Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
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 funding for junior mineral exploration companies in the UK; and if he will introduce financial incentives to increase exploration of critical minerals.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade recognises the challenges that junior mining companies face when fundraising for mineral exploration projects. A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, industrial strategy ambitions, and clean energy transition. As we work through our industrial and critical mineral strategies, we will further explore funding mechanisms which will encourage UK companies to play a role in securing our supplies and capitalise on economic opportunities, as the demand for resilient and responsible sources of critical minerals grows. UK junior mining companies have already benefitted from HMG funding including grants available through the Automotive Transformation Fund.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 UK citizens by occupation who reached the end of their 90-day limit for staying in the EU (a) since the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force and (b) in the last 12 months.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Business and Trade does not hold the statistical information requested.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) China, and (2) the United States of America, regarding the introduction of trade tariffs.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have concluded a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.
In April, Minister Alexander travelled to Beijing where he met ministers from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to discuss a range of bilateral and global trade issues, including the trade tariffs.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 his US counterpart on the import of hormone-treated beef into the UK.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade engages regularly with the US. On 8 May, we announced a landmark economic deal with the US, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.
We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef - with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef will remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that any agricultural imports coming into the UK will meet the highest food standards.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support high street shops and to prevent further closures following the rise in National Insurance contributions.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. Ahead of these changes being made, we have prevented RHL relief from ending in April 2025 by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.
The government is protecting the smallest businesses from changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that in 2025-26, 865,000 employers (43%) will pay no NICs at all.
Later this year we will publish our Small Business Strategy which will focus on, amongst other issues, what more we can do to support high streets.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will request that the British Business Bank make an assessment of the potential merits of support for a central finance facility for credit unions.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Credit Unions offer vital support, advice, and affordable finance to members. While there are no immediate plans for a central finance facility for Credit Unions, the government is committed to supporting underserved communities in all the nations and regions of the UK. In December 2024, the British Business Bank launched the Community Enable Funding programme, which is aimed at Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving smaller businesses in underserved communities. Unlike Credit Unions, CDFIs are unable to raise customer deposits and so this central financial facility is expected to boost the growth of the social lending sector.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to section 2 of the policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, updated on 31 March 2025, what the annual operating cost is of the British Hallmarking Council .
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
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 prevent anti-competitive practices in the domestic beet sugar industry.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority, the “CMA”, is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.
Any concerns regarding anti-competitive conduct can be raised directly with the CMA. Details of how to submit information, along with general guidance, can be found on Gov.uk.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to section 2 of her Department's policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, updated on 31 March 2025, what the estimated saving is from merging the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies and Companies House.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (“CICs”) (“the Regulator”) plays a crucial role in maintaining the CIC model as an effective form of social enterprise. By exploiting the considerable overlap between the Regulator and Companies House, and the close working relationship that already exists between the two, the Government intends to fully integrate the Regulator’s functions into Companies House as part of wider plans to streamline the UK’s regulatory environment. Both organisations are funded by fees, and there are no expected direct savings.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to (a) improve toy safety and (b) protect children’s health.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Government is committed to ensuring that only safe products can be sold. Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, all toys placed on the market must meet essential safety requirements. Following the Government Response to the Product Safety Review, government intends to perform sector reviews of product regulation and will also consider how cross-cutting hazards may impact consumer safety.
Government recently introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. The Bill powers will allow us to reflect modern supply chains and create a proportionate regulatory framework to ensure UK consumers are protected from risk, regardless of product origin or where purchased.