Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate the Department has made of the number of small and medium sized businesses in Northumberland that will be eligible for the new cost-reduction support programmes announced in 2025 following the Willow Review.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in the transition to net zero. We are helping SMEs countrywide access sustainability benefits through initiatives such as the new Business Growth Service, the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) for decarbonisation advice, and the rollout of smart meters
Following the Willow Review, £200,000 has been allocated to enhance UKBCH and integrate it with the Business Growth Service. Additionally, £150,000 extra funding has been allocated to the North East Made Smarter Adoption programme this year, to provide Energy Efficiency grants for manufacturing SMEs. The network of local Growth Hubs, including North East Growth Hub, offer tailored support at any stage of a business's journey and can signpost to these new and improved offers.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate the Department has made of the number of small and medium businesses in Hexham constituency that will be eligible for the new cost-reduction support programmes announced in 2025 following the Willow Review.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in the transition to net zero. We are helping SMEs countrywide access sustainability benefits through initiatives such as the new Business Growth Service, the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) for decarbonisation advice, and the rollout of smart meters
Following the Willow Review, £200,000 has been allocated to enhance UKBCH and integrate it with the Business Growth Service. Additionally, £150,000 extra funding has been allocated to the North East Made Smarter Adoption programme this year, to provide Energy Efficiency grants for manufacturing SMEs. The network of local Growth Hubs, including North East Growth Hub, offer tailored support at any stage of a business's journey and can signpost to these new and improved offers.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of small and medium businesses in the North East eligible for cost- reduction support programmes following the Willow Review.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in the transition to net zero. We are helping SMEs countrywide access sustainability benefits through initiatives such as the new Business Growth Service, the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) for decarbonisation advice, and the rollout of smart meters
Following the Willow Review, £200,000 has been allocated to enhance UKBCH and integrate it with the Business Growth Service. Additionally, £150,000 extra funding has been allocated to the North East Made Smarter Adoption programme this year, to provide Energy Efficiency grants for manufacturing SMEs. The network of local Growth Hubs, including North East Growth Hub, offer tailored support at any stage of a business's journey and can signpost to these new and improved offers.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor participation in trade promotion programmes by SMEs in Hexham constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer my hon. friend to the answer I provided to UIN 89172 on 18th November: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor participation in trade promotion programmes by SMEs in Northumberland.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer my hon. friend to the answer I provided to UIN 89172 on 18th November: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Department plans to take to monitor participation in trade promotion programmes by SMEs in the North East.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer my hon. friend to the answer I provided to UIN 89172 on 18th November: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to improve parental rights for workers in the North East.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Through the Employment Rights Bill, we are strengthening rights for parents by making Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave ‘day one’ rights for qualifying employees, removing restrictions on taking Paternity Leave after Shared Parental Leave, strengthening flexible working rights, and bolstering protections for new and expectant mothers. On 1 July we launched the Parental Leave Review which will consider how parental leave can better reflect modern work and childcare realities and support working families.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85401 on Public Houses: Rural Areas, what his planned timeframe is for publishing the outcome from the Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is inviting views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system. A Call for Evidence ran for four weeks until 6 November. This attracted a significant number of responses and work is now underway to analyse these. We are working at pace and aim to share findings as soon as possible.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
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 merits of reduced electricity costs for employers on employment growth in energy- intensive sectors in Hexham constituency.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government delivers electricity cost relief schemes that provide support to businesses in energy intensive sectors across the country, helping UK businesses to remain competitive and protect thousands of well paid, British jobs. The British Industry Supercharger cuts electricity costs for around 550 energy intensive businesses, and Government recently confirmed an uplift in relief through its Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90%. This will further reduce the gap in electricity prices between the UK and other countries. Alongside this, from 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut electricity costs for even more businesses.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Office for Investment is taking to help increase private sector investment in Hexham constituency.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Office for Investment is piloting an Investment Opportunities Accelerator in partnership with the North East Combined Authority. This programme aims to facilitate and expedite investment prospects by working collaboratively with regional partners, relevant government departments, and industry stakeholders. The North East’s designation as the UK’s first AI Growth Zone which includes sites in Northumberland, positions it as a national leader in AI innovation. NECA is also receiving support through DSIT’s £30m Innovation Accelerator Fund to strengthen its R&D ecosystem and drive commercialisation in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital sectors.