Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what specific steps his Department is taking to tackle non-tariff barriers currently facing SMEs in the automotive sector that export to the United States.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are committed to supporting UK businesses to trade internationally. In May, under the General Terms of the Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota, the first and only country to do so - saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually and delivering on our Plan for Change.

We are now continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will also look at addressing specific tariff and non-tariff barriers, and unlocking new commercial opportunities that benefit both nations - including SMEs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what is the Department's policy on the use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms in future free trade agreements.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK’s International Investment Agreements aim to enhance opportunities for UK businesses to expand overseas, with commitments that seek to limit the barriers they face, make it easier to navigate local rules, and ensure investments are treated lawfully, and protected against unfair or arbitrary action.

The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate and build strong trade and investment relationships.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his timetable is for the (a) consultation on and (b) implementation of the compensation scheme for steel undertakings referenced in his statement of 10 December 2025.

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

The Government is engaging with Jingye, the owners of British Steel, to find a pragmatic path forward for the future of the company. The Government wishes to make further progress in those discussions before introducing such a scheme. The Government does not plan to consult on the scheme since the directions in the Act have been applied to only one company.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish the Steel Strategy before the expiry of the current steel safeguards in 2026.

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

The Government will publish the steel strategy in early 2026, before the expiry of the current steel safeguard in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of the £274 million funding provided to British Steel has been used to settle outstanding invoices owed to small and medium-sized enterprises in the supply chain; and what estimate he has made of the remaining value of unpaid invoices to such businesses.

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

Revenue generated from sales funds the majority of British Steel's operating costs, with additional funding provided to British Steel under the provisions of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to enable safe operation of its blast furnaces and related steel works. British Steel have confirmed it cannot currently disaggregate payments or invoices by SME status; however, all invoices are processed in line with contractual payment terms.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what date his Department submitted the Impact Assessment relating to the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 to the Regulatory Policy Committee for review.

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

The request for formal review of the Impact Assessment was submitted on 3 November 2025. The Regulatory Policy Committee responded earlier this week, and the final Impact Assessment will be published in January 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on negotiations towards a UK–Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement; and what issues remain outstanding.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are at an advanced stage with a focus on getting a deal that supports economic growth and delivers real value to business. Through ministerial and official-led engagement, we have made significant progress across a wide range of chapters. Outcomes in areas such as goods, services, investment and sustainability remain under active negotiation, and we are working closely with our GCC counterparts to resolve outstanding issues.

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 expand UK participation in global supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.

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

DBT is strengthening UK participation in global critical mineral supply chains by leveraging domestic processing and recycling capabilities, expanding international partnerships through trade agreements and financing tools, and mobilising investment to diversify sources and build resilience.

As part of the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technologies sector plan, the Government is prioritising measures to enhance national security and strengthen semiconductor supply chain resilience, while positioning the UK as a trusted global partner. We work with international partners through initiatives such as the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network and the G7 Point of Contact Group on Semiconductors to develop shared approaches and solutions that improve global supply chain resilience.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the estimated impact of the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the competitiveness of UK steel exports.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From 1 January 2027, the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will apply to specific goods imported from the aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, and iron & steel sectors.

The UK CBAM is designed to address the risk of carbon leakage and to ensure that CBAM goods which are imported from overseas face a comparable carbon price to what is paid by manufacturers producing the same goods in the UK.

The UK CBAM does not apply to UK exports. Therefore, the UK CBAM is not expected to have an impact on the competitiveness of UK steel exports.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 96648, if she will set a target date for announcing the split between capital and revenue funding.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The detailed split of the Floods budget into resource and capital budgets is agreed during departmental business planning.

Found: published on 16 December 2025 Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin