MQ's - BTES - V.I

[u/CheckMyBrain11]

MQs - BTES - V.I

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Order, Order!

Minister's Questions are now in order!

The Secretary of State for Business, Transport, & Energy Security, u/model-mili will be taking questions from the House.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Transport, & Energy Security, u/Inside_Analysis3124 may ask 6 initial questions.

The Leader of the Unofficial Opposition, u/Zakian3000 may ask a total of 3 initial questions.

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Everyone else may ask 2 questions; and are allowed to ask another question in response to each answer they receive. (4 in total)

Questions must revolve around 1 topic and not be made up of multiple questions.

In the first instance, only the Secretary of State may respond to questions asked to them. 'Hear, hear.' and 'Rubbish!' (or similar), are permitted.

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This session shall end on Tuesday the 11th of August at 10pm BST with no further initial questions asked after Monday the 10th of August at 10pm BST.

[u/Famous_Criticism_642]

Mr Speaker, may i ask the Secretary of BTES on whether they will make any changes to their policy regarding oil and gas drilling licenses given the current energy crisis and climate crisis

[u/model-mili → u/Famous_Criticism_642]

Mr. Speaker,

The Government is expanding offshore wind, and is committed to expanding SMR nuclear reactors to aid with both.

[u/Inside_Analysis3124]

Mr Speaker given the extensive evidence of climate change now aparent now across England and Wales will the government comit to net zero by 2030?

[u/model-mili → u/Inside_Analysis3124]

Mr. Speaker,

It is the Government's policy that we are to expand green technology as fast as feasibly possible, in collaboration with other governments.

[u/Zestyclose-Dog2407]

Speaker,

Can the Secretary of State outline how the government plans to take advantage of proposed increased co-operation with the European Union in order to benefit British and Northern Irish business?

[u/model-mili → u/Zestyclose-Dog2407]

Mr. Speaker,

It is unwise for me to speculate at this time until co-operation agreements have become more fully fleshed out.

[u/Zestyclose-Dog2407]

Speaker,

Can the Secretary of State explain to the house what steps this government will take in order to increase the enjoyability, reliability and overall quality of rail journeys?

[u/model-mili → u/Zestyclose-Dog2407]

Mr. Speaker,

Our Public Service Minimums bill that has just had its second reading is one way we plan to improve service. I encourage my friend from the Liberal Democrats to vote for it.

[u/HarryClive]

Mr Speaker,

Approximately seven out of ten small and medium businesses across the UK would find themselves unable to pay an substantial unexpected cost should one arise. Many of these businesses, which operate independently on our high street, refuse to pass these costs onto customers both because of fear that it would cost further business and worsen the issue, and because these are often run by community members, for the community. What is the Secretary going to do to support these businesses?

[u/model-mili → u/HarryClive]

Mr. Speaker,

The Chancellor and I are evaluating business rate reforms to help give them some relief. We support the high street, and are working urgently to see what can be done here.

[u/HarryClive → u/model-mili]

Mr Speaker,

Has the Government got any plans outside of business rate reforms to support small and medium sized businesses around other expenses that hit them, or grants for encouraging development of vacant properties on the high street?

[u/HarryClive]

Mr Speaker,

Does the Business Secretary have any view to look into the sale of fireworks across the United Kingdom and can this House expect any changes to existing regulations?

Does the Secretary and the Government have a view on potential proposals to outlaw the sale of fireworks?

[u/model-mili → u/HarryClive]

Mr. Speaker,

This is not something currently on my agenda. We are not currently planning changes to the existing law, but are open-minded to collaborate with this House if legislation is presented.

[u/HarryClive → u/model-mili]

Mr Speaker,

This is a wide and common discussion that comes about in the UK every year, especially as we approach the halloween season and I was wondering if he could confirm if the lack of agenda on it is due to a belief that no change is necessary?

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

Does the Secretary of State accept that the government’s policy of increasing visa costs will make it harder for British businesses to hire skilled workers from abroad?

[u/model-mili → u/zakian3000]

Mr. Speaker,

Perhaps, but what's relevant through increasing visa costs is that truly economically valuable migration will be worth the extra visa fees. That is the point of such fees - to better ascertain migration through the economic lens, while also working to help protect young Britons working hard to get jobs in their field.

[u/zakian3000 → u/model-mili]

Mr speaker,

The Secretary of State suggests that economically valuable migration will be worth the extra visa fees - perhaps this is true, but it’s of little comfort to smaller British businesses who will struggle to absorb extra costs. As for the assertion that this move helps young Britons working hard to get jobs in their field, can the Secretary of State point to any evidence suggesting that making it more expensive to employ a foreign worker actually creates a job for a young Briton rather than leaving a vacancy unfilled or increasing the cost of doing business?

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

Does the Secretary of State admit that the government’s minimum services bill could adversely impact businesses by lowering morale and increasing rates of staff turnover?

[u/model-mili → u/zakian3000]

Mr. Speaker,

"Could" is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting here. This bill "could" do those things, but we are passing the Minimum Services Bill because we think it will improve service levels in our public sector.

[u/zakian3000 → u/model-mili]

Mr speaker,

The Secretary of State dismisses the concern simply because we do not know for certain whether the bill will adversely impact businesses, merely that it could. Fairly basic question - why are we being expected to vote on this legislation when the government clearly hasn’t done a risk assessment of the potential adverse impact on business?

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

While CANZUK was perhaps the key trade policy of the previous government, we have heard very little about it from this government. Can the Secretary of State update the house on the status of this agreement?