Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his planned upper limit is for (a) overall contributions and (b) annual contributions from the public purse for support for the UK steel industry.

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

The government is committed to providing up to £2.5 billion to support the UK steel industry, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund and in part through direct support for companies. This is in addition to the £500 million investment for Tata Steel in Port Talbot, bringing the total investment in the steel industry to up to £3 billion. The £3 billion is intended for initiatives such as electric arc furnaces and other improvements to UK capabilities. The annual allocation of these funds will depend on ministerial decisions and on companies meeting delivery milestones.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has determined a (a) budget, (b) repayment schedule and (c) end date for its intervention in British Steel.

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

Budgets for British Steel are subject to the usual government approvals processes and ministerial decisions. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets, with no additional borrowing required. Funding provided to British Steel Limited is recoverable as a debt owed to the Crown. Recoverability of this debt will be further assessed at year-end, and the resulting treatment will be reflected and published in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of BSL.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish a strategy for increasing UK-Morocco trade.

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

Announced at the 2025 Strategic Dialogue in June, the UK and Morocco entered into an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, reaffirming a commitment to expand economic ties and deepen collaboration in priority areas, including infrastructure, public procurement, agriculture and unlocking investment opportunities in both the UK and Morocco. The third UK‑Morocco Association Council met in London on 12 November 2025, where both countries agreed to build on the Strategic Dialogue and focus on delivering progress against shared priority areas to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic merits for (a) the Treasury and (b) UK businesses of the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.

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

In the UK’s Trade Strategy, the government recognised the potential merits and impacts of UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) and committed to engaging business further. The government ran a five-week call for evidence from November to December last year to understand the potential impacts of accession on businesses. The Government will publish the findings in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of negotiating UK access into the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.

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

In the UK’s Trade Strategy, the government recognised the potential merits and impacts of UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) and committed to engaging business further. The government ran a five-week call for evidence from November to December last year to understand the potential impacts of accession on businesses. The Government will publish the findings in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the value of exports facilitated by his Department was in each of the last five financial years by destination country.

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

The Department supported businesses to deliver export wins worth £16.9bn in 2020/21, £17.3bn in 2021/22, and £19.6bn in 2022/23. In 2023/24 over £36bn and almost £24bn in 2024/25 export wins were delivered.

The Department does not provide country-specific wins due to the risk of disclosing commercially sensitive deals.

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 introducing mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

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

It is to the benefit of all parties involved in litigation that disputes are managed efficiently. The government, therefore, supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve disputes without the expense of litigation.

The government is conducting a review of the opt-out collective actions regime for competitive claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The review considers all aspects of the regime, including the role of alternative dispute resolution, and a consultation on proposals for change will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of i) the levels of the ammonia production in the UK ii) the security of supply of imported ammonia and iii) the rising costs of fertilisers as a result of the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

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

The UK does not manufacture ammonia in significant volumes. CF Fertilisers made the commercial decision to switch to an import model of ammonia in 2022. Whilst there has been a significant increase in ammonia costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf, there has been no assertion yet that supply is not secure.

Recent market volatility has seen an increase in fertiliser prices, reflecting global conditions rather than any immediate supply disruption to the UK. The government is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply and pricing in the 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 promote the manufacturing sector in (1) Lincolnshire and (2) the East Midlands.

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

The Government is committed to supporting manufacturing in Lincolnshire and the wider East Midlands. We are backing the sector through targeted investment, skills programmes and support for innovation. The East Midlands Freeport – England’s only inland freeport – is creating new manufacturing opportunities, attracting investment and generating high‑skilled jobs. Through the Local Growth Fund, we are helping local authorities and businesses strengthen supply chains and adopt new technologies. Manufacturers across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands also benefit from wider UK measures, outlined in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.

The sector plan sets out how the Industrial Strategy will be delivered for the sector by reforming the business environment to build resilience, removing supply side barriers, developing a digitally literate and highly skilled workforce through the Upskilling and Reskilling programme, and unlocking the economic potential of advanced manufacturing clusters.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what was the total value of the Emission Trading Scheme/Carbon Price Support compensation paid to British Steel during 2024-2025.

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

For the last decade, Government has provided compensation to a small number of businesses in the most electricity intensive sectors, including steel, to lower their electricity bills and help keep them viable in the UK. In the 2024/25 financial year, approximately 140 of the most electricity intensive and trade exposed companies received support worth £142 million. The Department does not publish the details of individual awards given to companies through compensation schemes due to commercial sensitivities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of current battery costs per kWh; and what assumptions underpin projections for future cost reductions.

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

My Department does not publish an official estimate and for benchmarking we reference internationally trusted, independent sources.

Battery technology is becoming increasingly important for our national resilience. Global demand for batteries is surging, the battery value chain from raw material extraction to cell production is very concentrated.

We work closely with international partners to improve security of supply, and the Industrial Strategy published last year clearly shows the importance of building a competitive domestic battery supply in delivering economic resilience and growth for the UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of current and projected gigafactory battery production capacity in Europe; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of that capacity for UK automotive demand.

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

The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK collaborates with Government, automotive industry, and academia to produce quarterly forecasts. The latest insights show, based on nameplate capacity, European cell production is projected to surpass demand in 2027.

While EU trade remains vital to the sector, it is critical for UK economic resilience and competitiveness that we build domestic battery production capacity and diverse supply chains.

This Government is supporting our domestic battery ecosystem through Industrial Strategy commitments, where we announced the UK's largest single commitment to battery R&D in the Battery Innovation Programme, and significant capital support through DRIVE35 funding.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail on proposals to equalise pay, terms and conditions between existing and newly recruited postal workers.

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

The Secretary of State met Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU, and Daniel Křetínský, the owner of EP Group, on 16 February and again on 19 March.

The terms and working conditions of Royal Mail employees are the subject of ongoing negotiations between Royal Mail’s management and the Communication Workers’ Union as part of an agreed dispute resolution process. The government is taking a close interest in these negotiations and receives regular updates.

However, the implementation of operational models and terms and conditions of employment, are for Royal Mail, as an independent business, to manage in collaboration with its workforce and their representatives.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Parental Leave and Pay review is considering an implementation of the statutory right to paid leave for kinship carers.

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

The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.

In addition to considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is considering the needs of other working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, such as kinship carers.

The Government is also supporting kinship carers through other mechanisms and has recently launched a kinship pilot to support up to 5,000 children by paying eligible carers an allowance equivalent to the Fostering National Minimum Allowance.

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 introducing mandatory mediation in employment disputes.

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

We continue to work across government to make the dispute resolution system more resilient, so that that the measures in the Employment Rights Act can be effectively enforced. We recognise the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes swiftly.

A joint DBT/MoJ Taskforce—working with Acas and representatives from business, unions, and other experts —is considering reforms to strengthen dispute resolution.

This includes considering how to maximise use of informal options including meditation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of workers who work more than their contracted hours.

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

There are no official data sources that provide readily available estimates of the number of contracted hours across the whole labour market. The Office for National Statistics regularly publishes estimates of the number of people on zero hours contracts, where all hours worked are additional to contracted hours: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/emp17peopleinemploymentonzerohourscontracts.

The government has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the zero hours contract measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. We will publish further analysis in due course as we implement those measures.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to setting the fines for employers that break rules on trade union access to the workplace as a percentage of global turnover.

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

In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on several elements of the new statutory access framework, including on the way that the policy is enforced.

Officials are carefully reviewing all responses, and the government will publish a response in due course. This will include next steps on the enforcement model.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) his department and (b) ACAS have issued on whether an employee can be summarily dismissed for gross misconduct if they lie or deceive when applying for the job.

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

There is government guidance on GOV.UK on summary dismissal for reasons relating to gross misconduct. Acas has issued both a statutory Code of Practice and non-statutory guidance covering gross misconduct. These do not specifically mention dismissal for lying or deception during the recruitment process. Misconduct involving dishonesty may meet the threshold for gross misconduct if it fundamentally undermines trust and confidence.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the creation of fake operatives posing as remote workers by North Korea.

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

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Home Secretary on this issue.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help ensure that the Energy Intensive Industry (EII) status of eligible businesses at Saltend Chemicals Park is resolved.

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

I am aware of the ongoing issues relating to businesses at the Saltend Chemicals Park, who are currently not receiving exemptions under the British Industry Supercharger that they are eligible for. My officials are liaising with Ofgem and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, as they understand the impacts that high industrial electricity costs and unique energy meter configurations are creating for these businesses. My officials are working to resolve this situation promptly and will keep Saltend Chemicals Park Limited, who own the business park, updated on progress.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his target is for the value of UK-Morocco bilateral trade in each year to 2030.

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

We do not set country specific annual targets for bilateral trade, but bilateral trade between the UK and Morocco has been rising and reached £4.8 billion in the 12 months to September 2025, an increase of £0.9 billion in current prices on the previous 12 months. In June 2025, during the Strategic Dialogue, the UK and Morocco entered into an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, where we announced a series of arrangements to deepen collaboration, build business ties and drive further trade growth. The UK and Morocco have an agreed focus on shared priorities areas with a goal of increasing UK-Morocco bilateral trade, including on priority infrastructure projects ahead of Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to safeguard the right of trade union access to workplaces in the warehousing and logistics sector.

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

In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on several elements of the new statutory access framework, including steps the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must consider reasonable for employers to take to facilitate access, as well as the details on the enforcement mechanism. These will apply to the warehousing and logistics sector.

Officials are currently reviewing all responses, and the government will publish a response before finalising these details in secondary legislation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 20 June 2025 on Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, HCWS1360, which government services the cross-government group referenced in the Statement is considering improving through the Post Office network; what his planned timetable is for the development of those proposals; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of this change on Post Office footfall and revenue.

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

The cross-government group referenced is considering options for a common physical front-end for government services to ensure there is a ‘go to’ place for a range of government services, expanded assisted digital support, an enhanced role in identity verification and exploring new propositions such as prescription collection. Further updates on government services in post offices will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that workers are able to meet their trade union in an accessible location when their trade union is granted access to the workplace.

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

In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on operational aspects of the new statutory access framework, including steps the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must consider reasonable for employers to take to facilitate access.

Officials are currently reviewing responses, and the government will publish a response before finalising these details in secondary legislation.

We will also consult on a draft Code of Practice in due course which will provide detail on how statutory access should operate in different types of workplaces.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 9 March (HL14773), what assessment they have made of whether the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe steelworks are critical national security assets.

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, for decommissioning the blast furnaces at the Scunthorpe steelworks; and what estimate they have made of the cost of decommissioning.

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how long they plan to fund the operation of the Scunthorpe steelworks; and what is the maximum budget for funding those steelworks.

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government who is responsible for the publication of British Steel's statutory accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024.

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 9 March (HL14773), whether they will publish a breakdown of the £104 million provided to British Steel for "other operational expenses".

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government who is responsible for non-cash expenditure at British Steel, including carbon obligations under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and UK tax liabilities such as landfill tax.

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

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help ensure the new owners of Royal Mail honour agreements made with the Communication Workers Union and his Department.

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

The Secretary of State met Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU, and Daniel Křetínský, the owner of EP Group, on 16 February and again on 19 March 2026, to understand the progress on continued discussions on the CWU Agreement.

The undertakings agreed between the Secretary of State and EP Group include provisions that require an independently assessed review of EP Group’s compliance with the Deed of Undertaking.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 120045 on British Business Bank, what the total monetary value is of support provided to funds, schemes and portfolio companies described as relating to (a) net zero, (b) decarbonisation, (c) sustainability, (d) climate transition and (e) the green economy in (i) 2024–25 and (ii) 2025–26 financial years; and if he will provide a breakdown by (A) programme and scheme, including but not limited to the Growth Guarantee Scheme, Start Up Loans, and the Green Growth Guarantee Scheme the (B) type of support, including direct investment, guarantees and co-investment and (C) the number of recipient businesses and funds supported under each category.

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

The British Business Bank does not centrally classify funds, schemes or portfolio companies under the categories of net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability, climate transition or the green economy in the form requested.

The Bank’s approach is to embed support for the transition to net zero and sustainable growth across its full range of programmes, rather than through standalone business lines. As such, these objectives are reflected across its activities, including through direct co-investment, investment in venture and growth capital funds, and lending delivered through programmes such as Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

As set out in the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 120045, the Bank has in both 2024-25 and 2025-26 invested in, capitalised, and supported through guarantees or co-investment a number of funds, schemes and portfolio companies with these characteristics.

As these activities are embedded across programmes, a comprehensive breakdown of total monetary value by category, programme or scheme, type of support, and number of recipient businesses and funds is not held in a single reportable format.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, where the new Fair Work Agency offices will be located.

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

The Fair Work Agency brings together in one place the work of the existing employment rights enforcement bodies. To ensure there is no disruption to front line operational activity there are no immediate plans to changes to existing, nationwide, locations of staff.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the statement of 25 February 2026 on the Government Response to the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, what proportion of the Post Office network consists of full-time, full-service branches; how many branches will be (a) upgraded and (b) reclassified to meet the 50% requirement; what estimate his Department has made of the cost of achieving that requirement; and what guidance has been issued to the Post Office on the implementation of that target.

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

As set out in the Government’s response to the Post Office Green Paper, at least half of the Post Office’s network must be full‑time, full‑service branches. This new requirement provides flexibility for the Post Office to expand lighter-touch formats, such as parcel shops, where there is demand, while guaranteeing the core majority of the network is full time and full-service. The network must also continue to comply with the pre-existing 11,500 minimum branch requirement and Access Critieria, which mean, for example, that 99% of the total UK population must be within three miles of their nearest Post Office branch.

As set out in Government’s Green Paper response, as of April 2025, 79% of branches already meet the ‘full-time, full-service' definition. Consequently, no branches require upgrade or reclassification to achieve the 50% threshold at this stage and there are accordingly no additional associated costs or further guidance required.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his policy is on reviewing Non Disclosure Agreements with external business groups.

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

Confidentiality Agreements (CAs) enable engagement with businesses on sensitive areas of live trade negotiations and broader policy development. The department does not require CAs for all external engagements; sensitivities and risks are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The department holds CAs with a range of businesses, civil society organisations and academia, supporting engagement across all sectors. These CAs last up to seven years and at the date of termination, stakeholders can decide whether to re-sign. The department's view is that CAs serve a clear purpose in supporting stakeholder engagement and protecting UK interests.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which organisations his Department has Non Disclosure Agreements with.

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

Confidentiality Agreements (CAs) enable engagement with businesses on sensitive areas of live trade negotiations and broader policy development. The department does not require CAs for all external engagements; sensitivities and risks are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The department holds CAs with a range of businesses, civil society organisations and academia, supporting engagement across all sectors. These CAs last up to seven years and at the date of termination, stakeholders can decide whether to re-sign. The department's view is that CAs serve a clear purpose in supporting stakeholder engagement and protecting UK interests.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Non Disclosure Agreements his Department has in place with external business groups.

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

Confidentiality Agreements (CAs) enable engagement with businesses on sensitive areas of live trade negotiations and broader policy development. The department does not require CAs for all external engagements; sensitivities and risks are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The department holds CAs with a range of businesses, civil society organisations and academia, supporting engagement across all sectors. These CAs last up to seven years and at the date of termination, stakeholders can decide whether to re-sign. The department's view is that CAs serve a clear purpose in supporting stakeholder engagement and protecting UK interests.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress his Department has made in its negotiations with Jingye over British Steel.

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

There are approximately 3,000 workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site. British Steel remains owned by Jingye and HM Government’s powers to intervene under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 are designed to maintain steelmaking and avoid a disorderly closure of the blast furnaces.

We are in discussions with the owner, which remain confidential, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many jobs at Scunthorpe are supported by the blast furnace.

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

There are approximately 3,000 workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site. British Steel remains owned by Jingye and HM Government’s powers to intervene under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 are designed to maintain steelmaking and avoid a disorderly closure of the blast furnaces.

We are in discussions with the owner, which remain confidential, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how long he plans to keep a blast furnace at Scunthorpe.

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

There are approximately 3,000 workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site. British Steel remains owned by Jingye and HM Government’s powers to intervene under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 are designed to maintain steelmaking and avoid a disorderly closure of the blast furnaces.

We are in discussions with the owner, which remain confidential, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the value of British Steel.

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

There are approximately 3,000 workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site. British Steel remains owned by Jingye and HM Government’s powers to intervene under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 are designed to maintain steelmaking and avoid a disorderly closure of the blast furnaces.

We are in discussions with the owner, which remain confidential, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of AI tools integrated in e-commerce platforms in supporting productivity growth of small and medium-sized enterprises; and what impact that assessment has on their strategy for digital adoption by UK businesses.

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

AI tools integrated into e-commerce platforms can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become more productive by automating routine tasks and improving data-based decision-making, for example on marketing, customer service and stock management.

The Department for Business and Trade is committed to increasing SME digital capability and AI confidence and is implementing the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce recommendations to address barriers such as lack of information, resources and skills. This includes convening industry roundtables to partner on delivering more, running local digital adoption pilots to test what support works best as well as linking up with the Business Growth Service to improve SME access to existing support.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to figure of 2 of his Department's document entitled Analytical note on government response to resale of live events tickets consultation, published on 19 December 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the estimated change in the number and value of tickets sold on alternative resale channels and social media resulting from the proposed price cap on (a) the level of potential fraud and (b) consumer protection risks.

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

The Department has undertaken analysis to estimate the economic impact of introducing a price cap on the ticket resale market. The modelling uses a series of assumptions about how ticket touts might adapt their activities. These assumptions are inherently uncertain. The model assumes that 20% of tickets originally resold by touts on secondary ticketing platforms will instead by resold via alternative channels. We will continue to refine the modelling and further examine the risks associated with resale activity on alternative channels, before publishing an impact assessment when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of young workers in Blackley and Middleton South who will be effected by (a) the delay in aligning the Minimum Wage with other workers and (b) the total estimated loss of wages to young constituents.

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

Data on the effects of the National Minimum Wage at constituent level is not held. However, in the North West an estimated 30,000 on the 18–20 rate are expected to benefit from the 8.5% increase of the 18-20-year-old National Minimum Wage on 1 April.

The government remains fully committed to the alignment of the National Minimum Wage with the National Living Wage rate. The pace and timing of alignment will be guided by expert advice from the Low Pay Commission based on the latest evidence. The latest remit allows the Commission to balance the ambition to remove age bands, with protecting employment prospects for young people.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has used the additional enforcement powers for secondary ticketing under section 216 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on the use of bots to purchase tickets.

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

Consumer law enforcement is principally the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Local Authority Trading Standards. Section 216 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 grants the CMA enforcement functions under the Breaching of Limits on Ticket Sales Regulations 2018. Those regulations make it an offence to use software to purchase tickets in excess of the sales limit set by an event organiser for a UK recreational, sporting or cultural event, where the intent is to secure financial gain. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to undertake enforcement action which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what action is being taken to support the hospitality sector in South Shropshire.

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

The Government is taking decisive action to support pubs and the wider hospitality sector. Following the Budget, we announced an additional 15% cut for pubs in England alongside a two‑year real‑terms freeze, building on wider reforms to business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

We recognise that 2026 revaluation has increased bills for some businesses, which is why we are providing £4.3 billion over three years in transitional relief to support ratepayers facing higher bills at revaluation and protect businesses from sharp increases. We are also launching a review of how pubs are valued for business rates, with changes intended to take effect from the next revaluation.

Alongside this, we have expanded licencing responsibilities, doubled the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million, and will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year to help reinvigorate local communities.

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 Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster controlling a majority share of the UK live music ticketing market on competition and consumer outcomes.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring markets work well for consumers and businesses. As the UK’s lead consumer and competition authority, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has a statutory duty to promote competition for the benefit of consumers. It is the role of the CMA to examine potential breaches of competition law, including abuse of a dominant position, and investigate markets if it thinks there are competition or consumer problems. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition matters which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department has spent on special severance payments in each of the last three years.

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

The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the withdrawal of the proposed investment by the US financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald; and what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and Invest Northern Ireland to support alternative inward investment and employment opportunities.

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

In April 2025 Invest NI informed DBT that a potential investment by Cantor Fitzgerald would not be proceeding.

DBT continues to work collaboratively with Northern Ireland Executive departments, Invest NI, and other key stakeholders to support inward investment into Northern Ireland. DBT’s extensive international network promotes Northern Ireland as an excellent investment destination within the UK.

In September 2025 Bank of America committed to opening a new office in Belfast creating up to 1,000 roles and recruitment for the first wave of roles is underway. This announcement highlights the continued growth in US investment into Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, how many of the jobs associated with Nigerian investment mentioned in his press release he attributes specifically to the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, what estimate he has made of the net economic impact of the investments announced.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, what proportion of the jobs announced will be (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) temporary roles.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, how many jobs will be created in Essex as a result of that investment.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, how many of the jobs announced have already been created.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment, published on 17 March 2026, over what timeframe the jobs will be created.

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

As an integral part of the UK's growth objective, the Government is making it simpler and easier for business to make long term investment into the UK, including Nigerian inward investment.

DBT routinely publishes official statistics on foreign direct investment in the UK on the GOV.UK website, including the number of jobs involved.

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 steel tariffs on the number of jobs in UK manufacturing sectors.

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

Steel is essential for a modern economy such as the UK, underpinning key industries from construction to advanced manufacturing and defence. The trade measure introduced on 19 March aims to address critical global steel overcapacity challenges that threaten the viability of UK steelmaking, which supports approximately 40,000 direct jobs and 61,000 upstream supply chain jobs. From 1 July 2026, reduced import quotas with 50% tariffs on imports once quotas are exceeded will protect domestic production capacity, helping secure these high-quality UK steelmaking jobs that pay on average 32% above local wages.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of tariff revenue from steel imports.

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

From 1 July 2026, steel import quotas will be reduced by 60% compared with the steel safeguard, with a 50% tariff on imports exceeding these levels.

The purpose of the trade measure is not to raise tariff revenue, and therefore we have not made any estimates. Instead, it aims to protect UK steel-making, which is essential for our critical national infrastructure and defence. The Steel Strategy aims to restore us to a balanced approach between UK demand being met through imports and through domestic production.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the risk that UK firms could be linked through supply chains to surveillance, security or prison-related technology used in Hong Kong’s correctional system against political prisoners.

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

The Government continues to highlight concerns about the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong in public statements, and monitors associated risks through wider human‑rights and supply‑chain due‑diligence policies. UK businesses are guided by NCSC supply‑chain security principles to identify and manage risks in complex supply chains. The UK operates a comprehensive regulatory framework for strategic export controls, which prevents the export of goods where there is a risk to domestic security, international security, or human rights.

Found: in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Committee use only Wednesday, 11 March 2026 Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP Secretary of State Department for Business and Trade

Found: DBT, MHCLG, HMRC, DHSC are involved in trading standards and there is opportunity to more effectively

Found: cross‑government approach is vital, with stronger leadership required across DEFRA, DHSC, DESNZ, DfT, DBT

Found: . ● Department for Business and Trade: To ensure that growth is focused on a more sustainable, low-emission

Found: Written submission from Impact on Urban Health (AIR0055) 7 Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and

Found: The Department for Business and Trade is responsible for health and safety at work.

Found: Ministry of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and the Department for Business and Trade directly influence

Found: Therefore, effective mitigation will need coordinated work across Defra, DBT, DSIT and DESNZ.

Found: have had few dealings with Defra to date, we mostly liaise with the Mayor of London’s office, DESNZ, DBT

Found: from: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; The Ministry of Defence; The Department for Business and Trade

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

Found: parliament.uk Tuesday, 3 February 2026 Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister for Trade Department for Business and Trade

Found: need input from all the different stakeholders, including the Foreign Office, the security services, DBT

Found: need input from all the different stakeholders, including the Foreign Office, the security services, DBT

Found: need input from all the different stakeholders, including the Foreign Office, the security services, DBT

Found: parliament.uk Friday, 13 March 2026 Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister of State (Minister for Trade) Department for Business and Trade

Found: Officials from my department, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Work and

Found: SW1A 0AA T: +44 (0) 020 4551 0011 E: kyle.correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/dbt

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

Found: SW1A 0AA T: +44 (0) 020 4551 0011 E: kyle.correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/dbt

Found: McDonald MP Minister for Industry Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade

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

Found: Lord Stockwood Minister for Investment Department for Business and Trade

Found: Lord Stockwood Minister for Investment Department for Business and Trade

Found: Lord Stockwood Minister for Investment Department for Business and Trade

Found: T: +44 (0) 020 4551 0011 E: Stockwood.correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/dbt

Found: and could reduce the number of permits it issues by 10%.63 Defra told us that the Department for Business and Trade

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

Found: latest available years), mapped to industry sectors using sector definitions used in: Department for Business and Trade

Found: Economy 18 Northern Ireland Executive, Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, February 2025 19 Department for Business and Trade

Found: At the centre, No. 10, the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade are all very focused on

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure electrical devices built in the UK are made to high durability standards.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government is committed to ensuring products made in the UK are to a high standard. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is not responsible for device durability standards. The Department for Business and Trade works closely with domestic manufacturers and industry bodies to strengthen standards and support shoppers in identifying high quality UK made products.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of upcoming changes to the subscription contracts regime on local and regional news publishers and their ability to adopt digital first and sustainable business models, as referenced in the recent Local Media Strategy.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while incentivising and encouraging the production of high quality, trustworthy news.

Local media already has a strong propensity to innovate and many local publishers are shifting towards digital subscription models in an effort to secure their financial sustainability. This is an understandable response to the financial pressures faced by the industry and a reflection of the significant costs involved in provision of high quality journalism.

The purpose of the subscriptions regime set out in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act is to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscriptions. Government has consulted on how the regime will be implemented, and I have engaged alongside the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection with representatives from the news media sector and other DCMS stakeholders on this consultation. More broadly, DCMS continues to work closely with the Department for Business and Trade to reflect on the issues raised during the consultation and a Government Response will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential risks to supply chains of inadequate roadside facilities for lorry drivers.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has not carried out an assessment of the potential risks to supply chains of inadequate roadside facilities.

The National Survey of Lorry Parking was last conducted in 2022 and provided the evidence base for the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme which will provide up to £37.5 million investment from government and industry in 30 counties across England. This is on top of up to £30M investment in lorry parking by National Highways and industry in lorry parks along the strategic road network in England.

A new National Survey of Lorry Parking is underway, which will provide a fresh baseline on the availability of secure lorry parking and HGV driver welfare provision throughout England. The Survey is scheduled to be published in the autumn.

To strengthen the UK’s supply chain security, the Government is launching a new Supply Chain Centre based in the Department for Business and Trade. This marks a change in government’s approach to protecting the UK’s economy and security in turbulent geopolitical times. It will take a more assertive, strategic and data-led approach, and lead a targeted programme of work to ensure the UK can access the goods it needs to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support those with back pain and musculoskeletal sick notes to get back to the workplace.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems were one of the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK in 2024. Early detection and prevention, including increasing access to employment advice, can support people with MSK conditions getting into and remaining in work.

The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including those with back pain and MSK conditions, with their employment journey. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as Connect to Work and WorkWell.

As well as supporting people back into work, it is important that they are supported to successfully remain there. The Keep Britain Working review, published in November 2025, examined how employers can support healthier and more inclusive workplaces. Sir Charlie Mayfield was appointed to work in partnership with DWP, DBT and DHSC to oversee the implementation of his recommendations. Over 120 employers and ten regions are working with us through employer-led vanguard sprints, reshaping how health and disability are managed at work.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on utilising spare capacity in the chiropractic sector to support those with back pain and musculoskeletal sick notes back to the workforce.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including back pain and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, with their employment journey. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as Connect to Work and WorkWell.

As well as supporting people back into work, it is important that they are supported to successfully remain there. The Keep Britain Working review, published in November 2025, examined how employers can support healthier and more inclusive workplaces. Sir Charlie Mayfield was appointed to work in partnership with DWP, DBT and DHSC to oversee the implementation of his recommendations. Over 120 employers and ten regions are working with us through employer-led vanguard sprints, reshaping how health and disability are managed at work.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act on the number of employment disputes before the employment tribunal; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Employment Rights Act (ERA) is part of the Government’s commitment to Make Work Pay. The Act includes measures that strengthens worker’s rights, which we expect will increase demand in the Employment Tribunal. The impact on the Employment Tribunal has been considered in the published impact assessments and economic analysis. A summary of the impact of the number of employment disputes before the Employment Tribunal is available in Table A11 here: Employment Rights Act 2025: economic analysis.

It is a question for the judiciary on whether they would like to expand judicial mediation. Judges can choose to mediate, depending on whether they think the case is appropriate, which is typically claims of discrimination or complex unfair dismissals.

We do recognise that there are significant demand pressures on the Employment Tribunals and are therefore working with the judiciary, HMCTS and the Department for Business and Trade on any further actions needed to alleviate pressures on the Employment Tribunals, improve efficiency and reduce waiting times to ensure the Employment Tribunal is able to absorb the impact of the Employment Rights Act whilst ensuring timely access to justice for claimants and respondents.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Students given stronger protections against extremism on campus, published on 8 March 2026, what protections will be available for university staff who report concerns relating to extremism and intimidation on campus.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Universities are autonomous institutions and therefore have their own policies and procedures for handling employee concerns.

In addition, the government will work with the Department for Business and Trade to add the Office for Students (OfS) to the list of prescribed bodies under the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2024. This change will help ensure that whistleblowers can report wrongdoing related to registered higher education providers with confidence.

The OfS will also strengthen how it monitors universities’ efforts to prevent individuals from becoming involved in terrorism or supporting it. It will publish a new monitoring framework and accompanying guidance in September, which will come into effect at the beginning of 2027.

Found: Development Office, 2024 UK and OTs Joint Ministerial Council, November 2024, para 30 16 Department for Business and Trade

Found: Iran has more openly “looked to the 57 Department for Business and Trade, Doing business in Iran

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government; FCDO: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; DBT

Found: Source: Department for Business and Trade Comprehensive Preference Enhanced Preference Standard Preference

Found: geopolitical insight, working alongside the rest of the government’s support, from the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Gareth is currently Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business and Trade.

Found: Also in July, the UK Department for Trade and Business (DBT) led a delegation of Hong Kong fashion trade

Found: DHSC, HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade

Found: create a thriving international market for UK seafood, Defra, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: create a thriving international market for UK seafood, Defra, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: military-to-military access – to support the aims of the FCDO, Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department for Business and Trade

Found: Ensuring the open sharing of information relation to claims between HMCTS, the Department for Business and Trade

Found: 139.789813 143 150 148 171 186 184 34.206868 33 78 101 127 145 147 173.996681 176 228 249 297 331 331 DBT

Found: Signed: Minister Martin McCluskey MP, Minister for Energy Consumers Date: 12 Based on DBT research

Found: The Department for Business and Trade is leading on a cross- departmental programme of work to identify

Found: collaborated closely with the Food Standards Agency and other government departments including DCMS, DBT

Found: Costs subsidy scheme by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: operations in April 2025, hence the total reducing from 20 (as listed by Ofgem in March 2025) to 19. 95 DBT

Found: £)Total Cost (£)Liz Kendall2025-12-10 00:00:002025-12-12 00:00:00San Francisco; USAJoint visit with DBT

Found: Climate.onebuilding TMY location GHI rank Humidity rank DBT rank Total rank Mean windspeed (m/s) GBR_ENG_Church.Lawford

Found: Command Paper No 1547 Introduction  This explanatory memorandum has been prepared by the Department for Business and Trade

Found: director disqualification sanctions  the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) (part of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: 0438_2425-Q3 Manchester Digital Campus CO DBT_0293_2324-Q3 Post Office Strategic Transformation Plan DBT

Found: cell">B&T Customs Change Delivery

Found: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Education (DfE), the Department for

Found: create a thriving international market for UK seafood, Defra, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: create a thriving international market for UK seafood, Defra, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade

Found: enforcement regime, administered by the Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Developments in the UK internal market regime 1.4 The Department for Business and Trade published the

Found: not necessarily those of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) or the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Mike is a Non-Executive Board member of the DBT Board. 

Found: The exact powers are being worked through at pace with the Treasury, Department for Business and Trade

Found: director disqualification sanctions  the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) (part of the Department for Business and Trade

Found: end-of-life devices from across the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Business and Trade

Found: military-to-military access – to support the aims of the FCDO, Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department for Business and Trade

Found: The Committee continues to work on this issue and has written to the Department for Business and Trade

Found: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) produces annual estimates of businesses by size- band for

Found: Industrial Strategy, in which five of the eight priority sectors are services-based (Department for Business and Trade

Found: positive, with discussions with the Secretary of State for Wales and ministers at the Department for Business and Trade

Found: .: cognitive or dialectical behaviour therapies (CBT/DBT) • deliver evidence-based mental health