Asked by: Leigh Ingham (Labour - Stafford)
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 adequacy of financial support for small high street businesses in (a) Stafford and (b) other market towns.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our Plan for Small Businesses sets out how government will work across departments to help SMEs, including those on the high street, to start and thrive.
High street businesses will benefit from legislation to end the scourge of late payments costing the UK economy £11bn annually. With a £4bn finance boost, we are increasing access to finance for entrepreneurs and business owners through the Government-backed British Business Bank.
Businesses in Stafford can access both one-on-one support from the Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire Growth Hub and our new Business Growth Service. For example, between 2012 and 30 June 2025, 142 Start Up Loans worth £1.56m were issued to entrepreneurs in Stafford.
Asked by: Leigh Ingham (Labour - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with Bark.com on their effectiveness in vetting tradespeople employing their services.
Answered by Justin Madders
All traders, including online platforms, must exercise professional diligence in their commercial practices in order to comply with the requirements in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008), restated and updated in the DMCC Act 2024. Part 3 of the DMCC Act will strengthen the CMA's powers to enforce the law and enable the CMA and courts to impose monetary penalties for breaches.
Asked by: Leigh Ingham (Labour - Stafford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to (a) meet the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and (b) visit businesses in Stafford constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to driving long-term, inclusive and secure economic growth in all parts of the country, and engagement with businesses and communities in all regions, including the West Midlands, is therefore a priority.
DBT officials are in regular contact with Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce colleagues, helping to support their local businesses. The Ministerial team's plans for engagement, including regional and local visits, are revisited regularly.