we build our future partnership with the EU.
We will continue to publish all relevant material on gov.uk. Businesses can register to get information on the progress of negotiations direct to their inbox by signing up to the DExEU stakeholder bulletin.
In addition, we will continue to listen to businesses up and down the country through our regular engagements.