Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what key performance indicators his Department plans to use to measure the success of the Office for Investment; and how these differ from key performance indicators outlined at the launch of the Office.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Office for Investment (OfI) is focusing on building and converting a pipeline of significant investments opportunities, delivering economic growth and strategic government priorities. This was also the focus of the OfI when originally launched in 2020 but there is now a greater expectation on the number of significant opportunities that will be supported.

As demonstrated in the DBT Inward Investment Results 2024-25, DBT and OfI measure and report on several aspects of investments supported by the government’s investment promotion service including Gross Value Add (GVA) and jobs created outside of London and the South East.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-US trade deal on financial services.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The US is our single largest financial services trading partner and relations are strong. As hosts of the top two global financial hubs, both nations benefit from deep, global financial markets and strong trade ties.

The General Terms for the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal agreed on 8 May confirm that we will negotiate digital trade provisions that include financial services. The General Terms can be found here. However these General Terms are only the first step in our negotiations on a wider economic deal.

The Government will provide further updates as appropriate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the fiscal impact of the US-UK trade deal.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 8 May 2025, the Prime Minister and the President concluded a landmark economic deal between the United Kingdom and the United States. The deal was defined in the General Terms for the Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD). On 16 June, the Prime Minister and the President agreed further progress towards that goal and the initial implementation of commitments.

The Office for Budget Responsibility is the government's official forecaster responsible for assessing the UK economic and fiscal outlook. The OBR will publish its next official forecast in the Autumn.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement on his Department.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) worked closely with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and other relevant departments to ensure that the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) supports the UK’s strategic objectives in science, technology, and innovation. The FTA will complement and bolster ongoing cooperation with India on science and technology through the Science and Innovation Council and the Technology Security Initiative.

The FTA includes an innovation chapter, which will allow the UK and India to enhance existing collaboration in research and development. The digital trade chapter will also drive innovation and support emerging technologies through UK-India collaboration, maximising the benefits to both, including through trade. The telecommunications chapter will support fair competition, market access, and regulatory cooperation within the telecommunications sector. A full impact assessment of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement will be published at signature.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether conditions were attached to the funding provided to British Steel to ensure (a) value for money and (b) long term sustainability.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Funding is provided to British Steel under the provisions of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act. This funding is supported by wider powers under the Act to ensure it results in the safe and continued operation of steelmaking. All funding released to British Steel is reviewed and approved in advance, and is subject to the usual value-for-money considerations. The intervention is a temporary measure and work is continuing to determine the best long-term sustainable future for the site.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement on his Department.

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

The UK and Republic of India concluded talks on their free trade agreement (FTA) on 6 May.

The FTA includes a standalone environment chapter that supports the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission, transition to Net Zero and climate goals. It promotes trade in green goods needed to deliver clean power and could boost UK clean energy exports, as well as strengthening cooperation on clean energy. It reaffirms commitments to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement and recognises the right of the UK to regulate in pursuit of our ambitious climate and environment goals. Finally, the FTA will commit both countries to strive to uphold strong levels of environmental protection, and to not waive their environmental laws to encourage bilateral trade or investment.

The Department for Business and Trade will publish a formal Impact Assessment of the UK-India FTA in due course. This will provide estimates of the economic impacts of a trade deal with India, including estimates of the sectoral, regional and environmental impacts.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 and the £94 million announced to save the Scunthorpe plant and British Steel, how much further funding has been provided to British Steel since this announcement; and whether that funding was in the form of (a) grants, (b) loans or (c) guarantees.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Funding of approximately £130m in total has been provided to British Steel to ensure continued operation of the blast furnaces.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Within a year of coming into government, we have secured three new trade deals with India, the EU and the US. Our Trade Strategy is unambiguous in pursuing quicker, more practical deals that deliver a real impact for Welsh businesses. That is why we have prioritised deals with Wales’s largest markets, including the US as our single largest country of destination with over 1000 businesses exporting from Wales.

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 45,000 people across Wales.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 2.4 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans, published on 11 June 2025, what the sickness absence rate was for NHS entities included in the NHS Productivity Plan as a percentage in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Sickness absence rates are published monthly and are available on the NHS England Digital website, at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-sickness-absence-rates

The NHS Productivity Plan referenced includes all National Health Service hospital and community health services (HCHS), which is the same remit as the published sickness absence rates.

The following table shows the average annual sickness absence rates across all HCHS in England for the last five financial years for which full-year data is available:

There are some indications that sickness absence across the economy remained high throughout 2023/24 and 2024/25, though data for individual sectors of the economy is limited. Sickness absence in the NHS, however, is lower at present compared to the heights of 2022/23.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade of 1 July 2025 in the debate on Hospitality Sector, Official Report, column 81WH, if he will publish reports produced by the licencing taskforce.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The taskforce was co-chaired by Nick Mackenzie, Chair of the British Beer & Pub Association and CEO of Greene King, one of the UK’s leading pub retailers and brewers, and I as Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports. Other members include industry representatives and experts, police and local authority representatives. It concluded on 23 March 2025 and provided Government with ten key licensing recommendations to consider.

Government is currently in the process of reviewing these recommendations and will respond in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade of 1 July 2025 in the debate on Hospitality Sector, Official Report, column 81WH, what the membership of the licensing taskforce is.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Taskforce Terms of Reference and membership is published: Terms of Reference and taskforce member list - GOV.UK

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on Scotland.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Scotland Office will continue to work with the sector to understand the impacts, including the Scotch Whisky Industry.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

The Scotland Office will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade of 1 July 2025 in the debate on Hospitality Sector, Official Report, column 81WH, when he plans to make an announcement on his Department’s response to the licensing taskforce's recent report.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade is working across Government to review the recommendations put forward in the licensing taskforce report. This review is currently being finalised, we plan to publish the report alongside the Government’s response this summer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the value was of his Department's activities which (a) lapsed and (b)were cancelled as a result of the 2025 zero-based budget review.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT conducted a comprehensive zero-based review as part of SR25 to identify a range of savings and efficiencies, including agreeing bespoke technical efficiency targets and delivery plans for day-today budgets with the Office for Value or Money. Through this work, DBT has committed to meeting the 5% savings and efficiencies target.

The department is now setting multi-year budgets, through which final decisions will be made on any activities which will be cancelled, or allowed to lapse.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what programmes in his Department were not (a) renewed and (b) cancelled as a result of the zero-based budget review.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT conducted a comprehensive zero-based review as part of SR25 to identify a range of savings and efficiencies, including agreeing bespoke technical efficiency targets and delivery plans for day-today budgets with the Office for Value or Money. Through this work, DBT has committed to meeting the 5% savings and efficiencies target.

The department is now setting multi-year budgets, through which final decisions will be made on any activities which will be cancelled, or allowed to lapse.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what new Government contracts have been awarded to Fujitsu since 5 July 2024; and what the value was of those contracts.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – and it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has an existing customer relationship with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities. Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in correspondence deposited in the Houses of Parliament libraries on 4 March 2024 (DEP2024-0247).

Details of public sector awards are publicly available on Contracts Finder & Find a Tender services. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender provide details of twelve new Fujitsu contracts since July 2024. These awards are compliant with Fujitsu's commitment not to bid for work with new customers. The majority are for services already provided by Fujitsu and were put in place as a direct award to ensure continuity of services whilst competitive procurements are being set up.

The Government is determined to hold those responsible for the Horizon scandal to account, and will continue to make rapid progress on compensation and redress. Fujitsu’s role in Horizon is one of the issues which is being reviewed by Sir Wyn Williams’s statutory inquiry. The Cabinet Office has been monitoring the situation, in addition to continuing its usual monitoring of Fujitsu as a strategic supplier. The Government will carefully consider volume 1 of the report, to be published on 8 July, which is limited in scope. Once the inquiry establishes the full facts, we will review its final report and consider any further action, as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department stands ready to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

For the first time ever, this deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef to the US market. This is a major opportunity for NI farmers to sell their high quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.

The Government remains focused on making sure businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. We are continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on his Department.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 16 June, this Government announced progress towards the implementation of the UK-US trade deal. This now includes tariff exemptions on UK aerospace and automobile industries. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's British Chambers of Commerce speech in March 2025, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office serves as the international delivery arm of this Government's mission for growth. The US-UK deal provides the foundation for a new reciprocal trading partnership with our single largest trading partner which will support our efforts to protect UK jobs, open market access and strengthen co-operation on economic security with the US. I recently hosted excellent talks in this regard for example with the Governor of Virgina and a roundtable of UK businesses.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

We are encouraged by the references in the Economic Prosperity Deal to potential future agreements to increase digital and services trade between the United States and the United Kingdom. My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on his Department.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy. The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on his Department.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The landmark detail concluded with the US in May this year protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

The Ministry of Defence will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office always works closely with the Department for Business and Trade to assess the potential impact of trade agreements.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement on his Department.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding has been allocated to the Post Office in each year of the 2025 Spending Review period.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The settlement following the Spending Review provides investment of over £500 million over the Parliament to modernise the Post Office, including £86 million from the Transformation Fund. This will allow the Post Office to implement its Strategic Transformation Plan, including the replacement of the legacy Horizon computer system, and will put the Post Office and the crucial services its network provides on a more sustainable footing.

The Spending Review settlement also ensures the Department will have maximum capacity and flexibility to provide full redress to the victims of the Post Office Horizon IT Scandal as quickly as possible. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government set aside £1.8 billion of funding for redress payments from 2024-25 in addition to around £200 million that had already been distributed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to continue the children's hospice grant beyond March 2026.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government wants a society where every child receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the important contribution that children and young people’s hospices make to care and support for children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.

NHS England has provided £26 million in revenue funding for children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26, through what was, until recently, known as the Children and Young people’s Hospice Grant.

Integrated care boards will once again administer the funding to their respective children and young people’s hospices on behalf of NHS England. The majority of children and young people’s hospices should now have received their allocations, with the remaining few receiving theirs in the coming weeks.

Funding arrangements for 2026/27 will be confirmed in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK Export Finance expansion reaches small businesses.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Recognising the impact of the support it offers, the government recently increased UK Export Finance’s maximum commitment limit to £80 billion, enabling it to expand its finance support for UK businesses of all sizes.

In 2023 to 2024, 88% of the businesses UKEF directly supported were SMEs. Its most popular product was the General Export Facility, which helped businesses to access around £576 million in working capital support.

UKEF has an ambition to support over 1,000 SMEs by 2029 and will continue to innovate and launch new products, working with a wider range of banks and non-bank financial institutions to tailor the financing support that the UK’s SME exporters need.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help protect (a) jobs and (b) supply chains which are dependent on British Steel.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Steel is a priority for this Government. As shown with the passing of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act on 12 April, this Government will not hesitate to take unprecedented steps to safeguard the future of steelmaking in the UK, protecting jobs, national security and supply chains.

Since the legislation was passed on 12 April, we have acted round the clock to secure the raw materials needed to keep the blast furnaces operating safely at Scunthorpe. British Steel, the UK’s only manufacturer of rail, has secured a new £500 million long-term supply contract with Network Rail, and the statutory redundancy consultation initiated by British Steel’s owners, Jingye, has been cancelled, removing the immediate risk to 2,700 jobs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made on the potential impact of the accelerated Trade Strategy timetable on business planning.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government published its Trade Strategy on 26 June which was positively received by business. The Government will work closely with stakeholders on the implementation of the strategy, to ensure that resources are prioritised to deliver on key commitments such as opening new export and market opportunities and strengthening our trade defence capabilities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to paragraph 7 of the document entitled Implementing the Employment Rights Bill: Roadmap, published on 1 July 2025, what criteria his Department plans to use to determine which provisions of the Trade Union Act 2016 will be repealed (a) through secondary legislation and (b) upon Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Clause 156 of the Employment Rights Bill sets out the clauses of the Bill, which repeal various provisions of the Trade Union Act 2016, that will be repealed two months following Royal Assent. Commencement dates for remaining clauses that repeal provisions of the Trade Union Act 2016 will be provided for in secondary legislation. The commencement dates for these clauses will be confirmed in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the document entitled Implementing the Employment Rights Bill: Roadmap, published on 1 July 2025, whether his Department plans to publish a cost-benefit analysis of the phased implementation approach outlined in that document.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, given the current stage of policy development. We already intend to publish further analysis, both in the form of an Enactment Impact Assessment when the Bill secures Royal Assent and further assessments when we consult on proposed regulations, to meet our Better Regulation requirements

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. The government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

The department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what tariffs applied to steel exports to the United States of America on 9 July 2025.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Thanks to our trade deal with the US, the UK remains the only country to have avoided 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium. A 25% tariff continues to apply to UK steel exports. President Trump’s Executive Order on 3 June reconfirmed this will be removed once a US for UK quota is implemented, as per the Economic Prosperity Deal.

We are in constant dialogue with domestic steel and aluminium sectors. We will continue to work with the US to get this deal implemented as soon as possible and in industry's best interests – supporting industry and protecting jobs.

Found: Current membership Dame Meg Hillier (Labour; Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Chair) Dame Harriett Baldwin

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin; Rachel Blake; Chris

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin; Rachel Blake; Chris

Found: Current membership Dame Meg Hillier (Labour; Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Chair) Dame Harriett Baldwin

Found: Current membership Dame Meg Hillier (Labour; Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Chair) Dame Harriett Baldwin

Found: Q97 Dame Harriett Baldwin: Oh, you are as well. Fantastic.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin; Rachel Blake; Bobby

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin; Rachel Blake; Bobby

Found: called_NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett Baldwin