Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Guest Beer Agreement in England and Wales, similar to the Guest Beer Agreement already in place in Scotland.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the evidence submitted. The issues raised are complex, and the Government is carefully assessing all relevant evidence, alongside advice from competition policy experts, before determining next steps.
The Government recognises the sector's interest in the outcome of this review. While I am unable to provide a publication date at this stage, the Government will announce its conclusions and any next steps in due course.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on pub trade of introducing a Guest Beer Agreement in England and Wales.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the evidence submitted. The issues raised are complex, and the Government is carefully assessing all relevant evidence, alongside advice from competition policy experts, before determining next steps.
The Government recognises the sector's interest in the outcome of this review. While I am unable to provide a publication date at this stage, the Government will announce its conclusions and any next steps in due course.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to include the agricultural sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
BICS is a targeted scheme designed to support a defined group of sectors within the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors (IS-8), where electricity cost relief is expected to have the greatest impact on growth; and within that, focusing on manufacturing activity that is mobile and exposed to international competition.
The IS-8 sectors were selected after a yearlong process and underpinned by rigorous analysis and including a public consultation in the autumn of 2024, culminating in the launch of the modern Industrial Strategy in the summer of 2025. As Agriculture was assessed during this period, no reassessment is currently planned.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of how the hospitality sector supports local economies and tourism in North Yorkshire, and what support is available to help the sector remain resilient in the long term.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has not made a specific assessment of how the hospitality sector supports local economies and tourism in North Yorkshire.
The Government recognises the hospitality sector’s vital role in supporting local economies, tourism, and high streets, including in North Yorkshire, by creating jobs and attracting visitors. We are committed to its growth through industry engagement, targeted support, and a forthcoming High Streets Strategy to boost footfall.
We are also reforming business rates to better support the high street, with over 750,000 properties benefiting from permanently lower rates worth nearly £1 billion annually. From April, pubs have benefitted from an additional 15% cut followed by a two-year freeze worth around £1,650. Additionally, the Hospitality Support Fund has been increased to £10 million over three years to drive productivity, diversification, and jobs.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to publish his Department's (a) review of and (b) consultation on the opt-out collective actions regime.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government’s call for evidence on the opt-out collective actions regime closed on 14 October 2025. Careful consideration is being given to responses received and a consultation on potential changes to the regime will be published in spring of this year.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on a) the hospitality sector and b) levels of employment.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments].
The majority of employees will benefit from new protections in the Act and our assessment finds that workers in the low-paying sectors, including hospitality, will benefit the most from the Act.
Our analysis, supported by independent modelling and international evidence, demonstrates pro-employment effects are more likely, and deems the overall risk to employment to be low.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
It is to the benefit of all parties involved in litigation that disputes are managed efficiently. The government, therefore, supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve disputes without the expense of litigation.
The government is conducting a review of the opt-out collective actions regime for competitive claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The review considers all aspects of the regime, including the role of alternative dispute resolution, and a consultation on proposals for change will be published in due course.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation in employment disputes.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
We continue to work across government to make the dispute resolution system more resilient, so that that the measures in the Employment Rights Act can be effectively enforced. We recognise the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes swiftly.
A joint DBT/MoJ Taskforce—working with Acas and representatives from business, unions, and other experts —is considering reforms to strengthen dispute resolution.
This includes considering how to maximise use of informal options including meditation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to investigate reports of alleged wrongdoing by UK Trade Envoys.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Any reports of alleged wrongdoing in public office are taken seriously by the Government. The Government remains committed to meeting its statutory obligations on records management, disclosure, and cooperation with competent authorities, and any requests will be handled in accordance with established procedures.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether regulations on trade union access under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will include safeguarding provisions for workplaces employing young people; and what guidance will be provided to ensure compatibility with safeguarding duties.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on the operational details of the new statutory access framework, including any further matters the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must have regard to when making determinations on access.
Officials are carefully reviewing all responses and the government will publish a response, which will include next steps on safeguarding considerations, before finalising these details in secondary legislation.