Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Evri and other delivery companies on the potential impact of unreliable parcel delivery on small businesses.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The proper functioning of postal services is vital for small businesses. Delivery companies must provide a good service to their customers and reduce the number of lost, delayed or improperly delivered parcels. However, Evri and other delivery companies are independent businesses, the government has no role in their operational decisions.

Ofcom is the independent regulator of postal services. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he is having with his European counterparts on the recognition of (a) legal qualifications and (b) other professional qualifications.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

HMG remains committed to making it easier for UK and EU professionals to have their qualifications recognised across regulated professions.

In the 2025 Common Understanding, the UK and EU committed to setting up dedicated dialogues on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provisions which enable regulator-led, sector-specific recognition agreements to be negotiated.

The annual Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade also provides a forum for the UK and EU to discuss the recognition of professional qualifications.

HMG encourages and supports UK regulators, including legal regulators, to work with their EU counterparts to improve recognition of professional qualifications, including through guidance and funding.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has identified any data gaps that limit its ability to quantify the cost of trade-related regulation.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what mechanisms his Department uses to collect feedback from businesses on trade barriers arising from domestic regulation.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has collected business feedback on domestic regulation through a business questionnaire and will continue to run the Business Perceptions Survey to gather quantitative data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to financially support pubs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the importance of pubs and the wider hospitality sector, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire. We continue to support these vital local businesses through a range of measures designed to ease cost pressures and strengthen communities.

The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. We’ve introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit.

The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase high-resolution geoscientific data coverage across the UK to support domestic critical mineral exploration.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

DBT works with the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) at the British Geological Survey (BGS) and industry to assess UK critical raw material potential. DBT supports BGS’ efforts to improve geoscientific data acquisition, although recognises that this requires investment. High-resolution geophysical and geochemical data in Northern Ireland and South West England have been vital for the minerals industry and in support of the UK Critical Mineral Strategy. I have met BGS recently to discuss how they can support to further realise the UK’s Critical Minerals potential.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the hospitality sector in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the importance of pubs and the wider hospitality sector, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire. We continue to support these vital local businesses through a range of measures designed to ease cost pressures and strengthen communities.

The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. We’ve introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit.

The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate their Department has made of the number of collective action proceedings that have been delayed or discontinued as a result of the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 as of 26 July 2023.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department has not made such an estimate. Decisions to delay or discontinue collective action proceedings may be based on several factors, specific to each case.

The Minister of State for Justice set out, in her written statement to the House on 17 December 2025, that the Government intends to take action to mitigate the impact of the 2023 Supreme Court judgment in PACCAR and implement proportionate regulation of third-party litigation funding agreements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on standards of service.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider.

Last November, I met the CEOs of Royal Mail and International Distribution Services and raised concerns about Royal Mail’s performance. They reported continued targeted action to improve reliability. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if quality of service does not improve.

Ofcom, the independent regulator of postal services, sets and monitors Royal Mail’s regulated service standards and decides how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without sufficient justification.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what performance indicators his Department uses to measure progress in reducing regulatory and administrative trade barriers.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Performance indicators the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) uses for market access are barriers reported, barriers resolved, and the potential value of opportunities associated with barriers resolved. During the financial year 2024-25, 394 barriers were reported and 129 barriers were fully resolved. The aggregate valuation of these fully resolved barriers is estimated to be worth around £10 billion to UK businesses over five years. These statistics exclude partially resolved barriers and barriers that were resolved as part of UK Free Trade Agreements with other countries. Performance indicators can be found in official statistics here and annually in the DBT Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has assessed the cumulative impact of multiple regulatory charges and fees applied to a single import consignment.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No cumulative impact has been conducted, but Article VIII of the WTO General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade limits fees and charges in connection with importation to the approximate cost of services rendered. The UK has also consistently sought through its FTAs to limit the fees and charges that can be applied to imports. For example, the UK-India FTA commits both Parties to not require consular transactions in connection with the import of a good

The UK’s Trade Strategy set out the government’s plans to reduce costs and administrative burdens for traders, making clear our commitment to not only meet but where possible exceed our international commitments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the capacity of the construction industry to deliver planned housing and infrastructure projects in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government is investing £625 million in construction skills over this Parliament, with the aim of delivering up to 60,000 additional skilled workers and support employers to invest in training.

The industry-led Construction Skills Mission Board is working to create construction job opportunities to meet the government’s announced infrastructure and built environment commitments.

The Construction Leadership Council’s Material’s Supply Chain Group, in October 2025, noted that product availability was generally good, with isolated reports of shortages, some caused by manufacturing issues.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase public funding in advanced manufacturing.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Our Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, published alongside the Modern Industrial Strategy last year, sets out how we are supporting manufacturers to grow and thrive, boosting jobs and increasing prosperity across the UK.

Government has committed £4.3 billion to support manufacturers over 5 years, including up to £2.8 billion for R&D alone. We are also increasing skills funding, with over £180 million for an engineering skills package, as well as making £4 billion worth of capital available for Industrial Strategy sectors via the British Business Bank, and £27.8 billion via the National Wealth Fund. Extra funding for advanced manufacturing was also announced at the Autumn Budget.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 95965, what assessment his Department has made of whether the £8 to £13 per tonne electricity cost differential faced by UK steel producers reflects any difference in the quality or specification of steel produced, expressed as a percentage where possible.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The energy intensity factor used only relates to the production of crude or liquid steel, which is not further treated or rolled into specific products. The electricity cost differential per tonne of steel between specific plants will depend on various factors including electrical conversion efficiency, material inputs, and further quality and specification of the final steel product produced.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Companies House identity verification reforms announced on 16th October, what assessment his Department has made on whether a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) was undertaken for the rollout of these reforms; and whether the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) was consulted.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Companies House carried out Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) regarding Identity Verification, including the use of GOV.UK One Login and Authorised Corporate Service Providers.

In accordance with Article 36(4) of the UK GDPR, a formal consultation was undertaken with the Information Commissioner's Officer during the formulation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Hospitality Sector Council last met and when he plans to publish the minutes of the meeting.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I last met with the Hospitality Sector Council on 4 November 2025.

The minutes of that meeting will be published on the Government’s website Hospitality Sector Council - GOV.UK in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, further to his Department's consultation entitled Make Work Pay: Consultation - Draft Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Union Ballots, published on 19 November 2025, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the security of e-balloting and postal balloting; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of (a) attempted and (b) actual interference by foreign state actors in trade union balloting for industrial action during the last five years.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government committed to enable unions to use modern and secure electronic and workplace balloting for statutory ballots, bringing union participation in line with modern voting practices that political parties and listed companies already use.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to help improve transparency of information for job applicants.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are not making the suggested assessment.

There are robust transparency rules for Employment Agencies and Businesses which are state enforced by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.

Where recruitment is conducted directly by an employer the Common law & Misrepresentation Act 1967 provides protections, there are also other protections under the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and strengthen by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ability of UK airports to set forecourt drop off and pick up charges without an upper limit on anti-competitive pricing for passengers and local residents.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The provision of and charging for car parking at UK airports (including drop off and pick up charges) is solely a matter for the airport operator, as a commercial business, to manage and justify. However, the Government expects car parking at UK airports to be managed appropriately, and for consumers to be treated fairly, which could include providing information on choices for parking, along with information on how to access them.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, further to his Department's consultation entitled Make Work Pay: Consultation - Draft Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Union Ballots, published on 19 November 2025, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential environment impact of e-balloting and postal balloting.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The environmental impact of e-balloting, and anticipated reduction in postal balloting is estimated to have a net positive environmental effect. It is expected that e-balloting will reduce the physical printing and transport requirements of the existing postal balloting process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the responses by private sector businesses to the first 12 months since the publication of the General Product Safety Regulations in December 2024.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In light of the feedback from businesses on the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the Department has reviewed and updated guidance for businesses and supported businesses through extensive engagement, our Business Growth Service and the Export Support Directory. The Government announced a £16.6 million package to help boost trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, including a ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service for businesses. We also intend to consult early this year on major reforms to the UK product safety framework. Our proposals will take account of feedback received from businesses on GPSR in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to review the cumulative effect of operating costs, including energy, staffing, compliance, and taxation, on the viability of hospitality businesses; and what consultations he is having with industry representatives on those matters.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation.

This includes regular engagement with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council which provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.

We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help tackle online job advertisements where the company has no intent to hire.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Job boards and employment businesses are already prohibited from advertising jobs that do not exist or lack proper authorisation to advertise, with state enforcement by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.

Additional safeguards come from consumer protection and ASA codes, which address misleading or unfair adverts.

Individuals misled by fake job postings may also have civil remedies, depending on the circumstances.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require hiring organisations reply to job role applicants with a final verdict on their application.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There are currently no legislative plans to bring forward a requirement for hiring organisations to reply to applicants with an outcome on their application.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce interim mitigations for families potentially affected by the outcome of the Parental Leave and Pay Review.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Parental Leave and Pay Review is designed to build on our evidence base, assess how well the current system is working and identify where there may be opportunities for improvement. The Review will conclude in early 2027 and the Government will outline next steps for taking any reforms forward to implementation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of protections for whistle blowers reporting concerns on foreign bribery.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Individuals can report foreign bribery through a range of channels, such as the Serious Fraud Office or National Crime Agency, and workers will be protected from retaliation as a whistleblower under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA) if certain conditions are met.

The government recognises that the whistleblowing framework in the ERA may not be operating as effectively as it should and recently committed to explore opportunities for reform in the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025.

The government will continue to review its approach to whistleblowing and foreign bribery in line with the recommendations of the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandating silent fireworks on (a) noise reduction, (b) animal welfare and (c) public health.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of mandating silent fireworks in respect to noise reduction and the impacts on animal welfare and public health. Lower noise fireworks are commercially available to consumers to purchase if they wish to, potentially reducing distress to vulnerable groups and animals. This year's fireworks campaign also encourages the use of low noise fireworks.

To inform future decisions about the regulation of fireworks, I am engaging with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with oil companies relating to investment in Venezuela.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the press release of 26 December 2025 on defence exports, how many export licences for defence equipment were approved in 2025; and how many applications were (a) refused and (b) withdrawn.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In 2025 Q1 (between 1 January and 31 March 2025), 2,732 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were issued, and 140 were refused. 260 were withdrawn. In 2025 Q2 (between 1 April and 30 June 2025), 2,612 SIELs were issued, and 104 were refused.

221 were withdrawn. These numbers reflect military and non-military licences, as both licences could include goods that may be considered defence equipment. Our quarterly licensing statistics provide descriptions of the goods covered for licences issued.

Information on export licensing decisions from 1 July 2025 onwards has not yet been published as official statistics. Information relating to export licensing decisions covering the period 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025 (2025 Q3) is planned to be published on 29 January 2026: Strategic export controls: licensing statistics: 1 July to 30 September 2025 - Official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the use of non-disclosure agreements during corporate restructuring in safety-critical sectors; and he plans to ensure that non-disclosure agreements cannot prevent employees and union representatives from participating in statutory consultation processes.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is unable to assess sector-specific trends regarding the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) because they are private contractual arrangements, and data on their use is not collected.

While NDAs can legally require one or more parties to maintain the confidentiality of certain information, such as trade secrets, there are a range of legal limitations on their use. For instance, NDAs cannot stop someone from making a whistleblowing disclosure, known as making a ‘protected disclosure’ or making a disclosure required by law.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many full-time equivalent staff within his Department were assigned to trade facilitation and market access barrier resolution in (a) 2026 and (b) 2021.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) operates a flexible resourcing model to support trade facilitation and market access barrier resolution. The majority of this work falls within three areas: Economic Security and Trade Relations, Trade Group and DBTs Overseas Network. The total Civil Servant on-payroll FTE for these areas was 1,565 in November 2025, which is the latest data available (for DBT), and 1,006 in December 2021 (for DIT only).

Not all the Civil Servants identified are assigned exclusively to trade facilitation and market access barrier resolution and carry out additional duties that are unrelated to those topics.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how the Fair Work Agency will assist migrant domestic workers experiencing abuse in private households.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Fair Work Agency will enhance the UK's ability to respond to exploitation of migrant domestic workers. It will bring together labour market enforcement functions and include new powers to investigate and take action against offences under the Fraud Act 2006. These powers, when operational, will allow the FWA to pursue certain cases of deception, abuse of position or withholding pay, where conduct does not meet the higher modern slavery threshold.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department holds UK customs export data identifying shipments of live munitions, including bullets, exported from the United Kingdom to Israel in August 2025; and whether he plans to publish disaggregated data distinguishing live munitions from training, sporting, and other non-combat ammunition.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT does not hold detailed shipment-level customs export data. For goods export data, you should refer to HMRC, who publish UK trade in goods statistics by partner country and product which can be found on www.uktradeinfo.com.

Since September 2024, this Government has suspended licences for exports for the IDF that might be used in military operations in Gaza and refused new licence applications on the same basis. We categorically do not licence the export of any bombs or ammunition for use in military operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

DBT publishes extensive data on export licences on a quarterly basis which includes summaries of the items licensed, with classifications which typically differentiate between types of ammunition. The Department has also published specific information on licences for export to Israel: Export control licensing management information for Israel - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to respond to his Department's consultation on parental leave and pay review which closed on 25 August 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Parental Leave and Pay Review launched in July 2025 alongside a Call for Evidence which ran until 25 August 2025. We received almost 1500 responses to this Call for Evidence which are currently being analysed with the findings going on to inform the Review. The Government will publish the Review’s findings and a roadmap at its conclusion in early 2027. This will include next steps for taking any potential reforms forward to implementation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of trade regulation on port congestion and throughput, broken down by port.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of trade regulation on port congestion or throughput at individual ports. The Department has not received representation from industry indicating that current trade regulation is having a material impact on port congestion, noting that for many DBT-led goods regulations, compliance is monitored behind the border rather than at ports.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many trading standards inspections of high street shops took place in South Holland and the Deepings constituency in each of the last three years.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The department does not hold this information.

Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales operate independently from central government. Local authorities are responsible for determining their enforcement activity across a wide range of enforcement responsibilities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate and local resourcing priorities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they have made an assessment of introducing minimum service levels for (a) lost parcels, (b) missed deliveries and (c) proof of delivery for delivery companies enforced by (i) fines and (ii) licence restrictions.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support independent pubs in urban areas.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the significant role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth, employment and community cohesion across the UK. That is why we are offering targeted support for the sector.

We've permanently lowered tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit. The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation.

The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of debt recovery practices used by private firms in relation to unpaid fuel transactions, including the imposition of administration fees and the use of national databases restricting access to services.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made a specific assessment of the merits of private debt recovery practices for fuel transactions. However, the Government expects all firms to treat individuals in debt fairly and to act in a responsible manner. Under general commercial law, businesses may claim reasonable debt recovery costs and interest on late payments. The specific imposition of administration fees by private firms in fuel recovery is a commercial matter, though such fees must remain transparent and proportionate to the costs incurred.

The Government remains committed to improving debt collection practices across all sectors and will continue to monitor the impact of these practices on consumers and businesses.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they have made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding Ofcom’s remit to delivery companies, including mandatory reporting of complaints and delivery metrics.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment they have made of the potential merits of setting standards for proof of delivery by delivery companies.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will list the companies that will receive 90 per cent discounted network charging costs under the proposed Network Charging Compensation scheme from 1 April 2026.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Network Charging Compensation (NCC) Scheme is one of the three components making up the British Industry Supercharger (the Supercharger). The other two components are the GB Capacity Market Exemption and Energy Intensive Industries Exemption Scheme. The most current list of recipients of Supercharger support, and therefore NCC Scheme support, can be found at the following link: Contracts for Difference (CfD) and renewables obligation (RO): list of companies awarded an exemption - GOV.UK. These recipients, and future Supercharger recipients, will benefit from 90% compensation from network charges from 1 April 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they have made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring delivery companies to obtain a licence to operate which is conditional on (a) performance, (b) workforce practices and (c) complaint handling.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Postal Services Act 2011 introduced a general authorisation regime to provide postal services, removing the requirement for postal operators to hold a licence.  However, the provision of those services by postal operators may be subject to regulatory conditions imposed by Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the sector.

Ofcom requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress has been made in the statutory review into the right to time off work for special constables established under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government is continuing to progress the review into the right to time off work for public duties. The main evidence-gathering and analysis stages of the review have been completed. I will consider findings of the review, including that of special constables, in the first half of this year and subsequently publish before 18 December 2026. We are grateful to officials from across government for providing evidence in support of this review and we will continue to engage as the review and any subsequent steps progress.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 on (a) the instances and duration of industrial action in local authorities and (b) disorder on municipal picket lines.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the relevant trade union-related measures now in the Employment Rights Act 2025. The impact assessment covering the Act’s repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 included an assessment of the expected impact on industrial action.

Local Authorities are independent employers responsible for managing industrial relations and industrial action risks.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the potential impact of inflationary pressures on the pub industry, including rising energy costs, business rates, supply chain costs, and staffing pressures.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the significant pressures facing pubs, including those in Weston‑super‑Mare, and is taking action to support them.

Through the Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, 615 small and medium‑sized hospitality businesses are receiving free carbon‑footprinting and energy‑saving advice to help reduce costs. We have permanently lowered business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties, and have introduced a £4.3 billion support package over the next three years to protect ratepayers from increases following the business rates revaluation, with over half seeing no rise in bills.

In addition, we have raised the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning 865,000 employers will pay no NICs this year, helping small businesses manage staffing costs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen trading standards enforcement against rogue high street traders.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Trading Standards are provided by local authorities who operate independently from central government and make enforcement decisions according to local need. The department continues to engage with Trading Standards and supports their efforts and work in tackling rogue high street traders.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) small and (b) start-up businesses.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to supporting small and start-up businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for small and medium size businesses in a generation.

Start-ups play a crucial role in fostering competition and innovation, and we are improving access to finance for start-ups through Start Up Loans provided by the British Business Bank.

Last year, we launched a new Business Growth Service to make it easier for small businesses to access the right advice and support and we are boosting SME growth through new digital and AI Adoption initiatives.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the Corporate Power Purchase Agreements system as it applies to automotive manufacturing.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) allow businesses to enhance competitiveness by securing stable, competitively priced electricity.

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy committed to issue a call for evidence on how the British CPPA market can be improved for industry. The call for evidence, run by DBT and DESNZ, was launched on 9 January and closes 6 March. Ideas generated will be carefully reviewed to inform future policy development.

Future policy will complement existing support for the automotive sector including the DRIVE35 initiative, an additional 1.3bn in the Electric Car Grant and increased funding for charging infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to bring high skilled jobs to former coalfield areas.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to revitalising former coalfield areas by driving local growth and creating high-skilled, long-term employment through targeted industrial and regional strategies. In the Industrial Strategy we announced £1.2 billion of additional investment in skills per year by 2028-29.

On 23 June 2025, the Government published the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, which consolidates previous Freeport and Investment Zone programmes. Several Investment Zones are located in or near former coalfield heartlands, including the East Midlands, South Yorkshire, and the North East. These zones receive up to £160 million over 10 years for tax incentives and interventions in skills and infrastructure.

The Government continues to work with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which supported over 7,200 people in 2024/25 to improve their skills and job opportunities. In Wales, the Welsh Government provides specific capital grants to safeguard and improve community facilities in coalfield communities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress his department has made on the parental leave and pay review.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Parental Leave and Pay Review’s Call for Evidence closed on 25 August 2025 after receiving almost 1500 responses, which are currently being analysed and will go on to inform the review.

We are engaging with a range of stakeholders, including advocacy groups, trade unions and business representatives, including through a series of thematic roundtables to inform our ongoing work. We intend to continue this engagement in 2026.

The Review will be concluded in early 2027 and the Government will outline next steps for taking any reforms forward to implementation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps are being taken to help reduce levels of closures of community pubs and high-street hospitality venues.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the vital role community pubs and high-street hospitality venues play in local economies and social life; we also recognise the pressures they face.

The Government has permanently lowered business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties and have introduced a £4.3 billion support package over the next three years to protect ratepayers from increases following the business rates revaluation. Additionally, through the English Devolution Bill, we have introduced a strong new ‘right to buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets, empowering local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to revamp our high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premises

We will continue work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the role of pubs in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We recognise the significant contribution hospitality businesses, including pubs, make in driving economic growth and providing jobs, especially in rural and coastal communities.

No formal assessment has been made of the role pubs play in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas. In 2024, the hospitality sector contributed £51.3 billion to the UK economy, representing around 2% of total output and supporting 2 million jobs, or 6.1% of total UK employment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which Horizon Shortfall Scheme payments are 1) exempt from tax and 2) subject to tax, and whether these taxation rules apply to all historical payments already paid out.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) is designed to put postmasters back into the position they would have been in ‘but for’ Horizon, and no one will pay more tax than at the time of the shortfalls. All fully assessed HSS awards are paid gross and taxable in the year in which redress is paid, unlike other schemes where awards are paid after tax deductions. To avoid claimants being unduly affected, HSS provides a tax top-up, so redress is not reduced. Postmasters also receive £1,200 for independent tax advice and help with tax returns. Payments related to the fixed-sum option on HSS, and associated top-ups, are tax exempt.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 104310, on Trade Barriers: Regulation, whether he intends to publish the results of the most recent business questionnaire on domestic regulation.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

On 21 October 2025, the Government launched a business questionnaire, ‘Unlocking Business: reform driven by you’, to gather feedback from UK businesses to identify outdated, duplicative, or disproportionate regulations and regulatory practices that hinder growth and innovation. The questionnaire concluded on 16 December 2025, and the responses are now being analysed by officials in the Department for Business and Trade. These will help to inform our Regulation for Growth programme going forward and we will publish our overall findings in due course

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they have considered the potential merits of compulsory training for delivery company workers.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has not considered this. The private sector is responsible for determining any specific training their employees require, although under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers have a duty to ensure their employees receive adequate information, instruction, and training to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

The Act and its relevant statutory provisions only apply to the self-employed where their work activity poses a risk to the health and safety of others. The requirement for delivery drivers to be licensed falls to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Police.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered the potential merits of setting sectoral minimum pay levels for delivery companies.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is responsible for setting statutory minimum wage rates which provide consistency and clarity for all employers and workers operating across different locations and different sectors. When it comes to sector-based policy, we are currently working to deliver the first Fair Pay Agreement process for adult social care in England, which will see sector representatives negotiate pay, terms and conditions for the sector.

Based on the lessons learned from this, officials will carefully consider any future sectors where such arrangements may be relevant.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered legislating to (a) require and (b) strongly encourage delivery company workers to join a union.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

This government believes that strong trade unions are essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement, and low pay.

Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are introducing a new duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a union and simplifying the statutory recognition trade union process, so that working people have a more meaningful right to organise through trade unions should they choose to do so. These measures affect all those in an employment relationship, including delivery company workers who meet the worker status criteria.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department holds information on delays to postal deliveries in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Birmingham and (c) the Birmingham Northfield constituency.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government does not collect or hold this information. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with Royal Mail to encourage timely deliveries in Birmingham.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider.

In November, I met the CEOs of Royal Mail and International Distribution Services and raised concerns about Royal Mail's performance. They reported continued targeted action to improve reliability. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if quality of service does not improve.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and implement a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership provisions to facilitate UK-Canada trade; and whether his Department has identified any specific sectors where Canadian exporters continue to face non-tariff barriers when trading with the UK.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Businesses will benefit from better trade terms with Canada once they ratify our CPTPP accession, which should happen later this year. Canada began its ratification legislative process last September, and it is making good progress through their Parliament.

My Department is helping businesses take advantage of the opportunities offered by CPTPP through engagement, guidance, and practical support, and we will share detailed guidance on Canada at entry into force. The Government will continue to work with our Canadian counterparts to reduce barriers and enable businesses in both countries to reap the benefits offered by CPTPP.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help ensure that revised steel safeguard measures applying from June 2026 maintain access to steel feedstock covered by categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, in cases where UK steel mills may produce steel within the same HS codes but not to a quality suitable for bright drawing applications.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to closely monitor market trends, including for categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, to ensure UK manufacturers retain reliable access to appropriate feedstock. We are exploring a range of options to support the UK steel industry and ensure security of supply beyond the expiry of the Safeguard in June this year. We will share more information in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of imports of bright steel bar on (a) the viability of UK bright drawing businesses and (b) levels of (i) business closures, (ii) administrations, (iii) deactivation of production and (iv) production in the sector since 2021.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. 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.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of tariff rate quota safeguarding measures for bright steel bar (category 27) in 2021 on UK producers; and whether he plans to re-introduce safeguarding measures for that product as part of the current review of steel safeguards before their expiry in June 2026.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. 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.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of import penetration in the UK bright steel bar market since the removal of safeguarding measures in 2021.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. 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.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a work experience scheme for relevant Ministers to shadow small business owners.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

This government is committed to hardwiring the voice of SME owners and entrepreneurs into government policy.

For example, as part of co-designing our Plan for Small Business launched in July 2025, DBT Ministers engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions, including through roundtables across key areas, such as High Streets, Markets and Finance, as well as specific policy events such as at Wilton Park.

Ministers and their teams continue to work closely with individual SMEs and the trade associations that represent them on an ongoing basis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact on UK producers of changes announced to EU steel safeguard quotas applying from June 2026..

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Steel is a high priority for this Government. We have worked closely with industry on potential impacts and their needs in terms of EU market access and are now engaging closely with the EU to make the case. We expect the EU to honour the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The UK will always defend its critical steel industry where required, and we want to work with our closest allies to address global challenges. We look forward to saying more soon, including in our forthcoming Steel Strategy.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that importers ensure that their goods are free from forced labour.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in UK and global supply chains and ensuring that UK businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. A range of existing measures already support this, including the Procurement Act 2023, Overseas Business Risk guidance, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The review launched in the Trade Strategy into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct focuses on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. It will assess effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and the merits of alternative measures to support responsible business practices.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the construction industry.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We work in partnership with the Construction Leadership Council, which I co-chair.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act will speed up and streamline delivery of new homes and infrastructure, we are investing £39 billion over ten years through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and our New Homes Accelerator is accelerating delivery of housing sites – speeding up building of almost 100,000 homes across England.

Our 10-year Industrial Strategy recognises construction as a priority, backing faster planning and offsite manufacturing, and we are providing £625 million to tackle construction skills shortages by training up to 60,000 more workers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the Welsh Government’s proposed UK Internal Market Act exemption to run its own Deposit Return Scheme would have on (a) existing and (b) future UK trade deals.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We have not made such specific assessments, however we are keen to progress a UK Deposit Return Scheme and are currently evaluating the Welsh Government's proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025.

As part of that process we have been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the Welsh Government proposal on the UK internal market.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 104305, on Trade: Regulation, what analysis he undertook in order to come to his conclusion.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In order to assess regulations as they affect business, the department employs a number of methodologies and draws on data from a wide variety of internal and external sources. We have not identified any data gaps that limit the Department’s ability to assess regulations. For example, in order to estimate the benefits of removing trade-related barriers facing UK exporters, the Department uses a methodology which is published on Gov.UK and continuously reviewed to ensure that it remains effective and proportionate, including consideration of any data challenges.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Trade Remedies Authority on the treatment of bright steel bar and associated raw material categories; and whether he will ensure that representations from UK bright drawing businesses are included in that process.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department engages regularly with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), including on matters related to steel product categories. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led, and we encourage bright steel bar and bright drawing businesses to raise any concerns directly with the TRA. In the 2021 transition review, the TRA determined that category 27 (bright steel bar) did not meet the threshold for serious injury required to justify safeguard continuation; no subsequent evidence has been submitted to support reinstatement.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and actively engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The Department will ensure industry views are considered as part of any formal procedure undertaken by the TRA with respect to bright steel bar and associated raw materials

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Joint statement between the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister of Canada, published on 15 June 2025, on what date (a) he and (b) the Prime Minister of Canada expect to receive the report from the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of banning of petrol and diesel car sales after 2030 on the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for investment.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2024, the UK exported 77% of the cars it produced, and non zero emissions cars can continue to be sold internationally beyond 2030.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of granting the Welsh Government’s proposed UK Internal Market Act exemption on the Deposit Return Scheme on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We have not made such specific assessments, however we are keen to progress a UK Deposit Return Scheme and are currently evaluating the Welsh Government's proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025.

As part of that process we have been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the Welsh Government proposal on the UK internal market.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of company directors successfully completed their identity verification with Companies House by the deadline of 18 November 2025; and whether feedback is being sought on the difficulties of completing the web-based verification process.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Directors were not required to verify their identities by 18 November 2025. This date marked the start of a 12-month transition period during which existing directors must verify their identities by providing their personal code with the relevant companies' confirmation statement. This could only be done after the start of the transition period. The deadline for filing the confirmation statement determines the deadline for verification for existing directors. No significant decrease in the timeliness of confirmation statement filings has been observed.

Companies House continuously seeks feedback from its customers and is providing focussed support to those required to verify.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the types of trade barriers faced by Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises when exporting to the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce regulatory and customs friction for Canadian exporters following the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My Department is committed to supporting British exporters, including by ensuring they can trade under CPTPP terms with Canada as soon as possible.

UK businesses will benefit from the CPTPP Customs Chapter, which promotes efficient, consistent, transparent, and predictable customs procedures, while also allowing Parties to maintain effective customs control. CPTPP members have also committed to updating and enhancing the customs Chapter, as set out within the General Review Report in the CPTPP Ministerial Joint Statement, November 2025.

These enhancements will apply to the UK-Canada relationship once CPTPP enters into force between our countries, which should be later this year.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will publish the findings of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Department for Business and Trade welcomes the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations but has no wider plans to commemorate this.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the current status is of the report of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025 .

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether provisions of the UK-India trade deal address the freedom and human rights of minority groups in India.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The landmark UK-India trade deal includes chapters on labour, gender, environment and anti-corruption. In common with most free trade agreements it enables the two partners to discuss important matters including human rights on a regular basis. It is not our only means of advancing concerns.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network across India track human rights across the country. We engage Indian stakeholders on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support pubs with operating costs in Eastleigh constituency.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation.

This includes regular engagement with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council which provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.

We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that imported electrical products meet British safety standards.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK product safety regulations require that all consumer products placed on the market must be safe. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 place responsibilities on importers of electrical products to ensure their safety and compliance with the law. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce these laws and can require the removal of non-compliant or unsafe products from supply. While standards can be designated by Government as a voluntary route for businesses to demonstrate compliance with the law, businesses remain responsible for ensuring products comply with the full regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to regulate pub-owning companies and breweries with fewer than 500 tied tenants.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government currently has no plans to consider regulating pub owning companies with less than 500 tied tenants, or to regulate breweries. Pub owning businesses that don’t meet the qualifying threshold for the Pubs Code can, however, join a voluntary scheme administered by the Pub Governing Body. This scheme, also known as the Voluntary Pubs Code, provides signatories with a dispute resolution service and fair methods of determining rent by an independent expert.

Found: (DBT).

Found: DBT will also need to work with and electricity suppliers and delivery bodies in the energy system and

Found: Our main ask to DBT for the Industrial Strategy was to set a target to get the SME population back up

Found: card-sp-fees-mr-final-report-publication-redacted-mar-2025- updated.pdf Appendix 1 – Kingfisher response to Cumulative impact of regulations survey – DBT

Found: The Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) cost–benefit analysis of the Bill’s provisions includes

Found: The Department for Business and Trade estimates that personal data mobility could add £28 billion to

Found: For example, how can DBT, DFE and the DfT coordinate in a way than improves matters at a local level

Found: .  Align Skills England, DfE and DBT strategy with OECD’s “attitudes and values” agenda, ensuring that

Found: DBT Committee priorities – evidence submission – Steff Aquarone MP I’m very grateful to the Committee

Found: Public spending should prioritise wellbeing: each government department, including the Department for Business and Trade

Found: and to that end, FBUK has facilitated regular meetings between our members and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Policy Recommendations Recommendation 1: Integrate TRI with Keep Britain Working and NHS Pathways DBT

Found: A number of government departments hold responsibility for the chemicals sector: in particular, DBT,

Found: and producing assessments for different items of regulation or legislation), and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: sustainable growth in the G7, allowing us to create practical recommendations for the Department for Business and Trade

Found: At present a range of government departments and related bodies including the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Below we have addressed the specific questions asked by DBT in an effort to demonstrate that we are

Found: Rationale and relevance to DBT and Committee priorities On Sunday 23 November, the Government published

Found: needs a centralised infrastructure strategy that aligns the objectives of HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade

Found: Rationale and relevance to DBT and Committee priorities On Sunday 23 November, the Government published

Found: needs a centralised infrastructure strategy that aligns the objectives of HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade

Found: At present a range of government departments and related bodies including the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Below we have addressed the specific questions asked by DBT in an effort to demonstrate that we are a

Found: A joint DBT–HMT review should assess how regulators can adopt this approach effectively, supported by

Found: A joint DBT–HMT review should assess how regulators can adopt this approach effectively, supported by

Found: Written submission from Cyber Security and Business Resilience (CSBR) policy centre (PRO0107) DBT 2026

Found: If DBT and DSIT want to rebuild confidence, they must work far more closely with entrepreneurs who understand

Found: (DBT), which concluded that DBT should work more closely with strategic authorities to “expand

Found: It is also why the Government sees ISAM as a priority within that, not just by the Department for Business and Trade

Found: departments and agencies, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Home Office, and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: appointing a single senior official as a cross-Whitehall ‘account manager’ to coordinate work across DBT

Found: s position as a leading place to do business. 3 Director Perceptions of Section 172, Department for Business and Trade

Found: Written submission from The Food and Drink Federation (PRO0076) FDF Submission to DBT Inquiry on 2026

Found: While HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade clearly have a significant role to play

Found: For example, eliminating the silos between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Treasury

Found: turn, overseen by the Insolvency Service, which is itself an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Recent policy signals from government - particularly the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) review

Found: Implementation levers at a glance: DBT convenes; OPSS stewards data; ONS supports statistics; BSI sets

Found: drivers we have discussed in this section are not within the immediate remit of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: governments to implement reform,  A letter to the minister to request that concerns raised over the DBT

Found: A clear, cross-departmental approach linking the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for

Found: The existing DBT rail team is an exception; with unparalled levels of engagement with businesses of

Found: Supply chain and Economic Security agreements The recent Critical Minerals Strategy issued by DBT onboards

Found: Government Strategy and Coordination Effective delivery requires coordination between: ● DBT (digital

Found: This evidence seeks to address policy areas which are both priorities for the Department for Business and Trade

Found: We urge the DBT Committee to ensure that, in its commitment to supporting the government’s commitment

Found: Q8 Government Strategy and Coordination Coordinate investments from Government departments, such as DBT

Found: DHL would like to see this strategy led by DBT, with input from DFT and DESNZ as key enabling departments

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade should consider whether its Industrial Strategy fully

Found: GC100 is also pleased to see DBT and HM Treasury's recent announcement regarding simplifying non-financial

Found: The Treasury, Ministry of Defence, and Department for Business and Trade should work closely to demonstrate

Found: Governance clarity: Examine how Ofcom, DBT, and the Government’s ‘golden shareholder role’ can coordinate

Found: While engagement with DSIT, DBT and MHCLG has improved, that ability to have a structured, long-term

Found: A new DBT Ministerial team has the opportunity to strengthen the UK’s position as a trusted international

Found: Written submission from Dr Kate Ollerenshaw (PRO0043) Response to the Department for Business and Trade

Found: She received the inaugural Department for Business and Trade analysis prize in December 2024 for her

Found: DBT owns small business policy but cannot dictate HMRC tax policy, DSIT digital infrastructure priorities

Found: In this regard, the Department for Business and Trade can help investigate how firms benefit not only

Found: *Below we are sharing in full our note to DBT for its Small Business Strategy published earlier this

Found: Cover how the Department for Business and Trade, working with DfT, Cabinet Office and the Treasury,

Found: I would point out that I did some work on this for DBT and the Office for investment in what this may

Found: [8][9] 4.5.2 Effective delivery requires coordination across HM Treasury (HMT), the Department for Business and Trade

Found: The council would work with HM Treasury, DBT and others to provide a mechanism to assess and assure

Found: Cleethorpes Minister for Investment, and Blair McDougall MP Minister for Small Business Department for Business and Trade

Found: MP Minister of State for Trade Department for Business and Trade

Found: Office, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland ● Iseabail McTaggart - DBT

Found: Letter from the Chief Financial Officer at the Department for Business and Trade relating to support

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: practical advice and support for businesses wanting to access an expansion into new markets, through DBT

Found: Skilled worker visas HC 819 36th Jobcentres HC 823 35th Introducing T Levels HC 822 34th Department for Business and Trade

Found: have been recognised by the UK Government as a priority growth sector in the industrial strategy (DBT

Found: The Department for Business and Trade estimated in 2023 that it was owed £1 billion from fraud and error

Found: In the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) Smart Data Roadmap set out transport as a priority

Found: flow in a coherent framework, incorporating such relevant Government departments as DfT, HMT, MHCLG, DBT

Found: The Department for Business and Trade is looking at whistleblowing”, so we are trying to get to speak

Found: This will only be achieved through cross Whitehall collaboration, between MOD, DSIT, HO and DBT.

Found: We are members of the Retail Sector Council (sponsored by DBT),the Welsh Retail Forum and our CEO is

Found: employment status do not generally sit with my Department; they would sit with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Media and Sport (DCMS), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Trade Missions/Showcases BPI is proud to have a strong working relationship with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: The Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) International Education Strategy (now under review), for

Found: Enhanced interdepartmental collaboration, including between DBT and DCMS as trade deals are negotiated

Found: He is also a trade advisor the Department for Business and Trade on esports education and was a founding

Found: central player in higher education policy and promotion than other government departments, such as DBT

Found: Facilitate Exports: For DBT to provide regional, sector-specific liaisons to improve export opportunities

Found: cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/why-the-uk-should-associate-to-horizon-europe.pdf 13 Department for Business and Trade

Found: endeavour, but which have their own priorities, include the Creative Industries team in the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Our trade missions leverage our links with the GREAT campaign, the Department of Business & Trade (DBT

Found: League works across four arms of government with regard to our international work - the FCDO, DCMS, DBT

Found: These visits, coordinated closely with the FCDO, DBT HM Treasury and the Office for Investment, are instrumental

Found: These visits, coordinated closely with the FCDO, DBT HM Treasury and the Office for Investment, are

Found: supernumerary internships in the UK for international students and graduates, with the support of DBT

Found: In this way, the FCDO/DSIT/DBT proposal to overhaul the UK’s ‘science diplomacy’ relations with international

Found: Minister for Small Businesses & Economic Transformation Department for Business and Trade

Found: Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation) Department for Business and Trade

Found: Restricted: Parliamentary Privilege Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister of State for Trade Department for Business and Trade

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Falkland Islands on the potential impact of trade tariffs on its economy.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are proud of the bond that the United Kingdom shares with the Falkland Islands as part of one Great British family, and we deeply value the relationship between our governments.

I was pleased to speak with the new Assembly within a week of their election, and my officials have been engaging with the new representatives on their priorities, one of which is obviously trade.

It is a matter of fact that the Brexit deal reached by the party opposite excluded the Overseas Territories, and we recognise the challenges EU trade tariffs pose for the Falkland Islands economy. But we are working with the Department for Business and Trade to promote Falklands trade in the UK and other markets.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on setting up the Workplace Health Intelligence Unit proposed in the Mayfield Review, and what its planned remit, governance arrangements, and timetable for operation are.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Work has commenced on the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase following publication of the review’s final report in November. We are working with Sir Charlie Mayfield, Vanguard employers and regions to mobilise and design this next phase of work and establish effective ways of working. The vanguards will play a pivotal role in shaping how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace, building an evidence base and understanding of what works through effective partnership with employers.

As part of the Vanguard Phase, Sir Charlie Mayfield has agreed to establish and lead a Vanguard Taskforce/advisory board in partnership with Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Business and Trade, and Department of Health and Social Care. The Vanguard Taskforce will bring together a group of external experts from various sectors and organisations to provide external advice, and guidance to steer the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase. We are currently considering the Terms of Reference and potential membership of the taskforce.

The Workplace Health Intelligence Unit (WHIU) will serve as the central hub for delivery of the whole Vanguard Phase and to drive on-going work. We are currently working to establish the Intelligence Unit within Government and considering options for its design and details of its function. A comprehensive governance framework, incorporating the taskforce, will be established to ensure strategic oversight and accountability of the Unit as it is set up and developed.

Further information on the shape and remit of the Vanguard Taskforce and Workplace Health Intelligence Unit is expected in Spring 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on establishing the Vanguard taskforce proposed in the Mayfield Review, and when the taskforce is expected to start work.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Work has commenced on the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase following publication of the review’s final report in November. We are working with Sir Charlie Mayfield, Vanguard employers and regions to mobilise and design this next phase of work and establish effective ways of working. The vanguards will play a pivotal role in shaping how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace, building an evidence base and understanding of what works through effective partnership with employers.

As part of the Vanguard Phase, Sir Charlie Mayfield has agreed to establish and lead a Vanguard Taskforce/advisory board in partnership with Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Business and Trade, and Department of Health and Social Care. The Vanguard Taskforce will bring together a group of external experts from various sectors and organisations to provide external advice, and guidance to steer the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase. We are currently considering the Terms of Reference and potential membership of the taskforce.

The Workplace Health Intelligence Unit (WHIU) will serve as the central hub for delivery of the whole Vanguard Phase and to drive on-going work. We are currently working to establish the Intelligence Unit within Government and considering options for its design and details of its function. A comprehensive governance framework, incorporating the taskforce, will be established to ensure strategic oversight and accountability of the Unit as it is set up and developed.

Further information on the shape and remit of the Vanguard Taskforce and Workplace Health Intelligence Unit is expected in Spring 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his policy is on the awarding of Government contracts to China for ready-fabricated steel; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those contracts on the Government's environmental goals; and whether those factors are considered when awarding contracts for fabricated steel to be used in constructing (a) Net Zero Teeside and (b) other carbon capture and storage schemes.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Public procurement policy on steel is set out in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 022 which encompasses different types of steel. Based on full Departmental returns that provided data to the Department for Business and Trade, including on the origin of steel, the Government's procurement data shows that in financial year 2024/25, only c.£29k worth of publicly procured steel was of Chinese origin, out of a total of c.£372m worth of publicly procured steel.

Steel used in Net Zero Teesside (NZT) and other carbon capture and storage schemes falls outside of public procurement. NZT are using an open and transparent tendering process and will be awarding contracts based on capacity, capability and other factors. I have met with the project developer to express my concern about the reported potential use of Chinese steel in this project and we will continue to engage with the CCUS sector to promote the industry-led voluntary ambition of 50% UK local content across the value chain and we have confidence that NZT are on track to achieve more than 50% UK content.

Found: We will support the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, and the National Infrastructure

Found: We will support the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, and the National Infrastructure

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) bases staff overseas to support UK trade, exports

Found: International - Desnz - Inz: Trade & Energy

Found: Detached Duty Costs Desnz - Net Zero, Nuclear & International - Desnz - Inz: Trade & Energy Department For Business And Trade

Found: Desnz - Net Zero Buildings - Clean Heat

Found: Desnz - Net Zero Buildings And Industry (Nzbi) - Desnz - Net Zero Buildings - Clean Heat Department For Business And Trade

Found: Inz: Climate Finance & Strategy

Found: Desnz - Net Zero, Nuclear & International - Desnz - Inz: Climate Finance & Strategy Department For Business And Trade

Found: Discussion papers and outputs of projects should be shared directly with DBT and HMT in the first instance

Found: Poppy Gustafsson - Minister of State (Minister for Investment), jointly in the Department for Business and Trade

Found: ukspaceagency.gov.uk>; [redacted s38(1)(b)] @gov.scot>; [redacted s38(1)(b)] @businessandtrade.gov.uk>; (DBT

Found: International (SDI) • LinkedIn - SDI • X - @ScotlandinJapan UK Pavilion / Department for Business and Trade

Found: enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at: UK Internal Market Review Department for Business and Trade

Found: Executive Defence Infrastructure Organisation Amanda Brooks DG, Trade Negotiations Department for Business and Trade

Found: faced significant price rises from labour and material shortages, with data from the Department for Business and Trade

Found: First Minister Poppy Gustafsson, UKG Minister for Investment Iseabail Mactaggart, Deputy Director, DBT