Written questions by Tomlinson.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) amending the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to include and (b) bringing into the scope of the Motor Ombudsman (i) small businesses run as limited companies and (ii) other small businesses; and what guidance he has issued to small businesses on their protections when purchasing faulty goods.

There are no current plans to amend the Consumer Right Act 2015 which focuses on transactions between businesses and consumers rather than between businesses. Under the Consumer Rights Act, consumers have several options when issues arise with goods and services. Within the initial 30 days, consumers can reject faulty items and claim a full refund.After the initial 30 days, consumers can request a repair or replacement for faulty goods.If goods are out of stock or a repair/replacement isn’t feasible (or the repair doesn’t fix the defect), consumers may be able to claim a partial or full refund. The Department for Business and Trade has announced that it will be launching the Business Growth Service later this year to improve and streamline the support services on offer to small businesses.

What assessment he has made of the impact of employment contract non-compete clauses on (a) entrepreneurship and (b) economic growth.

A dynamic and entrepreneurial workforce is good for economic growth. There is evidence to suggest that non-compete clauses can act as a barrier to this innovation-driven growth, as they can prevent individuals from working for a competing business, or from applying their entrepreneurial spirit to establish a competing business.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent the closure of Post Office branches in (a) Chipping Barnet constituency and (b) the UK.

The Post Office interim Chair, Nigel Railton, recently-announced a transformation plan, which aims to put the Post Office on a more stable financial footing for the future, including by reducing costs, and to increase Postmaster remuneration. The detail of Nigel Railton's transformation plan is being examined by my department, and the plan is subject to Government funding and the outcome of the upcoming spending review. The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement and geographical access criteria set by Government. No decisions regarding Directly Managed Branches, including those in Chipping Barnet, have been taken. The Post Office has been clear however that it’s their ambition to operate the network on a fully franchised basis in time as this is a more sustainable model.