Contributions
2,740 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRegulators: Statutory DutiesI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his very important work in this area. I know that reducing the regulatory burden is a cause that is very close to his heart, and to…30 Nov 2023HANSARDRegulators: Statutory DutiesThe CMA has a primary statutory duty to promote competition both inside and outside the UK for the benefit of consumers, which provides the CMA with a clear, strong focus on…30 Nov 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Member raises a very important point. He has looked at this matter very carefully, including on the Business and Trade Committee, and I thank him for his work. I…30 Nov 2023HANSARDAudit and Corporate Governance ReformWe work very closely with the Financial Reporting Council. No one can deny that the FRC has changed its approach completely and is now a much more effective regulator. Sir Jon…30 Nov 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises an important point. That is something we are looking at; we have been looking at it for some time, and are keen to bring forward the results of our…30 Nov 2023HANSARDRegulators: Statutory DutiesThe hon. Member raises an important matter. That is why the Government are legislating in this space, through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which gives the…30 Nov 2023HANSARDAudit and Corporate Governance ReformWe remain committed to reform. Significant reforms have already been delivered to the Financial Reporting Council to strengthen its capabilities and drive up audit quality.30 Nov 2023HANSARDAudit and Corporate Governance ReformI was delighted to give the Select Committee evidence on Wilko. The administration report on Wilko is continuing and clearly we need to see the findings, but investigations so far…30 Nov 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for his question and his work in this area, in which he has great expertise. I met my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mary Robinson) yesterday to…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street OutletsIn addition to small business rate relief, under which businesses with a rateable value of less than £12,000 pay no business rates whatsoever, in his autumn statement the…30 Nov 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am not known for my coyness. My hon. Friend has done very important work in this space, and we share his ambition: I chair the Smart Data Council, and we are planning to open up…30 Nov 2023HANSARDFire and RehireThat is not the case at all. We take these matters very seriously, but we do not think that completely banning fire and rehire is the right thing to do because there are some…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street OutletsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him to his place in the House. Of course, we are very concerned about the high street. The pressures on the high street are…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street OutletsI do not accept that, although out- of-town shopping can put pressure on the high street. Local authorities have to be very careful when they give planning consent for out-of-town…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street Postal ServicesThe Government protect the post office branch network by setting access criteria and minimum service levels to be provided by branches across the country. More post offices have…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street Postal ServicesThe hon. Member is absolutely right to raise this issue. The Post Office has launched a public consultation regarding the Clapham Common post office. The Post Office maintains…30 Nov 2023HANSARDAudit and Corporate Governance ReformTime and again, Opposition parties seek to wrap businesses up in red tape, whereas Conservatives are keen to cut red tape. Consultation with businesses revealed concerns about…30 Nov 2023HANSARDFire and RehireI do not have that number to hand. We want to strike a balance between employers and their workforces. We condemn what P&O did. We need to bring in new measures on fire and…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street OutletsI thank my right hon. Friend for his question and he is absolutely right to say that some local authorities see parking charges as potential revenue raisers, but this is in effect…30 Nov 2023HANSARDHigh Street OutletsMy right hon. Friend raises an important point that this Department has looked at carefully. We are concerned about the impact of the withdrawal of that tax concession on…30 Nov 2023