Contributions
741 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDElectrical Products: Online SalesWhen we are talking about such a wide brief as consumer product safety, there will always be pressures on budgets, but the OPSS is working with local trading standards, with…09 Jul 2019HANSARDElectrical Products: Online SalesThat is a conversation that I did not have with my officials prior to the debate, so I am unable to give a direct answer. However, I have already outlined that the list has been…09 Jul 2019HANSARDConsumer Contracts RegulationToday, I am publishing the statutory report on the Objectives of Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellations and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. This report sets out the…04 Jul 2019HANSARDWhistleblowingI thank the right hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) and my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Stephen Kerr) for securing today’s important debate. I should also like…03 Jul 2019HANSARDWhistleblowingI understand the passion and concerns, and the statistics, but we need to implement a framework that works across all sectors, and actually in particular sectors some of the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDWhistleblowingThe whistleblowing legislation at the moment is regarded as proportionate, but as new evidence comes to light and as things change, it is right that we keep these policies under…03 Jul 2019HANSARDWhistleblowingI am happy to meet colleagues to talk about things they would like done in this area, and I note that the right hon. Gentleman distinguished between guidance and a review, which I…03 Jul 2019HANSARDWhistleblowingI thank my hon. Friend. I was preparing to come on to that, but he is absolutely right—the FCA falls under the control of Her Majesty’s Treasury. I shall go into greater detail…03 Jul 2019HANSARD Rural Areas in Scotland: Additional Delivery ChargesI agree; my hon. Friend has highlighted a particular example. Since he has been elected, he has spoken with me many times, and he is known as a champion in this area. He has been…02 Jul 2019HANSARD Rural Areas in Scotland: Additional Delivery ChargesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) on securing this…02 Jul 2019HANSARDSmall Businesses: Late PaymentsOn 4 October 2018, we launched a call for evidence, asking for views on how to create a responsible payment culture for small business. I have published the full Government…20 Jun 2019HANSARDGroceries Code AdjudicatorI have today launched the statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The GCA was established by the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 (“the Act”). Its role is to…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsI thank my hon. Friend for his question and recognise his particular interest as my predecessor in this post. He is absolutely correct: prompt payment is a particular concern for…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsI thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising that. I highlight his particular interest in this area and the fact that he was one of the Ministers responsible in Northern Ireland…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsI thank the hon. Gentleman for welcoming the statement and the moves that the Government have made today. He is absolutely right about the prompt payment code: it is voluntary. As…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsThe hon. Gentleman raises the issue of retentions. He says that this is not for industry, but for the Government. I have spoken to industry representatives and businesses about…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsI recognise the hon. Lady’s passion and commitment. As I have said to her in previous meetings, I am happy to continue to work with her on this issue. Project bank accounts have…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsI apologise to the hon. Gentleman for the fact that he did not receive a copy of my statement in sufficient time. That was not my intention at all. I hope that he will understand,…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsWith permission, I wish to make a statement about the Government response to the “Creating a responsible payment culture” call for evidence, which I have published today. The…19 Jun 2019HANSARD Businesses: Late PaymentsPrimary legislation would be required to give further powers to the small business commissioner, so we will seek views and consult. We do want to give the small business…19 Jun 2019