Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with chip businesses on chip import tariffs.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting the UK’s semiconductor sector which is one of the frontier technologies identified under the Industrial Strategy Digital and Technologies Sector Plan.
During his time at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Secretary of State and his Department had regular engagements with the UK semiconductor industry.
As part of an ongoing analysis of potential import tariffs, both the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade are in close contact with companies in the sector in order to provide a measured and appropriate response should this be necessary.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what resources he is providing to Companies House to (a) detect and (b) prevent the use of fraudulent corporate structures for criminal activity.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government is committed to ensuring Companies House is fully resourced to fulfil its new functions. In May 2024, the incorporation fee and annual fee increased from £12 to £50, and £13 to £34 respectively. This funding, alongside £19m from the Economic Crime Levy, has provided additional resources across Companies House and the Insolvency Service to tackle economic crime.
Companies House has grown considerably since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 passed, increasing from around 1,400 to 2,142 staff. This will further increase in the coming months. Fees remain under review to ensure Companies House remains sufficiently resourced.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase job creation in the UK.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade outlined a clear mission: to support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and economic growth across the UK. Key departmental initiatives that support job creation include championing free trade agreements, securing foreign investment, supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to export, reforming regulations for economic growth, developing the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, and investing in growth sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. Since taking office, the Government has welcomed over £100 billion in investment announcements. And the latest ONS data shows that from June 2024 to March 2025 the number of jobs in the UK increased by around 384,000.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to help protect the steel industry.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Through measures announced in our Industrial Strategy, we are taking action to improve the competitiveness and growth potential for our steel sector.
This includes steps to make industrial electricity costs for UK businesses cheaper and accelerating grid connection timelines for new projects. We are leveraging the Government’s purchasing power to bolster domestic competition by streamlining and strengthening criteria for suppliers to contribute to these objectives in their bids and continuing to incentivise investment in CCUS and hydrogen.
This Industrial Strategy, together with the Steel Strategy to be published later in the year, will ensure that this Government has a coordinated response to sector challenges and to drive new investments.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress his Department has made on developing the upcoming industrial strategy.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government published “The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy” on 23 June 2025. The document has been laid before Parliament and published online at www.gov.uk/industrialstrategy
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the number of workers who have been underpaid in the last 12 months.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data suggests that 371,000 employee jobs were underpaid the National Minimum Wage (NMW) / National Living Wage (NLW) in April 2024. This represents approximately 1.3% of the total number of employee jobs: Low and high pay in the UK - Office for National Statistics.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 US tariffs on the UK aerospace sector.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The US has committed to reducing tariffs on UK aerospace goods such as engines and similar aircraft parts from the general 10% tariff being applied to all other countries, to 0% - which is expected to come into force by the end of the month. This means the UK is now the only country in the world to be exempt from the 10% on aerospace.
This deal is a win for the UK’s world-class aerospace sector which was facing additional 10% tariffs, helping make companies more competitive and allowing them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 US counterpart on the import of hormone-treated beef into the UK.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade engages regularly with the US. On 8 May, we announced a landmark economic deal with the US, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.
We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef - with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef will remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that any agricultural imports coming into the UK will meet the highest food standards.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on potential changes to steel tariffs.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade regularly engages with counterparts in other nations in relation to tariffs and the international trade of steel. On 8 May, this Government concluded a landmark economic deal with the US, where the US has committed to removing the 25% Section 232 tariffs on UK exporters by applying a quota system. Most recently, the Secretary of State has also discussed steel tariffs with his EU counterpart the European Commissioner for Trade within the context of the conclusion of the European Commission’s review of their Steel Safeguard.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will legislative steps to ensure job advertisements do not ask about political views.
Answered by Justin Madders
Employers should follow a fair process when recruiting. They must not discriminate, in terms of the Equality Act 2010, and they must comply with data protection legislation. Compliance involves being clear what information is collected about candidates and how it will be used for recruitment purposes; and collecting only the information that is relevant and necessary for recruitment.