Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps are being taken to improve trade between the UK and the USA and in particular what steps are being taken to seek improvements on trade with the USA, wherever UK Exporters remain on less favourable terms than their competitors in the European Union.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Contrary to the implication of the question, through negotiations on the Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), the UK is the only country to have achieved a 10% tariff for autos within quota, a 0% tariff for pharmaceuticals and a preferential 25% tariff on core steel and aluminium exports.
Furthermore, in April, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK whisky exports, which is worth around £1bn each year.
Discussions on the EPD are ongoing, and the UK continues to engage with the US administration at all levels, working to benefit UK exporters.
Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure SMEs in Paisley and Renfrewshire North are being kept up to date and receiving practical guidance on trading with the USA in a rapidly changing trade and tariff environment.
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)
DBT supports SMEs across the UK, including in Paisley and Renfrewshire North, to expand and trade internationally.
In May 2025, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US, which protects jobs and helps drive economic growth. In April 2026, we achieved the removal of tariffs on UK whisky, exports to the US are worth £1bn each year.
Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal continue to address tariff barriers, increase digital and services trade, and unlock new commercial opportunities for both nations.
SMEs can access the latest information on trade negotiations and other support via business.gov.uk and through Business Gateway Renfrewshire and Find Business Support Scotland, alongside the Export Support Service and UK Business Academy.
Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) encourage investment in startups and (b) support entrepreneurs in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We will publish our Small Business Strategy later this year with a clear ambition to promote startups and encourage entrepreneurship, built around the new Business Growth Service.
Existing support includes Help to Grow: Management - UK, providing practical ways to enhance small business productivity and growth, and the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland. This commits £150 million to deliver loans and debt finance, ranging from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million, for new and growing businesses across rural, coastal and urban Scottish areas.
Start Up Loans are also available in Scotland, helping new and early-stage businesses access affordable finance and mentoring support.
Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) encourage inward investment and (b) support job creation in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Growth is the number one mission of this government. Our Industrial Strategy is central to that Mission - targeting key sectors to deliver high quality, well-paid jobs. My Honourable Friend's constituency is strong in sectors identified in our Green Paper, particularly Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences including being home to the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre. We are working closely with the Scottish government and other partners to attract new investment and jobs. Senior officials from the Office for Investment recently visited the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland to see the investment potential first-hand.