Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of specialised rocket propulsion testing facilities, in supporting academic research, student competitions, and start-up enterprise testing.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Space Agency (UKSA), in 2021/22, assessed the sector’s need for a publicly funded propulsion test facility. As a result, £4 million was invested into opening the National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF) at Westcott in 2022, providing UK industry and academia with access to specialist high-altitude and vacuum-enabled propulsion testing.
NSPTF strengthens UK sovereign capability, enabling domestic engine-testing, reducing reliance on overseas infrastructure.
Nammo UK’s LEROS engine, tested at NSPTF, powering Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission, successfully landing on the Moon in March 2025.
UKSA also supports skills development through University of Sheffield’s Race-2-Space competition, hosted at Westcott. Race-2-Space 2026 involved 30 student teams, giving future engineers practical, hands-on propulsion testing experience.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what funding or resources are being made available through the UK Space Agency to support university-led propulsion testing initiatives and competitions to encourage more STEM graduates into the domestic space sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency provides dedicated support for university-led rocketry and propulsion skills through its £5 million Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching programme. This funds research and doctoral training and student competitions, including Race2Space, where university teams design, build and hot-fire rocket engines at the Westcott Space Cluster, home to the National Space Propulsion Test Facility.
UKSA funds approximately 50 paid internship placements with space-sector employers yearly, providing students which hands-on experience of current space projects, and practical work experience. Internship placements include multiple propulsion projects.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hands-on, practical student rocketry and space engineering competitions, to help tackle skills shortages in the UK space sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency supports practical routes into space careers through its Education and Future Workforce Programme.
In partnership with the European Space Agency, we deliver student competitions such as CanSat, and support university networks and UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.
UKSA’s £5 million Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching programme supports doctoral training and student rocketry competitions, helping participants develop technical, teamwork and project skills relevant to the UK launch sector.
The UKSA also funds approximately 50 paid internship placements with space-sector employers every year, providing students with hands-on experience of space projects, and practical work experience.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what conversations has his Department had with Race 2 Space.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency (UKSA), which is now part of the DBIST, is a key sponsor of Race 2 Space alongside a number of industry partners and Buckinghamshire Council.
The Race 2 Space competition provides student teams the opportunity to develop practical, hands-on experience of building and testing a rocket engine which are vital skills to support a thriving spacecraft propulsion and launch sector.
Alongside funding, UKSA has supported the team at the University of Sheffield in designing the competition and mentoring students.
The UKSA’s funding of the Race 2 Space Competition sits alongside a broader skills programme supporting students across the UK.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has referred to the Financial Reporting Council the conduct of KPMG in relation to its reviews of Drax Group plc’s biomass sustainability reporting and the treatment of those findings in the company’s annual reports.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has been in dialogue with other regulators including the Financial Conduct Authority and Ofgem regarding KPMG’s work in relation to Drax’s biomass sustainability reporting. As KPMG’s work for Drax was undertaken as an advisory review rather than as statutory audit work, this does not fall within the FRC’s statutory audit regulatory remit. The FRC continues to monitor this case and will consider any further relevant information.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking with local councils to tackle the anti-social use of fireworks in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Local authorities and the police have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by misuse of fireworks. New Respect Orders will empower police and local councils, via court mandates, to impose stringent behavioural restrictions on individuals who repeatedly engage in antisocial behaviour. I recently met with the Scottish Government and was interested to hear about the initiatives they are deploying to tackle anti-social use of fireworks. Engagement with devolved governments and local authorities are a key part of the evidence gathering process as we consider future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 the potential impact of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on tackling the purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
There has been no assessment on the impact of the fireworks regulations 2004 on tackling purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.
I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs debated two e-petitions relating to the sale and noise of fireworks respectively. As the Minister responsible, I will ensure that all evidence gathered, including views from the debate, and experiences shared by members of the public, are fully considered. I can assure you that public safety, the impact on people, animals and property, will remain central to this work.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to support the hair and beauty sector.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
This Government recognises the significant economic and social value of the hair and beauty industry.
That is why we have committed to reforming business rates from 2026-27 with a permanently lower multiplier for retail, leisure and hospitality properties, including hair and beauty salons.
The Government will also protect the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning that 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance contributions (NICs) at all and employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.
We will also transform the existing Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy to support business and boost opportunity.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and HMRC of the number of people currently practicing in the hair and beauty sector using disguised employment practices.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. However, we are clear that disguised employment practices such as false self-employment are unacceptable. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid their own legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not.
The Government is committed to tackling false self-employment and HMRC will investigate evidence suggesting businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. The Government has also set up a forum with the hair and beauty industry to support compliance in the sector.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 the potential impact of recent increases in the minimum wage for 18-21 year olds on the financial sustainability of the hair and beauty sector.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We know this is a difficult time for businesses and workers alike, the Low Pay Commission are independent experts who conducts extensive consultation, analysis and evidence gathering when recommending the minimum wage rates.
We asked the LPC to make progress in extending the National Living Wage to more adults than ever before, by continuing to narrow the gap between the 18-20 rate and the NLW.
We do recognise that the 18-20 band are more vulnerable to unemployment, and therefore any impacts on employment - as well as incentives to remain in training or education - must be monitored carefully, as we proceed.