Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what his Department is doing to ensure manufacturing businesses have access to high strength alloys in the context of a change to steel import tariffs.
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 recognises the importance of high strength alloys and other specialist steel products to UK manufacturing. The steel trade measure is designed to protect the long-term viability of UK steelmaking and supply chain resilience, while ensuring continued access to essential imports.
The measure applies only to steel categories that can be made in the UK. In some instances, technical constraints mean that some product codes cover both UK-produced and non-UK-produced grades and sizes. In these cases, quotas have been sized accordingly. We continue to engage closely with businesses and will review the measure after 12 months.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
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 steel goods manufacture being offshored on the cost of goods manufactured in the UK.
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 recognises that a strong domestic steel sector and a competitive manufacturing base depend on one another and our approach seeks to support both.
We are closely monitoring impacts across the supply chain, including on downstream manufacturers and trade flows, and we will continue to hear from businesses on the impact of the measure. We will review it after 12 months to ensure it remains effective and the balance is right for both producers and downstream users. Additionally, Explanatory Memoranda to the legislation that implemented the measure were published setting out the expected impacts on different sectors and businesses across the supply chain.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the level of availability of steel grades subject to import tariffs but not manufactured by UK steel mills.
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 steel trade measure applies only to product categories that can be made in the UK. In some instances, technical constraints mean that some product codes cover both UK-produced and non-UK-produced grades and sizes. In these cases, quotas have been sized accordingly.
We have engaged extensively with UK industry, including through a Call for Evidence in 2025 and extensive official and ministerial engagement across the steel supply chain. We are closely monitoring the implementation of the trade measure, continuing to engage with businesses and will review the full measure after 12 months.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes in level of tariff-free steel import quotas from 1 July 2026 on trends in the level of costs to British manufacturing businesses.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has engaged extensively with manufacturers and wider industry to inform the design of the new steel trade measure, including through ongoing discussions and a Call for Evidence in 2025.
The policy has been developed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains. We have set quota levels to reflect the specific needs of the UK steel sector, calibrated against the UK’s production capability and demand levels.
The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons. Where this is the case, quotas have been designed to allow for sufficient imports to ensure these goods continue to be available to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs.
We will keep the measure under review, including a review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the proposed change in imported steel tariffs above quota limits from 1 July 2026 on manufacturing businesses.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has engaged extensively with manufacturers and wider industry to inform the design of the new steel trade measure, including through ongoing discussions and a Call for Evidence in 2025.
The policy has been developed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains. We have set quota levels to reflect the specific needs of the UK steel sector, calibrated against the UK’s production capability and demand levels.
The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons. Where this is the case, quotas have been designed to allow for sufficient imports to ensure these goods continue to be available to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs.
We will keep the measure under review, including a review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the level of availability of specialist steel grades that are cannot be produced domestically following proposed changes in the rate for non-tariff-rate quota imported steel from 1 July 2026 on the level of risk to supply chains.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has engaged extensively with manufacturers and wider industry to inform the design of the new steel trade measure, including through ongoing discussions and a Call for Evidence in 2025.
The policy has been developed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains. We have set quota levels to reflect the specific needs of the UK steel sector, calibrated against the UK’s production capability and demand levels.
The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons. Where this is the case, quotas have been designed to allow for sufficient imports to ensure these goods continue to be available to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs.
We will keep the measure under review, including a review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consultation he has held with manufacturers on proposed changes to steel quotas and tariffs from 1 July 2026.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has engaged extensively with manufacturers and wider industry to inform the design of the new steel trade measure, including through ongoing discussions and a Call for Evidence in 2025.
The policy has been developed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains. We have set quota levels to reflect the specific needs of the UK steel sector, calibrated against the UK’s production capability and demand levels.
The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons. Where this is the case, quotas have been designed to allow for sufficient imports to ensure these goods continue to be available to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs.
We will keep the measure under review, including a review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many responses were received to the consultation on trade union right of access; and whether he plans to publish analysis of those responses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Consultation on trade union right of access received a total of 1612 responses. Policy officials are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation, and the government will publish a formal response in due course detailing our analysis.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) employment rights and (b) income security of self-employed workers in the healthcare sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is committed to strengthening protections for the self-employed, benefitting those in healthcare, including a new right to a written contract, and extension of health and safety and blacklisting protections. The parental leave and pay review will consider whether support meets the needs of self-employed parents. The Non-Disclosure Agreements measure in the Employment Rights Bill includes a power to apply the measure beyond the standard definitions of employee and worker.
We will also take forward the most significant legislative reforms to tackle late payments in over 25 years, helping ensure that the self-employed are paid on time.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that postal workers and trade unions are consulted on reforms to the Universal Service Obligation.
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)
On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced its decision on its review of the universal service obligation. This involved a consultation to which the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and Unite CMA responded.
The government is aware that Royal Mail's management and the new owners are in discussion with the CWU and encourages both parties to continue their constructive engagement to agree the best approach to reform that supports workers, and delivers for customers and secures the long-term financial sustainability of the universal postal service.