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 make it his policy to seek closer trade relations between the Northern Ireland agri-food market and the US.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
It already is our policy. Through negotiations on the Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), the UK enjoys preferential trading terms with the US, supporting thousands of jobs and protecting key industries across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.
As of 1 January 2026, UK farmers can, for the first time, benefit from an exclusive 13,000 tonne quota for beef export to the US. In April, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK whisky, exports to the US are worth around £1bn each year.
Discussions on the EPD are ongoing, and we continue to engage with Northern Ireland counterparts to ensure the deal delivers for Northern Ireland business.
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 assessment he has made of opportunities for UK businesses in emerging markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Business and Trade is supporting businesses with the highest-growth potential and targeting markets identified in the Industrial and Trade Strategies as having significant economic opportunity.
Our Free Trade Agreements help businesses compete globally through tariff reductions and improved market access, including our landmark deal with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, due to enter into force on 15 July.
The Business Growth Service is helping businesses start, scale and succeed internationally. From tailored market advice and free Business Academy training to UK Export Finance, we are making it easier for firms 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 support is available to British entrepreneurs seeking to establish businesses in Africa and Asia.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Business and Trade supports UK businesses to export and grow in markets worldwide, including Africa and Asia. Through the Business Growth Service, entrepreneurs can access tailored market advice, free Business Academy training and UK Export Finance support. International Markets Advisers also provide market intelligence, sector insight and in-country support through the Export Support Service.
DBT helps businesses benefit from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the UK-India FTA which will enter into force on 15 July, by delivering a dedicated utilisation programme to raise awareness and help firms understand key provisions and opportunities through practical and informative guides, and signposting to further support through business.gov.uk.
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 estimate he has made of the level of representation of women in senior leadership positions across the UK private and public sectors.
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 is committed to improving women’s representation in senior leadership positions. Through the FTSE Women Leaders Review, we support a voluntary, business-led approach to increasing women’s representation. The Review’s 2025 report shows that women now hold 43% of board positions and 36% of leadership roles across the FTSE 350. More work is needed in the most senior executive roles, including CEO and Chair positions, and the Government will continue to support this agenda for better representation.
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 his Department has made of the potential impact of small businesses on economic growth.
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)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 5.7 million businesses, representing over 99.9% of the business population, and make a substantial contribution to UK economic activity. They generate around 51% of UK private sector turnover (£2.8 trillion) and employ around 16.9 million people, equivalent to 60% of private sector jobs.
DBT analysis suggests that accelerating SME growth by just 1 percentage point a year could deliver £320 billion to the UK economy by 2030.
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 encourage investment in businesses located in economically disadvantaged regions.
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)
84% of businesses supported by the British Business Bank were outside London in 2024/25. The expected boost to Gross Value Added expected from those businesses supported in 2024/25 is more than £100 million in every UK nation and region.
Their £1.6 billion Nations and Regions Investment Funds programme provides debt and equity finance to businesses across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and three regions of England that would otherwise struggle to get it. The programme is designed to ensure funds are distributed across the whole area, not just finance hotspots.
Two new funds are due to launch later this year, in South and East England.
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 ensure compliance with employment rights in the gig economy.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The government established the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026, which will deliver a much-needed upgrade to employment rights enforcement. It brings enforcement functions of three predecessor bodies together into one place, so employment rights are enforced more effectively and efficiently. In time, it will also enforce additional rights.
All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights they are entitled to, including those in the gig economy.
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, how many workers have been impacted by enforcement actions related to breaches of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 in the last year.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
HMRC enforces National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulations on behalf of the Fair Work Agency (FWA), through both responding to worker complaints, and targeted enforcement activity.
The latest enforcement and compliance report (2025) shows that in 2024-2025 HMRC identified over 25,000 workers who were underpaid, recovering around £5.8 million in arrears. Since the NMW came into effect in 1999, HMRC has overseen the repayment of £200 million to more than 1.5 million workers.
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 his Department has made of the potential impact of new trade agreements on manufacturing exports.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department publishes analysis to assess the potential impacts of new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in advance of negotiations. On conclusion of negotiations, the Department publishes full impact assessments. The analysis in these publications covers a number of areas, including the potential impacts on the UK’s regions and nations as well as on sectors, such as manufacturing. I am glad to say that the recently concluded FTA with the GCC aligns closely with our Industrial Strategy and confidently expect it will lead to increased manufacturing exports.
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 business representatives on export opportunities following the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State and Ministers regularly engage with a wide range of business representatives to discuss export opportunities. These discussions take place through formal stakeholder forums, sector roundtables, and bilateral meetings, and help inform our trade and export support priorities. We continue to work closely with businesses of all sizes to help them take advantage of opportunities arising from new trade deals, including the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and the ever-growing Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), improved EU cooperation, and wider global markets, supported by our Trade Strategy, and export support services.