Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the goods sold by online marketplaces are compliant with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Product Safety and Standards leads a national programme of regulatory action to tackle risks from unsafe and non-compliant goods, including from online marketplaces.
This includes test purchasing to assess compliance and removal of non-compliant products; engagement with marketplaces to understand the steps they are taking to meet their responsibilities under law; and taking enforcement action including serving Withdrawal Notices.
The recent Product Safety Review consultation includes additional proposals to ensure products bought online are as safe as on the high street. A Government response will be published this year.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when her Department plans to publish a response to its consultation entitled Good Work Plan: Proposals to support families, published on 19 July 2019.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In 2019, the Government consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay. The Government is currently considering responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on the competitiveness of UK-based businesses.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We have published an overall impact assessment for the Bill which is available on gov.uk. Going forwards, departments will identify how they will reform their REUL using the powers in the Bill. In doing so they will conduct proportionate analysis of any economic impacts, and where relevant this will include the impact on the competitiveness of UK businesses.The Government remains committed to engaging with stakeholders to ensure policy decisions are well informed and result in benefits for UK businesses and the wider population
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on costs for businesses.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We have published an overall impact assessment for the Bill which is available on gov.uk. Going forwards, departments will identify how they will reform their REUL using the powers in the Bill. In doing so they will conduct proportionate analysis of any economic impacts, including the impact on costs for businesses. The Government remains committed to engaging with stakeholders to ensure policy decisions are well informed and result in benefits for UK businesses and the wider population.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the (a) funding arrangements, (b) governance structures and (c) management structures are for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund comprises debt and equity funds in each part of the Northern Powerhouse region. It is funded through pooled European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding from participating Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) matched with a combination of public and private grant and loan contributions from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the British Business Bank (BBB). In each case the holding fund is ultimately owned by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Each sub-fund is run by a private fund manager contracted by the BBB, with a mandate to invest in businesses spread across the region. Finance is provided based on affordability and the merits of the applicant’s business plan.
The performance of these fund managers and the distribution of funding is scrutinised by members of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Strategic Oversight Board, which includes representatives of each participating LEP as well as DBT and DLUHC officials.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The 2022 interim evaluation of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) found the fund had increased productivity, employment and skills across the North of England.
Of the businesses surveyed, 73% had increased workforce skills, and 62% reported additional investment in research and development. In total 6,071 new jobs have been created through the fund – almost 1,000 more than originally planned.
For 68% of surveyed businesses, the NPIF investment had funded the development of new products or services. Of these, 48% said their innovations would reduce carbon emissions, and 42% said they would improve health or the delivery of health services.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps her Department has taken to help Bolton Council (a) support (i) businesses, (ii) exporters and (iii) manufacturers and (b) attract foreign direct investment.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Business and Trade offers a range of nationwide export support services which can be adapted to meet local needs. The department has recently in-housed a team of International Trade Advisors, a number of whom are based in the North- West and offer one to one export advice and support to businesses. Initiatives such as the Export Academy, the Foreign Direct Investment strategy and the Export Champions scheme offer knowledge and practical help to local businesses.
The department works closely with local partners in the North-West such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce which covers the Bolton area.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department issues guidance on steps that members can take to support (a) foreign direct investment, (b) local businesses that export, (c) small and medium-sized enterprises and (d) start-ups in their constituency.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Business and Trade works closely with MPs to encourage exports and attract foreign direct investment including through our network of Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys.
At an Export Showcase for parliamentarians in March we shared information about export support available to business and guidance on signposting businesses to the department. We published an ‘MP Toolkit’ to help members support and encourage exporters in their constituencies.
We provide a range of support and guidance to help small and medium-sized enterprises grow, including the free Business Support Helpline and newly-launched Help to Grow website. Businesses of all sizes can access government-backed finance from the British Business Bank.