Kevin Hollinrake: I do apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker. Obviously, I am speaking through you—but I apologise. I was getting carried away, because this is such an important point. It is important that if people have different ideas about how we run the economy, they should explain exactly what they are going to do and how they are going to pay for it. The cost of the measures that are being proposed is £25...
Kevin Hollinrake: As I said, there is no doubt that we have been through difficult times, but the hon. Lady should look forward optimistically to the rise in the national living wage and the probability that inflation will be halved again by this time next year, having already been halved. She needs to take a more optimistic view about will happen in the economy next year. I am very optimistic that people will...
Kevin Hollinrake: The hon. Gentleman raises a good point. I chair the Hospitality Sector Council and meet large and small hospitality businesses regularly, so I understand the pressure they are under. The hon. Gentleman has some such businesses in his constituency and I do too, so we know that is a problem. We have put a huge amount into supporting businesses with their energy costs, halving the cost of energy...
Kevin Hollinrake: I know that the hon. Gentleman has campaigned on this for some time and I have great regard for the work he does. It is worth him reading the “Payment and Cash Flow Review”, which was published yesterday alongside the autumn statement. It includes some references to retentions, to which he refers. There are other measures from the small business commissioner as well as more transparency...
Kevin Hollinrake: HMRC has a responsibility to be understanding and compassionate when it comes to business difficulties, but if debts are owed to the taxpayer it is only right that we seek to return them. Many more businesses may have that difficulty because of difficulties in recent years, but if the hon. Member is implying that we should not chase debts owed to the taxpayer—
Kevin Hollinrake: Perhaps we should have a conversation offline about that. I think it makes perfect sense to invest in reclaiming debt owed to the taxpayer. I wish to turn now to another of my Department’s spending measures: the advanced manufacturing plan. The UK is a global advanced manufacturing hub. Recently—this is not a statistic that is often quoted in the media—we overtook France to become the...
Kevin Hollinrake: We regularly meet with businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors to identify and address skills needs. Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are working with businesses to consider how best to strengthen recruitment, training, and retention. The Retail Sector Council recently published a discussion document, Retail – The Great Enabler, inviting comments on the key challenges...
Kevin Hollinrake: Existing product safety laws already apply to e-bikes, their batteries and chargers and we keep the legislation under review, including through the recent consultation on the Product Safety Review. Under current law manufacturers and importers must ensure their products are safe before they are sold. The Office for Product Safety and Standards in this Department, as well as Local Authority...
Kevin Hollinrake: The Government is clear that all businesses must fulfil their legal obligations in respect of employment law. The Government is in regular conversation with businesses who utilise the service of delivery drivers. On 14th November Minister Jenrick hosted a roundtable with industry representatives. While onboarding processes are a matter for businesses themselves, this department continues to...
Kevin Hollinrake: The government is carefully considering the views and evidence submitted in response to this consultation. The government will publish its summary of responses and next steps in due course.
Kevin Hollinrake: We provide extensive business support for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) to upskill their teams. Help to Grow: Management is an intensive national training programme to improve SMEs leadership and management skills. SMEs can apply and develop their skills in areas such as financial management, innovation, and staff engagement. Help to Grow: Management provides practical support for SMEs...
Kevin Hollinrake: We regularly meet with businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors to identify and address skills needs. Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are working with businesses to consider how best to strengthen recruitment, training, and retention. The Retail Sector Council recently published a discussion document, Retail – The Great Enabler, inviting comments on the key challenges...
Kevin Hollinrake: The Department for Business and Trade manages ministerial conflicts of interest through an established system set out in the Ministerial Code and led by the Cabinet Office. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential conflicts of interest. The Permanent Secretary, together with the Prime Minister’s Independent Advisor for Ministers’ Interests, have reviewed the...
Kevin Hollinrake: Further to activation of the Flood Recovery Framework following severe flooding caused by Storm Babet, the Business Recovery Grant will support eligible business premises within qualifying flooded areas to help with recovery. Administered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), local authorities will receive funding equivalent to £2,500 per eligible business premises, to help...
Kevin Hollinrake: The Department continues to deliver a wide range of business support schemes, with over 40 offers that help businesses start, grow and export. We are continuously improving our offer to help businesses access the finance and support they need, improve their skills and remove barriers to trade. This includes relevant businesses in the warehouse sector. The Government provides extensive...
Kevin Hollinrake: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has had no meetings with the Office of Life Sciences (OLS) since 7 February 2023 and there are no records of correspondence between the Secretary of State and the OLS for the same time period.
Kevin Hollinrake: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. The UK’s continued tech success depends on markets that are fiercely competitive, and where the best companies can flourish and create the innovations that spur growth. With this Bill, we will establish new, more effective tools to address the unique barriers to competition in digital markets, allowing the CMA to proactively drive...
Kevin Hollinrake: I thank right hon. and hon. Members for their contributions to the debate and for their ongoing engagement. First, let me speak to the amendments tabled by the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones), who has thoroughly enjoyed our engagements over the weeks that we have been studying the Bill. New clause 29 would impose a requirement on traders to ask their customers whether they...
Kevin Hollinrake: I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
Kevin Hollinrake: May I first echo the remarks about the excellent address by the Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Saqib Bhatti)? I welcome him to his place—he did a fine job on his first outing in such a complex debate. I, too, am delighted to bring the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill to the House on Report. May I...