Every parliamentary written question tabled by Paula Barker this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–9 of 9 · Department for Business and Trade
If he will confirm the date when the turnout requirement of at least 50% will be replaced by a simple majority vote for industrial action ballots.
To commence section 68 (turnout threshold) of the Employment Rights Act and repeal the 50% threshold, the government must lay a statement in Parliament setting out how it has had regard to the effect of e-balloting (or other non-postal balloting) on parti...
What discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on publicising entitlement to Neonatal Care Pay and Leave in hospitals and other health settings to parents who could potentially be eligible.
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay was introduced in April 2025 and as part of its introduction, my department has made strong efforts to raise awareness of the new entitlement to ensure eligible parents can access it. Charities, including Bliss, have supported the department with publicising the entitlement to parents in hospitals and other health settings. The entitlement has already been used by thousands of employees to support them through one of the most challenging times a parent can find themselves in.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits to working families of extending the statutory entitlement to paternity leave.
Through the Employment Rights Act, we are making Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ right from 6 April this year. This will bring an extra 32,000 fathers and partners into scope of the entitlement.However, we recognise that more can be done. That is why we launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review on 1 July 2025, which will consider all existing and upcoming parental leave entitlements, including Paternity Leave and Pay. When considering calls to increase entitlements for parents, the Government will balance the needs of parents, the impact on employers, and affordability for taxpayers.
What steps his Department is taking to support the independent hospitality sector with rising costs.
Independent hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.The Government is creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities. This work will be supported by the publication of The Small Business Strategy Command Paper which will be published later this year. Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the resilience of the independent hospitality sector to absorb the rising costs of (a) national Insurance, (b) alcohol duty, (c) energy prices and (d) food prices.
The government will protect the smallest businesses and charities by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that in 2025/26, 865,000 employers (43%) will pay no National Insurance Contributions at all.The alcohol duty cut on qualifying draught products impacts approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall cut in duty bills of over £85million a year.Since 19 December 2024, Small and Medium Enterprises with fewer than 50 employees have been able to access free support to resolve issues with their energy supplier through the Energy Ombudsman. Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and other manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates.We continue to work closely with HM Treasury on the challenges facing high street and other businesses.
Whether his Department plans to provide additional funding to small businesses to help meet additional costs arising from the Autumn Budget 2024.
The Government remains committed to helping small businesses thrive and will be publishing our Small Business Strategy next year. This will set out our vision for all small businesses, from boosting scale-ups to growing the co-operative economy.At the Aut...
What steps his Department is taking to incentivise businesses to employ young people.
The Government’s plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all, including young people. In addition, the Department for Education has established Skills ...
If his Department will bring forward proposals to regulate the de facto monopoly of ticket sales by Ticketmaster.
Under competition law, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), as the UK’s competition authority, is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices such as an abuse of a dominant position. The Government has ensured that the CMA has signifi...
Whether he has plans to increase the (a) monitoring and (b) oversight of community interest companies that are engaged in regulated activity with children and vulnerable adults.
Different restrictions apply for those engaging in regulated activity dependent on many factors, such as the type of provision, the age, Special Educational Needs and Disability status of any children involved, and staff providing the activity. The Government expects anyone engaged in regulated activity with children and vulnerable adults to comply with all statutory requirements and safeguards, with appropriate oversight applied.The Regulator of Community Interest Companies decides whether an organisation is eligible to become, or continue to be, a community interest company, and has no role in overseeing or ensuring compliance with any requirements (e.g. licensing or regulatory compliance) outside of this.