Tag: Angela Eagle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether all companies in the steel industry which are entitled to state aid for renewables obligation and feed-in tariffs are receiving that compensation.

Anna Soubry

On 14 December, the EU Commission approved our first state aid case – to commence relief from the indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation and small-scale Feed-in-Tariff. eligible companies are now able to apply for compensation, and those that apply by the end of the financial year will receive payments from the date of approval. Scheme guidance and application forms were published on 19 January 2016 and details can be found on the GOV.UK website. This compensation is in addition to the £60 million of support the Government has already given to the steel industry to mitigate the impact of climate policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of his Department’s UK National Contact Point in investigating complaints on private sector contract compliance with UK human rights commitments.

Anna Soubry

The UK National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Multi-National Enterprise Guidelines considers complaints that UK based multinationals have not met the voluntary obligations of the Guidelines in regard to responsible business behaviour. Ministers have no role in the NCP’s investigation of complaints, but ensure that its final statements on complaints are available for scrutiny in the House Libraries. The UK NCP also reports annually to the OECD Investment Committee which is responsible for the Guidelines and their implementation.

The UK Government is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the OECD Multi-National Enterprise Guidelines and maintaining a NCP which operates in line with international best practice. The UK NCP is regularly invited by the OECD to contribute to best practice sharing and the OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria has praised its effectiveness and positive outcomes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the potential effect of China obtaining market economy status on steel dumping across the EU.

Anna Soubry

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, EU Commissioners and EU counterparts about a range of issues, including Market Economy Status (MES) for China. He most recently discussed trade aspects of the steel industry with Trade Commissioner Malmstrom on 20 January.

We are awaiting a European Commission proposal on granting MES. We understand that the Commission will also be undertaking a detailed assessment of the economic impacts of granting MES as part of their consideration of this issue. We will examine any proposal and assessment carefully. The Prime Minister has previously stated that he will make the case for China to be granted MES but China will need to show that it is committed to becoming more open as it becomes more prosperous. In considering the Commission’s proposal it will be important to consider the wider trade and international political context including compliance with international commitments. If China is granted MES, the Commission will still be able to pursue anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases and impose measures where evidence of dumping or subsidy is found.

The government is strongly in favour of effective trade defences to tackle unfair trade practices. The Government voted in favour of anti-dumping measures on steel products in July and November and lobbied successfully for an investigation into re-bar. The Government is also pushing for faster, more effective action to deal with dumping of steel: this was one of the conclusions of the Extraordinary Competitiveness Council on Steel in November. The Secretary of State also raised the issue with the Trade Commissioner.

The Government is playing an active role in the European Commission’s steel stakeholder’s conference summit on 15 February and is supporting a robust discussion of the issue of overcapacity through the EU’s ongoing dialogue with the Chinese.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-05-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment the Government made of the effectiveness of the insolvency system after the collapse of Comet in 2012; and what steps he has taken to improve that system.

Anna Soubry

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government has requested be taken at EU level to respond to the effects of over-production of Chinese steel.

Anna Soubry

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, EU Commissioners and EU counterparts about a range of issues, including Market Economy Status (MES) for China. He most recently discussed trade aspects of the steel industry with Trade Commissioner Malmstrom on 20 January.

We are awaiting a European Commission proposal on granting MES. We understand that the Commission will also be undertaking a detailed assessment of the economic impacts of granting MES as part of their consideration of this issue. We will examine any proposal and assessment carefully. The Prime Minister has previously stated that he will make the case for China to be granted MES but China will need to show that it is committed to becoming more open as it becomes more prosperous. In considering the Commission’s proposal it will be important to consider the wider trade and international political context including compliance with international commitments. If China is granted MES, the Commission will still be able to pursue anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases and impose measures where evidence of dumping or subsidy is found.

The government is strongly in favour of effective trade defences to tackle unfair trade practices. The Government voted in favour of anti-dumping measures on steel products in July and November and lobbied successfully for an investigation into re-bar. The Government is also pushing for faster, more effective action to deal with dumping of steel: this was one of the conclusions of the Extraordinary Competitiveness Council on Steel in November. The Secretary of State also raised the issue with the Trade Commissioner.

The Government is playing an active role in the European Commission’s steel stakeholder’s conference summit on 15 February and is supporting a robust discussion of the issue of overcapacity through the EU’s ongoing dialogue with the Chinese.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-05-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the oral contribution of the then Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on 20 December 2012, Official Report, column 989, whether he plans to keep the opposition front bench updated on the Insolvency Service’s investigation into BHS.

Anna Soubry

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who (a) he and (b) the Minister for Small Business met on his recent visit to China; and in which of those meetings he raised the effect of Chinese dumping of steel on the UK steel industry.

Anna Soubry

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I attended the Economic and Financial Dialogue and joined my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a meeting with Premier Li Keqiang. We held bilateral meetings with the Minister for Industry and Information Technology and the Minister of Commerce. We discussed steel at the second. Separately we met representatives of a number of UK companies and institutions operating in China. I met with representatives of the World Steel Federation, European Chamber of Commerce in China Steel Working Group and steel industry analysts to better understand China’s part in the issues affecting the global steel industry and the impact on the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to promote local procurement targets for public projects; and what guidance he has issued to promote the adoption of the BES 6001 BRE standard in procurement decisions to ensure responsible sourcing of materials.

Matthew Hancock

Following the steel summit held on 16 October, we have set up a working group which I chair to look specifically at the public procurement related issues facing the steel industry, and to drive forward solutions.

This group has representation from government and industry, andamongst the topics for discussion will behow steel standards could be integrated into procurement processes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions he has discussed the Energy Intensive Industry Compensation Package with the European Commission in the last six months; and what forthcoming meetings he has with the European Commission.

Anna Soubry

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke with Competition Commissioner Verstager on Friday 23 October, to raise the issue of state aid clearance for our proposed package of support for energy intensive industries. Further discussions are planned this week, and next month. In addition, my officials have been in regular contact with the European Commission throughout this process, and have met with the Commission’s case handler to help progress clearance of the support package.