Written questions by MacNae.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing legal duties on online marketplaces to (a) verify sellers of e-bikes and (b) remove unsafe e-bike listings.

All products placed on the market in the UK must be safe. However, the current legislative framework was not designed with online supply chains in mind. This is a key reason why Government has introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which provides powers to update the framework and improve the safety of products sold online. Following Royal Assent, we intend to consult on using the Bill’s powers to modernise the responsibilities of online marketplaces, so that they take steps to prevent unsafe products being made available to consumers and to ensure that sellers comply with product safety obligations.

Whether he plans to ban the sale of (a) e-bikes and (b) scooters that are not legally allowed to be used on roads.

The UK’s legal framework for product safety places responsibility for the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters on the businesses manufacturing or importing them. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations.Vehicles sold for a legitimate and permitted use but which are used on public land illegally is an enforcement matter for the police, under the Department for Transport’s road safety regime.

Whether his Department plans to implement (a) the proposed PAS 7250 specification and (b) other safety standards for e-bikes.

As part of its work tackling unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my Department, has commissioned the British Standards Institution to develop the publicly available specification (PAS) 7250. This will focus on the technical safety of lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, e-scooters and e-bike conversion kits, and is expected to be published within 18 months. The new PAS will help manufacturers and other businesses to comply with their legal obligations for product safety. OPSS is also engaging with stakeholders on future updates to e-bike standard EN 15194:2017.

Whether his Department plans to introduce a national e-bike safety kitemark scheme to distinguish (a) legally compliant and (b) fire-tested products.

Under existing product safety legislation, all consumer products must be safe when they are placed on the UK market. For e-bikes, this includes carrying UKCA (or CE) marking to demonstrate the manufacturer has undertaken all relevant assessments to assure safety in normal use. It is an offence for such products to be supplied without this necessary marking. Many industry-led voluntary schemes like kitemarks and trusted trader initiatives can help consumers identify reputable products. The kitemark is a registered quality certification mark of the British Standards Institution and is owned and operated by them.

What steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized bicycle manufacturers.

Small and medium-sized bicycle manufacturers are important for our green growth ambitions. Through the Government’s Industrial and Trade Strategies, we’re backing innovation, sustainability and skills development to help businesses scale, compete globally and continue driving forward the UK’s cycling economy.The upcoming Business Growth Service (BGS) aims to streamline the process for businesses across the UK to access the support they need to grow. The Department will continue to engage with the industry on key issues moving forward.