Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what was the breakdown by constituency in the past two years of assistance offered to businesses by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland.
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 British Business Bank does not specifically collect constituency data for businesses supported by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland. As of December 2025, the British Business Bank announced that in the two years since its launch, the £70 million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland has directly invested £30 million into local firms. In addition, these investments into smaller businesses on differing stages of their growth journey have crowded in co-investment of around £45 million, bringing the total investment level to over £75 million.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will help ensure that Departmental officials undertake to meet with Members from Northern Ireland following requests for such a meeting regarding the steel tariffs issue.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Yes.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will he consult on introducing a statutory Minimum Expiry Period for gift cards offered by retailers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department asked the Law Commission to examine the protection given to consumer prepayments, including gift cards and vouchers, and consider whether such protections should be strengthened. The Law Commission concluded that that there was no need to introduce additional measures for gift cards and vouchers including in relation to expiry dates.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the creation of fake operatives posing as remote workers by North Korea.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Home Secretary on this issue.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
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 level of dependence of the hospitality industry on younger employees and those paid the National Living Wage.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Hospitality employs many young people - with ONS statistics reporting that around 42% of all hospitality workers are between the ages of 16-24 (2023). That is why, from April 2026, foundation apprenticeships will expand into hospitality, with up to £2,000 available for non‑levy‑paying SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16–24.
The Low Pay Commission reports that 24.6% of hospitality jobs in 2025 were paid at or close to the statutory minimum. This reflects combined statutory minimum‑wage exposure and does not provide NLW‑only estimates.
From 1 April 2026, the NLW will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 for eligible workers aged 21 and over.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to respond to the written correspondence from the hon. Member for East Londonderry dated 6 February 2026 on a Music Export Growth Scheme Application.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days, but in some instances it can take longer. The Department apologises for the delay and confirms that the response has now been issued.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Questions 112100 and 115340, what was the breakdown in each of the years specified in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
None in 2024 and 4 in 2025.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to announce an outcome of the consultation on the provision of statutory paid leave and job protection for parents of critically ill children by the summer recess.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
As set out in the terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, the government plans to consult this year. The consultation response will be published during the final phase of the review. This will be between autumn 2026 and winter 2026/27.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Question 112100 answered on 23 February 2026, if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers approved in both (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade approved 67 grant awards for the Music Export Growth Scheme in 2024 and 59 grant awards in 2025.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many applications were approved under the Music Export Growth Scheme from Northern Ireland in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Four.