Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three Mobile.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Merger investigations undertaken by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are independent of Government. The CMA is directly accountable to Parliament.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the links between the Li family and the Chinese state on the proposed merger of Three Mobile with Vodafone.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government has the power to review mergers and acquisitions through the National Security and Investment Act to ensure the most sensitive sectors of our economy are protected. It would be inappropriate to comment on private individuals.
The Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office has issued a Final Order in respect of the proposed Vodafone Three merger, allowing the transaction to proceed subject to the introduction of proportionate measures to address national security concerns.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the reported recent increase in mergers and acquisitions activity among medium-sized companies, what steps they are taking to support continued mergers and acquisitions activity whilst ensuring that it does not lead to (1) monopolistic practices, or (2) reduced competition in key industries.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK's independent competition regulator with responsibility for reviewing mergers and acquisitions on competition grounds.
Asked by: Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will seek an investment facilitation memorandum between the UK and Morocco at the forthcoming Association Council to support UK investment in Morocco ahead of the 2030 World Cup, similar to the agreement signed with Peru ahead of the 2019 Pan-American Games.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government is keen to strengthen trade ties with Morocco, which deliver mutual benefits. Both countries will be hosting major football tournaments later this decade, and the Government is working closely with Morocco to share knowledge ahead of the delivery of these events.
In 2017, HM Government signed a government-to-government agreement with Peru to support the delivery of infrastructure for the 2019 PanAmerican Games on-time and on-budget. We plan to share our experience with the Moroccan government at the forthcoming UK-Morocco Association Council.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of companies being unable to comply with the NHS England requirement for all suppliers to commit globally by 2027 to achieve net zero by 2045 on the level of business investment in the UK.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
NHS England has published the net zero supplier roadmap, detailing steps for suppliers to align with NHS net zero goals. The roadmap offers extra support for SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises) and VCSEs (Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprises) facing compliance challenges. My Department (DBT) has collaborated with industry and NHS partners to publish materials on the UK’s approach to achieving net zero healthcare which we have been showcasing internationally. We also work to champion net zero suppliers overseas.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2024 to Question 13544 on Export Credit Guarantees, whether (a) her Department or (b) UK Export Finance has unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee in advance of negotiations with a company.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK Export Finance has not unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee in considering requests by applicants for its support.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies on arms exports to Israel of protests by university students.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The UK has one of the most robust and transparent export licensing systems in the world, enshrined in law through the Export Control Act and implemented through our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
This informs our approach to export licensing – both for our extant licences and for new licence applications for exports to Israel. All decisions are assessed on a case-by-case basis against our licensing criteria.
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to increase domestic steel production to levels that would make the UK self-sufficient.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government recognises the importance of steelmaking in the UK. However, there are many types of steel products needed by consumers, and it is not always economically viable for any nation to be wholly self-sufficient. This means that the UK imports certain types of steel and also exports certain steel product to other countries.
We have taken action to enable a competitive landscape and level playing field, including reducing energy costs through the British Industry Supercharger, access to energy efficiency and decarbonisation funding, and remedies against unfair trading practices, while balancing the need to remain a fair and open market.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the UK has imported fertiliser from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
In March 2022, the UK introduced additional duties of 35% on Russian fertilisers, excluding urea which is subject to a tariff of 6%. In July 2022, the UK also introduced bans on certain kinds of fertiliser.
HMRC data shows that UK imports of fertiliser from Russia in 2023 were down 80% compared to 2022 import values, demonstrating the impact of sanctions and additional tariffs.
We will continue to apply pressure, and coordinate with our international partners to do so, until Ukraine prevails or Putin ends his war of choice.
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 discussions they have had with the EU regarding barriers to trade and exports faced by the creative industries since Brexit; what steps they are taking to address this; and what plans they have to support UK creative businesses in global markets.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The creative industries have been identified by the Government as one of five priority growth sectors. As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Vision,by 2030 the Government aims to grow our the creative industries by an extra £50 billion Gross Value Added, with a goal to increase creative exports 55% to £78 billion over this period.
The Government is committed to supporting the creative sector to adapt to requirements for working and touring in the EU. For example, 23 out of 27 EU Member States have clarified arrangements or introduced easements to allow visa and work permit free routes for UK touring performers.