Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many relocations of public limited companies’ operational headquarters from the UK to EU member states his Department has recorded in each calendar year since 2015.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While the Department does not hold the specific information requested, it maintains regular engagement with businesses and representative organisations and monitors a range of economic indicators to inform policy and support economic growth. Being bolder in our relationship with the EU is an important part of the Government's agenda, to deliver good growth in every postcode of our country.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate the Department has made of the number of UK jobs transferred to EU member states through the relocation of public limited companies’ operational headquarters since 2015.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While the Department does not hold the specific information requested, it maintains regular engagement with businesses and representative organisations and monitors a range of economic indicators to inform policy and support economic growth. Being bolder in our relationship with the EU is an important part of the Government's agenda, to deliver good growth in every postcode of our country.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department holds information on the impact of barriers to accessing EU markets on UK creative industries’ export revenue since 2020.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The creative industries are an important part of the UK economy and the Creative Industries Sector Plan positions the sector as a central pillar of the Government’s Industrial Strategy and Growth Mission.
Through delivery of the Sector Plan and our Trade Strategy, we are engaging with industry on barriers to trade and working to expand market access through digital trade agreements, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, sector-specific partnerships and free trade agreements.
The DCMS report, The Economic Benefits of Touring and Impact of EU Exit, published on 27 August 2026, provides further evidence on barriers affecting UK creative exports.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many public limited companies the Department has recorded as citing EU market access as a reason for relocating their operational headquarters from the UK to the EU since 2015.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While the Department does not hold the specific information requested, it maintains regular engagement with businesses and representative organisations and monitors a range of economic indicators to inform policy and support economic growth. Being bolder in our relationship with the EU is an important part of the Government's agenda, to deliver good growth in every postcode of our country.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on GDP of reducing average business-to-business payment times by one day.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not made a separate assessment of the GDP impact of reducing average business-to-business payment times by one day. Late payments are estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Commercial Payments Bill is designed to improve payment practices, strengthen cashflow for small businesses and to reduce their time spent chasing late invoices. It supports productivity, supply chain resilience and growth across the wider economy.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish an implementation plan for the Small Business Protections Bill, including enforcement responsibilities, staffing requirements and delivery milestones.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is committed to the successful implementation of the Commercial Payments Bill. The Bill is designed to strengthen the powers of the Small Business Commissioner to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate disputes and take enforcement action. The Commissioner will have the resources needed to deliver its expanded functions, including operational arrangements, staffing or enforcement requirements and will continue to publish its annual report and guidance.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to establish a dedicated implementation taskforce to oversee enforcement of the Small Business Protections Bill and wider late payment reforms.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is committed to the successful implementation of the Commercial Payments Bill. The Bill is designed to strengthen the powers of the Small Business Commissioner to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate disputes and take enforcement action. The Commissioner will have the resources needed to deliver its expanded functions, including operational arrangements, staffing or enforcement requirements and will continue to publish its annual report and guidance.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many enforcement actions have been taken under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 in each year since those regulations came into force.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are assigned to monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Payment Practices Reporting regime.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the economic return of additional enforcement funding for late payment regulations.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.