Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 93 · Department for Business and Trade
Whether trade envoys are permitted to visit northern Cyprus.
While carrying out official duties Trade Envoys are representatives of Government and are therefore expected to follow Government policy. The Government’s long-standing position of not recognising the self-declared ‘Turkish Republic of North Cyprus’ remains unchanged.
What guidance Companies House has provided on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.
Companies House has not issued general guidance on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 530393 on Picketing, whether the 6 person limit on picketing will be (a) retained or (b) removed when the Code of Practice on Picketing is revised.
There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit.At this time, we do not plan to change the 6 person recommendation in the Code of Practice.
Whether (a) the Competition and Market Authority and (b) his Department has provided guidance to public authorities on offering loans to developers (i) at less than market rate and (ii) on preferential terms.
The Department for Business and Trade’s statutory guidance for the subsidy control regime helps public authorities to comply with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.This includes subsidies given in the form of loans. We also provide additional guidance to public authorities on request. This would include discussions on below market rate and preferential loans. Where relevant thresholds are met, the Subsidy Advice Unit in the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for evaluating the relevant public authority’s assessment of compliance with subsidy control rules, and publishing a report of their findings. These can be found on the CMA’s website.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 48445 on Picketing, whether there is a statutory basis for the six person limit in the Code of Practice on Picketing, published in March 2024.
There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit as a way of enabling unions to ensure they can adhere to the legal requirement that the picket be peaceful and therefore does not intimidate others, including workers who may seek to cross it to go to work.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45682 on Unite: Annual Report, what the auditing issues are that have led to the delays in providing full returns.
The Certification Officer included an explanatory note alongside her publication of Unite the Union's partial annual returns for 2021, 2022, and 2023. The explanatory note records the Certification Officer's understanding that the issues identified during the auditing process are currently under investigation by other authorities. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on those matters.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45678 on Licensing Laws, who the members of the taskforce are; and how they were selected.
The Taskforce Terms of Reference and membership is published Terms of Reference and taskforce member list - GOV.UKMembers were selected by Department for Business and Trade, Home Office, Ministry of Housing Communities Local Government and Department for Culture Media and Sport officials. The Taskforce brings together representatives from government, industry, police and local government, including mayoral areas.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) the trade union action in Birmingham and (b) industrial action in general.
In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the trade union-related measures within the Employment Rights Bill. The impact assessments covering the Bill’s repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 and the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 included an assessment of the expected impact on industrial action.
Whether he plans to amend the code of practice on picketing, updated on 11 March 2024.
Subject to Parliamentary approval of the Employment Rights Bill, the Government intends to amend the Code of Practice on Picketing to reflect legislative changes made by the Bill.
Whether his Department has received recent representations from trade unions on the six person limit on pickets; and whether he has considered amending this limit.
The Department has not received recent representations from trade unions on the six person limit on pickets. The six person limit is a recommendation contained in a Code of Practice on Picketing; any consequential changes to the Code will be considered following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill.
Whether (a) public and (b) private sector employees can suspend (i) check off and (ii) facility time for trade unions during industrial action.
It is for individual employers and trade unions to agree on appropriate approaches during industrial action. The government encourages employers to work constructively with workers and representatives to resolve disputes.Public and private sector employers may be able to suspend check-off and facility time while employees take industrial action, depending on the legal status of those arrangements – particularly whether they are contractually guaranteed.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2015 on (a) the likelihood of future industrial action in local authorities relating to the collection of household rubbish and (b) intimidation on municipal picket lines.
The government published an impact assessment on the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 in October 2024. The Act places unnecessary red tape on trade union activity that works against their core role of negotiation and dispute resolution. As such, the government is substantively repealing it.The repeal of the 2016 Act will not impact legislation that provides for picketing to lawfully take place. This picketing must be peaceful and those on picket lines must not intimidate workers who attend work. The Code of Practice on Picketing will also continue to remain in effect.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41450 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether data has been shared between Companies House and the Electoral Commission; and how data sharing requests can be made by the Electoral Commission.
Companies House has not shared data with the Electoral Commission using powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). Companies House makes a range of company information available through its online public register, including details about the company itself, its directors, and People with Significant Control (PSCs). This data is accessible free of charge via their online services. Companies House also works with law enforcement agencies and other public authorities to share information not available on the public register using the powers introduced by the ECCTA. This activity takes place via a dedicated team.
Whether the trade union recognition provisions in the Employment Rights Bill will apply to town and parish councils.
Guidance on the trade union recognition scheme is at Gov.uk. This sets out that the scheme is available to unions where the workplace has 21 or more workers. Therefore the smallest workplaces that have 20 or less workers not in scope of the scheme. There are no specific exemptions for town and parish councils.
With reference to the Certification Officer's corporate reports entitled Unite the Union: annual returns (PDF format), for what reason Unite have provided partial annual returns between 2021 and 2023.
Responsibility for trade union annual returns lies with the Certification Officer. They have been in communication with Unite the Union regarding its annual returns for 2021 to 2023. The Certification Officer is currently satisfied that the delay in providing full returns is due to issues identified during the auditing process. The Certification Officer continues to engage with Unite the Union to ensure that full annual returns are submitted as soon as possible, after which they will be published in full on their website.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the trade union recognition provisions in the Employment Rights Bill on SMEs.
The Government has published a final stage impact assessment on strengthening workers’ rights to access, recognition and representation (see paragraphs 61 to 66 in relation to trade union recognition in particular). This is available at: Impact assessment: Strengthening workers’ rights to trade union access, recognition and representation.The statutory trade union recognition scheme is available to unions where the workplace has 21 or more workers. Therefore the smallest workplaces that have 20 or less workers are not in scope of the scheme.
What steps he is taking to help tackle intimidatory practices by trade unions when on strike.
The Government is clear that there is no place for intimidation in any workplace. Our trade union legislation provides for picketing to lawfully take place, but this picketing must be peaceful and those on picket lines must not harass or intimidate workers that choose to attend work. The Code of Practice on Picketing remains in effect and this will continue to be the case.In the event of non-striking workers being intimidated or harassed, there is a wide range of criminal and civil sanctions that are applicable in this area including in common law and in various acts of Parliament.
Whether his Department plans to make changes to the permitted size of a serving of beer or cider.
This Government has no plans to change the permitted size of a serving of beer of cider.Draught beer or cider can be served in a 1/3 pint, 1/2 pint, full pint, or multiples of those sizes as defined in the specified quantities set out in the Weights and Measurers legislation.We have stated our commitment to preserving the pint, and the amendment to the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill put forward by Lord Fox, and supported by the Government, ensures any future government could not use the powers in the Bill to change the uses or size of the pint.
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44224 on Employment Rights Bill: Local Government Services, if he will consult each (a) local authority and (b)town and parish council.
We will continue to undertake comprehensive engagement and consultation on the implementation of the Plan to Make Work Pay and the Employment Rights Bill, and we will be engaging closely with employers, including local authorities as the policy develops. We will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation, to ensure it works for workers and employers alike.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the ability of councils to provide (a) regular refuse collections and (b) other core services.
The delivery of the Plan to Make Work Pay is a manifesto commitment. We will be engaging closely with local authorities as the policy develops and further detail on funding models will be provided in due course. We will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation to ensure it works for workers and employers alike.