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Written Question
Intellectual Property
Tuesday 26th November 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to safeguard intellectual property for the UK following the collapse of Reaction Engines.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that the UK’s aerospace and space industry is world-leading. Although the Government cannot comment on individual commercial cases, where appropriate officials will work with companies and administrators to consider how best to retain valuable Intellectual Property in the UK.


Written Question
Street Trading: Greater London
Friday 22nd November 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will increase the fines available through section 38 of the London Local Authorities Act 1990.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement and central Government has no current plans for legislation that can be used to amend these fees.


Written Question
Department for Business and Trade: Communication
Monday 9th September 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department spent on communications in the latest year for which data is available.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), including spend by predecessor Department for International Trade (DIT), spent £24,299,000 on communications in financial year 2022-2023 as reported in the Department’s annual report and accounts, available on GOV.UK.

This spend has supported DBT’s strategic efforts to promote the UK’s international trade agenda and achievements, position it as a destination for inward investment, and boost export promotion.


Written Question
Department for Business and Trade: Equality
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff in their Department have job titles that include the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT and (f) race.

Answered by Greg Hands

Nine DBT staff members have the words equality and/or gender in their job titles. These roles are all externally facing roles, responsible for negotiating provisions and chapters within bilateral and multilateral contexts. There are no DBT staff members with diversity; inclusion; LGBT; or race in their job title.

The Government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all activities that support the

equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of the workforce, through the review of EDI

spending announced last June. As stated in the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.


Written Question
Department for Business and Trade: Equality
Wednesday 24th January 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many equalities impact assessments her Department completed in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Answered by Greg Hands

Under the Public Sector Equality Duty (the Duty) all public authorities, including Government departments, are required by law to ensure that they have due regard to certain equality considerations when carrying out their functions. While ‘equality impact assessments’ may be produced, there is no legal requirement for Duty assessments to be recorded in a specific format.

The Department promotes awareness of the Duty as well as relevant analytical and other tools to help ensure compliance with the Duty in departmental decision making.