Contributions
2,740 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) BillI will make progress, if I may. Lords amendment 5 also seeks to make the Bill inoperable. It would mean that there were no legal consequences for a union that induced people to go…22 May 2023HANSARD Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) BillThere is a balance to be struck, and what I think is just and moral is ensuring that public services are maintained. That is the balance that we are trying to ensure. We are not…22 May 2023HANSARDDraft Register of Overseas Entities (Penalties and Northern Ireland Dispositions) Regulations 2023It is a pleasure to respond to the important points raised in the debate. The shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston, asked when the draft regulations come into…22 May 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises an important point. Which? does fantastic work. The CMA acts independently, without ministerial influence, and it is right that it does. However, I am sure it…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthWe would all like to reform business rates. When people in my constituency hear about Labour’s plans to scrap business rates, the question I always get is, “Where is the money…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthMy hon. Friend is a great champion for his businesses across Keighley, and I thank him for the work he does. He will know that through our export strategy, “Made in the UK, Sold…18 May 2023HANSARDDigital Markets: CompetitionI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his question. He may have noticed that we recently launched a paper, “Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy”, so we absolutely agree…18 May 2023HANSARDBusiness Regulators: AccountabilityI read that with interest, and I spoke to my hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Bim Afolami) yesterday about the matter. It is important that all regulators with…18 May 2023HANSARDBusiness Regulators: AccountabilityThe CMA is an independent body that decides where it should intervene. We keep these matters under very close scrutiny. Competition is the best regulator. We have a very…18 May 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises an important point. As she knows, one of the Government’s commitments is to halve inflation, which will also have an impact on food prices. We absolutely need…18 May 2023HANSARDEmployment BillPaying the national living wage is the law, and failing to pay workers the correct wage can result in significant fines, public naming and, for the most serious offences, criminal…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthThe hon. Lady raises an important point. The first thing we will do for any business is to ensure that the economy is growing, as it is. We are seeing much higher rates of growth…18 May 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am sorry to hear about the demise of that business in the hon. Lady’s constituency. Clearly, it has been a very tough time for businesses in recent years, with the covid crisis…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthThe Government are providing better support in a number of ways, including through our network of 38 growth hubs across England, our Help To Grow management scheme and…18 May 2023HANSARDEmployment BillI point out that the unemployment rate in York is at a record low of 1.4%, which is below the national average, as I am sure the hon. Lady would welcome. Since the good work plan…18 May 2023HANSARDBusiness Regulators: AccountabilityI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his fine work as part of the Regulatory Reform Group, which has just published a report. Last week the Government published “Smarter Regulation…18 May 2023HANSARDDigital Markets: CompetitionWe are looking at the crypto sector carefully, and there was a report yesterday from the Treasury Committee on that matter. The crypto sector is moving at pace, and it is…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthWell, £90 billion is the amount of Labour’s uncosted spending plans, but let us talk about the £20 billion for now. The hon. Member is absolutely right to raise the issue of late…18 May 2023HANSARDDigital Markets: CompetitionThe Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will establish a new pro-competition regime for digital markets. This will boost competition between businesses in digital…18 May 2023HANSARDSmall Businesses: GrowthI would be happy to cross the Pennines; I have been known to. It would be my pleasure to do that. What businesses want more than anything is to make sure that we have a growing…18 May 2023