Department for Business and Trade

Festivals are crucial to the UK's culture, providing a platform for emerging artists, supporting local economies and creative jobs, and bringing joy to thousands.

The impact on UK festivals will depend on the regulations that we will bring forward following consultation on the measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The government will ensure there is sufficient time for businesses to familiarise themselves with these new employment rights before they come into force, and we intend to provide clear guidance for employers and for workers in advance of implementation.

The government is looking into the matters in relation to Rockstar North. Section 152 of the Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 protects employees from dismissal for being or seeking to be a member of a trade union. An employee who considers they were unfairly dismissed can bring a claim to an employment tribunal.

It is a fundamental part of our employment framework that workers have a voice in the workplace and can utilise their right to organise via trade unions. Indeed, the government is strengthening protections for trade union membership and activities through the Employment Rights Act.

The government is always willing to engage with employers, including Rockstar North, to ensure that they comply with their obligations.

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 require that all toys must be safe before being placed on the UK market, including online. Despite this, we recognise that non-compliant products remain available to UK consumers.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 provides Government with the necessary powers to update product safety legislation, including to modernise and clarify the responsibilities of online marketplaces. As announced at Budget, we will consult on proposals in early 2026.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards takes action to address non-compliant products sold online, including monitoring marketplaces, test purchasing, and taking appropriate enforcement action where necessary.

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with Ofcom on this matter.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 make it a criminal offence for anyone who is not on the Gas Safe Register to carry out gas work in domestic properties.

The Advertising Standards Authority requires all advertising to be legal and socially responsible. It is working with online platforms which have signed up to its Intermediary and Platform Principles to encourage compliance with the advertising codes online.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, is also working to improve transparency and accountability in the online advertising supply chain.

Each risk in the National Risk Register assigned to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a designated Risk Owner, working within the Department which is responsible for designated risk areas. The Secretary of State and the Permanent Secretary are ultimately responsible for all risks owned by DBT as the Lead Government Department.

The Government Office for Science are currently exploring existing evidence and potential future implications of weight-loss drugs.

With the information currently available, the largest number of active officer appointments linked to a single individual is 1008. This information is available publicly through Companies House data products.

That individual may have more appointments if they have used different appointment names and/or addresses with other companies. This will change when Companies House completes its implementation of mandatory identity verification. Having verified identities will ensure that Companies House can accurately determine how many companies an specific person is linked to. This will improve corporate transparency and deliver significant value to anyone considering transacting with a company.

The investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, including a modernised and transparent ISDS mechanism, will protect investors in both markets, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. This enhances the certainty investors need to make investments, which is crucial for economic growth. We have concluded negotiations but have yet to reach signature, let alone ratification. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses.

The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.

Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, businesses are obligated to provide contact information in a clear and comprehensible manner which is easily, directly and permanently accessible. This includes the business name, the geographical address where the business is established, a telephone number, and email address.

The specific mechanisms businesses use to provide customer services is a commercial decision that the government does not normally seek to intervene in.

While there is no record of a specific discussion on this matter, the Department engages regularly with businesses on consumer law.

Delivering on our plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards and create opportunities for all. We are committed to working in partnership with businesses to realise that ambition, enabling businesses and workers to thrive.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

The OBR judged that none of the tax measures in this Budget will have a material impact to justify adjusting their employment forecast and have not yet made a judgement on the Employment Rights Bill given ongoing policy development.

The upgrade agreement includes a range of commitments aimed at driving growth in services trade and investment. We assess that these will add £400m to existing services exports in the long-term. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

Steel is a top priority for this Government. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

DBT Ministers and officials regularly engage with stakeholders across the steel industry, including producers and downstream businesses. On 10 November, Minister McDonald and I met with representatives from across the downstream steel sector.

We look forward to saying more in early 2026, including publishing our Steel Strategy.

The upgraded UK-Republic of Korea FTA will include provisions to streamline import and export documentation requirements by simplifying customs declarations and allowing businesses to self-certify the origin status of their goods so that they can qualify for preferential tariffs. The Republic of Korea has also committed to publishing customs information in English, making it more accessible for UK businesses. The FTA also streamlines licensing processes by encouraging online publication of key information, eliminating unreasonable fees and facilitating electronic payments.

Although we have concluded negotiations, we have not yet reached signature, let alone ratification, so this question is premature. However DBT’s Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team helps businesses understand and benefit from the UK’s new Free Trade Agreements, such as the new UK-Republic of Korea FTA, working in partnership with businesses and their representatives.

New data localisation and transparency provisions will provide legal certainty to UK firms on their treatment by Korean authorities, underpinned by appropriate enforcement mechanisms. The Republic of Korea has also agreed to publish new regulatory guidance on its domestic data rules which will give firms practical, accessible information to help navigate the Republic of Korea’s data regime and make effective use of the agreement’s commitments.

Throughout this negotiation we have sought to address current and future barriers, impacting both goods and services trade. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor trade and investment flows to assess the impact of the new agreement. This will include seeking to identify any new and emerging sector-specific barriers affecting UK investment in the Republic of Korea.

We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Republic of Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses, in line with standard practice.

Engagement between the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has focused on key aims for the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. HM Treasury officials, who negotiated financial services provisions, have engaged regularly with UK financial regulators throughout.

The Department for Business and Trade will lead on implementing the agreement, with input from HMT officials on financial services provisions. The Financial Services chapter contains consultation provisions which provide a formal mechanism for the UK Government – including, where appropriate, representatives from its financial regulators - to discuss implementation of these commitments with the Republic of Korea.

The updated investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA will protect investors, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in the Republic of Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. We believe the commitments will help provide certainty, incentivising investment and driving economic growth. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

Both DBT and HM Treasury conduct routine engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies. HMT’s Working Group discusses the negotiation and operation of UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. DBT conducts engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies as part of its broader services engagement programme. This includes bilateral conversations and fora to collate interests in UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, and assess business sentiment regarding their negotiation.

The Member is confusing two separate roles. Our International Trade Advisors (ITAs) support businesses to sell overseas: they do not conduct trade negotiations, which are led by chief negotiators, who are senior DBT officials.

The UK and Morocco are currently undertaking a review of tariffs on Agriculture goods, of which greater access to the UK market for tomatoes is a priority for Morocco. Tomatoes are amongst a number of products which are being considered as part of the negotiation. Any final agreement will need to benefit UK business and consumers.

I have discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the chief executive of Royal Mail and its parent company, and they recognise the need to do more to meet service delivery targets.

In October, Ofcom, the independent regulator of postal services, fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality of service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the independent regulator for the postal sector.

Delivery companies are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions. Ofcom does not regulate the employment models of delivery companies.

The Government will consult on the topic of employment status generally, as soon as possible in the New Year.

Delivery targets covering all postal operators would be a decision for Ofcom to consider as part of its reviews of postal regulation.

My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs for businesses and the subsequent effects, as well as assessments on how the proposed zero hour contract measures could affect different sectors. The impact on the sectors in question will depend on the regulations that we will bring forward following consultation.

The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act and this is available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This includes analysis on wider impacts, and considers potential employment effects.

Ministers regularly meet with businesses of all sizes.

Government is committed to delivering a competitive and prosperous digital economy. That is why we implemented the new digital markets regime on 1 January 2025. The Competition and Markets Authority now has bespoke powers to increase competition in digital markets.

The Government recognises the importance of the Hospitality sector in providing employment for young people. The Budget made more than £1.5bn available over the next three years for investment in employment and skills support. This funds £820m for the Youth Guarantee and provides £725m for the Growth and Skills Levy, ensuring young people have the support they need to earn or learn.

We are supporting more than 50,000 young people into apprenticeships in England by fully funding apprenticeship training costs for all eligible 16-24-year-olds, removing the need for non-levy paying employers to co-fund these learners. We are also expanding foundation apprenticeships into sectors such as hospitality and retail, where young people are traditionally recruited. All these measures will be available to assist the hospitality sector in employing young people.

The Government will be publishing an Enactment Impact Assessment on the impacts of the Employment Rights Act. This will include an assessment of the removal of the compensation cap for unfair dismissal on different sectors. This assessment can be found here when published: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK.

The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can experience. This is why we have introduced a new right to bereavement leave in the Employment Rights Bill which will be available to those grieving the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

The Bill deals with the introduction of leave only, and we are consulting further on the detail of the entitlement to ensure it supports employees while remaining proportionate for employers. It will remain at employers' discretion to offer pay, as many already do.

The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. We do not routinely capture or report expenditure on Microsoft software licences and services split between new service implementations and renewal or maintenance of existing systems. A year-on-year comparison is therefore not available.

The UK Government places a high priority on mining and mineral processing being carried out to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. We put ESG at the heart of our international approach to critical minerals and are using our multilateral and bilateral agreements to promote high standards globally. The UK is also reviewing its approach to responsible business conduct policy, focusing on the global supply chains of businesses operating in the UK, including businesses who extract, import or use critical minerals.

Due to the current volume of legislation before Parliament, the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill will not be published for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session. Both houses of Parliament were informed of this in July 2025. The Government’s plans for legislation in subsequent sessions will be set out in the usual way through the King’s Speech.

The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement modernises our digital trade relationship, benefitting businesses and consumers in both countries. Our joint commitments, such as securing trusted cross‑border data flows and fostering open digital markets and digital trading systems, and continuing cooperation on digital issues support Ukraine’s adoption of data‑driven tools such as precision‑farming and remote‑sensing technologies. The UK-Ukraine TechBridge initiative, which assists the utilisation of the Digital Trade Agreement, facilitates connections between UK and Ukrainian tech sectors, building mutually beneficial commercial partnerships and helping Ukraine to secure investment into its dynamic technology sector. The initiative covers six priority sectors, including agri-tech.

The UK-Ukraine Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement is the central pillar of the UK’s trading relationship with Ukraine. Under this Agreement, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029 (with the exception of poultry and eggs which are liberalised until 31 March 2026), with businesses in both countries benefiting from this arrangement. The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement supports businesses to trade more efficiently and cheaply, including through secure electronic transactions, e-signatures, and e-contracts. The UK-Ukraine Trade Committee oversee these agreements and discusses how to enhance further our bilateral trade and investment.

The Department for Business and Trade has not, to date, compiled data on Horizon-related claims by the UK’s constituent countries; however, we intend to include this breakdown in a future publication. Overall, across the UK, as of 28 November 2025, approximately 10,000 claims have been settled under the Horizon redress schemes, while around 2,600 received claims remain unsettled.

DBT uses data provided by the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) for CGE modelling. The latest publicly available data is GTAP 11 with the latest reference year 2017. As a consortium member of the Project, we have early access to forthcoming newer versions before they are published. Making use of this we used the pre-publication GTAP 12 dataset, with latest reference year 2019, for the modelling presented in the Impact Assessment of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

As with other relevant EU regulations, the Department for Business and Trade is monitoring the EU’s Clean Industrial State Aid Framework (CISAF) and its impact on British businesses including UK manufacturers exporting to the EU. The government is using TCA structures and informal channels to ask questions and where necessary raise concerns about new EU regulations. During this year's annual Level Playing Field Trade Specialised Committee, the UK raised the CISAF and its impact on Third Countries with the EU.

The Department of Business and Trade recently launched a consultation on the proposed approach to eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. The final approach to eligibility will be published in due course following the consultation’s closure in January.

As set out in the Industrial Strategy, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will support eligible manufacturing frontier industries within ‘IS-8’ manufacturing sectors and manufacturing foundational industries that provide key inputs to those frontier sectors, subject to meeting a threshold of electricity intensity. The Department for Business and Trade has recently launched a consultation outlining the proposed methodology for identifying eligible businesses within these parameters. The consultation document includes an indicative list of eligible industries.

It is important that all parcel operators provide a good service to their customers and reduce the number of lost, delayed or improperly delivered parcels as far as possible. Evri and other parcel operators are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions. All delivery companies must comply with employment and traffic or vehicle safety obligations.

Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, requires that all operators have a straightforward, accessible, and affordable complaints process. It does not regulate the employment models of Evri or other delivery companies.

Royal Mail produced its own modelling to estimate the net savings of key elements of its Optimised Delivery Model proposal to support its response to Ofcom’s Call for Input. Royal Mail’s submission is available on Ofcom’s website.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator responsible for securing a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service, has been clear that realising the benefits of reform is dependent on Royal Mail’s ability to implement them operationally.

Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, directors have a fiduciary duty to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of employees, customers and suppliers, and to the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment. Section 172 enshrines in law the principle of “enlightened shareholder value”, which recognises the relevance of stakeholder interests to the long-term success of a company. This contrasts with the “shareholder maximisation” model adopted in other jurisdictions, in which directors’ sole duty is to maximise returns to shareholders. The Government has no plans to amend Section 172.

Operational implementation of the reforms to the Universal Service Obligation are a matter for Royal Mail’s management working with its workers and unions. The government does not have a role in the operational decisions of the business.

Ofcom is responsible for monitoring Royal Mail’s delivery of its universal service obligations and has committed to monitoring the implementation process closely, to identify any issues with the roll-out of changes, whether the cost savings have been realised, and any impacts on the consumer experience.