Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility to be questioned by Lords on Consumer protection post Brexit
Ms Margot James MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, appears before the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee on Tuesday 17 October 2017 as part of its inquiry into the impact of Brexit on consumer protection.
Margot James MP's responsibilities as Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility include: industrial strategy; European Union exit; small business and enterprise; consumer and competition (including energy retail markets and competition law); labour markets and EU structural funds.
Questions likely to be asked include:
- As the UK prepares to leave the EU, which aspects of current EU consumer protection would the Government assess as the most important to be retained after Brexit?
- Given the EU's central role in promoting and legislating in the area of consumer protection, some witnesses have expressed a concern that the issue has not, so far, appeared in any detail in the Government's Brexit plans. How do you respond?
- Although welcomed, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is only the start. What other measures does the Government plan to introduce to secure continuity of consumer protection after Brexit?
- Post Brexit, does the Government intend to seek to preserve the current levels of pan-European cooperation in this field? If so, how?
- What plans does the Government have to help consumer protection bodies cope with the additional burdens imposed by Brexit?
The evidence session will take place at 10:45am, Tuesday 17 October 2017 in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords.
