Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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 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 - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
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 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 and Trade)
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 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business 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 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 - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
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.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed a) by UK bus manufacturers and b) UK companies within the bus manufacturing supply chain; and what steps he is taking to increase jobs in this sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to industry estimates, the UK Bus Manufacturing sector employs around 4,300 people directly with approximately 13,000 in the supply chain. HMG is committed to boosting the UK bus manufacturing sector’s competitiveness, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles and increasing jobs. This includes the £2.5bn DRIVE35, to support R&D in strategic vehicle technologies, accelerate their commercial scale-up, and unlock investment across zero emission vehicle manufacturing, including buses. In addition, HMG announced £15.6 billion for Transport for City Regions alongside a Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel bringing local leaders together to translate funding and reform plans into a steady and growing pipeline of manufacturing orders.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the volume of exports of a) UK buses and b) UK technology and services within the bus manufacturing supply chain.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is focused on boosting the UK bus manufacturing sector’s long-term competitiveness and advancing zero-emission vehicles. Trade agreements will open new export opportunities, remove tariffs, and introduce flexible rules of origin, benefiting automotive businesses nationwide.
According to industry figures, nearly 80% of UK automotive production is exported, with direct export support available from DBT alongside dedicated automotive export campaign support, and through UK Export Finance, with £14.5 billion allocated for UK exports from UKEF in 2024/25.
The £2.5bn DRIVE35 programme accelerates R&D and commercial scale-up in strategic vehicle technologies, unlocking investment in zero-emission bus manufacturing and supply chains, increasing competitiveness in international markets.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on the retail and hospitality sectors.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adopting single/double summer time on levels of energy consumption.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Therefore, we have no plans to introduce single summertime, double summertime, or other such changes. Since the Government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted assessments of the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, on levels of energy consumption or crime.