TV Advertising Restrictions to Reduce Obesity
(Calder
Valley) (Con)
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for
Health and Social Care on the effect on businesses of proposed TV
advertising restrictions to help reduce rates of obesity.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
I assure my hon. Friend that I meet regularly with the Secretary
of State for Health and Social Care on a range of issues. My
Department has engaged with businesses and colleagues across the
country and within Government to ensure that our policy is
proportionate and achieves the Government’s desired public health
outcomes.
[V]
I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. He may be aware
that the scope of products captured in this proposal will be very
wide indeed, including kitchen cupboard products such as
All-Bran, HP sauce and cough sweets such as Fisherman’s
Friend—products that are unlikely to appeal to children. Given
the significant hit to business and UK broadcasters specifically,
will he commit to working with the Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care to narrow the scope of products covered by this
proposal?
Of course I would be very happy to work closely with my right
hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. As
I noted in my initial answer, my Department has worked closely
with the Department of Health and Social Care up to this point,
but I would be happy to hear more from my hon. Friend about this
particularly important issue.
Queen’s Speech: Employment Legislation
(Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op)
What the timeframe is for bringing forward the legislative
proposals on employment announced in the December 2019 Queen’s
Speech.
(Rochdale) (Lab)
What the timeframe is for bringing forward the legislative
proposals on employment announced in the December 2019 Queen’s
Speech.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
I am grateful for the opportunity to say here in the House that
the Government do intend to bring forward the employment Bill
when parliamentary time allows.
[V]
The TUC estimates that 3.6 million people—one worker in nine—were
in insecure work ahead of the coronavirus outbreak, leaving them
exposed to massive drops in income or unsafe working conditions.
It was bad then, and it is worse now. The Government have driven
the author of their own Taylor review to say in quite
extraordinary terms that the Government have lost their
“enthusiasm” for enforcing workers’ rights. With no employment
Bill yet on the horizon, is that not the plain truth for all to
see? Whose side are the Government on?
I will take no lessons from the hon. Lady about workers’ rights
and what this Government have done over many years to protect
workers’ rights. The national living wage is higher than it has
ever been in this country’s history. We have taken thousands of
people out of tax, and I am not going to take any lectures from
her.
[V]
If the Secretary of State will not take lessons from my hon.
Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (), will he take lessons from the TUC, which estimates
that fire and rehire is most likely to take place among young
people and black and Asian workers, or will he take lessons from
Go North West, which sacked its workforce in Greater Manchester,
and offered them increased hours of work, loss of sick pay and a
reduction in annual pay of £2,500? Is that what the Secretary of
State wants, to make Britain the best place in the world for
work?
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s question. He will know that I
take my relations and my conversations with the TUC extremely
seriously. I have met a number of TUC leaders since taking up the
post two months ago, and I am very conscious that fire and rehire
as a negotiating tactic is completely unacceptable.
(Middlesbrough) (Lab)
The Secretary of State says that he does not take lessons from
Labour—this is from the man who described the British as
“the worst idlers in the world.”
The Supreme Court ruling that Uber drivers are workers, rejecting
the company’s claim that its drivers are self-employed, sets a
precedent for all gig economy workers, who will also be entitled
to the minimum wage, holiday pay and sick pay, but it took Uber
drivers six long years of legal action to have their rights
recognised. The Government must not abandon the 3 million adults
in the UK working in the gig economy to spend years fighting in
the courts. So will the Secretary of State commit to introducing
legislation in this Session of Parliament to ensure that all gig
economy workers receive basic employment rights?
As I said in response to an earlier question, we are going to
introduce an employment Bill not in this Session but when
parliamentary time allows. We are also of course considering the
effects of this extremely important Supreme Court ruling and we
are considering options to improve clarity around employment
status.
Support for Businesses: Discussions with the Chancellor
(Glasgow South West) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on increasing support to businesses affected by the
covid-19 outbreak.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has extended our support
measures in the most recent Budget to provide an additional £65
billion. With the new restart grant scheme, the Government will
have allocated a total of £25 billion in business grants. Our
restart grants will provide up to £6,000 for non-essential retail
businesses and up to £18,000 for hospitality, personal care and
gyms. This year and next year, we are spending £407 billion to
support people and businesses throughout the pandemic.
[V]
We know that when big business is set to fail former Prime
Minister uses his hotline to the Chancellor. With 3 million
still excluded and the £20 universal credit uplift, furlough and
self-employed support ending in September, can the Minister tell
us whether any former Tory leaders have contacted the Department
on their behalf, or is it sink or swim for the ordinary folk?
As I have indicated before, this Government have done
unprecedented work and one of the things we do all the time is
speak to stakeholders and all the people we need to. Think about
the money we have invested: £407 billion to support people and
businesses throughout the pandemic.
(Bristol North West) (Lab) [V]
Many bricks-and-mortar retailers are still desperately concerned
about the build-up of commercial rents during the lockdown,
including many pubs that are prevented from negotiating a rent
review due to restrictions in regulation 7 of the pubs code. The
recent extension of the ban on commercial evictions is welcome,
but when will Ministers come forward with a long-term solution to
commercial rents?
I thank the hon. Member for the question. One of the things we
are doing is working with the stakeholders. We have done a review
of the pub code and we will be reporting on that situation soon,
but we have extended the moratorium and we will be looking into
this as well.
(Aberdeen South) (SNP) [V]
I am afraid the previous answer simply was not good enough,
because we cannot have a situation where some businesses do not
have the support that they need while another set of businesses
have had absolute certainty since the start of the
pandemic—those, of course, being the ones with links to the Tory
party; as we now know, they have had Ministers on speed-dial
since day one and even a former Prime Minister tried to get in on
the act. So does the Minister believe her Government have a
culture of covid cronyism at their very heart, and will she now
back an independent investigation into apparent lobbying by
?
Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, the Government have supported
people and businesses across the United Kingdom. The Budget
extends the UK coronavirus job retention scheme and the
self-employment income support scheme and extends the VAT cut to
support tourism, leisure and all the sectors. People and
businesses all over the United Kingdom will benefit and have
benefited from the Government’s actions.
Women in Business
(Mid Derbyshire) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support women in business.
(North Warwickshire) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support women in business.
[R]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government have taken significant steps to support women in
businesses. We have launched the Government-backed Women’s
Business Council and published the women in finance charter. The
recent Rose review and report also shows that good progress is
being made to overcome barriers for women entrepreneurs.
Mrs Latham
The majority of people employed in the wedding industry are
women. The road map out of lockdown offers very little hope for
the wedding industry or the supply chain as couples would rather
wait than have only six, 15 or 30 guests. What assurances can my
hon. Friend provide that women in the wedding industry will
receive the support their businesses need to survive until June
2021, or even beyond?
I thank my hon. Friend for her great support; I know how much she
supports women entrepreneurs, especially with Derbys Finest.
Since March 2020, the Government have provided an unprecedented
package of financial support to businesses, including those in
the wedding sector. That package of support is kept under regular
review. My colleague the Minister for Small Business regularly
meets the industry-led weddings taskforce to understand the
impact of covid-19 on businesses in this sector.
[V]
Research clearly shows that gender-diverse boards perform better
on every single measure, so it stands to reason that diversity
across the workforce can only be a benefit. Will the Minister
confirm what steps the Government are taking to encourage more
women into business, particularly in areas such as engineering
and science, in which they are traditionally under-represented?
My hon. Friend makes a really important point, and I thank him
for his tireless work to champion women, especially in his role
as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on women and
enterprise. I sincerely thank him for that. FTSE companies have
indeed made great progress, and we have seen a more than 60%
increase in the number of women on boards in the past six years.
The Government recognise that the science, technology,
engineering and maths workforce is vital to increasing the UK’s
productivity and economic growth, and I am really pleased that
Government-funded programmes such as the STEM ambassador
programme and the CREST awards are successfully encouraging young
women into STEM roles.
Vaccine Taskforce
(Warley)
(Lab)
What lessons have been learned from the operation of the vaccine
taskforce.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
The vaccine taskforce has successfully brought together the
collective effort of Government, academia and industry behind a
single purpose and mission. Its hard work and focus, in
partnership with the NHS and other organisations, helped the UK
to become the first country to procure, authorise and deploy the
Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. As I speak, over
30 million individuals across the UK have now received their
first dose.
As the Secretary of State has rightly acknowledged, under his
Department’s authorisation the vaccine taskforce has performed
brilliantly, but it has needed a scientific and industrial base
that was already there to work with. As he knows, there are some
concerns about dependency on an overseas supply chain that may be
interrupted. As the new Secretary of State, will he make a name
for himself by challenging the dead hand of Treasury dogma and
ensuring that Government contracts and projects across the board
put British industry first at last?
I am very pleased that the right hon. Gentleman is so
enthusiastic about our British ingenuity and hard work. I and my
right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer are always
working extremely hard and are very focused on trying to promote
innovation in this country in our research and development base.
Covid-19: Wedding Industry
(Bolton South East) (Lab)
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19
outbreak on the wedding industry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
My officials and I regularly meet the industry-led weddings
taskforce, established to represent all parts of the UK wedding
sector, to understand the impact of the pandemic on jobs and
businesses.
[V]
The Minister knows that businesses in the wedding industry have
faced an incredibly difficult year, and they have not had much
financial help. He also knows that this is a very seasonal
industry, and confidence is at an all-time low. Does he think it
is acceptable that, even now, people are still confused about the
guidance regarding the wedding industry—whether to have weddings;
what sort of numbers there should be—and that the guidelines that
have been issued are very vague and confused? Does he accept that
it is unacceptable that people are still asking for clarity at
this stage, bearing in mind that the wedding season is about to
start?
Having dealt with the UK weddings taskforce, I understand the
need to plan. We have published the guidance for ceremonies, and
receptions will follow. Receptions from 12 April will be outdoor
receptions. I am pleased that the UK weddings taskforce pushed us
so that we were able to include dedicated wedding venues in that
guidance.
(Kensington)
(Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support the wedding
industry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Chancellor announced in his Budget a raft of new measures to
help to support businesses, including those in the wedding
sector. These include an extension to the furlough and
self-employment income support schemes and further grants for
business.
The wedding industry has suffered disproportionately during the
last year and I am concerned that the anomalies will continue.
For instance, if we look at phase 3—from 17 May—we see that a
venue in my constituency, such as Kensington Palace Pavilion,
will be able to open to a music event at 50% capacity, which is
200 people, with alcohol, but a wedding the next day in exactly
the same venue will be able to host only 30 people. Can my hon.
Friend explain that anomaly?
My hon. Friend has been a formidable champion for businesses in
her area, including weddings, personal care and hospitality,
especially. The pace and sequencing of reopening in the road map
have been informed by the latest scientific evidence from the
Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in its working groups.
Weddings, which bring family and friends together, with their
interaction, are particularly vulnerable to the spread of
covid-19.
Rural Electricity Grid Investment: Electric Vehicles
(Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (Ind)
What recent discussions he has had with electricity network
distribution operators on the adequacy of investment in rural
electricity grids to meet potential demand as a result of a
transition to electric vehicles.
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
Distribution network operators are incentivised to ensure
adequate investment in electricity networks under the framework
set by the independent regulator, Ofgem. My officials regularly
meet distribution network operators to discuss impacts of the
electric vehicle transition, including in rural areas.
[V]
Diolch, Mr Speaker. Achieving Wales’s ambitious climate targets
would require a rapid transition to electric vehicles, yet
currently just 0.17% of vehicles used in Wales are electric. One
of the biggest barriers to the transition is grid capacity,
particularly in rural areas. Will the Minister outline how she
will future-proof the grid in Wales, especially after the
concerns expressed by the former deputy national security
adviser, Paddy McGuinness, that the integrated review published
last week failed to focus on the dangers that a future
cyber-attack on the grid would pose as the EV transition
accelerates?
The majority of the UK Government’s infrastructure grant schemes
are available in Wales, and we are working with the Welsh
Government to ensure that there are strong and co-ordinated plans
in place to support the roll-out of charging infrastructure. We
recognise the particular challenges that some rural areas may
face across the UK, such as longer distances between substations,
and Ofgem has set up a funding framework to ensure that our
electricity network supports our net zero ambitions.
Dismiss and Re-engage Tactics in Negotiations
(Jarrow) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with (a) employers and (b)
trade unions on the use of dismiss and re-engage tactics in
negotiations with employees.
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with (a) employers and (b)
trade unions on the use of dismiss and re-engage tactics in
negotiations with employees.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
We have been very clear that employers threatening to fire and
rehire as a negotiating tactic is completely unacceptable. As we
have been concerned by such reports, we engaged ACAS to conduct a
fact-finding exercise as to how fire and rehire has been used. It
spoke to a wide range of stakeholders, including businesses and
employee representatives. We are now considering these findings.
The Government have been sitting on the ACAS fire and rehire
report now for over a month, raising fears that they are trying
to bury it because they do not agree with the recommendations.
Will the Minister tell me when we will get a chance to see what
ACAS has to say, and, in the meantime, will she tell us whether
ACAS agrees that the shameful practice of fire and rehire is
quite simply unacceptable?
As I previously stated, we find that fire and rehire is just not
acceptable. In fact, the Department engaged ACAS to hold
discussions in order to generate the evidence that we need. We
therefore need to make sure that we consider all this. There is,
of course, a degree of confidentiality that we need to bear in
mind as well. ACAS officials shared their findings with BEIS
officials in February, as the hon. Lady rightly said. We are
giving this full consideration and will communicate our next
steps in due course.
[V]
Fire and rehire is utterly immoral. Members across the House have
received many emails from desperate constituents who are being
subjected to the disgraceful tactic. From British Airways and
British Gas to Go North West, workers across the country have
been treated with contempt. One of my constituents who was served
with a section 188 notice said to me, “We want changes to be made
with us, not to us.” Seeing as this Government promised to
protect and enhance workers’ rights when we left the EU, will the
Minister confirm how many employers in receipt of coronavirus job
retention scheme payments have adopted fire and rehire tactics,
and will she now commit to outlawing this practice once and for
all?
Just to reiterate, we have been holding clear consultations with
a group of stakeholders and ACAS has been conducting this for us.
We will be republishing the report in due course.
Energy Efficiency in Homes
(Tiverton and Honiton) (Con)
What plans his Department has to help improve energy efficiency
in homes.
(Wolverhampton South West) (Con)
What long-term plans he has to help make homes more
energy-efficient.
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
The Government are committed to getting as many homes as possible
to EPC band C by 2035, where cost-effective, practical and
affordable. We are doing this through setting long-term minimum
standards, providing financial support where it is needed most,
and getting the market conditions right to support action.
[V]
The green homes grant is a scheme that can improve home
insulation, cut carbon, save on energy bills and create jobs
across the country. It needs backing, not scrapping, so what
plans does the Minister have to extend and improve the green
homes grant, and how does she see the scheme helping to improve
the efficiency of older, often rural, homes, especially those
with solid walls, which use more energy and cost more to heat?
We absolutely recognise that older rural properties may be more
challenging to improve. That is why we provide an incentive for
off-gas homes under the current energy company obligation, and we
will focus the future home upgrade grant on poorer-performing
homes. We also have a range of exemptions under our minimum
standard regulations for homes that are too expensive or
difficult to improve. This is a really important aspect of our
net zero challenges, and I look forward to working with my hon.
Friend in the months ahead.
The situation regarding covid-19 has had a big impact on the
household incomes of residents in Wolverhampton. What long-term
plans does my right hon. Friend have to help elderly and
working-age residents to save money on utility bills and give
them access to affordable energy efficiency schemes?
The Government have invested £500 million in the local authority
delivery scheme to improve the energy efficiency of low-income
households, helping to reduce fuel poverty for around 50,000
households by the end of this year. My hon. Friend is a champion
for his constituents in Wolverhampton, and I look forward to
working with him as we work with those communities and households
to meet our net zero challenge through home efficiency
improvements.
Mr Speaker
I am now going to interrupt the proceedings. We are going to
pause questions, and I would like to invite the House to join me
in a moment of reflection. Today marks one year since the Prime
Minister addressed the nation and asked us all to stay at home to
combat the spread of coronavirus. Since then, many thousands of
lives have been lost and the lives of those left behind have been
changed forever. Every single one of us has been affected. It is
right that we pause now, together with the whole country, and
remember those who have died and those who are bereaved. Our
thoughts and prayers will always be with those colleagues who
worked with us in serving this House who also died. They will not
be forgotten.
It is so important that we do this and that the nation comes
together as we now see the green shoots that will hopefully take
us out of this pandemic. Hopefully we will have a world that
comes back to all of us. We will remember the role that Members
have played in this House and the way that we have worked
together, not only to enable the Government to legislate but to
ensure that the Opposition can scrutinise as well. It has been so
important for us all to get to this stage, and hopefully when we
get beyond this, we will see a House return. As I say, we will
not forget those who have died in this country, but we will also
remember those who have died serving this House. It is important
to us to ensure that they will be remembered, and we will be
doing something to remember them at an appropriate stage in the
future. The country is united and at this moment, we will take
one minute’s silence. I say thanks to those who have turned up in
the Chamber now, and I know that across the estate people will be
recognising this important one minute’s silence. Nobody could
ever have envisaged the numbers across the world that would be
lost and the sacrifice that this country has made. A big thank
you also goes to the NHS workers and all those who have been
involved in making this country tick over, whether in transport
or in shops. It is important to us all. I invite Members to stand
for one minute’s silence.
12 noon
The House observed a minute’s silence.
Mr Speaker
Thank you everybody.
(Southampton, Test) (Lab)
May I say that Opposition Members wish to be strongly associated
with your words this morning, Mr Speaker, and that I am sure that
goes for everybody else in the Chamber today?
The Government’s flagship programme to improve energy efficiency
in homes, the green homes grant scheme, has produced figures for
the latest month: vouchers applied for—18,526: vouchers
issued—1,186; measures installed—99; and, I am not making this
up, measures paid for—20. Does the Minister take responsibility
for this catastrophic failure of a scheme? Will she say now
whether she intends to extend the programme and roll the funding
over so that it has a chance to succeed in the end? If she does,
will she be sacking the US-based private consultancy firm she
hired to run this awful mess?
May I, too, associate myself with your words earlier, Mr Speaker?
I think we have all, sadly, been touched by the loss of someone,
or more than one person, whom we have known to this dreadful
disease in the past year. Thank you for your words, because it is
so important that we are able to hold this moment together.
The green homes grant voucher scheme has made significant strides
since its launch in September 2020. We have received more than
90,000 applications and issued 33,000 vouchers, worth £142
million, and an additional £500 million has been given to local
authorities to improve the energy efficiency of low-income
households, helping to reduce fuel poverty for about 50,000
households by the end of this year. This is such an important
part of the just transition that we want to ensure that we
achieve with net zero. We recognise that the scheme has faced a
number of delivery challenges, as many new mechanisms do, which
has meant it has not delivered at the rate or the scale that we
had originally hoped it would. However, we are working with the
scheme administrator to process the backlog of voucher
applications, streamlining the voucher issuance and redemption
process as a top priority. Some delays in voucher processing are
due to our robust fraud and gaming checks, which we have
implemented by learning from previous schemes.
(Ludlow) (Con) [V]
May I associate myself, and all those participating in
proceedings remotely, with the moment of national reflection that
you have just led, Mr Speaker? Thank you. Yesterday, my right
hon. Friend will have seen the report published by the
Environmental Audit Committee on the energy efficiency of
existing homes, in which we highlighted the scale of the
challenge in decarbonising the 19 million homes in this country
that account for most of the 20% of UK emissions from domestic
buildings. Will the Government commit in the heat and building
strategy to a clear timetable to encourage owners of all tenures
of homes to install affordable energy upgrades, in order to meet
our net zero Britain targets?
My right hon. Friend is right that the challenge of making all
our homes energy-efficient and moving to net zero is enormous. I
thank him for his leadership, as Chair of the Environmental Audit
Committee, in looking in depth at some of the vital issues, to
help us not only to solve the technical and financial challenges
but to encourage our constituents to make changes to reduce their
power and heat usage through efficiency.
We have a strong track record in improving the energy performance
of our homes over the past decade, with 40% above energy
performance certificate band C—up from only 9% in 2008. We are
also funding the first hydrogen-powered homes in Gateshead and
allocating more than £500 million this year alone to improve the
energy efficiency of 50,000 households in social and local
authority housing throughout the UK.
Covid-19: Supply Chain Businesses
(Slough) (Lab)
What plans he has to support supply chain businesses affected by
the covid-19 pandemic.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
At the Budget, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced an
extra £425 million in additional restrictions grant funding to
local authorities, which means that more than £2 billion has been
made available to local authorities since November 2020. This
discretionary funding enables local authorities to support
businesses, including businesses in supply chains that are
impacted by restrictions but ineligible for other measures.
Mr Dhesi
Given that the UK has suffered the worst recession of any major
economy, businesses in Slough and throughout our country find
themselves in a precarious position. To help them, the Government
should have brought forward a plan that includes debt
restructuring and a job guarantee for the young. Despite repeated
requests, an estimated 3 million people—including taxi drivers,
plumbers, other self-employed people and sole traders—find
themselves with absolutely no support at all from the Government.
What does the Minister say to people who have worked hard their
entire lives, paid their taxes and now find themselves and their
businesses up against the wall and collapsing, through no fault
of their own?
Indeed, we do find ourselves in unprecedented times, but the
Government have been so committed in all the things we have done.
We have committed to providing additional support for small and
medium-sized enterprises as restrictions are lifted, and
businesses will continue to benefit from Government-guaranteed
finance throughout 2021. On young people, the apprenticeship
scheme we are offering is second to none.
Paid Neonatal Leave
(Pontypridd) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce paid neonatal
leave.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
I understand how difficult it is for parents whose newborn baby
needs to spend time in neonatal care, which is why last year we
set out our intention to introduce a new, generous entitlement to
paid leave for those parents. We remain fully committed to doing
so and will legislate as part of an employment Bill as soon as
parliamentary time allows.
[V]
It has now been more than a year since the Government committed
to implementing paid neonatal leave to support the parents of
babies born sick or prematurely, but we are still yet to see any
progress. Will the Minister confirm exactly when the Government
plan to bring forward the necessary legislation to ensure that
the new entitlement is available in 2023, as promised in the
March 2020 Budget?
The Government remain committed to bringing forward the
employment Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows. The
delivery of the new entitlement to neonatal leave and pay will
require changes to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ IT payment
systems to allow employers to administer statutory neonatal pay
on behalf of the Government, but we are working towards that
goal.
British Steel Production
(Rotherham) (Lab)
What his long-term policy is on support for British steel
production.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
I thank the hon. Lady for meeting me on 10 March to discuss this
vital issue. It is of course a commercially sensitive matter that
the Government are monitoring extremely closely.
[V]
I thank the Secretary of State for that response, but more than
5,000 workers at Liberty Steel, including 900 in Rotherham, are
facing an uncertain future following the collapse of Greensill
Capital. Will the Secretary of State now commit, as other
Governments in Europe have done, to step in, if necessary, to
safeguard this vital strategic industry?
The hon. Lady will know that in my meetings with management and
relevant union leaders, I have always stressed that the
management plans need to be worked through. We are monitoring the
situation extremely closely. The hon. Lady will know that I have
a direct interest in the future of Liberty Steel.
(Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op)
Does the Secretary of State accept that, as well as supporting
tens of thousands of decent jobs, UK steelmaking capacity is of
key strategic importance to our future competitiveness and
resilience? If he does, is he as concerned as we are about the
future of Liberty Steel, and will he ensure that the Government
are working now on a plan B with all options on the table,
including public ownership, should the firm fail to secure
finance? Or is he ideologically opposed to this, preferring the
UK Government either to step aside or to spend huge sums to prop
up businesses at risk only to sell them off cheap overseas?
The hon. Lady will know that we have a repeated and often stated
commitment to decarbonisation in our industry. It was only last
week that we published, under the leadership of my right hon.
Friend the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, the
industrial decarbonisation strategy. She will also appreciate
that the steel industry is a vital part of that decarbonisation
strategy.
Horizon Europe
(Glasgow North West) (SNP)
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on the funding of the UK associating to Horizon Europe.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
regularly speaks to Her Majesty’s Treasury on a range of issues.
I am pleased that we are taking part in the Horizon Europe
programme; it will bring a huge benefit to the United Kingdom. We
will set out our plans for 2021-22, including Horizon Europe
funding, in due course.
[V]
Last week, the Government’s integrated review confirmed that
there would be a multi-year settlement for UK Research and
Innovation. Can the Minister confirm that funding for associating
to Horizon Europe will be covered separately from this
settlement? If not, can she explain how funding for Horizon
Europe and this multi-year uplifted settlement will be supported?
As I have previously mentioned, the discussions around this are
ongoing and the funding will be announced in due course. I would
like to point out to the hon. Lady that we have an ambition to be
a science superpower and, in fact, we have committed £22 billion
by 2024-25.
(Newcastle
upon Tyne Central) (Lab) [V]
Everyone who has had a coronavirus vaccine knows of the deep
sense of gratitude to scientists. In facing the challenge of
climate change, future pandemics and technological change, we
look to science. At the general election, the Prime Minister
promised to double science spend. Instead, we appear to have a £1
billion cut to the science budget plus a £120 million cut to our
overseas development science as part of a “new settlement” that
protects
“the most effective research programmes.”
Can the Minister say which programmes will be cut, which
scientists will lose their grants, and which institutions will
close? The Government who clap the NHS but impose a real-terms
pay cut now plan to praise science and cut scientists.
BEIS regularly has talks with Her Majesty’s Treasury on these
issues. Let me reiterate that we plan to be a science superpower
by 2024-25, with a £22 billion investment. We also have a Second
Reading debate today on a high-risk, high-reward agency.
Furthermore, in terms of the spending review, more than £40
billion across Government was spent on science.
Energy Transition Projects in Scotland
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
What new support he plans to provide to energy transition
projects in Scotland.
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
The Chancellor’s Budget recently announced significant investment
for energy transition projects in Scotland. We hope to shortly
announce the North sea transition deal, which will play a vital
role in transitioning the oil and gas industry to low carbon
alternatives.
[V]
COP26 will allow Scotland to showcase existing and emerging
net-zero technologies, but, policy-wise, we need to see a minimum
floor mechanism for pumped storage hydro. We need innovation
power purchase agreements available for wave and tidal, a
contract for difference for hydrogen and the go-ahead for the
Acorn carbon capture and storage project. Will the Minister meet
me to discuss these matters and take the necessary actions ahead
of COP26?
It is always a pleasure to meet the hon. Member for Kilmarnock
and Loudoun () to discuss these matters. COP26 is such an important
moment, not only with our carrying the responsibility of the
presidency to help encourage other countries to do more to reach
their net-zero targets, but in order to showcase the genuinely
world-leading decisions that we have taken to drive our own net
zero.
(Aberdeen South) (SNP)
My hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun () just mentioned a number of areas where the UK
Government can and should invest in Scotland. But we do not just
need cash; we need a level playing field. That is particularly
true in relation to the electricity grid. I am sure that the
Minister is aware that a new renewables project in Scotland will
have to pay in excess of £4 per unit to access the grid, whereas
the renewables project in the south-east of England gets paid £1
per unit to access the very same grid. That is no Union of
equals. Scotland has the ability to lead Europe in the renewables
field. Why are the Tories trying to hold us back?
Scotland has indeed played an important part, particularly in the
wind development sector. The Chancellor’s Budget included £5
million for the global underwater hub in Aberdeen, £2 million for
the North sea transition deal and £27 million for the Aberdeen
energy transition zone. This is just one part of the whole net
zero challenge that we are looking to take on. We look forward to
continuing to work with our Scottish colleagues.
Covid-19: Support for Businesses
(Colne Valley) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support businesses during
the covid-19 outbreak.
(Bury North) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support businesses during
the covid-19 outbreak.
(Dewsbury) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support businesses during
the covid-19 pandemic.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
We have spent over £352 billion, and have committed £407 billion
to an unprecedented package of support for businesses, including
the job retention scheme, support grants and Government-backed
loans. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer
recently presented to Parliament his Budget, which sets out the
additional £65 billion to support people and businesses.
[V]
I very much welcome the restart grants and the sector-specific
guidance for weddings as we cautiously reopen the economy. Will
the ministerial team please keep updating the guidance on
reopening for the hospitality and retail sectors, so that
businesses can successfully reopen in a covid-safe way?
I thank my hon. Friend for his ongoing support and for
championing businesses, including in the hospitality and wedding
sector. We will continue to ensure as best we can that the
guidance is available in time for businesses to plan and to give
them the certainty they need.
[V]
Many councils, including my own in Bury, retain millions of
pounds of additional restrictions grant moneys in their bank
accounts, rather than distributing this crucial financial support
to businesses in need. What steps can my hon. Friend take to
ensure that these moneys are used to support businesses now?
I thank my hon. Friend for all the work that he does for his
local businesses. At the Budget, my right hon. Friend the
Chancellor announced £425 million of additional restrictions
grant funding to local authorities, which means that more than £2
billion has been made available to local authorities since
November 2020. The Government will continue to work closely with
local authorities to ensure that these grants are distributed to
businesses when they need them and that the additional money can
be used. I urge authorities to relook at their local policies to
include businesses that have not had that support in the past.
[V]
The UK furniture industry is a success story, with nearly £17
billion of annual consumer expenditure, over 330,000 jobs and
exports that had grown to more than £1 billion a year before the
pandemic. My constituency of Dewsbury is the UK’s third largest
furniture manufacturing base and it faces a number of challenges,
including a potential global shortage of steel and foam, and
issues relating to rules of origin. Will the Minister agree to
meet the British Furniture Confederation to address these
concerns and help to ensure that the industry continues to
thrive?
My hon. Friend, having worked in the sector, is an excellent
champion for it. I understand that these remain extremely
challenging times for the furniture industry, which particularly
relies on retail premises to sell its products. I speak to the
British Furniture Confederation on a regular basis as part of my
roundtables, but I am always happy to meet my hon. Friend and the
confederation itself.
Topical Questions
(East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
In my two months as the BEIS Secretary of State, I have now held
meetings with more than 200 businesses across the United Kingdom
listening to their concerns and their hopes for the future. Last
week, it was my real pleasure to see BEIS helping to make that
future brighter when we launched our industrial decarbonisation
strategy, which allocates more than £1 billion to driving down
emissions from industry and public buildings. We have also
published proposals for reforming audit and corporate governance,
which will cement Britain’s status as the premier investment
destination by raising standards, deterring fraud and empowering,
potentially, a new regulator.
Dr Cameron [V]
The Secretary of State will be aware that the National
Engineering Laboratory based in my constituency in East Kilbride
has put together a vital proposal to build a clean fuels
metrology centre. Given that this project enjoys cross-party
support and is vital to the UK’s transition to a decarbonised
economy, will he meet me, cross-party members of the all-party
hydrogen group and industry representatives to discuss how to
progress these important matters?
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member and her associates
in this enterprise. She will know that as Minister of State for
Energy I was particularly keen on this new technology and I
commissioned a hydrogen strategy that will be published in the
next couple of months. I am very interested in this and of course
I would be delighted to meet her and her colleagues.
(Vale of Clwyd) (Con) [V]
The future of plans for the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station on
Anglesey has been uncertain since Hitachi withdrew its interest.
Other companies have, however, expressed an interest in the
development, which could secure thousands of highly skilled jobs
in north Wales. Will my right hon. Friend therefore meet me, the
all-party Mersey Dee North Wales group and industry
representatives to discuss the future of nuclear in the region?
I would be absolutely delighted to meet my hon. Friend and the
bodies that he has mentioned. We are absolutely committed to
nuclear power and to the people of north Wales, in particular.
Wylfa is still a prime candidate for new nuclear power and I look
forward to pursuing our discussions to see what may be done in
this regard.
(Doncaster North) (Lab)
Let me associate myself, Mr Speaker, with the important remarks
you made on this national day of remembrance.
I want to follow up the question about Liberty Steel because the
Business Secretary’s answer simply was not good enough. No
ideology or dogma must stand in the way of protecting the jobs of
5,000 people and many more in the supply chain. This is a
critical part of our national infrastructure and it is critical
to those communities. Will he now do what he has failed to do so
far and say that he will do whatever it takes, including public
ownership if it is the best value for money choice, to save those
jobs if it is necessary?
The right hon. Gentleman will be absolutely aware that this is an
ongoing commercial matter. He will know that I have seen local
management, representatives of the unions and a number of people
who are very, very keenly involved in the steel sector, and it
would not be appropriate for me to enter into what is a
commercially sensitive situation. My heart goes out to the
workers. They are an excellent workforce, and Liberty Steel has a
fine tradition in this space, but it would be inappropriate for
me to enter into what are live, commercially sensitive issues.
It is not about the Business Secretary’s meetings or about his
heart; it is about his action and his willingness to say that he
will do plan B if it is necessary to save those jobs, as we
expect him to do. The problem is that the reason people are
suspicious of the Secretary of State is that there used to be a
cross-party consensus in this country about industrial strategy,
but in his two months in office he has torn up the industrial
strategy, abolished the Industrial Strategy Council, and thrown
in the bin all the work local areas have done over a number of
years. Maybe he can tell the business community: why does he hate
industrial strategy so much?
I think it is very easy for the right hon. Gentleman to get
obsessed with the words “industrial strategy”. What this
Government are committed to is action. That is why we launched
the decarbonisation industrial strategy. That is why we are
pursuing the fourth auction round in offshore wind. That is why
John Kerry, who I was very happy to meet two weeks ago, said that
this country is a world leader in decarbonisation.
(York Outer) (Con) [V]
Can the Secretary of State assure me that if the Government take
the very draconian decision to ban summer holidays abroad this
year, they will provide targeted support to compensate the travel
sector, which will be decimated by this decision?
My hon. Friend will know—if he does not, I will let him know—that
when I took office two months ago, the things that the travel and
hospitality sectors assured me that they needed more than ever
were a road map and support. I am pleased to say that my right
hon. Friend the Prime Minister came up with his road map on 22
February and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor extended
unprecedented support to the economy on 3 March. I am happy to
meet my hon. Friend to discuss whether he wants to see further
actions, but we have committed £407 billion—an unprecedented
amount—to supporting the economy at this terrible time.
(Sheffield South
East) (Lab) [V]
I am sure that the Secretary of State is aware that ITM Power
based in my constituency is a leader in hydrogen research and
production. It has just massively expanded its factory in my
constituency. It is obviously disappointed that in the recent
funding announcements the Government backed blue hydrogen
projects but not any green hydrogen projects. As soon as
restrictions allow, will the Secretary of State commit to visit
ITM Power to look at the great work that it is doing and then
review Government policy so we can make sure that the UK is where
it should be—a world leader in the research and production of
green hydrogen?
The hon. Gentleman will know that I have met ITM Power a number
of times; I was honoured to meet them in Grimsby. It does a great
job. He will also know that, in my time as Minister of State for
Energy, I commissioned the hydrogen strategy, which will be
published shortly. At the core of the strategy is a twin-track
approach. We are promoting blue hydrogen—which is made through
methane natural gas reformation—and, more particularly in answer
to his question, we are also committed to green hydrogen, or
electrolyser-produced hydrogen, in which ITM Power is the leader.
(North Devon) (Con)
Country Cousins is an English language school in Ilfracombe in my
constituency that every year brings students to North Devon as
part of the 550,000 international students who visit the UK to
study English, bringing in £1.4 billion and 35,000 jobs to our
economy. English language schools were viable, profitable
businesses before the pandemic, greatly contributing to their
local economies and culture. I am sure my hon. Friend the
Minister agrees that, given the right support they will be again.
However, many of them have been excluded from the Government’s
business rates relief for the next financial year and are
struggling. Will my hon. Friend consider committing BEIS to work
with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to
look at expanding the eligibility for this—
Mr Speaker
Order. Far too long.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
My hon. Friend has been a champion for all the businesses in her
area. We have spent £407 billion on support for businesses,
including those that are not eligible for the business rates
holiday. The interim report from the fundamental business rates
review will be published next month and the full report will be
published in the autumn. I urge local authorities to expand their
local policies to include some of these businesses in the
additional restrictions grant.
(Warley)
(Lab)
The answer earlier that the Government would respond to the
appalling fire and rehire in due course is Whitehall-speak for
kicking it into the long grass, and it is not good enough. Will
the Government learn from the methodology of their vaccine
taskforce to move at speed, clarify the problem, identify a
solution and make and rapidly implement decisions? Secretary of
State, will you cut through the red tape and sort out this
scandal? You may even make yourself popular.
The right hon. Gentleman has obviously been speaking to my
officials because the issue has popped up on my desk this
morning. We will not kick this into the long grass. We will
tackle it. We will not allow bully boy tactics. We want a
flexible workforce, but not at any cost.
(Sevenoaks)
(Con) [V]
Across Sevenoaks and Swanley, high streets are preparing to
reopen, supported by our brilliant Sevenoaks District Council.
However, we are finding that some of our local businesses are
being rejected for support from the high street recovery fund.
Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meet me and my
local council to discuss how we can address some of the issues?
I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and others to discuss
these important issues. As my hon. Friend mentioned, the high
street is clearly a hugely important part of our economy, and
that is why the business rates review will be particularly
interesting.
(Rochdale) (Lab)
Under the seasonal workers scheme, young people arrive from
Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to pick fruit and vegetables to feed
our public, but they are employed on zero-hours contracts,
sometimes deprived of work, and cannot make money. This is a form
of modern-day slavery. Will the Minister look into it and make
sure we put an end to it?
Zero-hours contracts provide flexibility for the vast majority of
people who use them and appreciate the benefits. We have got rid
of exclusivity contracts. Clearly, given the impact of covid on
employment, when we introduce the employment Bill in due course
we will reflect on the lessons learned over this period.
(Aylesbury) (Con) [V]
Buckinghamshire Council has done a remarkable job in distributing
more than 95% of the additional restrictions grant funding that
it has received from the Department, getting that money to local
small firms. Can my hon. Friend reassure me that the further
funding that has been promised will be transferred to the council
very soon so that there is no delay in getting that cash to where
it is needed most—to Aylesbury’s brilliant businesses?
I can assure my hon. Friend that the guidance will come out
shortly, and that the funding will be with local councils in
April—on 1 April. I urge him again to make sure that that money
gets out of the door to businesses when they need it: now.
(Jarrow) (Lab)
The 555 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who took the Post
Office to court in 2019 are not included in the historical
shortfall scheme, creating two tiers of justice. Their award,
after costs, did not even scratch the surface of their losses, so
does the Minister agree that, if justice is to be served, every
victim must have their claim validated under the same terms of
the historical shortfall scheme?
Members of the group litigation scheme entered into a full, final
settlement through mediation with Post Office Ltd last year, but
we are working with sub-postmasters who have come forward on the
historical shortfall scheme. I urge them still to come forward to
the Post Office Horizon inquiry led by former judge Sir Wyn
Williams, who is calling for evidence at the moment.
(Heywood and Middleton) (Con)
May I welcome the exciting industrial decarbonisation strategy,
which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched last
week, backed by £1 billion, £78 million of which will be spent in
Greater Manchester? Does the Minister agree that that provides a
road map to decarbonising our economy, and is an exciting
opportunity for my Heywood and Middleton constituents to seek
green new jobs?
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
I thank my hon. Friend for his commitment to Greater Manchester
and his constituency. We are committed to building back better
and creating those green jobs, which will help to accelerate our
world-leading path to net zero. The package of measures set out
in the industrial decarbonisation strategy is part of this
complex and critical path to success.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)
Ellesmere Port is home to the HyNet North West project, and we
were absolutely delighted to secure funding in the first round of
Government support. However, there is concern that different
levels of priority will be applied to the various hydrogen
projects around the country when future funding is determined, so
there is a risk of losing momentum. Will the Department look
again at that proposal and ensure that in future funding rounds
no project is held back?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have considerable plans for
hydrogen production. We have a hydrogen strategy coming forward,
and we have consulted on business models. I am sure that people
in Ellesmere Port, and the HyNet cluster generally, will have a
big part to play in the development of hydrogen production in
this country.
(Carshalton and Wallington) (Con) [V]
The Beddington incinerator is one of the biggest carbon polluters
in Carshalton and Wallington. I have previously raised concerns
about recyclable materials being sent for incineration. What
estimates has the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy made of the quantity of recyclable materials sent to
so-called energy-from-waste operations, and what steps has the
Department taken to ensure that those activities record carbon
output accurately?
The proportion of residual waste sent to landfill, incineration
and transfer stations that could otherwise have been recycled in
England in 2020 is not available, I am afraid, but data on waste
arisings are not structured around the material composition of
waste streams. For both fossil and biogenic CO2 for
energy-from-waste plants, national emissions estimates are based
on an emission factor derived using the 2006 Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change default factor for biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste.
(Richmond Park) (LD) [V]
Given that women are disproportionately more likely to lose their
job during the pandemic, what conversations has the Minister had
recently with the Department for Work and Pensions about how to
support women back into work?
I speak to DWP Ministers all the time about how to create jobs
for women and for all people in the UK. We had record jobs
creation after the last recession. Equally, we are planning to
grow and bounce back.
(South Northamptonshire) (Con)
May I urge my friends in BEIS to think again about weddings? It
is simply not logical and not fair that where venue organisers
can arrange safe social distancing we continue to deny young
couples who are seeking to marry that vital opportunity to have
friends and family around them.
I can guarantee I think of little else at the moment, because of
the way my right hon. Friend and her colleagues in the weddings
taskforce have pressed that very just cause. In stage 2, wedding
ceremonies in churches, register offices, dedicated wedding
venues and other premises that can open will be able to take
place with up to 15 people indoors and receptions outdoors. We
are looking forward to expanding that in stage 3, and the events
programme will conduct research to ensure that we can have
non-socially distanced events and larger weddings post June.
