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Kate Dearden
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Halifax
📅 2024–2026
79 speeches on Hansard record
✅ Votes attended: 95.43% (#5 of 650 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.00%
📝 Topics: Pharmacy, Dental Services: Halifax, Anti-social Behaviour: West Yorkshire
🤝 Member of 2 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Department for Business and Trade
The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
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The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15 from charitable organisations, and the government has engaged closely with the sector to understand the…
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This government is committed to protecting consumers who enter subscription contracts. We have consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions regime (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK) which included meeting with interested stakeholders.…
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The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) holds internal management information on the resource and costs associated with its Sustainability Taskforce since its establishment:FYStaff CostsNon-Staff CostsTotal CostFull-Time…
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The government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while…
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The Department has not paid for followers on the social media platforms it uses.
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The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak…
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The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has not made an estimate of the overall expected resource requirements of its Sustainability Taskforce over the Spending Review period.In reference to the previous answer to question 120645, the CMA does not allocate specific multi-year…
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The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments].The majority of employees will benefit from new protections in the Act and our assessment finds that workers in the…
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Whilst the government is not aware of any evidence that directly links elevated cancer rates to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (the FFRs), we recognise that there is an increasing body of evidence to support action to reduce the volume of chemical flame retardants…
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Ministerial private offices are small teams whose composition varies by Minister and portfolio. Private secretaries are paid in line with Civil Service pay frameworks, with contractual hours set out in individual contracts. The Department does not hold data on turnover for individual private…
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Data on the effects of the National Minimum Wage at constituent level is not held. However, in the North West an estimated 30,000 on the 18–20 rate are expected to benefit from the 8.5% increase of the 18-20-year-old National Minimum Wage on 1 April.The government remains fully committed to…
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The Department has undertaken analysis to estimate the economic impact of introducing a price cap on the ticket resale market. The modelling uses a series of assumptions about how ticket touts might adapt their activities. These assumptions are inherently uncertain. The model assumes that 20% of…
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Consumer law enforcement is principally the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Local Authority Trading Standards. Section 216 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 grants the CMA enforcement functions under the Breaching of Limits on Ticket Sales…
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The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
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The Government is taking decisive action to support pubs and the wider hospitality sector. Following the Budget, we announced an additional 15% cut for pubs in England alongside a two‑year real‑terms freeze, building on wider reforms to business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure…
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The Government is committed to ensuring markets work well for consumers and businesses. As the UK’s lead consumer and competition authority, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has a statutory duty to promote competition for the benefit of consumers. It is the role of the CMA to…
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Confidentiality Agreements (CAs) enable engagement with businesses on sensitive areas of live trade negotiations and broader policy development. The department does not require CAs for all external engagements; sensitivities and risks are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The department holds CAs…
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The Fair Work Agency brings together in one place the work of the existing employment rights enforcement bodies. To ensure there is no disruption to front line operational activity there are no immediate plans to changes to existing, nationwide, locations of staff.
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We continue to work across government to make the dispute resolution system more resilient, so that that the measures in the Employment Rights Act can be effectively enforced. We recognise the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes swiftly.A joint DBT/MoJ Taskforce—working with Acas and…
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The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other working…
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There is government guidance on GOV.UK on summary dismissal for reasons relating to gross misconduct. Acas has issued both a statutory Code of Practice and non-statutory guidance covering gross misconduct. These do not specifically mention dismissal for lying or deception during the recruitment…
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The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Home Secretary on this issue.
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It is to the benefit of all parties involved in litigation that disputes are managed efficiently. The government, therefore, supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve disputes without the expense of litigation.The government is conducting a review of the opt-out…
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The government is supporting British made electronic devices and appliances by backing domestic manufacturers, promoting innovation, and strengthening product standards. We work closely with industry bodies such as AMDEA (Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances), who lead consumer…
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On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July…
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It is unlawful for an employer to dismiss a worker for being a member of a trade union and for dismissing or imposing detriments on a worker for engaging in trade union activity, including activity related to the trade union recognition process.Previously it was only workers who were classed as…
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Yes. Cabinet Office are collating a cross-government response to the Humble Address related to Lord Mandelson and relevant papers will be provided to the House.
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The Government Car Service provides transport for Ministers and occasionally officials undertaking official duties. Its use is governed by the Ministerial Code and departmental travel policies to ensure journeys are necessary and represent value for money.
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The Government believes that strong trade unions are essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination and low pay.Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are simplifying the statutory union recognition process, establishing a formal right of access for unions to enter the…
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The Government recognises that flexible working helps people achieve a better work life balance, which can lead to happier, healthier and more productive employees. Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working, can be particularly valuable for those with health conditions, caring…
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Hospitality employs many young people - with ONS statistics reporting that around 42% of all hospitality workers are between the ages of 16-24 (2023). That is why, from April 2026, foundation apprenticeships will expand into hospitality, with up to £2,000 available for…
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There are currently no plans to undertake such an assessment. The Competition and Markets Authority’s cloud services market investigation examined the state of competition in the market. The Government remains committed to supporting investment in high‑quality, secure and resilient…
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The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other working…
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Exemptions to the duty to offer guaranteed hours may be made by Ministers in regulations and will be subject to a full public consultation on how the measures are implemented. However, we envisage that any exemptions to the duty to offer guaranteed hours will be narrow.
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The Licensing Act 2003 provides only for statutory guidance to be issued under section 182, which is limited to guidance on the exercise of functions within the Act and the promotion of the four licensing objectives. The National Licensing Policy Framework (NLPF) supports wider regeneration and…
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The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) is not able to provide an estimated annual cost for the Sustainability Taskforce for 2025/26 before its accounts for the financial year are finalised. Its Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26 will be laid before Parliament in the normal…
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Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in the 12 months to January 2026 CPI food and non-alcoholic beverages price inflation stood at 3.6%, down from 4.5% in the 12 months to December 2025. Overall CPI inflation was 3.0% in the 12 months to January 2026, compared with 3.4% in…
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The government has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the zero hours contract measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025.This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs and effects on flexibility for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and…
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The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment and has set up a small, Director-led team to co-ordinate work to identify relevant records,…
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This Government is committed to strengthening rights for working parents. From April, Paternity Leave will become a day‑one right, removing qualifying periods that currently prevent 32,000 fathers a year from accessing it.We also know that more can be done to support working parents. The…
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The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. It cites academic evidence linking stronger employment protections to improved productivity and highlights that better job security, wellbeing, and reduced undercutting of good employers may lead to a more productive…
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Bogus or false self-employment is unacceptable and we are committed to robustly tackling it. HMRC will investigate evidence that suggests companies may have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. Employers can also be taken to an employment tribunal if they seek to deny people their employment…
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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) continues to consider the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC)'s report on the accommodation offset, including the recommendation about its application to seafarers. As part of this work we are engaging with the Department for Transport. We…
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The policy paper 'The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture', published on 22 January 2025, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level of fire safety while also facilitating a…
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Civil Service recruitment is governed by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010, which requires that all appointments to the Civil Service are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.The Department for Business and Trade does not recruit candidates on the basis of…
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Product safety laws require consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries, and batteries themselves, to be safe when they are placed on the market. Businesses have obligations to ensure the safety of products they manufacturer or import, and regulators have powers to act when products do not…
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The number of full-time equivalent (“FTE”) staff assigned to the Competition and Markets Authority’s Sustainability Taskforce was 3.9 FTE in 2024-25 and 3.5 FTE in 2025-26. Data is not yet available for financial year 2026-27.
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The Consultation on trade union right of access received a total of 1612 responses. Policy officials are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation, and the government will publish a formal response in due course detailing our analysis.
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Creating the Fair Work Agency is a significant step forward in strengthening the enforcement of employment rights. All transfers of staff into the organisation will be carried out in line with the principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice regarding such matters.
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A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team. A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to…
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Apart from the 2025 National Minimum and Living Wage campaign, no other social media influencers have been commissioned by the Department or its contractors to undertake paid advertising for other campaigns or programmes since July 2024.Influencer marketing is regarded as a credible promotional…
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For financial year 2024-25 the annual cost of the Competition and Markets Authority’s Sustainability Taskforce was £342,983.19. This includes £342,306.01 in staff costs and £677.18 in other programme expenditure covering travel and subsistence.
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My Honourable friend is a real champion of local breweries, especially Moot Brewery in Halling, which she visits regularly and knows produces excellent beer. The government fully recognises the importance of independent breweries and pubs, and we are committed to ensuring the beer and pub sector…
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Officials are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation, and the government will publish a formal response in due course.
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Through the Employment Rights Act, we are making Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ right from 6 April this year. This will bring an extra 32,000 fathers and partners into scope of the entitlement. The Government also launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review on 1 July 2025, which will…
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This Government is dedicated to improving rights for working parents. In April, we are making Unpaid Parental Leave and Paternity Leave day-one rights, as well as introducing Bereaved Partners Paternity Leave. In 2027, we will further improve protections for pregnant women and those returning from…
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The Review launched on 1 July 2025 and started with a period of discovery to understand the current system and gather evidence and views from stakeholders. We received almost 1,500 responses to the Call for Evidence. These are currently being analysed, and the findings will inform the Review. We…
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The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering, all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other…
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The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 - 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA's effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and potential…
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The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 – 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA’s effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator…
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Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade are available on transparency pages of gov.uk and are released as part of the Government's transparency agenda.
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When a consumer purchases a product, the contract is with the seller, not the delivery company. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the seller is responsible for delivery of goods bought online until they are in the consumer's possession. This removes the burden of the consumer having to raise the…
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The Department keeps the consumer protection framework under regular review and is aware of some issues with rogue traders in the locksmith industry. Locksmiths must comply with existing consumer legislation. Where traders do not comply with the law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact on consumers of breweries misleading them on where their products are brewed.The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions,…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of the level of prevalence of multinational companies marketing beers and brewery brands as being from small and independent brewers or from a specific geographical location. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act…
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The government is enhancing rights and protections for the self-employed in several ways. Measures announced in September 2024 will tackle late payment and long payment terms, including requiring large companies to report on payment performance and the introduction of a Fair Payment Code. We also…
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My Department regularly meets with the Competition and Markets Authority, but has not recently discussed transparency of customer service access routes offered by large digital companies. Legislation provides the redress rights for consumers. Beyond this, the government does not generally…
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Legislation provides the redress rights for consumers. Beyond this, the government does not generally intervene in how businesses choose to conduct their activities as this is a commercial decision. Businesses have a legal obligation under the Consumer Contracts (Information,…
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Access to customer service channels is not something that has been raised recently by my Department or the consumer groups and representative bodies we regularly meet. My Department regularly reviews research, and notes that the most recent UK Customer Satisfaction Index found 83.2% of customer…
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Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world – helping families save money, get a better job, and access services like the NHS more easily. But we know some people face real barriers. That’s why government published the Digital Inclusion…
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The Fair Work Agency will be established on 7 April 2026.It will enhance the government’s ability to respond to exploitation and deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of all workers’ rights, including migrant workers and those in the social care sector.
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The hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We’ve introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases. We continue to back…
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The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
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My department is committed to supporting Net Zero goals and advancing Clean Energy initiatives. In 2024, the UK signed a Government-to-Government Arrangement with the Dominican Republic to help deliver infrastructure projects that promote mutual economic growth. My department allocated…
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It is not appropriate to publish individual-level personal data in a Parliamentary Question response.
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The Government recognises the vital contribution that breweries and local supply chains make to pubs and remains committed to supporting a sector that is diverse, competitive, and rooted in local communities.Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports smaller producers by allowing those producing up to…
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The Government recognises the significant role rural pubs play in driving economic growth, employment and community cohesion across the UK. That is why we are offering targeted support for the sector.Following the Budget, we recently announced an additional 15% reduction in the business rates bill…
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In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on the operational details of the new statutory access framework, including any further matters the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must have regard to when making determinations on access.Officials are carefully…
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The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act, which includes analysis of the potential sectoral impacts.The Government recognises the vital contribution of the hospitality sector to the UK, supporting local employment, sustaining high streets and communities, and…
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The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. As per our Better Regulation requirements, each Impact Assessment includes a small, medium and micro business assessment.The Small Business Plan also outlines how we will support small and medium sized businesses to…
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The following six Direct Ministerial Appointees declared political activity:1. Nita Clarke - Departmental Board - (Labour Party)2. Paul Lindley OBE - Board of Trade Advisers (Labour Party)3. Mike Soutar - Board of Trade Advisers (Labour Party)4. Kate Bell - Industrial Strategy Advisory Council…
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Nika Clarke OBE declared political activity for the Labour Party. This was declared at the time of announcement in line with Appointments guidance.
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My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.The Employment Rights Act is intended to improve…
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The Department for Business of Trade did not make a direct financial contribution to FGS Global in respect of the reception held at their premises on 23 June 2025. The total cost to DBT for the event, standing at £10,074.14 and comprising third-party costs (lease of disability equipment, audio…
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We remain committed to removing discriminatory adult age band. From 1 April, the National Minimum Wage rate for 18 to 20 year olds will increase by 8.5 per cent, continuing to narrow the gap with the National Living Wage and moving towards a single adult rate.The Department has published an Impact…
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We remain committed to removing the discriminatory adult age band. The latest increase to the NMW of 8.5% continues to close the gap between the minimum wage for 18- to 20-year-olds and the NLW rate, moving towards a single adult rate.The Department has published an Impact Assessment providing a…
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My officials have considered the Adam Smith Institute’s report, alongside other relevant evidence, as part of the policy development process. Our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, proposed an exemption for employers with fewer than 21 employees, with the aim of…
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 will ensure people can have the security they need by giving eligible workers the right to guaranteed hours.The next stage in implementation is a full public consultation on how the measures are implemented. Consultation will be key to ensure that the regulations…
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There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on preventing anti-social use of fireworks or the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of pets or vulnerable adults.I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs…
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The Government does not collect data on the level of ordinary unfair dismissals made by employers. The Government does publish data on the number of unfair dismissal claims awarded compensation at Employment Tribunal:2020/21: 4212021/22: 6332022/23: 7872023/24: 646Tribunals statistics quarterly:…
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The Government will undertake proportionate monitoring and evaluation of reforms implemented through the Employment Rights Act. To determine whether the policy has met its objectives, we will be monitoring its impacts and will undertake a proportionate review of this policy within 5 years following…
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We recognise the valuable contributions of independent publicans in the pubs consultation process.Ministers and officials from my Department regularly meet with independent publicans and their trade association representatives at the British Institute of Innkeeping and are represented on the…
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The Government recognises the specific challenges Shared Parental Leave can present for schools. The application of Shared Parental Leave in schools is covered by the Burgundy Book, which is negotiated between employers and teachers’ organisations. The Government has no authority over the…
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The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter into subscription contracts. We consulted on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act and have engaged closely with stakeholders. We are carefully considering the…
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The government is cooperating fully with the Met investigation and providing any assistance required.
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The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter into subscription contracts. We consulted on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act and have engaged closely with stakeholders. We are carefully considering the…
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This government recognises the significant public value delivered by the UK’s charitable sector.The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15…
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Officials are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation, and the government will publish a formal response in due course.
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The government has recently announced plans to introduce a price cap on the resale of live events tickets, which will make it illegal for tickets to be resold for more than their original cost.Our intention is that all businesses that facilitate the resale of live events tickets to UK consumers…
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The Government is improving flexibility and security for workers while supporting a flexible, responsive labour market that drives economic growth. This includes reforms on flexible working, agency work and zero hours contracts. Across each of these areas, engagement with businesses and trade…
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The government has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts from the zero hours contract measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025. These assessments include consideration of increases in labour costs and the subsequent effects, as well as setting out the sectors most likely…
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As set out in the terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, the government plans to consult this year. The consultation response will be published during the final phase of the review. This will be between autumn 2026 and winter 2026/27.
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As product safety regulator, OPSS is responsible for ensuring that consumer products are safe. The UK Cosmetic Regulation requires that a safety assessment be completed by a qualified assessor to demonstrate the safety of a cosmetic product before it can be sold on our market.OPSS also provides…
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Small businesses in the hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We’ve introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill…
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This Government is committed to allowing modern, secure, electronic balloting and workplace ballots for trade unions, as political parties and listed companies already use.We have worked with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in our development of this policy which will require detailed…
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The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in July 2025, enables the government to modernise, replace and simplify regulations. The Act’s powers have already been used to update the Outdoor Noise Regulations and the Government recently confirmed it will use the…
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The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.As part of the 2025 Equality law call for evidence, the Office for Equality and Opportunity sought information about best practices already used by some employers, research from academics and the experience of…
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While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.The…
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The Cabinet Office revised the classification of professions in early March 2025. We have been instructed to substitute the International Trade profession with the Policy profession in our reporting. Accordingly, all staff previously classified under the International Trade profession in 2024 have…
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As of 31 January 2026,A) Office-based working contracts - 5,646 employees, representing 96.9% of the overall domestic civil servants in payroll.B) Hybrid working contracts – noneC) Remoting working contracts – 179 employees representing 3.1% of the overall domestic civil servants in…
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Section 24 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 will address the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by employers who want to silence workers about harassment and discrimination in the workplace.The Government will consult on the conditions under which NDAs can still be validly made (known in…
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The Government is committed to consulting on employment status as soon as possible. The consultation will seek to address issues with the framework which can enable worker exploitation and leave vulnerable workers without core employment protections.
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Through the Employment Rights Act, we are making Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ right from 6 April this year. This will bring an extra 32,000 fathers and partners into scope of the entitlement.However, we recognise that more can be done. That is why we launched the Parental Leave and Pay…
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The Fair Work Agency will be established in phases. Initially, in April 2026, we will focus on bringing together the current enforcement bodies, delivering a single set of enforcement and investigatory powers, establishing the Advisory Board and ensuring there are clear routes for workers and…
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The government will introduce electronic and workplace balloting through a statutory instrument under Section 54 of the Employment Relations Act 2004. Section 54 contains strict requirements that must be met in relation to ensuring that those entitled to vote have the opportunity to do so, the risk…
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The consultation on the draft Code of Practice on electronic and workplace balloting for statutory union ballots recently closed on 28 January. Officials are in the process of reviewing the responses, and we will publish a formal response in due course.A final draft of the Code of Practice will be…
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The Government will implement in April the power in the Employment Rights Act that enables Ministers to issue secondary legislation to vary the 10% recognition application threshold, within parameters of 10% to 2% membership of the bargaining unit.We intend to consult on varying the threshold later…
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The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) decision-making is independent of government. Each parliament the government issues a Strategic Steer to the CMA setting out its priorities for the CMA and the wider policy objectives to which it should have regard. Information about the CMA's…
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This government recognises the significant public value delivered by the UK’s charitable sector. We have consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses, including 15 from…
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My department keeps the consumer protection framework under review to ensure that it is effective in protecting consumers. Locksmiths must comply with consumer legislation. Where traders do not comply with the law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has strengthened enforcement…
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There have been no recent discussion with online platforms on this specific matter. However, the department regularly engages with stakeholders on issues affecting consumers.Online platforms must comply with The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The Act clarifies that online…
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I refer the Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2026 to question 109830.
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The third statutory review covering the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2025 is in progress and the government’s report will be published as soon as practicable. My officials are currently analysing the evidence collected from last year’s call for evidence…
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The Department has no programmes aimed specifically at reducing official travel emissions and therefore has incurred no costs of proposals, programmes or initiatives aimed at reducing official travel emissions.
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Arm's-length bodies sponsored by the Department have not incurred additional costs as a result of Net Zero or sustainability requirements applied to procurement contracts over £10,000 in 2024-25.
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Workers in Great Britain – including those in the public sector – are protected from detriment (adverse treatment) and, if they are employees, dismissal under the Employment Rights Act 1996 if they ‘blow the whistle’ on wrongdoing and certain conditions are met. This is…
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Neonatal Care Leave and Pay was introduced in April 2025 and as part of its introduction, my department has made strong efforts to raise awareness of the new entitlement to ensure eligible parents can access it. Charities, including Bliss, have supported the department with publicising the…
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As required by Regulation 2016/425, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must meet essential health and safety requirements before being placed on the market, including online. The Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 provides the framework to enforce these regulations.We…
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The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) regularly discuss Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) matters, including trading standards’ market surveillance of PPE. BSIF and OPSS engage through direct dialogue, BSIF’s attendance at…
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Competition issues and pricing practices in the veterinary services market are currently being examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA is expected to publish its final report by March. The…
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Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods or digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and as described by the seller.A trader can upgrade, fix, enhance and improve the features of, or add new features to, digital content so long as it…
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We can confirm that the Department for Business and Trade does not hold any information associated with monitoring, reporting and compliance activity relating to official travel emissions in his Department.
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The government does not currently have any plans to introduce a minimum support period for smart home technology.Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods or digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and as described by the seller. A trader can upgrade, fix,…
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All businesses must comply with relevant laws and employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their workforce receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled. Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, does not regulate the employment models of parcel…
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The Government published a comprehensive assessment that shows young workers, typically disproportionately represented in low-paid, low quality and insecure jobs will be amongst the largest beneficiaries of the Act.We are changing legislation through the Act to make it more likely that flexible…
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The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), protects consumers from unfair trading practices and prohibits traders, including estate agents, from omitting (or providing unclear, untimely or obscure) material information to consumers in any ‘invitation to…
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The Competition and Markets Authority’s published Annual Report and Accounts contains details of its expenditure, including a breakdown of total gross expenditure by operating segment. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025.
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The department does not issue guidance to teams on the proportion of staff time or budget that should be allocated to net zero strategy or corporate sustainability activity.
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The Department for Business and Trade offer a variety of financial support to employees. This includes season ticket loans, bicycle advances, rental deposits, house purchase advances (for those relocating and meeting departmental eligibility criteria) and salary advances. In addition, employees can…
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The following projects undertaken by the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) in 2024 to 2025 related to net zero, sustainability and climate policy, carried out consistently with its statutory duty and functions: Sustainability Taskforce – supporting businesses to comply…
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The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Business and Trade, provides authoritative and impartial advice free to employees or employers in relation to employment discrimination issues via their website…
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The Department keeps employment rights and enforcement mechanisms under regular review.Discrimination in the workplace is unlawful, and robust penalties already exist under the Equality Act 2010 for employers who breach these obligations. We will continue to assess whether the current framework…
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For the financial year 2024-25, 21,691 hotel nights were booked through the Department's travel booking platform.The department’s reports do not contain the star rating of the hotels booked, therefore cannot provide an answer.
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The government is committed to ensuring pregnancy and maternity protections are effective and enforceable.We recently consulted on legislation to make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on Maternity Leave, and for at least six months after they return to work, except in specific…
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The Government is aware of concerns raised about the adequacy of support for self-employed workers who choose to adopt.Local Authorities can already make discretionary payments equivalent to Maternity Allowance to self-employed adopters who do not qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay, where…
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The Government recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment, nor does it have any current plans to, on the contribution…
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The government recognises the hard work of the Munitions Workers and is extremely grateful for their input and sacrifices made during both World Wars.Munitions workers are included on the Women's War Memorial in Whitehall. In addition, several trees have been planted at the National Arboretum in…
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To inform any future decisions in relation to all fireworks, I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and the impact of fireworks. Particularly given the recent tragic events in Switzerland, this will include any evidence on the…
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The Government does not have plans to establish new standards for the use of chemicals in furniture manufactured or sold in the UK. The policy paper the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture, published in January 2025, sets out our plans to reform the Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations…
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The Government launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review in July 2025, as part of the Plan to Make Work Pay. The Review is exploring how the system can better support working families, including those where parents are self-employed, and reflect the realities of modern work. It provides a…
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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is working with the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care on the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase, focused on tackling health-related economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces. We are…
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Local authorities and the police have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by misuse of fireworks. New Respect Orders will empower police and local councils, via court mandates, to impose stringent behavioural restrictions on individuals who repeatedly engage in antisocial behaviour. I…
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There has been no assessment on the impact of the fireworks regulations 2004 on tackling purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs debated two e-petitions relating to the sale and noise of fireworks respectively. As…
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The Government is committed to supporting pubs and the wider hospitality sector, which is why we have taken decisive action. We recently announced an additional 15% cut for pubs on top of the permanent reduction in the business rates multiplier for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure…
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 will address the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by employers who want to silence workers about harassment and discrimination in the workplace.The Government will consult on the conditions under which NDAs can still be validly made (known in the legislation…
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The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 set the consumer protection framework for package holidays and linked travel arrangements. They require organisers to meet specific standards and provide protections such as redress for substandard or unperformed services, refunds…
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Workers in Great Britain are protected from detriment or dismissal under the whistleblowing framework in the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest and Disclosure Act 1998, if they ‘blow the whistle’ on wrongdoing and certain conditions in the legislation are met.…
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Across the UK from 6 April 2026, new day one rights will now allow 32,000 more dads and partners each year to take paternity leave and 1.5m more parents to take unpaid parental leave. This will support working families to juggle the modern demands of work with raising children. The government…
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 will be delivered gradually over a two-year period to give businesses time to prepare.We are working in partnership with business organisations to build awareness about the changes and ensure there is practical support available.We have also rolled out a new online…
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While UKCA marking is required for certain products, it is not required for all consumer products. The UK’s product safety laws require that businesses must only place safe lithium-ion batteries on the market, including those used in e-bikes or e-scooters. In 2024 the Government introduced…
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The requirement for a 14 day cooling off period for distance contracts is an existing requirement under the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013. The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024. The consultation…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not made an assessment on the cumulative impact of these costs on zoological collections.The Government is committed to supporting businesses and charities. To do so, the Government is introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible…
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The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) does not review secondary legislation. Where applicable under Better Regulation guidance, the RPC produces opinions of Option Assessments and Impact Assessments to help Government ensure that the evidence and analysis in them is sufficiently robust. As is best…
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The requested breakdowns are below: CURRENT GRANTS TO PERSONS AND NON-PROFIT (NET)DescriptionCapital DEL (£000)Resource DEL (Programme) (£000)Total (£000)Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)180,149-180,149Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)68,68811668,804Citizens…
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Small businesses in the hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We've introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases.We…
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To inform any future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks, I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, alongside existing research on the impacts of 120dB fireworks and anti-social use of fireworks on animals and vulnerable groups, as well as evidence…
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Separate funding for the department's corporate sustainability activity, including net zero strategy and action planning, is not allocated. The associated work is dispersed across several functions and it is not possible to identify the cost of this. No consultancy costs have been funded or…
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My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation. Additionally, the Hospitality Sector Council provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.The Government recognises…
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The data recorded by the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) enables it to track costs across the projects it undertakes and the functions it performs. However, it is not able from this data to accurately estimate the costs incurred in relation to thematic areas such as net zero,…
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Records are not held that identify the cost of the Department's initiatives aimed at reducing official travel emissions including behavioural programmes, reporting systems and policy compliance activity.
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The department currently has no plans to require retailers to offer a choice of delivery couriers to consumers. This is a commercial decision for the business to make. Consumers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to businesses directly. This encourages businesses to adapt and fairly…
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There has been no specific meeting between Ministers and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to discuss competition in the hotel market. Responsibility for assessing competition in individual markets, including the hotel market, lies with the CMA, which operates independently of Government.…
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We are currently finalising plans for the new grants scheme ahead of its launch in April. Its primary purpose is to support hospitality businesses to improve their long‑term viability, including through diversification. The fund will also aim to improve productivity through innovation and to…
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The UK Government recognises the important role of the testing and accreditation sector in ensuring products are safe and comply with relevant regulation. The sector supports UK businesses to sell products in the UK and export to other countries, alongside supporting innovation. The UK Government…
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The powers in the Act enable the UK to maintain high product standards, supporting businesses and economic growth, by allowing the UK Parliament the power to update relevant laws. As stated in the budget announcement we plan to consult in early 2026 on major reforms to modernise and simplify the…
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To inform any future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks, I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks. This includes consideration of existing research into the impact of 120dB fireworks on…
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A search has been conducted by Integrated Corporate Service containing the words “Jeffrey Epstein” and no records were found. In compliance with the Public Records Act, the Department has no plans to publish emails and documents from 2009-10 held by Integrated Corporate Service.
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The rationale for appointing without competition was made public at the time of announcement, following consultation with the Commissioner. A fair and open competition was undertaken with a strong applicant field. However, it needed to be strengthened further by the appointment of Nita Clarke, who…
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During 2024–25, the costs associated with supporting the Government’s Net Zero, sustainability and climate related policies were £196,065.88. These were primarily related to staff time delivering mandatory disclosures and requirements including Greening Government Commitments and…
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Changes in staff numbers at the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) since 1 April 2017 have been affected by the expansion of its responsibilities in respect of competition enforcement and merger control following the UK’s departure from the EU; the introduction of new…
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The Government has published 29 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. This includes an assessment of regional impacts. An impact assessment on the 2026 National Minimum…
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The Department has issued a range of guidance, available on Gov.UK, for employers, workers, and trade unions, on handling industrial disputes. Acas provides joint employer-worker guidance on industrial action. Neither the Department, or Acas, have issued specific employer guidance on trade union…
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The government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Since the government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted an assessment of the potential impact of Single or Double British…
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The KPI is intended to incentivise the supplier to address issues of workforce inequality.In line with Government procurement policy on social value, and because we are required to include a related KPI, this KPI was selected from an approved list in the Social Value Model linked to the policy.
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The breakdown of Estimate line ‘A DBT – Department for Business and Trade (DEL)’ for RDEL outturn of £1,497,088,000 for 2024-25 is: DBT Core (£000)Insolvency Service (£000)Companies House (£000)Total (£000)Current grants to persons and non-profit…
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Pubs are central to local life, which is why we’ve delivered permanent business‑rates cuts for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses and are providing £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases following the revaluation. On top of this support, the Chancellor announced a…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I’ve given him on 29 January 2026 for question UIN 107051. Given that the information the hon. Member seeks has been published in that answer, I have no plans to place a copy of the Freedom of Information disclosure he mentions in the Library.
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The Government Property Agency (GPA) is responsible for collecting and providing all greenhouse gas emissions data for the estate occupied by the department. The Department for Business and Trade did not incur any third-party costs in 2024–25 for measuring, reporting, or validating greenhouse…
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Influencer marketing is a credible promotional channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way to reach audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.The activity aimed to raise awareness of the new National Minimum…
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My department did not incur any additional costs as a result of Net Zero or sustainability requirements applied to procurement contracts over £10,000 in 2024-25.
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Department for Business and Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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The Department for Business and Trade hosted an Industrial Strategy Business reception at the offices of FGS Global on 23 June 2025. The Department had worked with several businesses to find a suitable central London business location to host the reception.The Department does not hold a centralised…
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The breakdown of Estimate line ‘A DBT – Department for Business and Trade (DEL)’ for CDEL outturn of £492,483,000 for 2024-25 is: DBT Core (£000)Insolvency Service (£000)Companies House (£000)Total (£000)Current grants to persons and non-profit…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not made a full assessment of the costs to business of the policies previously intended to form part of the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill. Most of those costs would have come from the expansion of the Public Interest Entity audit regime to…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of this issue. Competition issues in the veterinary services market are currently being examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.…
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The Government is committed to improving women’s health and supporting employees through the Employment Rights Act (ERA). Officials have engaged with women’s health organisations, including endometriosis groups, informing voluntary Employer Action Plans on menopause from April 2026.…
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Of the 30 direct ministerial appointees, 6 have declared political activity.Due diligence is conducted and individuals are required to complete a formal declaration of interests, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. These appointees deliver vital expertise to government and there is no bar to…
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My department is committed to supporting Net Zero goals and advancing Clean Energy initiatives. In 2024, the UK signed a Government-to-Government Arrangement with the Dominican Republic to help deliver infrastructure projects that promote mutual economic growth. This project provided…
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The Department aims to respond to correspondence within 15 working days. I apologise for the delay in responding and can confirm a response was issued on 20 January 2026.
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