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 promote ethical business practices.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has a range of measures in place to promote ethical business practices. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on addressing human rights abuses, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review is objective and evidence‑based, examining both existing policies and potential alternative approaches. We will update the House when the review is complete.
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 support exists for family-run businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is committed to supporting all small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including family-run businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive support package in a generation.
The plan features the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance for start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets, as well as boosting Digital and AI Adoption.
The Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support at any stage of their growth journey, while Go Succeed provides expert advice for businesses in Northern Ireland.
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 support small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting new digital technologies.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt digital technologies and boost productivity.
We are implementing the recommendations of the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce, including running local digital adoption pilots to test what support works best, bringing industry together at roundtables with No.10 to collaboratively deliver SME support, as well as linking up with the Business Growth Service to improve SME access to existing support.
We will be publishing an update on progress against the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce recommendations in the Spring.
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 his Department is taking to encourage investment in high-technology manufacturing across the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan published last June set out how we are supporting UK manufacturers to grow and thrive. Commitments include up to £4.3 billion funding for frontier manufacturing sectors through programmes such as DRIVE35, Aerospace Technology Institute and the Battery Innovation Programme, as well as £4 billion growth capital available from the British Business Bank and £27.8 billion from the National Wealth Fund to help manufacturing business access the finance they need to invest and expand. We have also expanded our Office for Investment, targeting investors in high growth potential sectors including advanced manufacturing.
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 his Department is taking to help encourage investment in high-technology manufacturing.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan published last June set out how we are supporting UK manufacturers to grow and thrive. Commitments include up to £4.3 billion funding for frontier manufacturing sectors through programmes such as DRIVE35, Aerospace Technology Institute and the Battery Innovation Programme, as well as £4 billion growth capital available from the British Business Bank and £27.8 billion from the National Wealth Fund to help manufacturing business access the finance they need to invest and expand. We have also expanded our Office for Investment, targeting investors in high growth potential sectors including advanced manufacturing.
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 discussions he has had with industry representatives on reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade engages regularly stakeholders, businesses and their representative organisations to identify regulatory burdens. Last year we launched a business questionnaire ‘Unlocking Business: reform driven by you’ which gathered feedback from businesses, including small businesses, to identify outdated, duplicative and disproportionate regulations and regulatory practices.
In November 2025, officials held 27 roundtables with businesses in all four nations of the UK to identify regulatory barriers to growth. Findings from these efforts will be used to inform our Regulation for Growth programme and we will continue our engagement programme to uncover where we can further reduce burdens.
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 benefits of strengthening trade relationships with Commonwealth countries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is committed to working with Commonwealth partners and institutions to further strengthen trade and investment. Through engagement at Commonwealth meetings, the UK has worked with partners to promote sustainable growth, resilience, and a strong, rules‑based international trading system.
The UK already has a strong trading relationship with Australia, New Zealand and India through FTAs that businesses and communities in the UK and the Commonwealth benefit from.
The UK also strengthens its trading relationship with the Commonwealth’s Small Island Developing States’ small businesses, increasing investment opportunities through the Commonwealth Investment Network – of which the UK is the sole funder.
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 his Department is taking to promote exports from small and medium-sized businesses to emerging markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our Trade Strategy, Industrial Strategy, and Small Business Plan drive export-led growth — giving small and medium-sized businesses across the UK the policies, support, and services they need to compete globally.
For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service – designed to help businesses across the UK start, scale, and succeed globally. From tailored market advice and free Business Academy training to UK Export Finance, DBT is making it easier for businesses to navigate global markets, seize opportunities, and build resilience.
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 support the hospitality, pub and food to go sectors to remain in business.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting pubs and the wider hospitality sector, which is why we have taken decisive action. We recently announced an additional 15% cut for pubs on top of the permanent reduction in the business rates multiplier for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties.
We recognise that revaluation has increased bills for some businesses, which is why we are providing £4.3 billion over three years to protect ratepayers from sharp rises. We are also launching a review of how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates.
Alongside this, we have introduced the first National Licensing Policy Framework, expanded temporary event permissions, doubled the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million, and will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year to help reinvigorate our communities.
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 his Department is taking to support local pubs.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the significant role hospitality businesses, including local pubs, play in driving economic growth, employment and community cohesion across the UK. That is why we are offering targeted support for the sector.
We have permanently lowered tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit. To support with any bill increases due to rateable value changes, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years.
The Chancellor also announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of the budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.