Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to keep the UK as a competitive place to invest in AI start-ups.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a competitive advantage in AI, with some of the world’s most innovative AI companies based here.
The government commissioned an Action Plan in July, led by Matt Clifford to identify how AI can drive economic growth and explore untapped AI opportunities. HMG will form a new “AI Opportunities Unit” to seize the benefits of AI. The Action Plan, to be published shortly, will consider key enablers such as the UK’s compute and broader infrastructure requirements by 2030, how this infrastructure is made available for start-ups and scale-ups and how to develop and attract top AI talent.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help protect jobs that could otherwise be replaced by increased use of artificial intelligence.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on (a) a free trade agreement and (b) reducing trade tariffs applicable to Scottish whiskey with India.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
At the G20 on 18 November, the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Modi to announce that the UK will relaunch trade talks in the new year with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Work is underway across government to prepare for negotiations. Our trade programme, including negotiations with India, is driven by stakeholder engagement, including with the Scotch Whisky Association.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with the Agent-General of (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) South Australia, (d) Tasmania, (e) Victoria, and (f) Western Australia.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is working in close partnership with Australia across a range of areas, most notably on the implementation and utilisation of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement. This engagement has not included meetings by the Secretary of State with any of the Agent-Generals in Australia.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Royal Mail adheres to the universal service obligation.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to monitor Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations.
Ofcom is currently investigating Royal Mail’s service standards in 2023-24 following its failure to meet its delivery obligations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 5919 on Financial Services: Liechtenstein, whether he has had any meetings with his Liechtenstein counterpart.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has not met with his Liechtenstein counterpart.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many companies have been reported to Companies House for using (a) names and addresses and (b) other personal information without consent when registering in the last year; and whether his Department has plans to require people seeking to register new companies to send Companies House proof of identity before (i) issuing a certificate of incorporation and (ii) publishing the company's details online.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
To the year ending 30 September 2024, Companies House received 28,933 reports related to the unauthorised use of addresses. No figure is available for personal information.
In future, all directors (and equivalents), persons with significant control and those filing information with Companies House will be required to undergo identity verification checks and proposed directors will need to complete these checks before a company is incorporated. The phased introduction of compulsory identity verification is due to begin by Autumn 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with his counterpart in Liechtenstein to discuss the exchange of financial services.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Officials at the Department for Business and Trade meet regularly with their counterparts in Liechtenstein to discuss how to increase trade under the UK-EEA/EFTA Free Trade Agreement, including at the annual Services, Investment and Digital sub-committee. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has not yet met with his counterpart in Liechtenstein to discuss financial services.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with the Agent General of (a) Ontario, (b) Quebec, and (c) Saskatchewan since taking his position.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has not met with the Agent General of Ontario, Quebec or Saskatchewan since taking his position. Canada is a valued partner for the UK and provincial level engagement is an important part of our bilateral relationship. Our trade relationship – worth £25.8bn in the year to quarter one 2024 – is underpinned by regular engagement, including at the provincial level.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to ensure that Crown dependencies are represented in trade negotiations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This government understands the Crown Dependencies ambition for coverage in UK trade agreements. We will continue to seek to represent the interests of the Crown Dependencies on UK trade negotiations, and we will not act on their behalf without prior consultation. The UK’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies should continue in a way that respects their autonomy as well as the UK's constitutional duties and international obligations.