Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 34047 Small Businesses: Training, what steps his Department is taking to support SMEs to adopt AI; and whether this support includes management-practice support to maximise productivity gains.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
To ensure AI is widely adopted by businesses and workers across the economy, government is working with 11 industry partners to provide 7.5 million workers with essential AI skills by 2030.
The Help to Grow: Management scheme, which helps SME leaders with management skills to help boost productivity, already includes a module on digital transformation.
Additionally, the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce has set out ten recommendations to drive SME digital and AI adoption, including: a new public-private initiative for SMEs, evidence gathering on firm-level financial support for digital, and economy-wide reforms. We will report on progress in Spring 2026.
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
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 independent retailers in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We’re creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street and supports investment, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value. The government has protected 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.
Our recently announced Small Business Strategy aims to tackle late payments, boost access to finance, and remove red tape to enable small businesses, including independent retailers, grow and thrive.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
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 the kitchen manufacturing industry on (a) demand, (b) fixed costs and (c) access to (i) investment and (ii) restructuring support.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The department has not held recent specific discussions with the kitchen manufacturing industry regarding demand, fixed costs, or access to investment and restructuring support.
However, the department maintains regular engagement with manufacturing sectors across the economy through various forums and stakeholder meetings. This includes addressing broader business concerns such as energy costs, supply chain resilience, and access to finance.
The government remains committed to supporting UK manufacturing, including through the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan and the British Business Bank's investment programmes and business support services that are available to all manufacturing sectors.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether external stakeholders will be invited to provide input into the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group’s consideration of market access barriers.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Working Group will meet this Autumn and will consist of officials from the UK and Canadian Governments.
We are open to the views of any relevant businesses with an interest in UK-Canada trade.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group has made since its establishment.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group will meet this Autumn in line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June. Since this meeting, officials have been engaging with the government of Canada at all levels to explore ways to deepen our trading relationship further.
Specifically, we intend to work together to address existing market access barriers, to expand existing arrangements into new areas, such as digital trade, and to explore cooperation in the development of critical minerals and sovereign artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the sustainable bioethnol production sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government has been in negotiations with the bioethanol sector to understand what support could be delivered to ensure its long-term sustainable future.
The Department for Transport confirmed their intention to consult on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, including options for increased targets. DfT also confirmed plans to convene an expert working group to explore whether ethanol blending in petrol can be increased beyond the current E10 blend.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) he, (b) his predecessor and (c) his Department have had with the Government of the People’s Republic of China on British Steel Limited.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In recent months, Ministers and officials have had short, factual discussions with the Government of the People’s Republic of China regarding British Steel Limited, most recently during the Business & Trade Secretary’s visit to China on 10-11 September.
We continue to engage directly with British Steel’s owner to find the best solution for the Scunthorpe site.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his visit to China between 10 and 11 September 2025, whether he had discussions on British Steel Limited.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In recent months, Ministers and officials have had short, factual discussions with the Government of the People’s Republic of China regarding British Steel Limited, most recently during the Business & Trade Secretary’s visit to China on 10-11 September.
We continue to engage directly with British Steel’s owner to find the best solution for the Scunthorpe site.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and former Ministers from his Department.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) do not hold any records on meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and former Ministers from his Department. The records of meetings for the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) transferred to the former Department for Business Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and are held by Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) following machinery of Government changes.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement, in the context of the human rights situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has recently announced a number of measures in relation to the actions of the Netanyahu Government, seeking to reinforce its support for the two-state solution, to pursue a lasting ceasefire, to secure the return of the hostages and ensure greater access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. We remain committed to our existing trading relationship with Israel and the existing UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement (TPA). Our trading relationship underpins key areas of UK life and exports to Israel support thousands of jobs in the UK. Suspension of any trade agreement with another country risks unpredictable consequences and significant economic disruption for British businesses.
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution. Settlements are not part of the State of Israel. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the TPA. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. We have been clear that if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.