Every parliamentary written question tabled by Daisy Cooper this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–15 of 15 · Department for Business and Trade
If he will take steps to ensure Royal Mail responds to the Hon Member for St Albans and other Hon Members with regards to constituency casework correspondence.
Royal Mail is an independent business. However, I have been assured that it endeavours to respond to all correspondence in a timely manner and to provide a full response to concerns Honourable Members raise, rather than a standard response. Some concerns can, however, take some time to investigate properly.
Whether he has considered the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require large online retailers to provide a choice of courier or delivery company to consumers when placing orders.
The department currently has no plans to require retailers to offer a choice of delivery couriers to consumers. This is a commercial decision for the business to make. Consumers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to businesses directly. This encourages businesses to adapt and fairly compete based on demand.Under consumer legislation, the trader is liable if anything goes wrong with the consumer’s parcel including goods arriving in a damaged condition and late or lost deliveries.
Whether he has considered the potential merits of providing enhanced Shared Parental Pay relief to schools funded from the public purse to cover the cost to schools when Shared Parental Leave is taken exclusively during term time and not during pre-defined public holidays.
The Government recognises the specific challenges Shared Parental Leave can present for schools. The application of Shared Parental Leave in schools is covered by the Burgundy Book, which is negotiated between employers and teachers’ organisations. The Government has no authority over the Burgundy Book. The Department is currently undertaking a review of the parental leave and pay system, including Shared Parental Leave, to explore how the system can work best for families and employers.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing double summer time.
The government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. The government believes now would not be the time to make changes that would require considerable planning and action by business. Since the government does not currently intend to make changes to the existing system, we will not be conducting an assessment of the potential merits of introducing double summer time.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a guest beer agreement scheme for pubs as part of (a) the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator: statutory review and post-implementation review, 2022 to 2025 and (b) the review on retaining and expanding access to pubs for small brewers, as referenced in paragraph 2.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC295.
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We're currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers from accessing pubs. This review specifically references market access for small brewers, and will cover all subcategories of the pub sector, including leased and tenanted pubs. It will not, however, consider the merits of different pub models. We’re considering the review’s findings and will announce in due course any measures that may need to be taken. The Pubs Code (the Code) applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs. Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016
With reference to paragraph 2.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC295, when he plans to publish a response to the consultation on retaining and expanding access to pubs for small brewers.
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We're currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers from accessing pubs. This review specifically references market access for small brewers, and will cover all subcategories of the pub sector, including leased and tenanted pubs. It will not, however, consider the merits of different pub models. We’re considering the review’s findings and will announce in due course any measures that may need to be taken. The Pubs Code (the Code) applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs. Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45426 on Beer: Small business, when he plans to announce further steps on encouraging small brewers to (a) retain and (b) expand their access to pubs.
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We're currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers from accessing pubs. This review specifically references market access for small brewers, and will cover all subcategories of the pub sector, including leased and tenanted pubs. It will not, however, consider the merits of different pub models. We’re considering the review’s findings and will announce in due course any measures that may need to be taken. The Pubs Code (the Code) applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs. Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016
If he will include further consultation on the scope of the Fair Work Agency in the roadmap for delivering the Employment Rights Bill.
Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing the role of a Fair Work Commissioner to ensure the independent enforcement of workers' rights.
Fair Work Agency officers will be operationally independent. Additionally, the Employment Right Bill provides for effective oversight of the Fair Work Agency through the three-year enforcement strategies and annual reports, which must be laid before Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.The Secretary of State is also required to consult the Advisory Board, which will have equal representation from businesses, trade unions and independent experts, to ensure they benefit from a broad range of insight when developing these documents.
Whether young women will be represented on the Advisory Board for the Fair Work Agency.
Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.
With reference to his Department's publication entitled Factsheet: The Fair Work Agency, whether the agency will be specifically mandated to uphold the rights of young women in the workplace.
Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.
Whether he has held discussions with Royal Mail on the adequacy of their response times to hon. Members raising casework matters about local postal services.
Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. Royal Mail endeavours to respond to all queries about postal services in a timely manner. Specific operational arrangements continue to be an internal matter for Royal Mail as an independent business.
Whether he plans to include food and drinks manufacturers in the development of the forthcoming industrial strategy.
Growth is the number one mission of the government. The UK's food and drink manufacturing sector plays a significant role in the UK economy, contributing £35.1bn to GVA in 2022. The UK presents many opportunities for investment right across the food and drink supply chain stages of product development.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review. These Sector Plans will set out the specific sub-sectors of focus, identify key barriers to growth, and describe how government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth for the sector.
Whether UK Government Investments has made a request to Post Office Limited to (a) proceed with moving all directly managed branches to a fully franchised model and (b) expedite the shift of directly managed branches that have previously been earmarked to be moved to a fully franchised model since 5 July 2024.
Nigel Railton, the Post Office Chair, has set out his ambitions for the future of the Post Office, which involves a reduction in central costs and other ways to deliver efficiencies, plus steps to improve the commercial future of the business in order to enable real term increases in postmaster pay. No decisions have yet been taken on the future of any individual Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) as part of this plan. The Government will continue to work closely with Post Office as they develop their transformation plan. In the meantime, we expect the Post Office to fully engage and consult with the Unions and postmaster representative bodies about future options for the DMBs. Decisions about franchising are an operational matter for Post Office Limited. The Government is broadly supportive of POL’s transformation plan, including the aim of increasing postmaster pay, however neither the Department nor UKGI, acting as the Shareholder representative on the Board of Post Office Limited, have made the requests referred to in the question. The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement set by Government.
Whether his Department has made representations with the Post Office to (a) proceed with moving all directly managed branches to a fully franchised model and (b) expedite the shift of directly managed branches that have previously been earmarked to be moved to a fully franchised model since 5 July 2024.
Nigel Railton, the Post Office Chair, has set out his ambitions for the future of the Post Office, which involves a reduction in central costs and other ways to deliver efficiencies, plus steps to improve the commercial future of the business in order to enable real term increases in postmaster pay. No decisions have yet been taken on the future of any individual Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) as part of this plan. The Government will continue to work closely with Post Office as they develop their transformation plan. In the meantime, we expect the Post Office to fully engage and consult with the Unions and postmaster representative bodies about future options for the DMBs.Decisions about franchising are an operational matter for Post Office Limited. The Government is broadly supportive of POL’s transformation plan, including the aim of increasing postmaster pay, however neither the Department nor UKGI, acting as the Shareholder representative on the Board of Post Office Limited, have made the requests referred to in the question.The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement set by Government.