Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 impact of a reduction of steel import quotas and increase in above-quota import tariffs on the domestic automotive industry.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply for downstream users.
Quotas have been designed with the aim of allowing for sufficient imports to ensure continued availability of goods to UK downstream users, including the automotive sector, without unnecessary additional costs. The increased tariff will apply only once import quotas have been filled.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 merits of harmonising import duties on foreign manufactured diesel and zero-emission buses.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In setting tariffs, the Government considers different factors such as the interests of UK consumers, producers, productivity, competitiveness, and external trade, as well as other Government objectives. Tariffs for zero-emission buses are set at 10%. This is the maximum applied tariff permitted for zero-emission buses under our goods schedule at the WTO.
As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely. Feedback can be submitted on specific tariff lines via the UKGT feedback form available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tariffs-on-goods-imported-into-the-uk
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people in Scotland are employed in sectors eligible for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Based on the latest available employment data, over 64,000 people in Scotland are employed in sectors with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes that are eligible for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Eligibility under the scheme will be based on both SIC codes to identify eligible manufacturing sectors and Harmonised System (HS) codes to confirm eligible products. Employment figures are therefore indicative and not all businesses within an eligible SIC code will necessarily qualify for support.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the latest date is a company must have been incorporated on to be eligible for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government can confirm that whilst there is no explicit latest date at which a company must have been incorporated to be eligible for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, companies will be required to provide 6 months of historic electricity consumption data at the point at which they apply. This is to enable the Department to accurately assess a company’s eligibility for the scheme. Further detail on application timing is set out in the Government’s current consultation on scheme delivery. The Government will provide more guidance for businesses over the Summer.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 protect workers’ terms and conditions including through the implementation of short-time working arrangements in the construction industry.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Construction Industry Working Rule Agreement, collectively negotiated between employer organisations and trade unions to establish agreed terms and conditions, is a matter for the industry. This agreement provides a consistent framework for fair treatment of workers across the sector, supporting stability and clarity for both employers and employees.
Looking ahead, the Employment Rights Bill will modernise our employment rights legislation. It will provide a new baseline of security for workers including through day one protection from unfair dismissal, increasing protection from sexual harassment, strengthening Statutory Sick Pay and ending exploitative zero hours contacts and tackling fire and rehire.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 Chinese ownership of critical transport infrastructure on national security.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Transport infrastructure is an integral part of the UK economy, moving people, goods and enabling economic growth, as recognised in the Industrial Strategy. The security of the sector is of the upmost importance to the government.
Transport is one of the 17 key sectors in the National Security and Investment Act (NSIA). The government has the power to assess, and intervene in, investments in the UK's key transport infrastructure for national security risks. The NSIA is actor agnostic and allows the government to act regardless of an entity's nationality. Each transaction is taken on its own merit.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of support to reduce industrial electricity costs on job (a) creation and (b) retention in energy-intensive manufacturing sectors in Scotland.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government delivers electricity cost relief schemes to provide support to businesses in energy intensive sectors across the country, including businesses in Scotland, to remain competitive and protect thousands of well paid, British jobs. The British Industry Supercharger cuts electricity costs for around 550 energy intensive businesses, and the Government recently confirmed an uplift in relief through its Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90%. This will further reduce the gap in electricity prices between the UK and other countries. Additionally, from 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut electricity costs for even more businesses.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many applications his Department has made to restore a company to the register under section 1029(2)(a) of the Companies Act 2006 since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State made no applications to court for the restoration of a company pursuant to s.1029 of the Companies Act 2006 during the period in question. Within that period, in the context of a petition to wind up a company pursuant to s.124A of the Insolvency Act 1986, the Secretary of State did however request, and was granted, leave of the court to restore one company.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in the Scottish government on the potential impact of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 on the bus manufacturing industry.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Subsidy Control Act 2022 enables public authorities to deliver targeted and timely interventions to address local needs and drive economic growth while minimising harm to competition within the UK. It also implements the UK’s international commitments, including those in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and World Trade Organization rules.
The UK and Scottish Governments established a joint taskforce in June to consider the situation at Alexander Dennis, and ministers from both Governments have been in correspondence on the matter since then.
The Scottish Government recently announced it would provide additional subsidy to Alexander Dennis for a furlough scheme.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 merits of introducing a ban on employer deductions for tipped workers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 ensures all tips, gratuities and service charges must be passed on to staff in full – except for permitted deductions like tax.
It is estimated this ban on employer deductions ensures workers receive around £200 million worth of tips each year that was previously retained by employers. A statutory code of practice was published to support employers on fair and transparent distribution of tips and ensure the requirements are followed.
This Government will go further, making it mandatory for employers to consult with workers at their place of business when developing their tipping policies.