Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Questions 112100 and 115340, what was the breakdown in each of the years specified in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
None in 2024 and 4 in 2025.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have approved a financial ceiling for public support to British Steel and, if so, what it is.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Longer-term funding for British Steel is subject to agreement with HM Treasury once plans for the site are finalised and will be subject to further ministerial decisions. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of BSL. In the interim, as a public corporation, BSL continues trading commercially with the objective of minimising losses to the taxpayer. All support for BSL has been drawn from existing HMG budgets, with no additional borrowing required.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of the Motability Scheme in supporting the automotive sector in the North East.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Motability Operations announced plans to support the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The number of British made vehicles purchased by the Scheme will reach 25% by 2030, with an ambition of 50% of vehicles registered on the Scheme being made in the UK by 2035. The government welcomes these announcements. This will support domestic vehicle manufacturing, ensuring well-paid jobs across the UK. The Department will continue to engage with Motability Operations and industry stakeholders to assess the potential impact on regional automotive manufacturing, including in the North East as Motability delivers on its plans.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will list ML3 arms export licences to Israel licensing the transfer of ammunition for civilian use extant between 1 January 2025 and 31 September 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department does not hold continuous records on the number of export licences extant at any point over historic periods, but publishes data regularly based on decisions taken and has, on an exceptional basis, periodically published further detail on licences for Israel extant as at a point in time.
In August 2025 the Department published informed on the 347 licences involving Israel which were extant on 31 July. This total included 5 licences with an ML3 rating. Any ammunition covered under such licences was assessed as not having utility in military operations in Gaza, either because the items were to be re-exported to third countries, or because the items covered related to training ammunition or non-military purposes.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of private capital's willingness to invest in British Steel under the present ownership and control structure.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
British Steel remains owned by Jingye and it would be inappropriate for HM Government to formally approach potential third-party investors in such circumstances. We are in discussions with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of the site and our long-term aspiration for the steel sector will require co-investment with the private sector.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many potential third-party investors have been formally approached regarding investment in British Steel since April 2025.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
British Steel remains owned by Jingye and it would be inappropriate for HM Government to formally approach potential third-party investors in such circumstances. We are in discussions with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of the site and our long-term aspiration for the steel sector will require co-investment with the private sector.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized construction businesses facing insolvency as a result of planning delays and late payment practices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We recognise the impact that late payment has on small and medium-sized businesses including those within the construction industry. This Government will legislate to end the scourge of late payments and will give the UK the strongest legal framework on late payments in the G7. We outlined a set of proposed measures in our Late Payments Consultation, which concluded in October 2025. We will publish our response to the consultation shortly and intend to legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Mark Sewards (Labour - Leeds South West and Morley)
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 enhance due diligence obligations on exporters of dual-use goods to help prevent diversion through Hong Kong.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has introduced extensive trade sanctions to prevent Russia acquiring dual‑use items used in its military operations. Since March 2022, we have banned the export of all dual‑use goods and other high‑risk technologies, including products identified on the battlefield and items critical to Russia’s military‑industrial complex.
Our comprehensive export sanctions have led Russia to pursue convoluted and costly routes to circumvent our measures via third-country intermediaries. Alongside extensive guidance and outreach to UK exporters on appropriate due diligence, we plan to bring forward secondary legislation to introduce new sanctions end-use controls. These new powers would require exporters to apply for a licence for specific exports identified to be at a high risk of diversion to a sanctioned destination.
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 his timeline is for the disbursement of agreed funds to the Jingye Group.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2026 to question 115644.
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 the total value is of the financial support package being negotiated with the Jingye Group in relation to British Steel's operations in Scunthorpe.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2026 to question 115644.