Written questions by Snowden.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending protections equivalent to those available under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to sole traders and small businesses purc

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to introduce legislation to amend the statutory framework governing the Universal Service Obligation for the Royal Mail.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the changes to letter delivery frequencies on households that rely on postal services for essential communications.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions he has had with Trading Standards and police enforcement bodies on the seizure of counterfeit luxury goods.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of higher fuel costs on small and medium-sized enterprises in Fylde constituency.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of illegal activities in high street businesses on legitimate businesses.

Awaiting answer.

What guidance she is offering passengers whose flights are impacted by jet fuel shortages.

UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel, and there is no need for passengers to change upcoming travel plans. It is important however that passengers are aware of their rights during any disruption and that is why the Government provides guidance through its Air Passenger Travel Guide advice page. In addition to this general guidance the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have also published specific information such as the Jet fuel and travel plans: what you need to know advice page and CAA summer travel advice page.

What progress his Department has made on providing £1.5 billion funding to new gigafactories.

The Government has put batteries and electric vehicles at the heart of the Modern Industrial Strategy including by allocating £4 billion to 2035 for the DRIVE35 programme. DRIVE35 is supporting investment in an end-to-end EV supply chain, including gigafactories such as Agratas and AESC.In parallel, Government continues to invest in battery R&D via the £452m Battery Innovation Programme, also launched as part of the Industrial Strategy.

What recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on enforcement action against companies operating misleading subscription models.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.The government has recently published its response to the Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK. We engaged with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) during the consultation.The CMA and local Trading Standards can take enforcement action against breaches of consumer protection law, including breaches of the existing and new subscription rules once they are in force. The DMCCA gives the CMA new powers to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover on businesses who infringe consumer protection law. We will continue to engage with the CMA ahead of new regulations commencing.

What assessment he has made of the prevalence of deceptive online subscription practices, including misleading free trials and unclear recurring payment terms.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.Secondary legislation is required to implement the regime. We consulted on proposals and the Government Response can be found here: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK.The new protections will save the average consumer £14 per month for every unwanted subscription they cancel. The Department for Business and Trade published an Impact Assessment alongside the DMCCA: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the compliance advice published by the Competition and Markets Authority for trader recommendation platforms in protecting consumers from misleading claims and unfair practices.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) decision-making is independent of government. Each parliament the government issues a Strategic Steer to the CMA setting out its priorities for the CMA and the wider policy objectives to which it should have regard. Information about the CMA's enforcement activities is available on its website.The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the CMA new administrative powers, and they and the courts are able to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover. The CMA recently used the fining powers for the first time against a trader that failed to comply with a legal information notice.Under the DMCCA, trader recommendation platforms must take reasonable steps to ensure consumer reviews on their sites are genuine. The CMA has published separate guidance for businesses that publish reviews to help meet their legal obligations.

What steps the Competition and Markets Authority is taking to protect consumers from rogue traders, including those who provide substandard or fraudulent services.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) decision-making is independent of government. Each parliament the government issues a Strategic Steer to the CMA setting out its priorities for the CMA and the wider policy objectives to which it should have regard. Information about the CMA's enforcement activities is available on its website.The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the CMA new administrative powers, and they and the courts are able to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover. The CMA recently used the fining powers for the first time against a trader that failed to comply with a legal information notice.Under the DMCCA, trader recommendation platforms must take reasonable steps to ensure consumer reviews on their sites are genuine. The CMA has published separate guidance for businesses that publish reviews to help meet their legal obligations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of cheque deposit services from Post Office branches on rural businesses.

The Government recognises the important role the Post Office plays in providing essential banking services, particularly in rural areas. We welcome Banking Framework 4, which allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at thousands of Post Office branches across the UK.On 21 January, the Government held joint discussions between the Post Office and the banking sector to explore where continued collaboration, on a commercial and voluntary basis, would allow all parties to better meet the needs of individuals and businesses.Government does not, however, have a role in the Banking Framework negotiations. The Framework, and decisions about what services are available at the Post Office, such as cheque deposits, are made by the banks as part of their commercial arrangements.Customers continue to have other options for paying in cheques, whether at local bank branches, by post, or digitally via mobile apps using cheque imaging technology.

What plans he has to review the Post Office banking framework to ensure that essential services such as cheque deposits remain available to local communities.

The Government recognises the important role the Post Office plays in providing essential banking services, particularly in rural areas. We welcome Banking Framework 4, which allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at thousands of Post Office branches across the UK.On 21 January, the Government held joint discussions between the Post Office and the banking sector to explore where continued collaboration, on a commercial and voluntary basis, would allow all parties to better meet the needs of individuals and businesses.Government does not, however, have a role in the Banking Framework negotiations. The Framework, and decisions about what services are available at the Post Office, such as cheque deposits, are made by the banks as part of their commercial arrangements.Customers continue to have other options for paying in cheques, whether at local bank branches, by post, or digitally via mobile apps using cheque imaging technology.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government support schemes on small business participation in Small Business Saturday.

I congratulate Small Business Britain on another excellent Small Business Saturday, during which the Government launched the new ‘Backing your Business’ campaign to drive uptake of the Business Growth Service and boost awareness of the Small Business Plan. We have been delivering on our promise to back SMEs across Britain. This includes work to tackle late payments and cut the administrative costs of regulation saving SME owners time and money so they can focus on running successful businesses and continue to participate in important campaigns such as Small Business Saturday.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of Small Business Saturday on high streets and local economies.

The Department has not done, and does not plan to do an assessment of the economic impact of Small Business Saturday on high streets and local economies.The Small Business Saturday campaign has done its own analysis; they suggest that Small Business Saturday could deliver a £5 billion boost for the sector. The Department has also launched its Backing Your Business campaign, designed to raise awareness of the support being provided to SMEs within the Small Business Plan, including on high streets and local economies.

What discussions he has had with Trading Standards on the enforcement of rules pertaining to misleading use of certification logos, accreditations and compliance labels.

All products placed on the UK market must be safe and comply with relevant rules regarding certification, accreditation, or compliance. For example, for products that require UKCA marking, it is an offence to apply a mark that misleads or wrongly claims to show legal compliance.The Office for Product Safety and Standards, in my Department, and Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to enforce the rules and work together to protect consumers from unsafe or non-compliant products.In addition, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 also prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading consumers by falsely describing products or omitting material information.

What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her budget on the pubs and brewing sector.

The Chancellor will make decisions on Budget in the round and these will be announced in the usual way. The government does not comment on speculation outside of fiscal events.

What steps he is taking to encourage businesses to offer work experience placements to recent university graduates.

The government encourages work experience through various initiatives spanning various departments. The Department for Business and Trade published the UK’s Industrial, Trade and Small Business Strategies, which were developed in partnership with business, with positive feedback from leading business organisations. For example, the Industrial Strategy will provide an additional £1.2bn of investment in the skills system by 2028-29.The Department for Work and Pensions has an established strong network of partnerships with external training providers, universities, and graduate employment platforms to enhance graduate employment opportunities.DWP are reforming Jobcentre Plus to create a new, more personalised employment support service across Great Britain. This new service will move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and recognise that individuals – including graduates – have different needs. It will provide tailored help to find good, meaningful work and support progression in employment, with a stronger focus on skills and careers.

Whether her Department plans to review the use of (a) confidentiality clauses and (b) NDAs in consumer redress agreements involving alleged (i) harm or (ii) injury to animals.

DBT does not currently have any plans to review consumer redress agreements involving alleged harm or injury to animals.The MoJ recently introduced an amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill which ensures that confidentiality clauses or NDAs used in any context cannot be legally enforced to the extent that they purport to prevent victims and direct witnesses of crime (including those who reasonably believe they fall into these categories), from making allegations of, or disclosing information relating to, relevant criminal conduct. This could include any animal cruelty which constitutes criminal behaviour.Earlier this year, DBT also announced reform in the Employment Rights Bill to address the misuse of NDAs in cases of relevant harassment and discrimination. The government will be consulting on this reform in due course.