Oral Evidence May. 01 2024
Committee: Environmental Audit CommitteeFound: University of the Arts London, INretail, and WRAP Oral Evidence
Oral Evidence May. 01 2024
Committee: Environmental Audit CommitteeFound: H&M, Thrift+, Oxfam, and boohoo Group plc Oral Evidence
Mentions:
1: Lord Benyon (CON - Life peer) of unwanted textiles and ask businesses to separate textiles waste for reuse and recycling. - Speech Link
2: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GRN - Life peer) with the fashion sector, given that 20% of the world’s water use and 10% of greenhouse gases are generated - Speech Link
3: Lord Benyon (CON - Life peer) The noble Baroness is absolutely right about the impact of fashion and textiles in terms of both carbon - Speech Link
4: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (LAB - Life peer) As we have heard, although some fashion retailers offer their own recycling schemes, both councils and - Speech Link
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department have taken to improve (a) environmental and (b) human sustainability practices in the fashion industry.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The textiles and fashion industry plays an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and is a major driver of economic growth - with UK designers and manufacturers exporting around the world. Improving the creative industries’ environmental impact was identified as a priority in our Creative Industries Sector Vision, published in June 2023.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the work they are doing on textiles waste management. Defra’s ambitions for minimising textile waste are outlined in ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’ which constitutes a new Waste Prevention Plan and was published on 28 July 2023. Defra funds Textiles 2030, a voluntary initiative with over 110 signatories from the fashion manufacturing industry covering 62% by sales of the UK clothing market. Signatories are committed to reducing their carbon and water usage and to other circular economy principles such as agreeing good design principles so that their products are durable and recyclable.
DCMS also supports the UK Research and Investment (UKRI) £15 million Circular Fashion programme, launched in 2022 to bring the sector, academia and government together to understand and drive the fashion and textiles industry towards sustainable and responsible practices.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help the fashion industry secure skilled workers to employ.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is increasing skills investment by a total over the Parliament of £3.8bn by 2024-25. Officials are working with stakeholders including the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and UK fashion and Textiles association, to accelerate the talent pipeline, such as the Production Sewing Machinists Skills bootcamp in Greater Manchester.
Where employers cannot get the skills they need in the domestic labour market, it is appropriate that they make the most of the points-based immigration system to access talent from around the world, including the Skilled Worker Visa. We also consider other important routes to increasing employers' access to skills, including addressing non-skill barriers to work such as childcare.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department have taken to steps to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the fashion industry with (a) the cost of sending samples and (b) other costs associated with running a small business.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The textiles and fashion industry plays an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and is a major driver of economic growth - with UK designers and manufacturers exporting around the world. Recognising this contribution, HM Treasury has named the creative industries, including fashion, as one of the top five priority growth sectors - underscored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) recent Sector Vision, which sets out ambitious growth targets.
In the sector vision and elsewhere, DCMS has a number of initiatives that aim to improve access to the creative and fashion industries for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Creative Careers Programme has been relaunched with £1 million HM Government funding (22/23-24/25). Aimed at young people aged 11-18 from underrepresented backgrounds, the Creative Careers Programme is targeting 77 priority areas across England. DCMS also engages with our government-appointed Creative Industries Disability and Access Ambassadors who are working on increasing access to the creative industries for those with disabilities.
The government is supporting UK businesses with running costs through the Recovery Loan Scheme, designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow. Businesses can use the finance for any legitimate business purpose – including managing cashflow, investment and growth. Additionally, Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hubs can also be a source of free advice and finance. This is in addition to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently. To support businesses with exporting goods (including samples) the Government's Export Support Service (ESS) provides guidance and advice in response to queries about exporting and ATA Carnets.
As part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the government announced £2 million funding to support London Fashion Week over the next two years - this will go towards supporting emerging designer talent and increasing access to the sector.
Oct. 26 2023
Source Page: Badenoch leads landmark trade mission to Japan ahead of G7 summitFound: First Secretary-led luxury fashion trade mission to Japan since 2017 including sought after brands
Found: Lewis – Circular Communities • Matthew Crighton – Friends of the Earth Scotland • Megan Pirie – Fashion
Mentions:
1: None Our member has pilot projects that involve providing textiles to colleges and universities so that textile - Speech Link
2: Ruskell, Mark (Green - Mid Scotland and Fife) We have schemes planned for textiles, bulky items, construction materials, tyres and fishing gear. - Speech Link
3: None We can talk about construction, agriculture, and textiles as a whole—because textiles is an enormous - Speech Link
4: None In the fashion market, return rates can be as high as 20 per cent. - Speech Link
5: None As a collective, the UK is the second-largest exporter of used clothes and textiles in the world, and - Speech Link
Oct. 05 2023
Source Page: Apprenticeship standard class codesFound: Technologies Fashion and Textiles Intermediate Level Apprenticeship 2 Leather Goods 3 2500 1000 1500