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 impact of the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on the UK; and if he will publish a report on that agreement since its implementation.

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

The Department’s impact assessment of the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was published under the previous government on 28th February 2022. This impact assessment set out the potential long-run incremental economic impact of the FTA and is available on gov.uk. On a recent visit to New Zealand I saw how the FTA – and the trade advantages consequent upon our membership of the CPTPP – are being used.

The Department is currently considering our approach to FTA Monitoring, and we will provide an update on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints the British Business Bank received about a) the cost of loans to SMEs, b) debt recovery behaviour by people offering to lend to SMEs and c) fees charged by lenders when lending to SMEs in each of the last three years for which data is available.

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

Where the British Business Bank receives complaints about lenders' actions on debt recovery, cost of lending and fees charged by lenders, these are referred to the relevant lender. While all complaints are logged, the current system does not include a specific category for debt-recovery-related issues. No fees were charged under the COVID-19 loan schemes, and there are no fees for Start Up Loans other than interest payments.

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 promote recognition of UK professional IT qualifications, including CITP status, in trade negotiations with international partners.

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

Provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ) are an important part of the services chapters in the UK’s international trade agreements, including within the UK-Switzerland RPQ Agreement and our Free Trade Agreements with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Australia, New Zealand and India.

DBT works closely with our overseas partners to promote the UK’s world-leading professional qualifications. Under our international arrangements DBT has committed to encourage our independent occupational regulators and professional membership bodies, including the British Computer Society, to consider pursuing RPQ agreements with international partners. DBT supports these bodies to do so.

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 impact of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement on the UK; and if he will publish a report on that agreement since its implementation.

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

The Department’s impact assessment of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreements was published under the previous government on 16th December 2021. This impact assessment set out the potential long-run incremental economic impact of the FTA and is available on gov.uk. On a recent visit to Australia for the CPTPP Commission I saw how the FTA – and the trade advantages consequent upon our membership of the CPTPP – are being used.

The Department is currently considering our approach to FTA Monitoring, not least because we want to see how effectively FTAs are being used by UK businesses and we will provide an update on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Royal Mail's workforce (a) recruitment and (b) retention rates in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore recruitment and retention policies are for its management. The government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.

As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to oversee Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.

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

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of the proposed free trade agreement with the Maldives.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

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 effectiveness of checks on new company formation with Companies House.

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

Companies House has developed and is continuing to develop capabilities in data analysis and measures to prevent the registration of misleading information and to better understand what measures will prove effective in preventing the registration of misleading information.

As of 31 October 2025, Companies has addressed 148,084 compliance issues involving 85,201 companies. Performance in this reporting period is on track to meet the ministerial target set out in Companies House’s 2025-2026 Business Plan to act against 150,000 companies.

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 ensure that postal workers and trade unions are consulted on reforms to the Universal Service Obligation.

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

On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced its decision on its review of the universal service obligation. This involved a consultation to which the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and Unite CMA responded.

The government is aware that Royal Mail's management and the new owners are in discussion with the CWU and encourages both parties to continue their constructive engagement to agree the best approach to reform that supports workers, and delivers for customers and secures the long-term financial sustainability of the universal postal service.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of the British Business Banks’s economic capital limit has been earmarked specifically for (a) micro-businesses and (b) businesses in the devolved nations.

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

The Secretary of State and the Chancellor have jointly set the British Business Bank a strategic mandate over the next five years. This includes a new mission to drive economic growth by helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK. While the mandate itself does not specify numbers, types of businesses, location, or sectors, the Bank has an excellent track record of addressing disparities in investment within the UK, with the Bank’s Impact report 24/25 showing that 24,000 businesses have newly benefited from finance supported by the Bank and 84% of businesses were outside London. The Bank will continue to report regularly on the impact of its interventions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what access the UK government has had to the business accounts of ExxonMobil at Mossmorran.

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

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.

Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.

The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what engagement the UK government has had with the trade unions representing the workers at ExxonMobil Mossmorran.

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

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.

Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.

The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what engagement the UK government has had with ExxonMobil.

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

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.

Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.

The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

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 the regulatory framework for the postal sector supports (a) reliable and (b) sustainable postal services in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.

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

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore recruitment and retention policies are for its management. The government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.

As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to oversee Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.

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

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what targets the Government has set for the British Business Bank in respect of i) the number of smaller businesses to receive finance, ii) the amount of finance directed to devolved nations and regions, and iii) a list of sectors which benefit annually.

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

The Secretary of State and the Chancellor have jointly set the British Business Bank a strategic mandate over the next five years. This includes a new mission to drive economic growth by helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK. While the mandate itself does not specify numbers, types of businesses, location, or sectors, the Bank has an excellent track record of addressing disparities in investment within the UK, with the Bank’s Impact report 24/25 showing that 24,000 businesses have newly benefited from finance supported by the Bank and 84% of businesses were outside London. The Bank will continue to report regularly on the impact of its interventions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the free trade agreement with the Maldives will include specific provisions that prioritise tuna caught by low impact methods over industrially caught tuna.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguards for the marine environment they plan to include in any free trade agreement with the Maldives.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if he will specify the importing organisation and the goods involved in the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025.

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

The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.

The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.

HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

Statistics notes and sources:

• Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if his Department will seek legal advice on whether the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025 breaches the UK's sanctions regime.

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

The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.

The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.

HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

Statistics notes and sources:

• Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, what plans his Department has to halt the further import of Russian planes to the UK.

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

The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.

The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.

HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

Statistics notes and sources:

• Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the UK and European Union.

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

DBT is continually assessing benefits of opportunities to improve recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Improvements would reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, and promote growth.

The UK Government is committed to improving recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. At the 2025 UK-EU Summit we agreed to establish dedicated dialogues with the Commission on the relevant provisions in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. HMG is encouraging and supporting UK regulators to work with their EU counterparts, including through guidance and targeted funding.

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 Chinese market dumping of (a) electric vehicles and (b) internal combustion engine vehicles on UK automotive sector.

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

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the UK’s investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including dumping.

I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA if they believe they are being injured by dumped goods.

While the Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to industries from unfair trading practices, and regularly engages with the automotive sector, I am not aware any application to the TRA at this time.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish information on (a) investigations and (b) enforcement action taken in relation to breaches involving (i) seasonal and (ii) temporary workers over the Christmas period in each of the last three years.

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

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 risks associated with non-compliance with employment law as a result of the rapid recruitment of temporary workers in the postal sector during the Christmas period.

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

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 enforcement capacity during periods of high-volume seasonal recruitment.

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

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to hold online marketplaces to account for dangerous products sold through their platforms; and when he plans to launch a consultation on the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025's measures in relation to product safety.

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

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe before being placed on the market. However, we recognise that the supply of unsafe goods via online marketplaces is a significant issue. The Government has therefore put in place the Product Regulation and Metrology Act (2025), which allows us to introduce new and clearer responsibilities for e-commerce businesses, whilst promoting consumer safety and ensuring fairer competition.

Government has committed to consult on proposals to modernise and clarify these responsibilities at the earliest opportunity, building upon best practice to create an effective and proportionate regulatory framework.

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 online marketplaces to prevent the sale of unsafe products.

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

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe before being placed on the market. However, we recognise that the supply of unsafe goods via online marketplaces is a significant issue. The Government has therefore put in place the Product Regulation and Metrology Act (2025), which allows us to introduce new and clearer responsibilities for e-commerce businesses, whilst promoting consumer safety and ensuring fairer competition.

Government has committed to consult on proposals to modernise and clarify these responsibilities at the earliest opportunity, building upon best practice to create an effective and proportionate regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to support publicans in the West Midlands.

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

We recognise that pubs, including those in the West Midlands, are at the beating heart of communities, providing not just a place to socialise but essential services and local jobs. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

In April, we launched a Taskforce to review premises licensing and develop proposals for a more balanced system that safeguards communities while supporting responsible businesses. These reforms form part of the Small Business Strategy, which is designed to tackle late payments, improve access to finance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We continue to work closely with the sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87864 on Department for Transport: Electric Vehicles, whether he has had discussions with car manufacturers on the potential impact of the entry of electric vehicles from China into the UK market on the cost of new electric and petrol cars.

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

China plays a significant global role across the automotive sector, and this brings challenges and opportunities for the UK. We closely monitor how changes to trade flows and other issues impact UK manufacturers. While DBT Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, engage regularly with UK car manufacturers on a range of relevant issues, including on the entry of electric vehicles from China into the UK market, decisions on the cost of new vehicles are a commercial matter for individual companies.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential merits of limiting the permitted dates for consumer use of fireworks in order to reduce distress to animals and to people.

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

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of limiting the permitted dates for consumer use of fireworks. However, the Government is continuing to engage with stakeholders including consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues of fireworks to inform any future action.

The Government also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community fireworks events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities to the British Business Bank, what metric is to be used to measure the target for two-thirds increase in the pace of investment; when is the baseline for this measure; and when the Government expects this target to be met.

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

The metric used to measure the targeted increase is the total amount of finance, both debt and equity investment, committed by the Bank each year. This metric excludes guarantees. The new level of £2.5 billion in annual commitments - expected to be achieved from 2026/27 onwards - is a two-thirds increase from £1.5 billion expected in 2025/26.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1st December to question 93634 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals and businesses in both the UK and EU, likely increasing trade between us and the EU and increasing our GDP over time. The UK government is committed to supporting UK businesses to trade more easily with our biggest trading partner, the EU.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings ministers and officials have had with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about (1) the decision to designate Google as having strategic market status in search and search advertising services, and (2) the plan to begin consulting on possible interventions later this year.

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

Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Competition and Markets Authority to discuss key policy issues, including the CMA’s digital markets work. Close collaboration between Government and the CMA is crucial for delivering the agenda of this Government. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89908 on Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution, under what arbitral rules were proceedings brought in those two active case.

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

The arbitral proceedings for HMG’s two active ISDS cases were brought under UNCITRAL (Mr Mikhail Maratovich Fridman) and ICSID (Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited) arbitral rules.

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 merits of giving local authorities the power to create firework-free zones.

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

No assessment has been made of the potential the merits of giving local authority the powers to create fireworks control zones. Building on the work of my predecessor, I will continue to engage with counterparts in Scotland to understand the impact Firework Control Zones have made before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales.

The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 13 August 2025.

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

The Department for Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days but in some instances it can take longer. The response to this case has now been issued and the department apologises for the length of time this has taken and are reviewing our processes to support better transfers between departments.

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 employers recruiting large numbers of temporary staff over the Christmas period comply with employment law.

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

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 interoperability and competitiveness in the domestic cloud market following recent widespread outages caused by dominant providers in the industry.

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

In July 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report on the UK cloud market. The key recommendation was for the CMA Board to prioritise commencing investigations under the digital markets regime and to consider designating the two largest providers —Microsoft and AWS — with strategic market status in relation to cloud services. The CMA is independent of Government and any decisions on initiating strategic market status investigations are for the CMA Board.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what update they can provide on the investigation initiated by the Grocery Code Adjudicator in June against Amazon for alleged breaches of the code regarding delayed payments, and whether this has been discussed with the Agriculture Supply Chain Adjudicator.

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

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is an independent regulator and statutory office holder, appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. The decision to investigate Amazon for a suspected breach of the Groceries Code was made by the GCA, who is independent of Government. The Government is therefore unable to comment on the progress of the GCA’s investigation.

The GCA and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) are in regular contact as they fulfil their respective remits and enhance fairness across the food supply chain.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of haulier businesses that have declared insolvency in each year between 2021 and 2024.

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

Estimated numbers of companies with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 49200 (Freight rail transport) and 49410 (Freight transport by road) that entered insolvency in the UK in each calendar year between 2021 and 2024 are presented in the table below.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is considering regulatory steps to encourage the fitting of fire suppression systems to agricultural equipment, such as combine harvesters.

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

The Government is not considering regulatory steps to encourage fitting fire suppression systems to agricultural equipment. This is because existing requirements under The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 set out that machinery must be designed and constructed in a way to avoid the risk of fire or overheating posed by the machinery itself or by gases, liquids, dust, vapours or other substances produced or used by the machinery. Many organisations also issue guidance to farmers to avoid the damage and disruption caused by accidental combine harvester fires.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop a regulatory framework to ensure that workplace use of artificial intelligence tools complies with UK employment and data protection law.

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

The Information Commissioner’s Office has committed to developing a statutory code of practice on artificial intelligence, so organisations have certainty on how to deploy AI in ways that uphold people’s rights and build public confidence.

Artificial Intelligence is a general-purpose technology with many applications, which is why the government believes most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use by our existing regulators.

The Plan to Make Work Pay set out the Government’s commitment to work with workers, trade unions, employers and experts to ensure rights and protections keep pace with technological change.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings ministers and officials have had with representatives of Google about (1) the decision of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to designate Google as having strategic market status in search and search advertising services, and (2) the CMA's plan to begin consulting on possible interventions later this year.

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

Ministers and officials have met with representatives of Google to discuss a range of topics, including the Competition and Markets Authority’s digital markets work. Such meetings are important for the exchange of views and the development of policy. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

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 reduce economic dependence on the South East of England.

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

Under the UK’s Industrial Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade is driving regional growth by supporting priority sectors and attracting investment. This includes working with partners to deliver Industrial Strategy Zones, which provide tax incentives and funding to stimulate investment in city regions such as the advanced materials manufacturing in Greater Manchester, defence in Plymouth, clean energy in Inverness and the Highlands, compound semiconductors in South Wales and advanced manufacturing, photonics, and biotechnology in Northern Ireland.

The Business Growth Service offers SMEs a streamlined, UK-wide platform to access funding, expert advice, and export opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and connecting firms with local and national support through business.gov.uk.

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 Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The Government recognises the significant pressures facing pubs, including those in Surrey Heath, and the Government is providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures.

We’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

The government is delivering its commitment to rebalance the business rates system in England by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million a year, which will benefit over 750,000 RHL properties.

The Government is committed to reducing barriers to growth for hospitality businesses by rebalancing the licensing system. This is why 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 His Majesty's Government whether they plan to bring forward the date of launching the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme so that businesses facing problems with energy costs can benefit before 2027.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the importance of action to tackle high energy costs for businesses. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will exempt eligible businesses from indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market. Implementation timelines for BICS are determined by the operating cycles of those three schemes. April 2027 is therefore the earliest that BICS can feasibly be delivered.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with OFCOM on a) the business challenges facing Royal Mail and (b) Royal Mail's ability to meet the Universal Service Obligation.

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

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

It is for Ofcom to oversee Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.

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

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to review the effectiveness of the working relationship between Ofcom and Royal Mail.

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

Ministers and officials have regular discussions both with Royal Mail and with Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the postal sector.

The effectiveness of the working relationship between Ofcom and Royal Mail is fundamental to maintaining a sustainable and reliable universal postal service.

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 Royal Mail provide timely and reliable delivery of NHS appointment letters to patients in rural constituencies.

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

The government recognises the importance of timely delivery of NHS appointment letters, particularly for patients in rural areas. Royal Mail is required under the Universal Service Obligation to deliver priority letters six days a week to every UK address, and Ofcom monitors compliance with these standards.

It is for Ofcom to decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.

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 representatives of the hospitality sector on the challenges facing pubs in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The Government recognises the significant pressures facing pubs, including those in Surrey Heath, and the Government is providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures.

We’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

The government is delivering its commitment to rebalance the business rates system in England by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million a year, which will benefit over 750,000 RHL properties.

The Government is committed to reducing barriers to growth for hospitality businesses by rebalancing the licensing system. This is why 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 his Department is taking to support the long-term resilience of pubs in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The Government recognises the significant pressures facing pubs, including those in Surrey Heath, and the Government is providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures.

We’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

The government is delivering its commitment to rebalance the business rates system in England by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million a year, which will benefit over 750,000 RHL properties.

The Government is committed to reducing barriers to growth for hospitality businesses by rebalancing the licensing system. This is why 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, if he will hold discussions with EP Group on meeting the terms of Royal Mail's agreements with (a) the Communication Workers Union and (b) the Government on (i) workforce pay and conditions and (ii) other matters.

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

The government engaged with EP Group and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) throughout the process of Royal Mail’s ownership transition. The Deed of Undertaking we agreed with the new owner includes a commitment from EP Group that they will continue to recognise the unions and abide by the future terms of legally binding agreements they make with them.

The agreement between the government and EP Group does not give the government a role in the operational decisions of the business – it remains a private entity.

We will continue to monitor compliance with these undertakings and maintain dialogue with all parties to ensure that agreed protections and principles are upheld.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's Future of Post Office Green Paper, what discussions his Department has had with Government bodies on providing further in-person government services at post offices.

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

The Government’s Green Paper consultation on the future of the Post Office closed on 6 October. We thank all individuals and organisations for their detailed responses, including the responses related to Post Office’s role in providing in-person government services. We are carefully considering all responses in consultation with other departments, ahead of publishing the government response in early 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many consultations his Department plans to hold on the Employment Rights Bill prior to its implementation.

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

Twenty-six consultations are currently planned to deliver the Employment Rights Bill and commitments made in the Implementing the Employment Rights Bill publication, across relevant Government departments. Five have already concluded and six are currently live.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has the Government made of the financial impact on UK small and medium-sized enterprises of the adverse effects on competition identified in the Competition and Markets Authority's Cloud Services Market Investigation, specifically regarding egress fees and technical barriers to switching cloud providers.

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

The Government has not assessed the impacts of the practices detailed in the CMA’s Cloud Service Market Investigation.

In the Final Report published on 31 July 2025, the key recommendation was for the CMA Board to prioritise commencing investigations under the digital markets regime to consider designating the two largest providers - Microsoft and AWS - with strategic market status in relation to cloud services.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what reasonable steps employers will be expected to take to comply with clause 18 of the Employment Rights Bill.

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

Clause 18 of the Employment Rights Bill introduces a new right to time off following bereavement or pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. We are currently consulting on the details of this entitlement, including with employers and business representative organisations, to seek their views on the entitlement and how we can best support them on its implementation. This will be reflected within the policy design and future guidance to help employers implement the entitlement and effectively support their employees. Once published we expect employers to engage with this guidance to help guide their Bereavement Leave policies.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to conduct a review into current fireworks legislation to determine whether it is fit for purpose and efficiently protects animals and vulnerable people.

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

The Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting animals and vulnerable people, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action and review into the current fireworks legislation.

The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign also featured new guidance for those running community fireworks events which recommends the use of low-noise fireworks to reduce the impact on communities, as well as social media materials that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

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 adequacy of the 120 dB noise limit in protecting animals and vulnerable people from harm.

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

The Government is continuing to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities, including those supporting animals and vulnerable people, to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks to inform any future action and review into the current fireworks legislation.

The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign also featured new guidance for those running community fireworks events which recommends the use of low-noise fireworks to reduce the impact on communities, as well as social media materials that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

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 (a) safeguard and (b) improve workplace rights for women.

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

The Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Bill illustrate the government’s commitment to supporting women at work.

Key measures include reviewing the parental leave system, making it more likely flexible working requests are accepted, ending exploitative zero hours contracts and strengthening protections against workplace sexual harassment.

The government is committed to tackling pregnancy and maternity discrimination and supporting women to stay in work. We are currently consulting on legislation which will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on Maternity Leave, and mothers for at least six months after they return to work – except in specific circumstances.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Centre for Social Justice's report entitled At what cost? Exploring the impact of forced labour in the UK, published in October 2024, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the registration of hand car washing facilities.

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

The government is creating the Fair Work Agency, which will enhance the enforcement of employment rights across sectors, including hand car washes. As announced in the Budget, the Agency will establish a dedicated 'hidden economy' team which will target sectors with multiple regulatory breaches, starting with hand car washes.

The initiative will address employment rights violations while collaborating with relevant enforcement authorities to protect workers and support legitimate businesses operating within the law.

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 increasing measures to stop the underage sale of fireworks online.

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

No assessment has been made of the merits of increasing measures to stop underage sale of fireworks online. There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally, or misused. Sales offences in Great Britain are enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the penalty for retailers who sell to children is a fine and/or three months in prison.

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 negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the European Union.

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

Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals and businesses in both the UK and EU, likely increasing trade between us and the EU and increasing our GDP over time. The UK government is committed to supporting UK businesses to trade more easily with our biggest trading partner, the EU.

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 UK and EU conformity assessment alignment on the economy.

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

We are aware that UK and EU stakeholders have highlighted that conformity assessment barriers negatively impact their ability to trade since the UK left the EU. Ahead of the UK-EU summit in May 2025 we explored a number of proposals with our EU partners on manufactured goods. To inform these discussions the government assessed the potential economic impact of a range of measures, including a mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment, which indicated that such an agreement would be mutually beneficial for both the UK and EU. What was announced at the UK-EU summit reflects the outcome of the discussions.

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 impact of exposure to (a) glyphosate, (b) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and (c) heavy metals in period products on public health.

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

During the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, the Government committed to consult on period product safety. As part of this Officials are reviewing the need for any further research and testing for harmful chemicals and heavy metals in period products to complement the consultation.

We are working closely with DEFRA who advise that studies carried out in the EU on chemicals in period products found that the chemicals identified were present only in low concentrations, with no evidence of significant risks to human health. Defra is continuing to monitor research in this area.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department will assess the economic and environmental impacts of exporting aluminium scrap to non-EU countries.

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

The Department for Business and Trade will continue to work with stakeholders to understand the role of aluminium scrap exports in terms of our economic interests and environmental responsibilities. We plan to listen to the perspectives of all involved parties.

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 ensure that (a) private sector employers apply their company sick pay policies consistently and transparently, and (b) workers, particularly those who are disabled or living with long-term health conditions, are fully informed of and able to access their entitlement to sick pay.

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

Government sets the approach to statutory sick pay (SSP), providing a vital safety net to workers. Through the Employment Rights Bill, Government is ensuring SSP is available from the first day of sickness. It is for employers to decide if they wish to provide an occupational sick pay scheme that goes beyond these requirements.

Employers play a vital role in addressing health-related economic activity. That is why we appointed Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working review, published 5 November. Following the review, Government has committed to testing new employer-led approaches to support individuals to remain in work.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure parity of treatment between metal recyclers and steel producers in relation to energy pricing and the proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism.

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

The Government has recently published a consultation on eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which, from 2027, will lower electricity prices for businesses in manufacturing frontier industries and foundational industries in their supply chains. Support is also available through the British Industry Supercharger and the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will ensure that highly traded, carbon-intensive imported goods face a comparable carbon price to UK-produced equivalents. Imported scrap products, including those from aluminium, iron and steel, will remain outside CBAM scope due to their low carbon leakage risk.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain the domestic metal-recycling base to secure the feedstock required for a decarbonised steel industry, and to reduce reliance on imported virgin materials.

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

The Government recognises the importance of a circular economy and the need for domestic supply of scrap to meet demand, whilst also ensuring the market remains fair and beneficial for all stakeholders. We are actively listening to the perspectives of all involved parties.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-2025, HC1372, 23 October 2025, with reference to the target to reduce the cost of regulation by 25% on page 7, what the Government’s latest estimate is of the total cost of regulation to businesses and organisations in the public sector; what baseline year and total monetary value were used to calculate the stated target to reduce that cost; and by what date the Government aims to achieve that reduction.

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

We have estimated the baseline of the administrative burden of regulation on businesses (as at start of April 2025) at £22.4bn a year in 2024 prices. Our target is to reduce this figure by 25%, or £5.6bn, by the end of Parliament.

We have adopted a pragmatic and ‘top-down’ approach to estimating the baseline, drawing on a range of existing data sources including previous baselining exercises, DBT’s regular Business Perceptions Survey (BPS), DBT business population estimates and Office for National Statistics data on wages and labour costs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support is available to small British manufacturers of natural stone products to help increase their role in the sustainable construction sector.

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

The Government is committed to the growth of a sustainable construction sector and to creating the right environment for small and medium sized businesses to thrive. Small British manufacturers of natural stone products can access support through the Business Growth Service, which offers online advice on issues such as decarbonisation and energy efficiency and services: for example, through connecting businesses to British Business Bank schemes such as a Business Finance Hub helping SMEs identify suitable finance options; and other support including access to the Department's International Trade Advisers.

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 the value of hydrogen and fuel cell exports reaches the target set out in the Industrial Strategy.

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

The Industrial Strategy Clean Energy Industries sector plan notes the export market for UK manufacturers across hydrogen technologies could range between £800 million and £2.2 billion to 2030. The government has committed targeted support to boost exports of hydrogen technologies by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network and increasing access to international supply chains.

To support these opportunities, the UK's export credit agency, UK Export Finance aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029, alongside options to support overseas sales, including loan guarantees for foreign buyers, and working capital, insurance and bond support products to assist UK suppliers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of SumUp's UK Business Confidence Report 2025, and of the implications of those findings for policies relating to the cost pressures faced by small and independent retailers.

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

We recognise the challenges facing businesses at the moment. This is why we are taking action – including through creating a fairer business rates system which includes introducing permanently lower rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

We're protecting the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, which means that 865,000 employers will pay no employer NICs at all this year.

We also recognise the challenge in accessing the right skills which is why we've created Skills England, the new Growth and Skills Levy, the introduction of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, as well as qualifications reform and the Independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, this Government is ensuring employers will be better supported to recruit and train the domestic workforce with the skills they need.

Finally, our Plan for small and medium-sized businesses aims to tackle late payments, boost access to finance, and remove red tape to enable SMEs across the country to grow and thrive.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what specific measures his Department will offer companies located in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to help them navigate any non-tariff barriers emerging from Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership dialogues.

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

My officials engage extensively across the UK and overseas to assess opportunities and identify non-tariff barriers arising from CPTPP membership. This includes hosting targeted events and webinars to promote the utilisation of the Agreement, providing updates on the latest developments, and gathering feedback from businesses on how CPTPP is working in practice.

The Department’s business-facing teams are equipped with the tools and information they need to confidently engage with businesses, helping them understand and navigate non-tariff barriers, and access commercial opportunities across CPTPP markets.

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 the effectiveness of private enforcement in competition cases in the courts.

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

The competition opt-out collective actions regime enables competition claims to be brought where many individuals have claims substantially similar in nature. This provides a route to litigation where it would otherwise be impractical or unaffordable.

The Government launched a review of the operation of the competition opt-out collective actions regime in August 2025, commencing with a call for evidence that closed on 14 October 2025. Responses to the call for evidence are now being considered and a consultation on options for reform will be brought forward in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Trading Standards enforcement officers there were in each (a) region, (b) local authority area and (c) parliamentary constituency in each year for the past 5 years.

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

Trading Standards enforcement officers are the responsibility of individual Local Authorities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people have been a) arrested b) charged and c) convicted in relation to (i) underage and (ii) illicit sales of cigarettes each year for the past five years.

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

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what framework his Department intends to put in place to help small and medium sized enterprises in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency engage with Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership markets.

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

The Department for Business and Trade provides practical CPTPP guidance for businesses via business.gov.uk market pages. This covers policy areas such as rules of origin, preferential tariffs and digital trade, as well as sector-specific guidance for CPTPP countries.

Small and medium sized businesses can access export support through our UK and overseas teams using our digital enquiry service, and tailored assistance is available on business.gov.uk to help businesses enter new markets and expand their presence in existing ones. We actively engage through events and working with the wider business community to promote CPTPP opportunities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department will take to assess the opportunities for businesses in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to benefit from recent developments in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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

Last week, I met with other CPTPP Ministers in Melbourne, where they agreed to launch accession talks with Uruguay, held trade and investment dialogues with both the EU and ASEAN, and agreed on areas where the CPTPP Agreement can be improved.

These developments demonstrate our strong commitment to the continued expansion of high-standard, rules-based trade to benefit businesses across the UK, as outlined in the Trade Strategy.

Access to new markets, closer relations with other trading blocs and improved rules will create opportunities for businesses across the UK, including those in Bletchley and Buckingham.

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 likely effect on regulatory alignment for UK businesses resulting from future Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership rule-reviews.

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

Assessment of the effects of regulatory alignment under the CPTPP Agreement relate to the CPTPP Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Chapter.

While this chapter does not require regulatory alignment, it encourages greater transparency for CPTPP members to be better informed about the development of product regulations and conformity assessment requirements. The chapter enables members to request technical discussions and provides routes to address issues.

For CPTPP to remain of the highest possible standard, the UK has engaged in the General Review process in a way which seeks to protect and promote UK interests, including on the TBT chapter.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the total number of calls (a) answered (b) abandoned was for each public helpline numbers provided by his Department and its executive agencies for each year from 2015 to date.

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

This information is not held centrally and would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold to estimate these figures.

Any member of the public can get in touch with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helplines on +44 (0) 20 4551 0011 or via our website.

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 help ensure that proposed changes to the Universal Service Obligation are implemented in a way that maintains service quality for customers and engages with postal workers.

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

On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced its decision to make changes to the universal postal service obligation.

Implementation of those changes are for Royal Mail’s management and the new owner in consultation with its unions. The government is aware that discussions are ongoing and encourages all parties to continue their constructive engagement to agree the best approach to reform that supports workers, delivers for customers and secures the long-term financial sustainability of the universal postal service.

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 regulatory framework for postal services, including the oversight of parcel courier companies and their contribution to the universal postal network.

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

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.

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

The government will continue to work with the regulator to ensure that the framework supports fair competition, consumer protection and the long-term sustainability of the universal postal network.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with EP Group on their compliance with agreements made with the Communication Workers Union on reform of the Universal Service Obligation; and whether he has assessed the adequacy of the performance of Royal Mail’s Optimised Delivery Model trials in delivering service improvements.

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

The government engaged with EP Group and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) throughout the process of Royal Mail’s ownership transition. The Deed of Undertaking we agreed with the new owner includes a commitment from EP Group that they will continue to recognise the unions and abide by the future terms of legally binding agreements they make with them.

We will continue to monitor compliance with these undertakings and maintain dialogue with all parties to ensure that agreed protections and principles are upheld.

Royal Mail and the CWU agreed to run pilots in selected offices to design, test and review the operation of the proposed delivery model in response to Ofcom’s USO changes. The government does not have a role in the operational decisions of the business.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress he has made on doubling the size of the mutuals sector.

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

As part of the Autumn Budget announcements, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) launched a Call for Evidence on Business Support for Co-operatives and Mutuals. This will be open across Great Britain for 12 weeks.

DBT ensured that for Financial Year 25/26 Growth Hubs in England offer support to businesses with alternative business models – including Co-operatives and Mutuals, as a condition of funding, and included more information on Co-operatives and Mutuals through the highly successful Help to Grow Management programme.

DBT is looking at how to integrate support for Co-operatives and Non-Financial Mutuals within the government’s overall approach for supporting SMEs, including via the Business Growth Service.

DBT continues to work closely with the sector, including the new Mutual and Co-operative Business Sector Council.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regionally adjusted Living Wage for major urban areas outside London, including Greater Manchester.

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

This government is committed to building an economy that delivers for working people. As part of this work, the government sets the statutory minimum rates for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) which applies to all employers.

We have not considered implementing a regionally adjusted NLW. Defining regional economies presents significant challenges and the complexities of enforcing multiple rates would likely impact upon compliance. Furthermore, businesses consistently highlight that one of the NLW’s primary strengths lies in its simplicity and ease of administration with the same rates applying across the country.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to include mirror clauses in future trade agreements for agricultural products.

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

The government will continue to seek fair and balanced trade deals which include new export opportunities to grow the UK’s world class agri-food and drinks sector.

We recognise concerns about production methods that are not permitted in the UK. While production practices differ internationally due to climate, disease pressures, and other local factors, we will always consider whether such differences create an unfair advantage and any resulting impacts.

We will always maintain UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human, animal or plant life or health, animal welfare, and the environment.

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 support the export of domestic wine.

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

DBT is committed to helping domestic wine producers grow through exports. DBT provide tailored export support and advice for businesses via business.gov.uk. This includes access to expert-led sessions via our Business Academy and country-led expertise from our international market teams. DBT regularly provides showcase opportunities for the UK’s award-winning British wines, such as at embassy tastings, trade missions and global trade shows that connect producers directly with buyers and distributors. Vineyards and wineries of all sizes can also access UK Export Finance (UKEF), which offers a wide range of financial products to support exporters and export-ready businesses.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to reduce the cost of groceries by reducing tariffs on fruit and vegetables not (a) grown and (b) processed in the UK.

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

As part of the Budget, the Government launched an application window for new duty suspensions on 26 November to help reduce import costs. Stakeholders have until 4 February 2026 to apply for the UK Global Tariff rate to be temporarily suspended on goods which are not produced, or not produced in sufficient quantities, in the UK and Crown Dependencies, including on fruit and vegetables. As a result of the previous application window announced in March 2025, the Government suspended tariffs on a range of food and drink products including fruit juices, pine nuts and raisins.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen the regulation of online food takeaway platforms to protect the payment information of local businesses.

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

Regulation when well designed and carefully implemented, is important for promoting growth and investment. It is essential for protecting consumers, supporting vulnerable communities, and providing the stability businesses need to thrive.

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulations organisations must have appropriate technical and security measures in place to protect the personal data they hold or disclose, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction, or damage.

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 the continued availability of British natural stone for heritage restoration projects.

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

The Department for Business and Trade does not offer any specific support for British natural stone for heritage restoration projects.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports heritage restoration projects with several grant schemes, including those covering VAT for repairs through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and the Memorial Grant Scheme. Additional funds, such as the Heritage At Risk Capital Fund and the Heritage Revival Fund, provide financial support in England for repairing endangered heritage sites and repurposing neglected historic buildings for community and economic benefit.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and his counterparts in Northern Ireland on the closure of major post offices and how this impacts unemployment across the province.

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

To create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, Post Office is transitioning to a fully franchised network. All 108 Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) – including Bangor and Newtownards in Northern Ireland – are within scope of these changes.

The Government fully recognises the impact that Post Office branch closures can have on local communities. While decisions on the specific circumstances of each DMB are an operational matter for Post Office Limited, we understand that Post Office is actively advertising for an additional local branch in the town centres of both locations, complementing existing coverage in the area.

In terms of the employees of those branches, all employees were offered TUPE transfer, settlement agreements, or redeployment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government which areas of the United Kingdom have experienced the largest decreases in foreign investment since 2023; and what steps they are taking to ensure the even distribution of foreign investment throughout the UK.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

DBT Official Statistics on inward investment show that FDI project numbers into the UK fell from 2023/24 to 2024/25, with London seeing the largest drop and the East of England recording the biggest percentage decline. Year-on-year changes remain volatile and should be interpreted cautiously.

To attract investment, mayoral strategic authorities are delivering growth plans aligned with local strengths and clear pipelines. Our strategy focuses on enhancing infrastructure, skills, and sector clusters to make all UK regions competitive for long-term foreign investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what review processes the Government has in place to assess the suitability of its trade and investment treaty commitments, including those over thirty-five years old, such as the UK-Russia Bilateral Investment Treaty.

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

The UK’s International Investment Agreements (IIAs) aim to enhance opportunities for UK businesses to expand overseas, with commitments that seek to limit the barriers they face, make it easier to navigate local rules, and ensure investments are treated lawfully, and protected against unfair or arbitrary action. There is no specific review process within such Agreements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating the international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.

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

International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.

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

International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the performance of foreign direct investment in the UK compared to that of the other G7 nations.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

Data published by the United Nations Trade and Development Data Hub show that at the end of 2024 the UK ranked second in the G7 (behind the United States) for levels of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) stock.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the United Kingdom remains internationally competitive in attracting foreign direct investment.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government has introduced a modern Industrial Strategy aimed at boosting nationwide growth by removing investment barriers and improving access to finance. The Office for Investment (OfI) has expanded its commercial expertise and regional presence, collaborating with Mayors and Devolved Administrations to link investors with high-potential UK opportunities. Additionally, UK Export Finance has enhanced support for international investment through its new ‘Invest-to-Export’ Guarantee, designed for overseas firms investing in UK export facilities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how the British Business Bank plans to measure and publish outcomes relating to its strategic objective to Unlock the potential in people and places, including how it will track and report the number of jobs created, regional investment disparities, and when those metrics will first be published.

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

The British Business Bank measures and publishes the outcomes of its interventions and its assessment of the market for small business finance in the UK across several publications:

• The Bank’s Annual Report and Accounts
• An annual Impact Report
• Independent evaluation reports on individual programmes, such as the Regions and Nations Investment Funds
• Research reports including an annual assessment of small business finance markets and a Nations and Regions Tracker

The next Small Business Finance Markets report is planned to be published in February/March 2026, with the Annual Report and Impact Report in July/August 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what impact assessment his Department has made of increased Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership membership on trade flows to and from the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

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

According to the published Impact Assessment, the UK’s accession to CPTPP will help boost the South East’s economy by around £450 million in the long run. However, no analysis was undertaken at a constituency level.

HMRC statistics show that 2024 trade flows between the South-East region of England and CPTPP markets (excluding Brunei) comprised goods exports worth £2.8 billion. The South-East had the third-highest goods exports to CPTPP countries in the UK.

My Department will continue to measure trade flows across the UK to ensure that all businesses can make the most of the opportunities offered by the Agreement’s expansion.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to resume trade discussions with Israel.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The UK has formally paused negotiations on the upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It would take a sustained shift in the positions of the Israeli government for the UK to consider restarting the FTA negotiations.

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

Found: relationships is a key priority.5 However, the Committee raised concerns about proposed staff cuts at DBT

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

Found: Industry Department for Energy Security & Net Zero 55 Whitehall London SW1A 2HP Department for Business and Trade

Found: November 2025 17 Department for Business and Trade - Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses

Found: Including a commitment in the Bill would also align with work by the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Correspondence to the Department for Business and Trade relating to its approach to rural proofing policies

Found: Including a commitment in the Bill would also align with work by the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Department for Business and Trade, and Department for Business and Trade Oral Evidence

Found: Q84 Mr Joshua Reynolds: DBT has said that this agreement delivers India’s first stand-alone chapter

Found: Originally founded with Government support, it is now independent but works closely with FCDO, DBT and

Found: Amanda Tickel: I would hope so, but they need the support of the Department for Business and Trade in

Found: We are getting good support from DBT to try to resolve that.

Found: Response from Department for Business and Trade on Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement

Found: In March 2021 EAC wrote to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) proposing a Garment Trade Adjudicator

Found: DBT is conducting a review of Responsible Business Conduct, highlighted in the government’s Trade Strategy

Found: What action is needed While some Ministers now hold portfolios across two departments, such as DBT and

Found: new approach with upcoming strategies on the circular economy (Defra-led) and critical minerals (DBT-led

Found: We also call on the Department for Business and Trade to explain within six months, either in a written

Found: the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Lord Jason Stockwood of Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes Minister for Investment Department for Business and Trade

Found: Department for Business and Trade, Department for Business and Trade, and Department for Business and

Found: are right that it is a cross-government review of our international education strategy, led by DfE, DBT

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be required to meet additional requirements as a result of the introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on 1 January 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Business in Northern Ireland, like all businesses in the UK, may need to provide information to their EU-based importers to help them meet their requirements under the EU CBAM.

To support business readiness for the EU CBAM, the Department for Business and Trade offers a comprehensive support package, including the Export Support Service, webinars, and an upcoming digital explainer on business.gov.uk, signposting to relevant European Commission resources.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact on Northern Ireland and its participation in the Single Electricity Market of the introduction of the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism on 1 January 2026; and what discussions they have had with the European Union about an interim arrangement for Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will enter its definitive regime from January 2026 applies to imports of electricity and certain goods into the EU.

The EU CBAM does not apply in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland-based power generators are already part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in order to maintain the arrangements underpinning the Single Electricity Market. Electricity sent to Northern Ireland from Great Britain is not affected by the EU CBAM.

If businesses are moving electricity to Ireland or elsewhere in the EU, they may need to provide information to their EU-based importer to help them meet their requirements under the EU CBAM. The UK will continue to engage closely with the EU as it finalises the CBAM.

UK businesses should stay informed about developments regarding the EU CBAM, the Department for Business and Trade offers a comprehensive support package through business.gov.uk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (1) individuals and (2) organisations have been (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted for fraud in relation to COVID-19 funds since 2020.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC have interpreted ‘COVID-19 funds’ as the ‘HMRC administered COVID-19 support schemes’, including Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO), the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) (previously the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy until 2023) administered Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), and Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).

Although you have requested the data be broken down into individuals and organisations, HMRC do not hold the data at that level of detail. SEISS claims relate to individuals, whereas CJRS involves payroll, however, CJRS may also fall within the Income Tax (IT) or Corporation Tax (CT) regime. To add complexity, all charges for recovery of overpayments on the HMRC schemes are raised under IT legislation.

By the end of March 2025, HMRC had opened 53 criminal investigations into suspected fraud within the schemes and made a total of 99 arrests. There have been 4 convictions so far. Further ongoing criminal investigation activity has yet to be concluded within the criminal justice system and is subject to those timescales.

In this timeframe, HMRC also carried out more than 47,000 compliance checks using civil powers, where the amount claimed was out of step with other information. The risk that the claim was incorrect may have been due to a range of reasons from an honest mistake through to fraud.

DBT has worked with enforcement partners to tackle fraud linked to COVID-19 loan schemes. This includes the National Investigation Service (NATIS) and the Insolvency Service (INSS). To date, the Insolvency Service has obtained disqualifications against 2,595 directors, bankruptcy restrictions against 381 individuals and 82 successful criminal convictions in respect of COVID-19 financial support scheme misconduct. The Agency has also helped to secure more than £6 million in compensation related to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse. Since 2020, NATIS has opened a total of 254 investigations covering both individuals and organisations. NATIS has secured 14 convictions up to November 2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the drivers of food and non-alcoholic drink price inflation and what steps are being taken to tackle them.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government monitors food prices closely. As outlined in the UK Food Security Report (December 2024), food price drivers are complex: global commodity prices influence domestic markets through trade and are affected by energy, labour, manufacturing costs, harvest quality, and Sterling exchange rates.

On 19 November, our Secretary of State announced Defra’s collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade to launch a Food Inflation Gateway. This tool will assess the impact of new regulations on food businesses and prices, helping government coordinate and sequence policies to reduce costs, unlock investment, and apply downward pressure on prices.

Alongside this, the Department’s Food Strategy aims to ensure access to affordable, nutritious food and strengthen resilience against short-term supply shocks and long-term risks, reducing the likelihood of future price spikes and supporting fair, stable prices for households.

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Found: In February 2023, the government created the Department for Business and Trade, bringing together the

Found: In February 2023, the government created the Department for Business and Trade, bringing together the

Found: Redress payments are provided by the Department for Business and Trade and Post Office Limited under

Found: www.gov.uk/government/news/record-fraud-crackdown- saves-half-a-billion-for-public-services Department for Business and Trade

Found: assures compliance with government reporting obligations, such as the steel origin data return to DBT

Found: fewest number of days on average (117 days), followed by the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Responsible: DBT, Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT)

Found: and Net Zero, and Martin Spencer, Link Commissioner for the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: DBT will publish a full Impact Assessment in early 2026.

Found: Monitoring and evaluation of preferred option The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS, within DBT

Found: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recently consulted on reform of MIR display requirements

Found: 21 23% £840k 5% HMRC 4 31% £502k 9% DCMS 5 14% £311k 11% DSIT 5 9% £290k 5% HMT 1 6% £105k 3% DBT

Found: (DBT), was launched in October 2024 to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of

Found: The staff are drawn mainly from DBT.

Found: OPSS Research into Consumer Behaviour on Online Marketplaces DBT Research Paper May 2025 2 Contents

Found: The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, reporting to the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury

Found: Commercial assures compliance with government reporting obligations, such as the steel origin data return to DBT

Found: UK SBS is a company wholly owned by its public sector customers and shareholders: DSIT, DBT, DESNZ and

Found: Quality in the Creative industries, Ibid, page 14 20 Ibid, page 14 21 Ibid, page 14 22 “DCMS and DBT

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Found: contents Annex A: Briefing note Annex B: Note of the previous meeting Annex C: Letter from DFM to DBT

Found: Use of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in the assessment setting • Category / Outcome Recommendations