Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many safety incidents were reported at the British Steel Limited site in Scunthorpe in each quarter of the last year.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, British Steel Limited reported 11 cases in Q1 2025, 15 in Q2, 7 in Q3 and 7 to date in Q4, across all of their sites, including Scunthorpe. In the year to date there have been 30 Lost-Time Injuries, and 44 high-potential near misses.

Since the 12 April, to ensure the continued safe operation of the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025, the UK Government has made health and safety a priority, with £8.1 million spent on essential improvements, including structural inspections, safety-critical equipment, and protective workwear. British Steel appointed a new Health, Safety & Environment Director and additional resources have strengthened oversight, supported by external specialists delivering hazard awareness and cultural change programmes. I emphasised the continued importance of health and safety in discussions with British Steel's executive team during my visit to the Scunthorpe site on 6 November.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government response to the consultation on the resale of live events ticket of 19 November 2025, what is his target date for the introduction of legislation to implement the proposals set out in the response.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.

Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.

We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish an impact assessment for the plan for a secondary live event ticket sales price cap.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.

Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.

We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the effectiveness of secondary live event ticket sales price caps in other countries.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.

Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.

We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

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 a secondary live event ticket sales price cap on levels of tourism.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.

Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.

We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many consultations his Department plans to hold on the Employment Rights Bill prior to its implementation.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Twenty-six consultations are currently planned to deliver the Employment Rights Bill and commitments made in the Implementing the Employment Rights Bill publication, across relevant Government departments. Five have already concluded and six are currently live.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June to Question 58286 on Trade Agreements: USA, if he will publish further detail on the quota system with respect to small volume manufacturers.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The preferential rate of 10% on UK-manufactured cars being exported to the US went live on 30 June. For 2025, there is a pro-rata quantity of 65,205 that can access the 10% tariff. From 1 January next year, the quota will be administered on a quarterly basis, this will give companies who make to order the flexibility to make better use of the quota.

We agreed with the US that we can review the quota model. We have consulted with industry and are looking carefully at whether there are alternative quota arrangements that could better support UK exporters. We will provide further detail in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he will publish guidance for Businesses on the application of the a.) Transition Relief Scheme, b.) Transition Relief Supplement, and c.) Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a business rates Transitional Relief, Transitional Relief Supplement and Supporting Small Business Relief. Regulations providing for the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Transitional Relief Supplement must be made by 31 January 2026 and will be laid in the coming weeks.

The Government will publish guidance for local authorities on the administration of the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026/27 billing cycle.

The Government has provided information on the Transitional and Supporting Small Business Reliefs that will apply from 1 April 2026 on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's publication entitled DBT: Workforce management information October 2025, for what purpose the Department's non-payroll staff consultancy costs increased to £4,345,742.86 for October 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Spend on Consultancy does vary month to month dependent upon which projects are underway through the year. An even spread is not expected. While consultancy costs for October 2025 are broadly in line with July and August 2025, they do appear as being significantly above those in September 2025. However, in September 2025, a correction exercise was undertaken whereby costs were removed and correctly reclassified having the effect of artificially lowering the September consultancy costs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will review the dates set out in the Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap to account for the time taken for the Bill's passage.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There will be several phases of delivery following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill. For many measures, Government will consult on the detail of policy and implementation. As set out in the Implementation Roadmap, we will provide more detail on these policies and our timelines for implementation following consultation, with a clear commitment that we aim to work at pace to deliver these benefits to millions of working people.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November so that that the formula for the calculation of Transitional Relief calculates 2025-26 BL as A multiplied by M minus RHL relief where applicable.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a Transitional Relief Scheme and a Supporting Small Business Relief scheme – both of which help ratepayers that are seeing significant bill increases as a result of the 2026 business rates revaluation.

The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayer losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

As is made clear in paragraph 8(b) of the Annex to the Business Rates Information Letter issued on 26 November, the Base Liability (BL) within the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme will reflect any Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief or 2025/26 Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief applicable at 31/3/26.