Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that vaping devices are only sold at regulated outlets.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
On 11 April 2023, we launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce youth vaping. The call for evidence explores issues related to regulatory compliance, including those sold online and in retail outlets. Once this closes, this year, on 6 June, the Government will assess a range of options based on the evidence provided, including potential future changes to vaping policy and regulation. The Government continues to provide funding to local authorities in support of local trading standards activity. This includes enforcement of non-compliant and/or illegal products that may pose a risk to public health.
We recently announced £3 million of additional funding for a new national illicit vaping enforcement unit to tackle illicit and underage vape sales across the country. This will help us to better understand trends related to illegal vaping, ascertain what is imported at United Kingdom borders and allow us to assess the impact of the illegal sale of vapes on public health.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - Devizes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of a central bank digital currency on retail funding for commercial banks.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In February 2023, HM Treasury and the Bank of England published a joint consultation on a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC). The consultation noted that a UK CBDC, or ‘digital pound’, is likely to be needed in the future. However, a final decision has not yet been made and will be informed by this consultation and future work.
As part of this consultation period, HM Treasury and the Bank of England will carefully consider how the digital pound could impact the commercial banking sector, as well as any potential deposit outflows and any substantial shift in retail banks’ funding models.
A response to this consultation will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - Devizes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of a central bank digital currency on deposit outflows for commercial banks.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In February 2023, HM Treasury and the Bank of England published a joint consultation on a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC). The consultation noted that a UK CBDC, or ‘digital pound’, is likely to be needed in the future. However, a final decision has not yet been made and will be informed by this consultation and future work.
As part of this consultation period, HM Treasury and the Bank of England will carefully consider how the digital pound could impact the commercial banking sector, as well as any potential deposit outflows and any substantial shift in retail banks’ funding models.
A response to this consultation will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - Devizes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of a central bank digital currency on the commercial banking sector.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In February 2023, HM Treasury and the Bank of England published a joint consultation on a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC). The consultation noted that a UK CBDC, or ‘digital pound’, is likely to be needed in the future. However, a final decision has not yet been made and will be informed by this consultation and future work.
As part of this consultation period, HM Treasury and the Bank of England will carefully consider how the digital pound could impact the commercial banking sector, as well as any potential deposit outflows and any substantial shift in retail banks’ funding models.
A response to this consultation will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which consultations published by their Department are awaiting a response; and when each of those responses (a) were initially planned to and (b) will be published.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero was created in February 2023. The Department has not issued any consultations for which a response is outstanding.
As part of the Machinery of Government changes, the Government inherited 34 ongoing consultations from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
- Review of the energy intensive industries exemption scheme;
- Considerations for future Contracts for Difference (CfD) rounds;
- Capacity Market 2023: strengthening security of supply and alignment with net zero;
- Improving boiler standards and efficiency;
- Smart Meter Targets Framework: minimum installation requirements for Year 3 (2024) and Year 4 (2025);
- Review of consents for major energy infrastructure projects and Special Protection Areas, 2022;
- Data sharing regulations for a safeguard energy tariff;
- Energy retail: opt-in and testing opt-out switching;
- Designing a framework for transparency of carbon content in energy products: call for evidence;
- Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes;
- Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme: request for information;
- Review of consents for major energy infrastructure projects and Special Protection Areas;
- Proposals for hydrogen transport and storage business models;
- Decarbonisation readiness: call for evidence on the expansion of the 2009 Carbon Capture Readiness requirements;
- Future of the energy retail market: call for evidence;
- 1st Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage Licensing Round Appropriate Assessment;
- UK Emissions Trading Scheme free allocation review: call for evidence;
- Greenhouse gas removals (GGR) business models;
- Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating systems in businesses and public buildings off the gas grid;
- Re-coupling Great Britain electricity auctions for cross-border trade;
- Exemptions from the requirement for an electricity licence: call for evidence;
- Climate Change Agreements (CCAs): proposals for a future scheme;
- Future policy framework for power with carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): call for evidence;
- Land rights and consents for electricity network infrastructure: call for evidence;
- Introducing a performance-based policy framework in large commercial and industrial buildings;
- Role of biomass in achieving net zero: call for evidence;
- Cost of energy review: call for evidence;
- Improving home energy performance through lenders;
- Potential of marine energy projects in Great Britain: call for evidence;
- Designing the Green Heat Network Fund: call for evidence;
- Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid;
- Green Gas Support Scheme 2022 annual tariff review: call for evidence;
- Third-party intermediaries in the retail energy market: call for evidence;
- Non-domestic Private Rented Sector minimum energy efficiency standards: EPC B implementation.
We will respond to these consultations as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Competition and Markets Authority concerning any preferential market access which could be enjoyed by any Department for Transport operator of last resort Train Operating Company in its (1) promotion, and (2) sale, of new rail retail products and services across the rail sector.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have been clear that there must be a level playing field between any future Great British Railways retail function and independent retailers to provide a competitive market that benefits customers. Independent retailers play an important role in growing the market and delivering innovation.
We consulted on our proposals around the retail market, where bodies, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, could express their views, and we are continuing conversations with the Office of Rail and Road and the Competition and Markets Authority while developing policy for online retail. We will publish a response in due course along with any further updates.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Competition and Markets Authority concerning proposals by any Department for Transport operator of last resort Train Operating Company (1) to establish and expand its rail retail footprint, and (2) to provide wider digital retail services to the rail retail sector.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have been clear that there must be a level playing field between any future Great British Railways retail function and independent retailers to provide a competitive market that benefits customers. Independent retailers play an important role in growing the market and delivering innovation.
We consulted on our proposals around the retail market, where bodies, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, could express their views, and we are continuing conversations with the Office of Rail and Road and the Competition and Markets Authority while developing policy for online retail. We will publish a response in due course along with any further updates.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from (1) organisations, or (2) persons, opposed to them proceeding with the Consolidated Online Retail Solution (CORS) for new advanced rail retailing; and whether any of those representations has contributed to the delay to the CORS.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have been clear that there must be a level playing field between any future Great British Railways retail function and independent retailers to provide a competitive market that benefits customers. Independent retailers play an important role in growing the market and delivering innovation.
We consulted on our proposals around the retail market, where bodies, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, could express their views, and we are continuing conversations with the Office of Rail and Road and the Competition and Markets Authority while developing policy for online retail. We will publish a response in due course along with any further updates.
Asked by: Baroness Buscombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they ensure that the correct tax is paid by small high street businesses, such as barbers and nail salons, that only accept cash for their goods and services and do not provide receipts.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government is committed to creating a level playing field for all sectors by ensuring that everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time. Like all other businesses, those which exclusively accept cash must meet their tax obligations.
HMRC’s approach to tax evasion aims to tackle current non-compliance and change future behaviours. Their activities include national campaigns and specialist task forces that incorporate intensive bursts of activity in targeted high risk trade sectors (including the retail and service industry) and locations across the UK. HMRC also works with customer groups and third parties, such as other local and central Government agencies, to reduce error and fraud within these sectors. This includes providing customer education highlighting the importance of keeping accurate records.
HMRC take any report of suspected tax evasion seriously and operate a confidential Fraud Telephone Hotline and an online reporting tool available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using green bonds to finance the Government’s stake in the Sizewell C project.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government Green Financing Framework, which sets out the parameters for the UK’s green gilts and retail Green Savings Bonds, currently excludes funding of nuclear energy projects. Any potential future changes to the Framework in the future to include nuclear energy would be transparently published by the Government.