Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when, if at all, they plan to introduce any legislation that will be required to implement their plans announced in response to their Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation; and whether they intend to introduce a single ombudsman for the sector as part of their proposals for alternative dispute resolution.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The legislative reforms outlined in the Government response to the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows. In the meantime, the Department will work with the industry and associated stakeholders to drive forward improvements for aviation consumers.
In relation to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), this will include exploring ways to improve the ADR process, and keeping under review whether the current ADR model works best for the aviation industry, or whether an alternative, such as a single ombudsman, would be more effective.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to encourage the use of alternative dispute mechanisms in the context of resolving collective disputes; and if she will make statement.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government considers that the resolution of workplace disputes is a matter for the parties involved. The Government has established a dispute resolution framework to enable the resolution of workplace disputes as early as possible.
Where there is a collective dispute between an employer and their employees, represented by a trade union, the Government believes that strikes should be a last resort. It is better to resolve disputes through dialogue wherever possible. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) stands ready to assist the parties in reaching an agreement, where they both accept its involvement.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to publish the findings of the consultation on aviation consumer policy reform.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department consulted on aviation consumer policy reform last year (January 2022), including on additional powers for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enforce consumer rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and accessibility.
The Department are considering the responses and will set out next steps shortly.
Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that airlines operating in the UK meet their obligations in response to county court judgements, in the context of outstanding and unpaid county court claims.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The civil courts in England and Wales offer a number of different methods by which a creditor can enforce a judgment in their favour. These processes are designed to address different financial circumstances, and collectively they aim to make it as difficult as possible for the debtor to avoid their responsibilities. The choice of enforcement method lies entirely with the judgment creditor and it would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in or comment on individual cases.
The UK has a regulatory framework in place to protect consumers whilst travelling by air, including seeking redress through Alternative Dispute Resolution and if necessary through the courts. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, is responsible for enforcing consumer laws for the collective interest of consumers and will take further action if required. The Government has been clear with industry on expectations to put consumers first and meet their legal obligations to their passengers.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on reforming aviation consumer policy: protecting air passenger rights published on 31 January 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has consulted (Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation) on areas of aviation consumer policy, including additional powers for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enforce consumer rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and accessibility.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that social housing landlords are not unduly burdened by additional maintenance costs to their buildings following the installation of 5G antennas and similar equipment by telecoms firms.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on land is contained in the Electronic Communications Code (the Code).
The Code does not give operators unilateral rights to install apparatus on private land. Such rights can only be obtained with the occupier’s agreement, or, in cases where an agreement cannot be reached, by application to the tribunal. The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and occupiers. The recent Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, contains measures which encourage parties to engage in alternative dispute resolution. These measures are designed to make it easier for parties to reach an agreement consensually.
The agreement reached between the parties will typically provide for the payment of consideration, which is the amount the relevant person, who is often the landowner, receives for permitting telecommunications apparatus to be sited on its land. In addition, the parties may agree an additional amount of compensation to cover any loss or damage which the relevant person will incur because of the telecoms apparatus being installed or the operator exercising its rights under the agreement. This could include additional maintenance costs incurred.
This is reflected in the Code by a requirement for the tribunal to make an order in relation to consideration and a discretion given to it to make an order in relation to compensation, if the parties are unable to agree and the tribunal imposes a Code agreement.
Taken together, the provisions on consideration and compensation mean that landowners, including social housing landlords, should receive a fair payment for allowing their land to be used in the rollout of vital digital services.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on the adequacy of audit systems for assessing the delivery of the cold weather priority initiative by liquefied petroleum gas suppliers.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Liquid Gas UK is the trade association for suppliers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Cold Weather Priority Delivery is one of the principles for the Customer Charter to which their members agree. Liquid Gas UK provides an ombudsman scheme as an alternative dispute resolution service for customer disputes.
Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintain regular contact with Liquid Gas UK to monitor threats to security of supply.
The Competition and Markets Authority administers the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market orders, which are intended to make it easier for customers to switch LPG suppliers.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a consumer rights and support service ombudsmen.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Government published its response to the 2021 ‘Reforming Competition and Consumer Policy’ consultation in Spring 2022. This set out Government’s intention to continue to consider ways in which consumers can be supported in finding routes to redress, working with Citizens Advice, enforcers and Alternative Dispute Resolution providers to achieve this.
Consumers should report problems to the Government funded Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133, www.citizensadvice.org/. The helpline offers free advice to consumers on their rights and how to take their complaints forward. The service can also refer on complaints to Trading Standards for further appropriate enforcement action.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that BT (a) refunds in full late payment charges incurred by customers because of delays caused by postal strikes in full and (b) issues an apology to such customers.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT customers who have incurred late payment charges should contact BT customer service to discuss and resolve any issues that the postal strikes may have caused.
Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, requires all communication providers to be members of an approved independent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, which can assist in settling complaints. BT has signed up to the Communications Ombudsman service, which is free for consumers: https://www.ombudsman-services.org/sectors/communications
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham 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 adequacy of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government published its response to the 2021 ‘Reforming Competition and Consumer Policy’ consultation in Spring 2022. This exercise set out the many benefits of consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution and collected evidence on how it might be improved.
The Government has committed to bring forward the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill in the third Parliamentary session. Building on the evidence collected in the consultation, the Bill will contain measures to improve the consistency and quality of Alternative Dispute Resolution services in consumer markets by strengthening the accreditation and monitoring framework.