Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
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 (a) manufactured components and (b) raw materials imported from China for the domestic production of electric vehicles in the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Over the last five years the UK has, on average, annually imported China-origin goods worth a) £1.9bn of components (automotive parts, batteries, and motors) and b) £9.7m of minerals that are typically used for batteries and traction motors. These imports may have been used for non automotive uses. The Department does not have the precise value that went into UK automotive production. This information is commercial and therefore can only be provided by individual companies.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to prevent anti-competitive practices in the domestic beet sugar industry.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority, the “CMA”, is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.
Any concerns regarding anti-competitive conduct can be raised directly with the CMA. Details of how to submit information, along with general guidance, can be found on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
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 impact of US tariffs on (a) manufactured components and (b) raw materials for the domestic production of electric vehicles.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State and I frequently engage with stakeholders to discuss automotive sector issues, including the potential impacts of US tariffs on manufactured components and raw materials for domestic EV production. On May 8, a landmark economic deal with the US was announced, protecting jobs in key sectors such as automotive. This deal reduces tariffs on UK car exports from 27.5% to 10%, which is positive news for British car manufacturers. We are also providing additional support for the sector; the 2024 Autumn Budget allocated over £2 billion for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing and supply chains.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
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 impact of increasing the Autonomous Tariff Quota on the domestic sugar beet industry.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government recognises the importance of the domestic sugar beet industry and is carefully considering the potential impacts of any changes to the Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) on raw cane sugar following an engagement exercise which closed in March 2025.
We will aim to strike the right balance between supporting our domestic sugar beet and raw cane refining industries, alongside a range of other factors including the UK’s wider strategic trade objectives. The outcome of this review will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the proportion of imports worth less than £135 that did not meet UK safety standards by country of origin in each year since 2015.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) works with local authorities and border forces to detect, deter and disrupt the flow of unsafe and non-compliant goods as they are imported into the UK. Risk-based and intelligence-led approaches are used to target the most high-risk goods for inspection at the border. Therefore, the Government does not hold the information in the form requested. In 2023/24 the targeted approach resulted in checks on consignments covering over 15 million goods at the border, with 2.4 million goods (16%) refused entry to the UK.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
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 US Government officials and representatives on horse importations as part of negotiators on a potential trade deal.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship. The UK is committed to continuing these discussions, but the UK will only do a deal that is in the national interest of the UK and its businesses.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to introduce retaliatory tariffs on horse importations from the US.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal that works for both the UK and the US but nothing is off the table; this government will do what is necessary to defend the UK's national interest. That is why on 3 April, the government launched a Request for Input from businesses as a formal step, to keep all options on the table; and to give businesses the chance to have their say and influence the design of any possible UK response.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to prevent the online sale of illegal e-bikes.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Product safety law requires that all consumer products placed on the UK market must be safe. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, in my Department, has a programme of work focused on tackling the sale of illegal e-bikes, making sure online platforms are aware of their responsibilities and working closely with Border Force on the issue at the UK Border. My officials work closely with counterparts across Government, including the Home Office on e-bike safety.
The Product Safety and Metrology Bill will provide powers that can be used to place new duties on online marketplaces with regards to unsafe products.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There has been no change in the Department for Business and Trade’s management of artwork or heritage assets since the previous administration.
As separate entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of employers in the (a) private and (b) public sector that have recognised a trade union in 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Management and Wellbeing Practices Survey estimates the percentage of employers with recognised unions and employers with union members included within the table below:
Estimated employer size (number of workers) with recognised unions and workers in unions | % of employers with recognised unions |
5 to 9 | 4% |
10 to 19 | 5% |
20 to 49 | 15% |
50 to 99 | 20% |
100 to 249 | 46% |
250 to 499 | 62% |
500 or more | 73% |