Written questions by Brewer.

Whether his Department has assessed the impact of not having access to statutory paid parental leave on kinship carers; and whether he is taking steps to consider options for improving employment support for kinship carers.

The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, such as kinship carers.The Government is also supporting kinship carers through other mechanisms and has recently launched a kinship pilot to support around 5,000 children by paying eligible carers an allowance equivalent to the Fostering National Minimum Allowance.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of debt recovery practices used by private firms in relation to unpaid fuel transactions, including the imposition of administration fees and the use of national databases restricting access to services.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made a specific assessment of the merits of private debt recovery practices for fuel transactions. However, the Government expects all firms to treat individuals in debt fairly and to act in a responsible manner. Under general commercial law, businesses may claim reasonable debt recovery costs and interest on late payments. The specific imposition of administration fees by private firms in fuel recovery is a commercial matter, though such fees must remain transparent and proportionate to the costs incurred.The Government remains committed to improving debt collection practices across all sectors and will continue to monitor the impact of these practices on consumers and businesses.

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) legal and (b) ethical business practices are followed when firms undertake redundancies.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to Question 80529, issued on 15th October 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

What steps he is taking to help ensure (a) legal and (b) ethical business practices are followed when firms undertake redundancies.

The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay committed to strengthening collective redundancy protections. The Employment Rights Bill will double the maximum period of the protective award that can be made for an employer’s failure to comply with their collective redundancy consultation obligations, from 90 to 180 days’ pay. This will deter unscrupulous businesses from deliberately avoiding their obligations. We are also requiring employers to collectively consult affected employees’ representatives whenever a threshold number of redundancies are proposed across an entire organisation, rather than just at one establishment. This threshold number will be set following a public consultation.

Whether he is taking steps to encourage consumers to shop ethically.

The government recognises the importance of ethical consumption choices. Through initiatives like the Green Claims Code, we're providing clear guidance to businesses on environmental claims, helping consumers make informed ethical choices. The Competition and Markets Authority's enforcement actions against greenwashing protect consumers who wish to shop ethically. The UK supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises. As part of the Trade Strategy, we have announced a review of our approach to ensuring responsible business conduct, focusing on the global supply chains of businesses operating in the UK.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support rural pubs in North East Hampshire constituency.

The Government recognises the vital role that rural pubs, including those in North East Hampshire constituency play in supporting local communities. In April, the Government established the Licensing Taskforce, bringing together representatives from the hospitality industry to help shape reform. The Government’s response published on 31 July sets out proposals for a new National Licensing Policy Framework designed to simplify outdated licensing rules and protect long-standing venues from noise complaints. We’re reforming the business rates system to support high streets, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We’ve also launched a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with DBT and Hospitality Sector Council priorities such as Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment.

Whether he is taking steps to support the re-opening of Basingstoke Post Office.

The Government is committed to strengthening the post office network, in consultation with postmasters, trade unions and customers. It provides critical services that are valued by communities across the whole of the UK.Although there will be variations in the number of branches open at any one time, the Post Office works to restore service to the community when a branch closes. The time this can take will vary depending on the individual local circumstances in each case.Regarding Basingstoke Post Office, we understand that the Post Office plans to reopen the branch on 11 August.

What steps the he plans to take to improve the system of (a) applying for and (b) receiving export licences.

ECJU is implementing a new digital export licensing system, LITE, to provide a modern digital service that streamlines the export licence application process.ECJU has an ongoing programme of Continuous Improvement and we routinely identify and implement opportunities to make targeted improvements to the way we operate and manage the export licensing service to help us adapt to the changing demands on the system.