Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
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 adequacy of enforcement powers to remove unsafe infant products from online marketplaces.
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)
Under existing legislation, businesses must only supply safe consumer products. Relevant authorities have powers to require withdrawal of unsafe products from supply and, where appropriate, their recall. The Office for Product Safety and Standards coordinates regulatory activity to ensure online marketplaces prevent and remove any unsafe products from their sites.
The Government recently consulted on proposals to simplify and strengthen the current fragmented enforcement framework. These reforms are intended to create a clearer, more coherent regulatory regime, giving relevant authorities the tools they need to identify and tackle unsafe products across supply chains, including products sold through online marketplaces.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
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 potential impact of heatwaves on economic growth and business productivity.
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 UK Climate Change Committee estimates climate change damages in the UK could grow to 1–5% of GDP by 2050 under a 2 degree global warming level. Climate adaptation can protect businesses and productivity, and support economic growth in new markets.
The ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey monitors the impacts of severe weather events on business, including increased temperatures or heat. The Department for Business and Trade is considering the impacts of extreme heat on economic growth and business productivity to support government to develop an ambitious fourth National Adaptation Programme in 2028.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on the UK’s new product safety framework.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The formal consultation on the UK’s new product safety framework closed on 23 June. It received considerable interest from businesses, consumer groups and other stakeholders, including members of the public and we are now analysing the responses received. Delivering the new product safety framework is a priority for the Department. Given the breadth and complexity of the issues raised, it is important that we analyse and carefully consider the feedback from stakeholders before finalising the Government's position. Following this consideration, we will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what mechanisms businesses should use to differentiate between steel that can and cannot be made in the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has published a provisional list of product codes covered by the steel trade measure on gov.uk. This will be updated shortly, following ongoing engagement with industry.
The measure is designed to only cover steel requirements that can be made in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons, for example where single product codes contain different sizes of steel products with some of the sizes produced in the UK and potential for steel to be imported and then cut-down. In such cases, quotas are being designed with the aim of allowing for sufficient imports.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce (a) exemptions and (b) alternative arrangements for specialist steel products that are not manufactured in the UK under the UK steel trade safeguard measures from 1 July 2026.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The product scope of the measure is designed to only cover steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this isn’t feasible for technical reasons and quotas have been set with the aim of allowing continued availability of these goods to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs. The measure will be reviewed after 12 months to ensure it remains effective.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
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 of the UK steel trade safeguard measures due to come into force on 1 July 2026 on specialist steel importers supplying the aerospace, Formula One, renewable energy and defence sectors.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This Government recognises the value of downstream, including specialist importers for defence and aerospace, alongside a resilient steel sector.
The steel measure has been designed to strike a balance between securing steelmaking while maintaining secure supply for downstream users.
The Government has engaged extensively with both producers and downstream users to inform its development;
To ease impacts, we will introduce a transitional arrangement under which the new measure would not apply to goods contracted before 14 March and imported between 1 July and 30 September 2026.
We will keep the measure under review, including after 12-months to ensure its effectiveness.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions she has had with HMRC on the capacity of customs systems to distinguish between generic steel products and specialist aerospace-grade steel imports under the UK steel trade safeguard measures from 1 July 2026.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The steel trade measures have been designed, as far as is technically possible, only to cover steel requirements that can be met in the UK. Quotas have been set with the aim of allowing continued availability of goods to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs. The measure will be reviewed after 12 months to ensure it remains effective.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to support the growth of independent gyms in the East of England.
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 government is committed to supporting UK SMEs, including independent gyms in the East of England, through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation.
This includes the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets and boosting Digital and AI Adoption among small businesses.
The Business Growth Service helps SMEs access tailored support at every stage of their growth journey. The South Midlands Growth Hub offers free accessible business advice and support at all stages of a business’s journey.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the potential impact of Single or Double British Summer Time on pubs during major international sporting tournaments.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Since the government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted an assessment of the potential impact of Single or Double British Summer Time on pubs during major sporting tournaments.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support the UK tyre retreading industry in the context of rising imports of single-life budget tyres; and what assessment the Government has made of the impact of such imports on circular economy objectives and domestic manufacturing jobs.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Following reviews by the Trade Remedies Authority, the Government varied and extended anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of Chinese bus and lorry tyres on 1 August 2025. These measures are in place to protect the UK tyre retreading industry from unfair trading practices, and support jobs.
The Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to the UK tyre retreading industry. Affected producers should speak to the TRA in the first instance.