Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of employment costs on recruitment in the manufacturing sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act, including sectoral assessments: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. Our analysis assesses the overall risk to employment as low.
The Government has also published impact assessments for National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage policy (NLW), including sectoral assessments. Evidence to date shows little or no significant impact on employment from past increases to the NLW and NMW.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN), published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, includes analysis of the impacts of employer National Insurance changes.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of forecast reductions in manufacturing employment in 2026 and 2027 on economic growth.
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)
Data from the Office for National Statistics show that manufacturing jobs have declined by around 6.1% since the most recent peak in Q4 2022, while over the same period manufacturing output (measured by gross value added) has increased by 4.5% in real terms. According to the latest comparison of independent forecasts collated and published by HM Treasury in September 2026, manufacturing output remains forecast to see growth in 2026 (median projected growth 0.7%) and, with projections improving in recent months, in 2027 (median projected growth 1.2%).
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2026 to Question 26359 on Iron and Steel: Wales, what information his Department holds on the total value of financial support provided to steel companies and projects in Wales through (a) direct government support and (b) the National Wealth Fund, both in total and separately.
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)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding his Department has provided to steel companies operating in Wales since the announcement of the Government's £2.5 billion funding to support the UK steel industry, excluding the separate £500 million grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot.
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)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to his Department's document entitled The UK steel strategy, published on 20 March 2026, if he will set out the total value of investments made by the National Wealth Fund in steel companies and projects based in Wales.
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)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much of the £2.5 billion funding announced to support the UK steel industry has been (a) allocated, (b) contractually committed and (c) paid to steel companies and projects based in Wales as of 12 October 2026.
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)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to publish a breakdown by nation of the funding in the steel sector this Parliament that has been (a) allocated, (b) committed and (c) disbursed.
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)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection legislation in relation to theatre ticket purchases where a production is advertised using the name, image and profile of a specific performer; and if he will take steps to ensure that consumers are entitled to (a) advance notification, (b) refunds and (c) compensation where that performer is unable to appear.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Consumers are protected by a strong framework of consumer legislation. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be provided as described and consumers may be entitled to remedies where this is not the case. Whether consumers are entitled to advance notification, or other remedies will depend on the circumstances, for example how the performance was advertised.
Consumers can seek free information on their rights through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or through its website.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much of the £2.5 billion Steel Fund has been spent within Wales to date.
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 providing up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, in addition to the £500m grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot. This is being delivered through a combination of direct support for steel companies and the National Wealth Fund.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is not running a competitive steel fund and has not sought or received applications from steel companies of this nature. Companies seeking investment can contact the National Wealth Fund.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, as of August 2026, how much of the £2.5 billion steel fund has been A) spent and/or B) allocated.
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 providing up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, in addition to the £500m grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot. This is being delivered through a combination of direct support for steel companies and the National Wealth Fund.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is not running a competitive steel fund and has not sought or received applications from steel companies of this nature. Companies seeking investment can contact the National Wealth Fund.