Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Home Office about reciprocal VISA rights with Thailand.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
None.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on the development of a free trade deal with Thailand.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has not commenced any negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand. My department keeps its approach to FTAs under active review to support growth, resilience and the UK’s strategic interests.
Thailand is an important economic partner and a significant market for UK goods and services. We continue to engage closely with Thailand through a range of cooperation mechanisms, including the UK-Thailand Enhanced Trade Partnership, while assessing where future agreements could deliver the greatest value for the UK.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what is the priority for the Government for negotiating a free trade agreement with Thailand.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has not commenced any negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand. My department keeps its approach to FTAs under active review to support growth, resilience and the UK’s strategic interests.
Thailand is an important economic partner and a significant market for UK goods and services. We continue to engage closely with Thailand through a range of cooperation mechanisms, including the UK-Thailand Enhanced Trade Partnership, while assessing where future agreements could deliver the greatest value for the UK.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Network Rail’s approach to the proposed redevelopment of London Liverpool Street Station on inward foreign direct investment.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Investment, a joint unit across DBT, HMT & No.10, promotes the UK as one of the world’s leading destinations for Foreign Direct Investment, supported by our strong business environment, highly skilled workforce and globally competitive sectors. FDI plays an important role in driving growth, innovation and jobs across the country. The OfI has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of Network Rail’s approach to the proposed redevelopment of London Liverpool Street Station on inward foreign direct investment.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the UK can attract private sector investment in nationally signification infrastructure projects.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade is taking active steps to attract private sector investment into nationally significant infrastructure projects. Through the expanded Office for Investment, we provide enhanced relationship management for major and sovereign investors, supported by strengthened business development teams that work closely with delivery partners to originate and progress high-quality projects.
Under the Government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the Strategic Investment Opportunities Unit within the OfI identifies and develops demand-led opportunities, aligning them with investor priorities. In partnership with NISTA, we promote priority infrastructure projects with strong commercial potential to suitable institutional investors, helping to unlock long-term capital at scale.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what data her Department holds on the number of high-growth businesses in the UK in each year since 2005.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Data on UK high-growth businesses is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These data are published on an ad-hoc basis and cover the period back to 2010. The ONS defines a business as high-growth if it experiences 20% annual growth rate of either employment or turnover for three consecutive years.
Ad-hoc publications are among the ‘user requested data’ published here.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with Fujitsu on (a) their plans to compensate Sub-Postmasters and (b) pausing bidding for new Government contracts while the Post Office Inquiry is ongoing.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We welcome Fujitsu’s acknowledgement of their moral obligation to contribute to the cost of the scandal. Fujitsu have also announced they will voluntarily not bid for new contracts unless requested by Government.
Following the joint announcement on 7 March that discussions of a Fujitsu contribution had begun, officials will continue to engage with Fujitsu representatives. We will not provide a running commentary on these discussions but will keep both Houses informed at key points.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
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 ensure there will be parliamentary oversight of reforms to the Universal Service Obligation for postal services.
Answered by Justin Madders
Parliament has made Ofcom the independent regulator for the postal sector, and as such Ofcom has the responsibility to ensure the provision of the universal service obligation.
Ofcom proposed reforms to the universal service obligation in its consultation ending on 10 April. These specific proposals will not require ministerial or Parliamentary approval, but Ofcom remains accountable to Parliament, through mechanisms such as select committee evidence sessions and its statutory obligation to lay its Annual Report and Accounts in Parliament.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on their consultation on the future of the universal service obligation for postal services.
Answered by Justin Madders
Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the regulatory authority for the postal sector.
The government is committed to a universal service obligation and know Ofcom will use this consultation to ensure that Royal Mail is able to effectively serve its customers in the years to come.
A reliable and affordable universal postal service is crucial to the UK, and we are clear it must work for customers, workers and businesses that help drive growth across the country.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to change the threshold of full audit requirements for smaller businesses.
Answered by Justin Madders
The qualifying criteria that determine company size for the purposes of accounting and audit have not changed in over a decade. It is right that these thresholds are reviewed periodically so they are set at appropriate levels.
Company size thresholds are being considered as part of the Government's broader non-financial reporting review, intended to ensure that more companies are able to benefit from simpler reporting and accounting frameworks, as well as take advantage of the small company exemption from statutory audit.