Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Thursday 29th January 2026

(began 1 hour, 47 minutes ago)

09:34

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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The The order. The order. We The order. We start The order. We start with The order. We start with questions. Secretary of State for Business and Trade Nick Smith. Number one, Trade Nick Smith. Number one, please, Mr. Speaker. Minister.

09:34

Q1. What steps he is taking to help reduce industrial energy costs. (907553)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government recognises the

09:34

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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challenges of high industrial energy costs, where raising the discount on electricity network discount on electricity network charges from 60% to 90% under the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from April. Supporting Scheme from April. Supporting around 550 electricity intensive businesses. We also plan to review eligibility for the British industry, supercharger and the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme this year from 2027, the British Industrial 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut electricity costs by around 35 to £40 per megawatt hour for around 7000 manufacturing businesses.

09:34

Nick Smith MP (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Labour)

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Nick Smith. Can I thank the >> Nick Smith. Can I thank the Minister for that answer? Mr. speaker, under the last conservative government, we had the conservative government, we had the soaring energy costs and the highest industrial energy bills in Europe. Now under labour manufacturers, including in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney have seen costly levies taken out. So for the future, can the Minister please outline what else the government can do to further bring energy bills down for our UK industry?

09:35

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my hon. Friend for his question and also for championing the businesses also for championing the businesses in his constituency, including Jess Asato Battery Manufacturing in Gwent, which is receiving support from the supercharger, exempting them from several renewables levies and electricity network usage costs. This is all part of the government's clean energy superpower mission, which will cut costs, boost energy security and accelerate grid connections.

09:35

Rt Hon Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP (Wetherby and Easingwold, Conservative)

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So Shelbrooke. got a fantastic company in my constituency, UK. Sorry, Yorkshire Brick Company. Unfortunately it had to go into administration but was rescued and the problem was as welcome as the supercharger scheme is, is that it didn't qualify because it didn't meet the business level test, so it didn't get any government support. So can I ask the government to talk directly to ceramic manufacturers who are huge users of electricity, gas and various other products? Because often if we're exporting the product to have made elsewhere, the carbon footprint is much bigger than having it done locally.

09:36

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and he knows that I share his concern around the ceramics industry. He's quite right that many ceramics companies fail to qualify for the supercharger scheme. There is a review of the supercharger this year, and I've asked officials to look very carefully at the potential for including ceramics companies, in that I discussed this with the ceramics industry at an event in Parliament this week, and which he also attended, and I think the Yorkshire Brick Company were in attendance, too at that meeting.

And I can also inform him that I and my hon. Friend, the Minister for trade, will be meeting further with Ceramics Industries in the near future.

09:37

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Andrew Snowden. >> From April, every pub and live music venue. >> Will get. >> 15% off its new business rates bill, on top of the £4.3 billion support announced in the Budget. Bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further two years. We've also raised the employment allowance from £5,000 to 10,500, so 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance contributions this year. And we're also going to allow pubs to open more, not only in England and Scotland during the World Cup because they've already qualified, but I hope that Wales will qualify as well, so we'll be able to do that in Wales as well.

09:37

Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)

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Richard Holden thank you very >> Richard Holden thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, from the Queen's in Witham to the hot shop in Saint Anne's, to the hand and dagger in Anne's, to the hand and dagger in trails and the thatched House in Poulton, we are blessed with many wonderful pubs in the Fylde constituency, but they were hit very, very hard by the changes to National Insurance and the looming business rates. Changes that will hit them hard have many of them worried and some of the changes that have been announced are welcome, but will not go as far as mitigating all of the increases in costs that pubs are facing.

So what more plans do the government have Fylde?

09:38

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Well, I note his support for pubs in his constituency. It's pubs in his constituency. It's obviously intense. He he basically took us through a pub crawl there and I would just say that if he's looking for a Valentine's Day dinner, perhaps with his wife, that the the coach and Horses in Freckleton is offering two mains and two drinks for £25.99. But we'll keep it quiet just so that it's a surprise for his wife or whoever

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else he takes. His wife.

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Maybe. Maybe, Mr. Speaker, you're going to be taking his wife to the coach and horses. Who knows? to the coach and horses. Who knows? Look, look, we on a on a very serious point. We are fully aware of the problems that have been of the problems that have been facing pubs and live music venues for a considerable period of time, with live music venues. That's one of the reasons why we've been of the reasons why we've been trying to encourage arena tickets to to put an extra £1 on the ticket on a voluntary basis, so as to be able to support live music venues.

We also want to, and I'm conscious that over the years many pubs have closed. He wasn't in the house under the previous administration, but some 7000 pubs closed in those 14 years. It was, it was something like one every 14 hours. So we're

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conscious of the problems. We want to do everything we can to help. Rachel Blake.

09:39

Q3. What steps he is taking to increase trade with the European Union. (907555)

>> Question number three, Mr Speaker. >> Prime Minister Mr Speaker. 46% of the UK's trade is with the EU.

09:39

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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of the UK's trade is with the EU. But we want to do far, far better achieving as frictionless trade with the European Union as is with the European Union as is possible. We are in the process of fine tuning the deal we reached last year on food and drink and negotiating on joining the single negotiating on joining the single electricity market. We want to improve business mobility and secure the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and we've just appointed three new trade envoys, one for France, one for Germany and Italy as part of our exports drive Rachel Blake.

09:40

Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster, Labour )

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Thank you very much. Speaker. Mr. speaker, I listened carefully Mr. speaker, I listened carefully to the Minister's response. I'm very encouraged by the progress that is being made. Can the Minister advise on when he expects the UK EU summit to take place? Is he expecting there to be completion of negotiations on sanitary and Phytosanitary and the Youth Experience Scheme, and can he update on their approach to touring artists to help make sure that they can get access to EU markets? It would make such a difference to the thriving cultural scene in the West End.

09:40

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Minister. >> In relation to touring artists, we're absolutely determined to secure this, not least because we I personally have promised Elton John personally have promised Elton John that we will secure this, as has the Prime Minister. So look, I see the hon. Member Chuntering over there. I think he's bidding to be a trade envoy for some country. If he'd like to come and talk to me later, we'll have a discussion about it. But but look, the truth of the matter is we we had a terrible deal with the European Union.

We need to improve it. We are working at pace to try and deliver that. I want British businesses to be able to export without friction into the European market, because we know that that is good for British business. Max Wilkinson thank you, Mr. Speaker. The business Secretary on the weekend raised some eyebrows by suggesting that MPs pay should be

09:41

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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linked to economic growth. Who does the Trade Minister think should get the biggest pay rise? Conservatives and reform, who've probably knocked up to 8% off our GDP. Perhaps Labour MPs who are contributing to as much as 0.5% with all of their accumulated trade deals, including accumulated trade deals, including with the EU or Lib Dem MPs, who are suggesting a customs union which

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could put 2.2% 000. I think I think we can let it go. I can't even begin to see a link.

09:42

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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Sarah Olney. Mr. speaker, Liberal Democrats are calling for a Liberal Democrats are calling for a new UK EU customs union which will cut red tape still. Still, we are cut red tape for businesses across the country, boost growth by more than 2.2% and raise at least £25 billion a year in tax revenue. The Prime Minister's chief economic adviser has recommended a customs union with the EU as one of the most effective ways of generating growth. The health Secretary has talked up the benefits of a customs union, and the deputy Prime Minister has also suggested that countries within a customs union tend to see stronger economic growth.

But the Secretary of State for Business and Trade told the Ft last week that negotiating a customs union would be foolish. Could the Minister please explain what the what the Secretary of State, how the Secretary of State plans to deliver growth without customs Union Minister? Look.

09:42

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I she knows I think that Brexit was a terrible mistake. It was a self-inflicted mistake. And and we need to make sure that we achieve what was promised by the Brexiteers, what was promised by the Brexiteers, some of whom are sitting opposite me now, when they said that we were going to achieve frictionless trade with the European Union as a result of our deal. Now, I think that we can first of all do that on food. And when we secure our deal, we're working on electricity market as well.

And then we need to proceed with trying to ensure business mobility so that people can travel across the European Union. And as I said, we need to make sure that British artists, performers can perform across the whole of the European Union. But I have to say, it feels, I hate to use the term Groundhog Day in relation to the Lib Dems. The thing is, I can remember when they were in government, oh Lord no. Well, quite. You see, this is the problem.

The Lib Dems never remember when they were in government and they landed us with half the problems that we're trying to sort out today.

09:43

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Jessica Toale. >> Mr Speaker Minister. Mr. speaker, the government is committed to supporting growth in coastal areas such as Bournemouth West. Our such as Bournemouth West. Our partnership between Business Growth Dorset and the new Business Growth Service makes it easier for firms to access tailored support. DBT is also strengthening the conditions for investment and helping high value sectors like advanced engineering, aerospace and digital industries expand through national programmes supporting investment, exports and innovation. Alongside Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's economic strategy, we will ensure that Bournemouth's businesses benefit fully from UK wide measures to boost economic growth.

09:44

Jessica Toale MP (Bournemouth West, Labour)

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Jessica Toale can I thank the Minister for that answer? Mr Speaker Bournemouth and Poole rightly have reputations as premier rightly have reputations as premier tourism and leisure destinations, but less well known is our leadership in the digital and creative industries. Two businesses in my Bournemouth West constituency, Content ignite and I have both been ranked in the top 50 fastest growing tech businesses in Britain by The Sunday Times. So could the Minister Minister please expand on how this government is supporting fast growing, high value industries in coastal towns like mine Minister?

09:45

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm due to come to her constituency in a come to her constituency in a little over a month and I do like to be beside the seaside. And often we think of constituencies like hers as tourism and hospitality hotspots. But as she has just said, it is also a hive for the creative industries, which she's such a champion for. Through the £380 million creative industry sector plan, we are boosting innovation skills and access to finance nationwide, helping firms, particularly in her constituency.

And she will know that in her area, businesses also benefit from such a strong talent pipeline coming from her area's great universities, and I look forward to working with her and learning more when I visit soon.

09:45

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Jim Shannon you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Minister for his answers? A very for his answers? A very constructive, very positive, very helpful Minister. My constituents Strangford the local council, Ards and North Down Council. Their thrust of of their economic growth strategy is, is tourism and there's been many dividends in that. So it's important that all across the United Kingdom of Great Britain, we have the chance to advance and do better. The Minister maybe hasn't had the opportunity to talk to the local Minister, that be Gordon Lyons, I think, at the Northern Ireland Assembly, to to address this issue.

Could I suggest, I hope that he would do so and thereby we can all gain from the Minister's knowledge and what we're doing back home.

09:46

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Will Forster. Well, Mr. Speaker, I had a fantastic family holiday in Northern Ireland, driven by my Northern Ireland, driven by my son's obsession with the Titanic, had a very moving visit there. I've met with my my opposite number for small businesses from Northern Ireland, and I'm very happy to have the discussion that you suggest.

09:46

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Question number five. >> Mr. Speaker, the UK is the fourth largest exporter in the world and the second largest in world and the second largest in services. But we want to do even better. That's why we're pushing forward on new trade deals to cut barriers for UK businesses, strengthening the UK export finance, providing tailored market advice and targeting resources so that businesses can really take advantage of those deals. Jen Craft.

09:47

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm grateful to the Minister for meeting with myself and a representative from Watson Marlow, a business in my constituency last a business in my constituency last week to discuss barriers to export. Many businesses I've spoken to have been frustrated about the difficulty of moving people, goods and equipment to Europe post Brexit and they face significant additional costs and admin, Fugro and Pendennis Yachts have both raised with me issues they've experienced with securing visas for their staff on short term offshore projects.

What steps can the Minister take with colleagues at the Home Office to ensure that some of these barriers are reduced?

09:47

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Mr. >> Mr. >> Well, first of all, I want to say it was great that she was able to come along with other MPs who are bringing individual are bringing individual constituents, constituent businesses along, because one of the things I really want to do as Minister for trade is, is try to persuade all 650 colleagues to come along with individual businesses, to work out where there are barriers to export and to try and encourage an export growth. I think if we could release all the MPs who probably know their businesses and their constituents in their constituencies far better than the department does, then we would really drive forward export growth.

She's absolutely right. There are issues around visas and business mobility, which we need to address. It's one of the things that both the Home Office and we are discussing with our European allies, we need to do better on this, and we also need to get to a place where we have mutual recognition of professional qualifications so that people can simply transact their business more effectively. With reference to what Minister said earlier about.

09:48

Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP (The Wrekin, Conservative)

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Trade and investment envoys, can I perhaps remind him I was a trade and investment envoy to Georgia and Armenia some years ago? The problem is that the trade and investment envoys now are pretty much all Labour, where previously under all prime Ministers it was cross-party because. So can I suggest perhaps the government should revisit the strength of having a cross-party approach that might help business exports. He very publicly offered I think unless I misheard for me to become a trade envoy again, if I was approached, I might do that.

But on a serious point, Mr. Speaker, can I just ask on UK export finance in high risk investment areas such as rebuilding Syria, getting jobs and investment into that country very quickly, that UK export finance should underwrite with investments?

09:49

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Yeah. he's applied doesn't necessarily mean he's going to get the job. But secondly, I he makes a very good point about UK export finance in particular in areas war torn areas and difficult areas. That's why we've set a specific amount of money aside for Ukraine. I was delighted to be in Kyiv best part of ten days ago. Where where the Russian government is, I would argue, engaging in war crimes by deliberately targeting the heating system in the city. And many elderly and vulnerable people have no heating, no electricity, no access to water.

I was very proud to see Scottish Steel and British architects designing the bridges that are helping Ukrainians get to work again, after the bridges were blown up when the Russians tried to evade invade as part of the full scale invasion. So he makes a very good point about export finance. I've also had discussions about how we can roll that out in relation to Syria as well. Speaker.

09:50

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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Last week I visited the brilliant family run clerk door brilliant family run clerk door company in my Carlisle constituency clerk Door design, manufacture and export right across the globe, supplying venues like the Tate Modern, the Qatar National Centre, and topically, as we approach next weekend's Super Bowl, the NFL Media Centre in New York. Can I ask the Minister what support the government can give to exporters like clerk Door, so that their pioneering R&D ensures their continued export success? And can I ask the Minister if you'd like to visit Carlisle and take a look behind the clerk door?

09:51

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Oh, well, first of all, I mean, >> Oh, well, first of all, I mean, we are doing really well on UK exports. There were up to £929 billion in the last 12 months billion in the last 12 months ending in November 2025, which is up 4% on the year before. So, and I'm very happy to look at making sure that Ukri, which is part of DSIT, is also providing the support in relation to R&D because it's that combination of trying to get all our different strategies working together, the trade strategy, the business strategy, the industrial strategy and our ukri to try and drive drive forward exports.

I can't promise a visit because I seem to be sent abroad a lot.

09:52

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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Lincoln Jopp. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Defence and aerospace makes up a huge element of our makes up a huge element of our export business and as the Minister knows, plans without resources are hallucinations. The Defence Investment plan was promised to us in the autumn. It was then promised to us by the end of the year. It's still not there. When is the government going to get its act together and stop dithering over the defence investment plan so that it can fuel our export economy? Yeah, well.

09:52

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Obviously defence is a really important part of both of our industrial strategy and also of our export strategy. We have a series export strategy. We have a series of different export campaigns that we're running which are either titled Platinum or Gold. Several of these relate to defence expenditure. So for instance, when I was in New Zealand just before Christmas, one of the things we were talking about was the potential of the UK building a new dry dock and providing frigates for the New Zealand Navy.

I will make sure that he gets an answer from the department, from the Ministry of Defence, who have obviously primary responsibility for that area, but he makes a fair point. So.

09:53

Gareth Davies MP (Grantham and Bourne, Conservative)

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Secretary of State, Minister. >> Thank you for the promotion. Mr. Speaker. We know that some we know that some British businesses are that some British businesses are put off exporting owing to costs and in particular the cost of cross-border payments. One solution to this is through the adoption of innovative digital payment methods. And that's why I personally warmly welcome the government's announcement on the Transatlantic Task Force for markets of the future. But since its announcement last September, we haven't had a great deal of detail from the government on it.

And so, can the Minister please provide the an update on the status of the task force and what he hopes it will achieve for our exporters?

09:53

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Minister, I certainly will write to him on this. And of course, electronic commerce generally is one of the things that I think we're going to need to address at the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cameroon ministerial conference in Cameroon at the end of March. There's been a moratorium on tax in relation to that, but we would like to make that permanent. We're discussing with our international allies around that. Just one other thing I'd say about exports, which is I was at fever-tree on Monday morning and their advert used to be if three quarters of your gin and tonic is the tonic, why on earth do you not care about the tonic? I note that several members are querying the fact that three quarters of their gin and tonic might be the tonic, it might be more 50 over 50, or even the other way around.

But the point is that many businesses that are really successful in this country, including Fever-tree, know that three quarters of their business can be export. That's what we need to drive up. Gareth Davies.

09:54

Gareth Davies MP (Grantham and Bourne, Conservative)

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Well, I thank the Minister for that response. This is one of those areas that we genuinely agree on. Digital payment technology is genuinely going to provide an opportunity for British exporters. And so I would gently ask the Minister to get on top of the detail on that task force and provide an update as soon as he possibly can. We did ask the Minister previous to him last June, exactly what the government strategy on digital payment technology was, and we were promised that it would be part of the industrial strategy.

When the industrial strategy came out, it was missing. Can you explain why? Thank you.

09:55

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Minister, I've just had >> Minister, I've just had whispered in my ear that my my colleague has met with the main providers in this area only a providers in this area only a couple of weeks ago. As I say, I will I will write to the hon. Member with some more detail. Some of these issues are difficult to land because of international cooperation needing to land it. What what I'm pleased about is that in some of our trade deals now, not only are we talking not just about goods and about services, but we're making sure that we have a digital element to those trade deals as well, because that's where a lot of back.

09:55

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Question number six, Mr. Speaker, sir. >> Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I know my hon. Friend has been actively engaging with his local businesses, such as Camerons Brewery, to highlight their importance to the highlight their importance to the local economy, and I thank him for it. We've introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, while providing £4.3 billion to shield ratepayers from bill increases. On top of this, the Chancellor announced a 15% reduction in new business rate bills for pubs and live music venues and then frozen for a further two years.

We are also advancing licensing and planning reforms for the hospitality sector and through the work of the Hospitality Support Fund, providing £10 million to help hospitality venues grow and support job seekers into the sector. Later this year, we will bring forward a new high street strategy and will work with industry on its development.

09:56

Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)

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Jonathan Brash. the Minister for her answer. The Marine Hotel in Seaton Carew, in my constituency of Hartlepool, has been run for the last 30 years by Lee and Clare Dexter. It's a family business run by hard working people who are committed to their community, yet they've seen their business rates rise significantly, not driven by the multiplier but by the sharp increase in the rate of value. They do need help. So while I welcome the steps set out to support pubs this week, will the Minister meet with me to look at ways that we can fix the business rate system that's failing hotels and wider hospitality in Hartlepool?

09:57

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. >> I thank my hon. Friend for championing businesses like the Marine Hotel in Hartlepool. Hotels will continue to benefit from the will continue to benefit from the support for business rates. Announced that the Budget, including the transitional Relief scheme, which will cap increases for those seen at the large overnight increases. We have announced that we will review the way that hotels are valued. We recognise that hotels have expressed concerns about how they are valued for business rates, and those valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors.

The methodology used is well established, but as with pubs, specific concerns have been raised and it's right to review this to ensure that it accurately, accurately reflects the rental values for these sectors. And I thank him and would be happy to discuss further.

09:57

Q7. Whether he plans to resume previously suspended arms export licences to Israel. (907564)

Iqbal Mohamed. Israel's compliance with and commitment to international humanitarian law. It was those assessments that led us in September 2024, to suspend licenses where the items might be used in military military operations in military military operations in Gaza. Most of the licences suspended at that time have since expired, but we have continued to expired, but we have continued to refuse licence applications on the same basis.

09:58

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Bob Blackman thank you.

09:58

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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The Secretary of State said that revisiting the pause on arms export licences to Israel was intrinsically linked to movement intrinsically linked to movement towards a so-called sustainable peace. Since then, during the so-called ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed over 481 Palestinians in Gaza. They have struck defenceless tents, housing cowering families and bombed to kingdom come schools used for shelters for civilians. What they have not done is allowed the flow of humanitarian aid, and instead 37 ingos have been suspended. Yet this government continues with the business as usual approach to arms and trade with Israel.

How can the government justify revisiting the decision to resume arms export licences, rather than suspending the arms altogether to influence, to pressure Israel to comply with international law?

09:59

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Yeah. what the hon. Member said, which is that we do want to see humanitarian aid get to the people they need it, and that we need to see a proper, and that we need to see a proper, lasting peace based on peace and justice working together. And that is our commitment. However, he's completely wrong to suggest that it's business as usual. We've suspended some licences in particular where we think that because of Israel's failure to comply with international humanitarian law, they might be used in relation to operations in Gaza.

And but of course, there are there are many elements of because export licences are only required in relation to military and dual use equipment. Some of that dual use equipment is used by NGOs, for instance armour for journalists and things like that. So of course it's right that we adopt a case by case basis. But as I say, we have suspended a series of licences where we think that there is a threat to Gaza, but we maintain our the export licence criteria, which were laid out in Parliament.

10:00

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Joe Robertson number eight. Mr. speaker. Mr. speaker. Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I will answer questions eight and ten together. questions eight and ten together. Hospitality businesses are vital to our community and city centres. We've introduced permanent lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3 billion to shield ratepayers from big increases. On top of this, the Chancellor announced a 15% reduction in new business rates. Bills for pubs and live music venues and bills will be frozen for a further two years.

We are also advancing licensing and planning reforms to the hospitality sector and through the work of the Hospitality Support Fund, providing £10 million to help hospitality venues grow and support job seekers into the sector. Later this year, we'll bring forward a new high street strategy and will work with the industry on its development.

10:01

Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East, Conservative)

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Joe Robertson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What the Minister doesn't Speaker. What the Minister doesn't say is that the government has also taxed those businesses and made it harder to employ people, and that's why there are 100,000 fewer people working in hospitality. Since her government came to power. Our hospitality businesses in my constituency are hanging on to one thread of hope, and that is the vague assertion that the government will look again at valuations. Will the Minister look again right now and scrap business rates for street?

10:01

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Knowsley I thank you for this question. Every high street and every corner of our country is every corner of our country is supported by our hospitality industry. They're absolutely vital to our economy, supporting over 2 million jobs. It's really personal to me as a sector. I started off my first job in the hospitality industry, and I know many members across this house also had that personal connection. We are reversing the damage that the party opposite did to our economy, and businesses still do not thank them for it, nor do people who simply don't have didn't have the wages under the previous government to be able to use their disposable income to spend in their local pub, spend in their high streets and support their restaurants.

That's why we are reversing and ensuring that people have their rising in living standards, cutting costs for households, raising wages to help boost and support our high streets. And that's what we are absolutely essential and focus on doing rebalancing our economy. So it works for working people and for businesses alike. And that's a action.

10:02

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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OK. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referred to there being hospitality businesses in every corner of this country. Unfortunately, the change in Unfortunately, the change in business rates does not help hospitality businesses in every corner of this country because it is devolved in Scotland and Wales and the businesses in my constituency in Edinburgh West are struggling. Hospitality is absolutely vital to the Scottish economy and so far the SNP government have proved completely ineffectual at dealing with the issue.

Would the Minister expect that with the strategy that she speaks about coming later in the year, it might be useful for businesses across the UK to actually alter and reduce VAT in that sector? So every corner of the United Kingdom could benefit.

10:03

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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James Asser you lot put it up. >> James Asser you lot put it up. >> I thank the hon. Member for her question. Each devolved government has full control over the structure and level of businesses within its jurisdiction. As you mentioned, the new relief applies to England only. However, we would you know, the devolved governments have that additional funding to allocate accordingly to their priorities. And we call on the SNP to decide whether to actually support for pubs and music venues like we have taken the decision to do this week, and it's clear to them that it's up to them to decide how to spend the money.

And we've made that clear this week as to our priorities and where we would do it.

10:04

Jo Platt MP (Leigh and Atherton, Labour )

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Jo Platt thank you, Mr. Speaker. hospitality SMEs in my constituency start out as market traders. And as you know, our markets are a vital part of our identity and central to our local ecosystem to give businesses the space to start and grow. And does the Minister agree that markets and hospitality are key to reviving our high streets? And will she meet with me to discuss a national strategy to secure a strong pipeline for future success?

10:04

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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I thank my hon. Friend for her question, and for championing the brilliant hospitality sector and businesses in her constituency and businesses in her constituency and markets. I've got a wonderful Halifax market in my constituency, and not just the importance of a thriving traders to our high streets and to our local economies, would be more than happy to meet with her and discuss and hear her thoughts on how we can work together to restore pride in our high streets, as traders are absolutely vital to that.

That's why our high street strategy will be so important this year. To look at all those areas of directly investing in our communities, ensuring that local businesses can thrive, that we do have those bustling high streets and restore pride to back to our high streets and communities.

10:05

Chris Webb MP (Blackpool South, Labour)

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Chris Webb. Thank you, Mr. >> Chris Webb. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hospitality in Blackpool is struggling. We knew that under the previous government, with the cuts made back all the most deprived coastal community and town in the country. But Blackpool has an answer to the solution. It's the new Blackpool Tourism Enterprise Zone. It's expanding our current enterprise zone right across the promenade into those hospitality and tourism businesses. So will the Minister meet with me and the managing Director of Blackpool Tourism Limited to discuss our idea to create jobs, unlock growth and investment in Blackpool?

10:05

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. >> I thank my hon. Friend for his question, for all his work for his constituency and businesses in Blackpool and he makes an excellent Blackpool and he makes an excellent point. I'd be really keen to hear more about his work and discuss further the there's a real opportunity with our hospitality zones that we're looking to create to really drive that investment and ensure that businesses and people across our country benefit alike. And I really look forward to hearing more about his work.

10:06

Victoria Collins MP (Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Liberal Democrat)

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Victoria Collins. >> Victoria Collins. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hospitality is on its knees. We know that for many of the pubs and restaurants in Harpenden and restaurants in Harpenden and Birkenhead, it's already too late. They are closing down, but the small cafe looking market is a real lifeline for that village. But Helen, the owner, talks about business rates, about costs, the National insurance costs but also minimum wage. The Liberal Democrats have long been calling out with hospitality that cry to government to say things have to be done to help them.

We welcome that U-turn, but I would call on the Minister and the government to to hear that cry before the next U-turn, and it's too late for the next wave of hospitality that will close down.

10:06

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Good point, Minister. committed to reviewing the methodology for for business rates purposes and if necessary, we'll make changes to ensure that valuations and particularly accurately, accurately reflect the rental market for these properties. At the next revaluation, we'll be conducting that expert review, working closely with hotel and pub sectors in particular. And we want to see our high streets absolutely thrive. And hospitality are really key to that. And in her constituency and across our economy too, that's what I want to see and that's what we're committed to working for.

Kim Johnson thank.

10:07

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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You, Mr. Speaker. Liverpool's hospitality and sport businesses. hospitality and sport businesses. Continue to tell me that soaring business rates are pushing them to the brink. Many independent shops, cafes and community venues. Pillars of our local high street are now facing increases far above what they can absorb, especially in terms of energy and supply costs. These are businesses that create local jobs, drive footfall and keep our high streets alive. So can the Minister explain what immediate steps the government will take to reform the business rate system, so it no longer penalises areas like Liverpool disproportionately? And will she commit to meeting with affected businesses owners in my constituency to hear directly about the pressures they are facing, to urge urgent support they need to survive?

10:08

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. and I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We are introducing new, permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties worth nearly 1 billion per year. That will benefit over 750,000 properties next year. The rate for small properties will be the lowest since business rates were introduced more than 30 years ago, paying through higher rates on on top of 1% of the most expensive properties. And that includes many large distribution warehouses, such as those used by online giants.

That high value multiply is 33% more than the multiplier for small properties. And that's what we committed in our manifesto and creating that new sustainable system with permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties will make that massive difference for people will be publishing that call for evidence in September, exploring potential longer term reforms, and I urge you to get involved and shape that to.

10:09

Andrew Griffith MP (Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)

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Shadow Secretary of State Andrew Griffiths. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Minister will have just heard from across the House. Please from across the House. Please continue, please, to support the hospitality industry. It's always a good day when the government U-turns and provides more support for pubs, so we welcome that. But unless the Minister could explain to us when a pub goes to being a gastropub, when a gastropub goes to being a restaurant, when a restaurant with rooms turns into a hotel and descends down that wormhole, will she represent to the Chancellor to extend the same measures for pubs that she U-turned on this week? Across the whole retail, hospitality and leisure sector? Because the truth of the matter is, 90% of that sector will not benefit from this week's U-turn.

10:10

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. and good morning to the Shadow Minister. I'm sure he had a stiff drink after the performance at PMQs yesterday, and all pubs and live music venues that meet the definition set out in the guidance qualify for the support and he will be able to see that online and clearly, and we'll be working with local authorities to ensure that this includes establishments that are open to wide section of local communities. I've discussed already around those valuations for pubs and taken into account the turnover and how we'll be working closely with the wider sector on the valuations going forwards.

But this is a government that is working really closely with the sector that's committed to listening. I think that's a responsible government and we're doing the right thing.

10:10

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sarah Olney. >> Thank you very much. Madam Deputy Speaker. The heavy burden of Labour's NICs rise, compounded with high energy costs and the business high energy costs and the business rates increase, have raised alarm about the affordability of hospitality businesses. Monthly employment costs 84,000 jobs in the hospitality sector alone have been lost since the NICs rise was introduced, and this is particularly damaging to young people, many of whom traditionally found their first jobs in the hospitality sector. Just like the Minister herself, as she just said at the despatch box.

But with this sector struggling to employ new workers, damage is being done to career prospects of our young people and it will be detrimental to the broader economy. In the long term. Business confidence is down, job vacancies are down, unemployment is up. So can the Minister tell the House what steps they are the department is taking to support businesses in tackling high unemployment costs, and to bring down those increasingly high levels of unemployment? Thank.

10:11

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. A decade of stagnant growth and living standards won't be turned living standards won't be turned around in 18 months, but there are signs of progress. And the party opposite, particularly with youth unemployment, left 1 in 8 young people out of education, employment and training. And that is absolutely disgraceful figure. We are working relentlessly to turn that around. We recognise the challenges that businesses work through as a result of the actions undertaken by the previous government. With youth unemployment in particular, we've announced £820 million funding package to give a generation of young people a brighter future.

Over the next three years. 1 million young people on Universal Credit across the country will benefit from the support designed to get them into employment and learning, particularly what we're doing on small businesses with apprenticeships and partly funding that too. And that will be significant, especially for the hospitality sector to encourage more jobs as it's key as a lifeline for people to get onto the employment market. I recognise that as she as she noted, we know the importance of that and we want to work closely with the sector through the council and through the wider work that we're doing in the strategy because it's significant.

10:13

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Lizzi Collinge question number nine, Madam Deputy. >> Thank you, Madam. >> Deputy Speaker, the Department is driving economic growth by delivering the long term certainty delivering the long term certainty that businesses need and supporting the growth of businesses across the UK, including in Lancashire, where the Lancashire Growth Business Growth Service is ensuring the businesses in Morecambe and Lunesdale have advice to grow, to scale and to succeed.

10:13

Lizzi Collinge MP (Morecambe and Lunesdale, Labour)

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Lizzi Collinge. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In my constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale, we have the Tech Innovation Cluster, a growing group of small and medium sized firms, of small and medium sized firms, many of which who supply specialist components into the clean energy sector, particularly nuclear and the vital defence sector. And the Minister would be very welcome, of course, to come and visit them in Morecambe and Lunesdale. So can the Minister tell me how the Department is supporting SMEs, like those in the tech innovation cluster, and how they will benefit from the government's investment in industry?

10:13

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Minister? >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank my hon. Friend for her work in championing small businesses in her constituency, particularly the her constituency, particularly the cluster where I know businesses such as Teleplan, Forsberg like Technologies and Mazuma, as she says are working on in the clean energy, in the clean energy sector, our Clean Energy Industry sector plan focuses on capitalising on the strengths of these businesses, doubling investment levels across our frontier industries to over £30 billion a year by 2035, which will directly support businesses in that cluster.

And of course, I would be delighted to come and visit Peter Swallow.

10:14

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker 11 please, Minister. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, our plan to make work pay will our plan to make work pay will bring employment rights legislation into the 21st century, extending protections given by the best British companies to millions more workers, including those in Bracknell Forest. We're delivering this change in partnership with businesses, trade unions, public sector employers and civil society and when implemented, the Employment Rights Act will increase protection from sexual harassment, extend and strengthen statutory sick pay and end exploitative zero hours contracts, tackle fire and rehire with over 18 million workers to gain greater fairness and security.

10:15

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Peter Swallow across the country, millions of fathers can be denied time off from work to spend with a newborn child. Thousands of carers are out of work because employers won't give them the flexibility they need. This government is delivering day one paternity leave. We're listening on carer's leave. I know what a difference this will make to my constituents. So can the Minister think why the hon. Member for Clacton and his reform MPs voted against this change? Where are they?

10:15

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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I thank my hon. Friend for his really important question. He's absolutely right to raise this reform. Voted against the Employment Rights Act at every single opportunity, the Member for Clacton would roll back on protections we have given to 18 million workers across the country, including those absolutely vital day one paternity leave and parental leave, statutory sick pay for the lowest paid protections for pregnant workers, increased protection from universal for unfair dismissal, end to exploitative zero hours contracts and a new rights bereavement leave and so much more.

Reform are simply not the party for working people. It's this side of the House. They voted against it and also their plans would threaten employment up and down the country.

10:16

Andrew Griffith MP (Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)

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Yeah. Shadow Secretary of State Andrew Griffith. Andrew Griffith. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's not just, of course, Bracknell. It's not just, of course, Bracknell. And one day the benches opposite will understand there are no workers rights if you have no work. Youth unemployment is up significantly. It's a tragedy that everybody should be ashamed of. And it's going up on their watch. Small businesses who provide so many jobs are very worried about the administrative burden of trade union access.

We're talking about the very smallest businesses here pubs, restaurants, garden centres, small catering businesses. They are the backbone of our communities. So will the Minister consider as she tries to implement the act, lifting the threshold for the trade union access agreement to a headcount of 250, recognised elsewhere as a threshold in law that would protect our very smallest businesses from that administrative burden?

10:17

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, to hear about the opposition party try to lecture this side of the House on trade union engagement, industrial relations and how we operate in our economy is a very interesting reflection from this Dispatch Box he knows that I'm working really closely with businesses of all sizes, small and large, and our trade unions and partners, because that is the right thing to do. This is a significant piece of legislation. We want to get it right, but we also want to fundamentally change how we do things in this country.

And that is the right thing to do, and we're taking the responsible action to do so. We recognise there's lots of changes. That's why we're working in a staged way over the next two years to implement them, and we're doing it in partnership with businesses and unions. We want to work together to deliver this significant change for 18 million people across this country, and

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businesses are absolutely vital for us delivering it. That's why we're working together to do that. Chris Bloore question. Please.

10:17

Q12. What recent progress he has made on the implementation of single worker status. (907571)

>> Please. >> Mr. Minister. >> I'm having quite the Alison

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I'm having quite the Alison Taylor. Madam Deputy Speaker, I welcome the question from my hon. Friend who's business experience as

10:18

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Friend who's business experience as the chief executive of an international trade association gives him acute insight into this topic. This government is committed topic. This government is committed to tackling the pressing issues with the current employment status framework, and we will publish our consultation as soon as possible. The consultation will seek to address issues with the framework, which can enable worker exploitation and leave vulnerable workers without employment protections.

10:18

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I thank the hon. Member, the Minister, for her answer. She will know to many parcel couriers in my constituency and many across the country are on bogus self-employment contracts and worse terms and conditions without holiday pay or sick leave, driving down standards across the sector. But of course, robbing the public purse of National Insurance contributions are welcome. Her commitment to announcing the consultation on single status of worker. And can I can she guarantee that both employer and employee representation will be included in that consultation?

10:19

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Mr. it. I completely agree that some businesses seeking to undercut others in a race to the bottom through bogus self-employment is completely unacceptable. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid their own legal obligations by claiming someone's self-employed, when in reality they might not be. Will therefore be consulting both on changes to the status framework itself and on action to improve compliance. We will, of course, engage with all stakeholders as part of that Jess Brown-Fuller.

10:19

Q13. What steps he is taking to support businesses with their operating costs. (907572)

Question 13 Madam Deputy.

10:19

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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reduce operating costs for all UK businesses, including those in Chichester. We are working to reduce the annual administrative burden of regulation by £5.6 billion by 2029, enabling businesses to by 2029, enabling businesses to unlock growth and boost innovation across key sectors. We are introducing the most significant introducing the most significant legislation to tackle the payments in over 25 years, providing a support package worth over £4 support package worth over £4 billion over the next three years to help business rates payers, and were fully funding apprenticeship training costs for all eligible 16 to 24 year olds.

10:20

Jess Brown-Fuller MP (Chichester, Liberal Democrat)

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Jess Brown-Fuller. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The irony for. >> So many of my small businesses in Chichester is that they are busy, they are well established, they are they are well established, they are popular, but it's not bad business that's making them struggle. It's bad policy. The current business rates system disincentivizes investment creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets. Those are not my words. They are lifted from the Labour Party manifesto. So when should my local businesses expect the real changes that they need to business rates, and will they please explore a commercial landowner levy in their upcoming review?

10:20

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Mr. that the government are committed to tackling inadequacies within the way that rates are calculated and evaluated. And that is exactly what the my colleague from the Treasury spoke about from this Dispatch Box the other day. But just to say, beyond the rates issue, we are protecting high street businesses from upward only rental review clauses. We are introducing a community right to buy so people can take valued community assets into ownership. On the high street, we've got rental options for empty properties.

In the high street. We've got action on bogus businesses, as my hon. Friend spoke about. So we are doing a great deal

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described. Liz Twist question 14. Madam

10:21

Q14. What steps he is taking to implement the Modern Industrial Strategy. (907573)

Deputy Speaker. Mr. >> With with permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'll answer

10:21

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Deputy Speaker, I'll answer questions 14 and 15. Together we're focussed on delivering our industrial strategy so that we are industrial strategy so that we are once again a nation that makes things, invents new industries and exports around the world. We're exports around the world. We're investing £100 billion into industries through the National Wealth Fund. We're directing £9 billion in research and innovation funding towards key growth industries. And we are bringing forward a huge increase in support for exporters through UK export finance.

10:22

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, for 14. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, for 14. Years under the last government, my constituents living standards stagnated across Blaydon and stagnated across Blaydon and Consett. We've got many successful manufacturing and engineering firms like Slater's Electricals and Peters and Steel Rigging in Blaydon, Gardner Aerospace and Cave Systems in Consett and many more. Can my hon. Friend set out how our modern industrial strategy will support businesses in my constituency to get living standards raised for my constituents? Minister.

10:22

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Well, she's such a powerful advocate for the industrial advocate for the industrial strength in her part of the world, and it is exactly those strengths that our industrial strategy is working on to drive up business investment, to create those high quality jobs that will improve living standards and deliver better, better public services for everyone. The government's Northern Growth Strategy aims to increase the potential of the Northern Growth Corridor to catalyse growth in sectors like those that she describes, and I know we will continue to work with her to ensure her constituents get the most out of that.

10:23

Luke Akehurst MP (North Durham, Labour)

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Luke Akehurst. Madam Deputy >> Luke Akehurst. Madam Deputy Speaker, County Durham has been home to proud British industries for centuries, but for decades for centuries, but for decades they've been in decline and communities like mine in North Durham have paid the price. Our modern industrial strategy will work to fix this. It's going to invest billions in defence, advanced manufacturing and clean power, which are sectors where the North East has a unique advantage. Can the Minister assure me that our modern industrial strategy is going to bring jobs and growth and reindustrialisation to my constituency of North Durham?

10:23

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Minister? reassure him of that. The industrial Society recognises the great strengths in the North East. That my hon. Friend is such a strong champion for as part of the North East Combined Authority, County Durham's benefiting from targeted measures, including at least £30 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and the pilot to develop a resilient electric vehicle supply chain. This will support locally critical components and capabilities backed by drive 35, and we will shortly set out further detail on our northern growth strategy, building on the commitment to invest up to £45 billion in Northern Powerhouse Rail Vikki Slade.

10:24

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. There is only one rebar mill in the There is only one rebar mill in the UK in Cardiff and it can only make a small portion of our needs means we're reliant on exports. Even if we're reliant on exports. Even if we open a new facility, we're not going to have enough capacity for things like the rail projects and the 1.5 million homes. The ending of the rollover tariffs is leading to unused quotas, and companies like my constituent heighten in Mid Dorset and North Poole can't risk taking an order which leaves a country, and by the time it arrives in this country, the quota has been used up and it can't be imported.

Will he meet with me to look at the impact of these changes on the ground before it strangles economic growth?

10:25

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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OK. >> OK. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, she's right to raise the worries that industry have over turbulent trade industry have over turbulent trade environment internationally is exactly why it is so important that we're out there in the world as a government engaging because businesses, including the one she mentions, need that stability. Very happy to arrange that meeting with her.

10:25

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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We now move on to topical >> We now move on to topical questions and I come to Chris Vince. >> Topical one. Madam Deputy Speaker Secretary of State. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, the

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Madam Deputy Speaker, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply because he's in China with the Prime Minister. In the last few weeks, our department has concluded weeks, our department has concluded an enhanced trade deal with the Republic of Korea, published a critical mineral strategy and secured the Employment Rights Act, which will see the biggest improvement in employment rights in a generation at home and abroad. We are resolutely on the side of business tackling barriers to trade, improving productivity, driving up growth and winning business.

For Britain, growth is up, productivity is up and business confidence is up.

10:26

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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Chris Vince. visit the Advance Aquarium consultancy in my constituency of Harlow where they breed, grow and sell coral. I'm not going to make any coral jokes. It will be a relief to everybody. But what is particularly unique about a business like Advance Aquarium Consultancy is the amount of energy that they need to use. So what is this government doing to support businesses like the aquarium consultancy to bring down energy costs?

10:26

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Minister. >> Well, I thought he was going to ask. I was told he was going to ask a question about coral farms. And I was just wondering how you farmed tenors and altos and contraltos. tenors and altos and contraltos. But look, he makes a very fair point. There is a whole series of industries, as my hon. Friend referred to earlier, where the cost of energy is a significant part of the problems that they're facing. And that's precisely the kind of work where that we are engaged on as a department and as a whole government.

And that's why it's so important that my hon. Friend is in two departments and is able to issues.

10:27

Dame Harriett Baldwin MP (West Worcestershire, Conservative)

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Shadow Minister Dame Harriett Baldwin. >> Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. And yet again, the Business Secretary is not here for his departmental questions. This his departmental questions. This time he's in China trying to sort out the mess that is British Steel strategy. He's burning through £2 million a day of taxpayers money, keeping the Scunthorpe furnace going. The Chinese owners are asking for £1 billion in compensation. Decommissioning could cost over £2 billion. His steel strategy is literally melting before its long awaited publication.

Given that when the Prime Minister negotiates, Britain loses. What is a good outcome here?

10:28

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Self-awareness from the Conservatives? Conservatives? >> Honestly, I mean, the. I sometimes my heart just wants to sometimes my heart just wants to fall through my body when I hear members on the opposite side who seem to have completely and utterly lost the plot, whether it's enormous, multibillion pound demands for extra cash. I mean, the hon. Gentleman, as I understand it, was a chartered or is a chartered accountant, but he doesn't seem to be able to count. The hon. Lady seems to forget that when she was in government, the previous Prime Minister refused even to go and visit any of the steel companies in this country.

We are determined to get a good outcome. But look, she she attacks the business secretary for going to China. I think it is important that we engage with all of the big economies in the world. China is our fourth biggest export market. There are lots of businesses who are doing trade with with China. And yes, she's absolutely right. Of course, we've got to get a good set of outcomes for steel. That's why very soon we will be producing a steel strategy, which will answer all the questions that she's referring to.

And, and I and I said at previous business questions that we wanted to make sure that we are able to publish soon are what we're going to be doing after July in, in in reference to our own trade, steel trade tariffs. Baldwin.

10:29

Dame Harriett Baldwin MP (West Worcestershire, Conservative)

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Well, Madam Deputy Speaker, you can see why the business Secretary can see why the business Secretary needs to be here to answer questions. Because I didn't hear an answer to my question there, but I am going to try a different topic. Also really important to our constituents, because 16 million of them got their Royal Mail parcels and letters late this Christmas. I know that my constituents have had many, many complaints. So what has the Minister done to hold Royal Mail to account for this unacceptable level of service?

10:30

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I think every single member of this House would would have similar complaints about the delivery of service. I mean, in my own service. I mean, in my own constituency, I'm aware of people receiving letters for appointments in their NHS after the appointment itself, and my hon. Friend is meeting with them next week. We we really need to make sure that we get a better service across the whole of the country, and that's something that we're absolutely focussed on achieving.

10:30

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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Liz Twist Madam Deputy Speaker Winchester cancelled at the last Winchester cancelled at the last minute. Too many of my constituents struggled to get by, which protections introduced by the employment rank plank are so important. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that all workers can access these rights, including a contract that reflects their regular working hours and concentration? The Council.

10:30

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister, I. >> Thank my hon. Friend for her question. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that all jobs provide that baseline of security and predictability, and she and predictability, and she perfectly outlined exactly why that is important. The next step is to consult before setting regulations to get that detail right. I'd love to hear from her further about the experiences in her background, but also the hard work that she's done on this area for a long period of time. Providing those workers with guaranteed hours is really, really crucial for security.

10:31

Graham Leadbitter MP (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Scottish National Party)

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Graham Leadbitter thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In the recently published quarterly statistics, the Aberdeen Chamber of statistics, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce confirmed that business confidence in the North East has slumped to levels not seen since the height of the Covid pandemic, with almost half of companies forecasting falling profits. A clear reason cited was the Labour government's refusal to ditch the tax in Scotland's energy, resulting in 1000 jobs being lost each month, akin to what Thatcher was doing to the coal communities in the 80s.

So can the Minister tell me why his government is happy to see crucial North east businesses suffering, and the communities that those workers support and will? I apologise to the workers of the North East for the thousands of jobs that have been lost at the hands of this Labour government, sir. Well.

10:32

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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We have been working hard on many to secure good outcomes for many of the businesses in his constituency. Walkers shortbread is doing a phenomenal job exports around the world. I know because I've seen them in their in supermarkets in Auckland, in in Melbourne, in Dubai, all over the place. Similarly, we're trying to get a good deal with the United States on whisky. We already have a good deal with India on whisky and and the Prime Minister and others will be talking about whisky in China as well over the next few days.

I do wish he would be a bit cheerier. He's got one of the most beautiful constituencies in the land. Whether it's the Lowry grew, the Rothiemurchus estate, the Ospreys in Loch Garten or Loch and it's absolutely beautiful. He could just be a bit cheerier.

10:32

Emma Foody MP (Cramlington and Killingworth, Labour )

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Emma Foody. >> The North. >> East has one of the largest pharmaceutical clusters, a key growth sector as identified in the North-East Growth Plan. And my Cramlington and Killingworth constituency has some of the leading companies such as Organon and Sterling Pharma, providing good quality jobs and exporting around the world. How is the government backing our pharmaceutical sector and supporting the North East to secure and expand opportunities in this area?

10:33

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Mr. >> Mr. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank my hon. Friend, for the work that she's doing to highlight the North East role as a key part of our life sciences and pharmaceuticals industry. She mentioned Organon and her constituency there. Cramlington site was singled out by the leadership of that business at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco recently, and in two weeks time, I'll be opening Fujifilm by Fujifilm's biotechnology factory in Billingham in my own constituency, a £400 million investment in North East Biosciences, our life sciences sector sector plan is backing the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with £2 billion of investment.

And of course, our UQs deal is delivering zero tariff access for UK pharmaceutical exports.

10:33

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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Rebecca Smith. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, Sharmaine from Cox and Co Salon in Plymstock in my and Co Salon in Plymstock in my South West Devon constituency, has been in contact because government business decisions are making it incredibly difficult for her business to stay afloat. Now the National Hair and Beauty Federation has highlighted the fact that business rates remain the largest fixed cost facing this incredibly important industry. So will the Minister commit to extending business rate relief beyond pubs to all high street businesses, and especially those in the health and beauty sector?

10:34

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Minister. bit of a discussion about what we're going to do about business rates and and I haven't got much to add to that. I'd just say about the add to that. I'd just say about the health and beauty sector, it's not only a sector in the UK, it's one that is vital to our new exports. So for instance, in India, I'm sure she's aware of this in India because we've managed to get the tariffs down in our free trade agreement with India on beauty products.

And there are lots of businesses that we've been facilitating going out to India as part of a trade fair, who are driving up our exports to that and around the world. So the whole of the sector, I think, has an opportunity to prosper when we manage to secure better free trade agreements.

10:35

Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)

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Josh Fenton-Glynn thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Almost 1 in 3 pubs in this country has a tied pub pubs in this country has a tied pub in Calder Valley. One such pub saw its payments to Stonegate jump from £800 a week to £1,700 a week, just days after the six month probationary period ended. I welcome the government's support for pubs, but that pub will still be paying 17 times more to Stone gate each year year than it will in business rates. Will the Minister please look at these unfair charges and what can be done in regulation?

10:35

Kate Dearden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )

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Minister. >> Important case. >> My colleague in the wonderful Calderdale, and we have some of the Calderdale, and we have some of the the best pubs in the country, as he knows, the pubs code in England and Wales regulates the relationship between pub owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs, including Stonegate and their tied pub tenants, and aims to ensure that tenants are treated fairly. The government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the effectiveness of the code, and it may help to inform the review of.

The hon. Member could write to me setting out the details of the examples he's mentioned.

10:36

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. announcing the results of their British Industry Competitive Scheme consultation and provide the much the fabulous manufacturing industry in my constituency of Leicester South with some much needed help with their energy costs.

10:36

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Sir. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. So the the hon. Gentleman is right to point out, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will provide a significant discount to up to 7000 manufacturing businesses, up to 25% of their energy costs. It will certainly help manufacturing businesses in his constituency and across the whole of the UK. I encourage businesses in his constituency to to contribute to the consultation, the result of which will be announced in due course.

10:36

Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)

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Thanks. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Recently I met with employees and union reps from Synlab, a thriving pathology lab in Abergavenny. It's pathology lab in Abergavenny. It's been taken over and now 30 plus jobs are at risk, meaning these highly skilled Stem opportunities could move out of my constituency of Monmouthshire. I thank the Minister for meeting me earlier this week, but could she please meet with Welsh Government colleagues and myself to discuss how we ensure we keep these kind of high tech jobs in Wales, as it shouldn't just be big cities that benefit from these Stem opportunities.

10:37

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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First of all, I pray I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, it's great that she's a member of this House because we hear an unambiguous support for small businesses up and down her constituency, not just in the big towns, but in the small villages, as she says. And she's absolutely right that Wales is a really good place for high tech. I'm really delighted that recently, £1.4 billion additional investment was announced at the Welsh Investment Summit in December, taking the total investment since the summit was launched to £16 billion.

I'm sure that is going to deliver more jobs across South Wales in precisely the way she she asks.

10:37

Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP (The Wrekin, Conservative)

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Always enjoy the soliloquies. >> Of State. >> It might be an opportunity for the Royal Mail and Postal Services Minister to answer this particular question. Given that I wrote to the question. Given that I wrote to the Minister's office about the catastrophic failure of the letter delivery service throughout Shropshire, so would the parliamentary Under-Secretary of state agree to meet with me and my hon. Friend the Member for South Shropshire, about resolving this issue?

10:38

Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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Mr. >> Happy to. >> Do so. I understand that Royal Mail is a private company regulated by Ofcom, but it is also a critical by Ofcom, but it is also a critical part of our national economic and social infrastructure and it is not acceptable if people are not getting their post. That is a message I deliver to Royal Mail in person next week.

10:38

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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Thank you. >> Music venue. >> Levy earlier. He knows that in my constituency of Falmouth, particularly in Truro, we have particularly in Truro, we have amazing music venues. I would ask him when the first payment from that, from that levy might be made to those smaller venues if you, sir.

10:38

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Well, I've changed job, I'm afraid, since, since I was pushing afraid, since, since I was pushing that very, very hard. Certainly the intention was for that to be happening fairly soon. I will make sure that the Minister for the Creative Industries responds directly to her. But look, this is a really important opportunity for every time you go to a big arena gig. There should be a £1 levy on those tickets. I urge all the promoters, all the artists and all the concert arrangers and to make sure that that money gets to small music venues.

10:39

Madam Deputy Speaker it >> Madam Deputy Speaker it shouldn't be the case that a toxic chemical like paraquat, which is the the use of which was banned by the the use of which was banned by the previous Labour government in 2007 for use here, and it's associated with the development of Parkinson's. It's deemed too dangerous for our use on our own soil, but continues to be produced here and sent to elsewhere, where it's perpetuating harms which wouldn't be tolerated at home. Can I ask what the policy is on exporting UK manufacturing product like paraquat to other countries?

10:39

Dave Robertson MP (Lichfield, Labour)

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Minister. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, can I thank the Minister for industry for his engagement with ceramics UK this week, meeting with them on ceramics companies from across ceramics companies from across Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, the West Midlands and further afield. He would have heard from them about the importance of getting ceramics firms into the supercharger scheme. I was really pleased to hear his statement earlier about trying to extend the eligibility for that. I wonder if you can give us an idea of when we may hear some positive news on that front.

10:40

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm also grateful to him as well for representing so to him as well for representing so clearly the importance of the ceramics firms in his constituency. I, I heard the message loud and clear from the ceramics industry earlier this week about the impact of energy costs. And as I mentioned earlier in the review of the supercharger scheme, I've asked my officials to look very carefully at the opportunities for including ceramic sector.

10:40

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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Ben Obese-Jecty Mr Speaker. >> Ben Obese-Jecty Mr Speaker. >> The Ajax armoured vehicle programme is currently under threat, but work is due to be completed at but work is due to be completed at the Merthyr Tydfil factory in summer next year. Could the Minister confirm whether there are any conversations through the UK Defence and Security Exports Office around securing an export package for the Ajax vehicle and guaranteeing work at that factory going forward, sir?

10:41

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Well, obviously we would like to do so and as somebody in the next door constituency, I'm very keen to make sure that and I've been and visited the factory myself. We are keen to do so, but obviously a large part of this is an mod responsibility. I'll make sure that the mod write to him.

10:41

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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Martin Vickers. could I return again to the issue of the steel industry? I thank the Minister for our the meeting we held a few weeks ago, but I was contacted by a couple of employees in Scunthorpe last week who expressed concern about recent reports of publicly funded contracts using foreign produced steel. Could the Minister give an assurance that a British produced steel will take priority in such cases?

10:41

Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Stockton North, Labour)

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Minister. Deputy Speaker, I thank you very, very much for his constructive and positive engagement on this issue and I do understand the concerns of the steelworkers in Scunthorpe. I know precisely the projects that he's referring to. Those projects were projects that were not procured under public procurement rules, and the developers and the contractors involved have followed their own rules and commitments. However, it it is the case that this government wants to see more steel used in both public and other projects around the country.

That's a matter for developing steel capability, but also potentially for reviewing our procurement rules.

10:42

Rt Hon David Mundell MP (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)

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Final question David Mundell. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As chair of the All Party Latin chair of the All Party Latin America group, I was interested to note that the EU announced a trade deal with the South American Trading Group after 25 years of negotiation. What is the position of the UK government in relation to Minister.

10:42

Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Well, it's certainly true that >> Well, it's certainly true that now that the EU, having taken 25 years, as he points out, to secure years, as he points out, to secure a Mercosur deal, there is a danger that British business will be left out and excluded because there would be preferential rates for European businesses rather than ourselves. So it's something that we are looking at very, very closely and I hope to be able to update him very soon as he knows I'm a passionate about trying to increase our exports to Latin

**** Possible New Speaker ****

America. I just note that some companies, like Inca Kola, are originally created by British firms. That is the.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

That is the. End of business and trade questions. I'll give the. Frontbenchers a moment to. Shuffle Frontbenchers a moment to. Shuffle over. These questions. The Leader of the House, I call the shadow Leader Jesse Norman.

10:43

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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Thank you.

10:43

Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)

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Leader of the House? commencing 2nd of February will include Monday the 2nd of February consideration of Lords amendments to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill, followed by motions relating to the High speed rail Crewe to Manchester Bill, Tuesday the 3rd of February. Second Reading of the Universal Credit. Removal of two child limit bill Wednesday, the 4th of February, opposition Day in the name of the official opposition, the subject yet to be announced Thursday, the 5th of February general Debate on road safety, followed by a general debate on obligation to assess the risk of genocide under international law in relation to the occupied Palestinian territories.

The subject for these debates was determined by the Backbench Business Committee Friday, the 6th of February. The House will not be sitting the provisional business for the week commencing the 9th of February includes Monday the 9th of February, general debate on the UK India Free Trade Agreement, followed by a debate on a motion on increasing survival rates from brain tumours. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee Tuesday, the 10th of February debate, on motion to approve the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pension Increase Order 2026 and the draft Social Security Benefits Up Rating Order 2026, followed by debate on motion to approve the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Operating Order 2026 and the draft Social Security contributions, rates, limits and threshold amendments, National Insurance Fund Payments and Extension of Veterans Relief Regulations 2026 Wednesday the 11th of February.

Motions relating to the police grant and local government finance reports. And on Thursday the 12th of February, a general debate on LGBT History Month, followed by a debate on a motion on mobile connectivity in rural areas. The subject for these debates, determined by the Backbench Business Committee and the House of Commons, will rise for the February recess at the conclusion of business on Thursday the 12th of February, and return on Monday the 23rd of February.

10:45

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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Shadow Leader of the House Jesse Norman. >> I thank. >> The leader very much for the business. As the House will know, business. As the House will know, this is the week of Holocaust Memorial Day. I'm delighted we will be debating that in this chamber later on today. Colleagues, I'm sure, will have visited the extraordinary exhibition of shoes in portcullis House. I myself visited Auschwitz actually, when it was under communist control in Poland in 1988, and saw the originals of that exhibition.

And it was a profoundly moving experience. And I know everyone in present will share my sense of sorrow and remembrance for all those who died. This is also the week in which we note with great sadness the death of Captain Philip Muldowney in an in a live fire exercise, and send our very best to his his fellow soldiers, his friends and his family. But I'd also like to put on record my personal sadness at the death of Howard Flight Lord flight, a dedicated servant of this house over many years.

And in the other place, Madam Deputy Speaker, this week the Prime Minister demonstrated his genius political touch once again by getting Andy Burnham barred from standing in the Gorton by election, when he almost certainly would have been hammered if he had stood. The problem solved. Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation has calculated that the extra uncertainty created by the Chancellor's repeated U-turns has already cost this country, or is going to cost it £8.2 billion, and that will only increase over time.

That figure is based on official OBR numbers. It includes the government's U-turns on personal independence, payments on Universal Credit and on the winter fuel allowance, but not the uncertainty additionally created by the government's recent U-turns on business rates for pubs and inheritance tax rules for farmers. Those will take the cost closer to £9 billion of unnecessary extra burden on the people of this country. Created by the government since July 2024. And lest we forget, even without any U-turns, the extra cost of servicing UK government debt since July 2024 has been, and remains again thanks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, higher than in either the US or the eurozone.

That's according to Labour's own friendly think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research. And finally, extraordinarily irony of ironies, we hear that Sir Tony Blair will sit on President Trump's so-called peace board for the reconstruction of Gaza, to which one can only say, in the words of the late, great Tom Lehrer, satire is dead. This is the man who took this country to war in the Middle East on a false prospectus. One must ask, haven't

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