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Written Question
Smart Export Guarantee
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the rates are for Smart Export Guarantee (a) generators and (b) licensees.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

It is for Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) licensees to determine the tariff rates they offer to eligible generators who may seek to sell their exported electricity. There are a range of different tariffs available to generators.

Further details on tariffs offered in the second year of the scheme can be found within Ofgem’s Annual Report ( https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/smart-export-guarantee-seg-annual-report-2021-22) or third party comparison websites such as https://solarenergyuk.org/resource/smart-export-guarantee/ that provides current market offerings.


Written Question
Gratuities
Tuesday 1st November 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeline is for the implementation of the Government’s reforms to tipping practices, announced in September 2021.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Tips earned by workers should go to the workers they were intended for. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Private members bill sponsored by the Hon. Member for Yns Môn, and supported by the Government, will require employers to pass all tips to workers.

This Bill has just passed Committee stage in the House of Commons and is expected to move to the House of Lords in January. We expect new rules to commence no earlier than one year after legislation is given Royal Assent, giving employers sufficient lead-in time to adjust their business practices.


Written Question
Apple and Google: Myanmar
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) Apple and (b) Google on the potential merits of hosting apps for the Myanmar military.

Answered by Dean Russell

This is not a matter for BEIS.


Written Question
Fireworks: Regulation
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to review legislation on the sale of fireworks.

Answered by Dean Russell

There is a comprehensive regulatory framework in place for fireworks which aims to strike the right balance for people to enjoy fireworks, whilst aiming seeking to reduce risks and disturbances to people, animals, and property.

The Government will continue to keep this area under review to ensure we promote the safe and considerate use of fireworks.


Written Question
Unfair Dismissal
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

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 returning the unfair dismissal qualification period to one year on employee's employment rights.

Answered by Dean Russell

The qualifying periods for unfair dismissal are intended to strike the right balance between providing fairness to employees and to increase business confidence for recruiting and retaining staff. The UK now has record levels of payroll employees, and the unemployment rate is at 3.8%, which is below the pre-pandemic rate.

It is important to note that no qualifying period applies if a dismissal is for certain specified reasons, for example the right not to be unlawfully discriminated against. We believe this provides the right balance for employees and employers.


Written Question
Solar Power: Housing
Tuesday 20th September 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing grants or interest-free loans to fund the installation of domestic solar panels.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In the British Energy Security Strategy, the Government committed to look into facilitating low-cost finance from retail lenders to drive rooftop solar deployment. Rooftop solar is supported in a range of schemes such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Energy Company Obligation, and the Home Upgrade Grant, subject to certain requirements. The Smart Export Guarantee introduced in January 2020, allows households with rooftop solar to receive payment for electricity they export to the grid.


Written Question
Electronic Equipment: Electric Cables
Wednesday 15th June 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

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 potential merits of standardising charging cables for portable electronic devices.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government is aware of the proposal of the EU for a single charging solution for certain electronic devices. There are currently no plans to introduce similar requirements in domestic law, but we will monitor developments in this area.


Written Question
Flexible Working
Wednesday 16th March 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the finding of a recent study by the GMCA that 75 per cent of vacancies make no reference to flexible working in their job descriptions, what steps the Government (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to encourage more businesses to introduce flexible working practices.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government is committed to supporting businesses and individuals to work flexibly. Our consultation on making flexible working the default closed on 1 December 2021, receiving over 1,600 responses. The Government is analysing these responses and will issue its consultation response in due course.


Written Question
Post Offices: ICT
Wednesday 2nd March 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on setting up a compensation scheme for the 555 claimants in the group litigation of Alan Bates and others vs Post Office.

Answered by Paul Scully

The 555 sub postmasters involved in the Group Litigation Order (GLO) agreed a settlement of £42.75m plus costs. In bringing this case they performed a public service; I understand their frustration that they have received less compensation than others.

BEIS officials have recently met their representatives to understand the harms which they have experienced, and we will continue to work with sub postmasters in the GLO to see what can be done.


Written Question
Gratuities
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what the timeline is for the implementation of the reforms to tipping practices announced in September 2021.

Answered by Paul Scully

Tips earned by workers should go to the workers they were intended for. We will bring forward legislation requiring employers to pass all tips to workers as soon as parliamentary time allows.

This legislation will require employers to pass on all tips, gratuities, and service charges to workers without any deductions. Employers will be required to distribute tips in a fair and transparent manner, where employers have control or significant influence over tip distribution. We will introduce a new right for workers to make a request for information relating to an employer’s tipping record, to enable them to bring forward a credible claim to an employment tribunal.

We expect new rules to commence no earlier than one year after legislation has passed, giving employers sufficient lead-in time to adjust their business practices.