Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
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 levels of support for battery manufacturers and recyclers in the UK, the EU, the United States, China and India.
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 Industrial Strategy sets out the Government’s commitment to building and maintaining UK battery manufacturing capability to meet domestic demand. DRIVE35 provides £4 billion of long-term support for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing, including capital and R&D funding for batteries, gigafactories, and recycling and has supported the AESC battery facility in Sunderland and the Agratas facility at Somerset. Recycling is also supported through the £452m Battery Innovation Programme, the UK’s largest single commitment to battery R&D, with recent funding awarded to projects led by Altilium Metals, Watercycle Technologies and European Metal Recycling.
We continue to monitor EU, US and other international approaches. We are focused on strengthening our domestic capacity and diversifying supply chains to support the UK’s economic resilience and competitiveness.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
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 ensure that innovative battery start-ups are able to scale and remain headquartered in the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting innovative battery businesses to start, scale and invest in the UK. Through the Battery Innovation Programme, we are providing £452 million of support for battery research and development, helping to translate cutting-edge ideas into commercial products and manufacturing opportunities. The programme provides funding to UK battery SMEs, including start-ups, to develop and demonstrate new technologies, strengthen their capabilities and attract further investment. DRIVE35 also provides scale up funding support to Battery businesses and has provided support for key champions such as Integrals Power and Altilium to develop advanced battery materials in the UK.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2026 to Question 14651 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how many public charge points have been subject to in-service metrological verification in the last three years; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using the powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 to introduce a requirement for in-service metrological verification.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Public electric vehicle chargepoints are not currently subject to metrological verification at prescribed intervals once they are in service. Accordingly, the Department does not hold the requested verification data. However, safeguards are in place including conformity assessment requirements, market surveillance and enforcement powers, for most chargepoints which are in scope of relevant legislation.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that meters used at public charge points remain accurate throughout their service life. We will continue to monitor this issue while considering whether further measures, including use of powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, are required.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase high-resolution geoscientific data coverage across the UK to support domestic critical mineral exploration.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
DBT works with the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) at the British Geological Survey (BGS) and industry to assess UK critical raw material potential. DBT supports BGS’ efforts to improve geoscientific data acquisition, although recognises that this requires investment. High-resolution geophysical and geochemical data in Northern Ireland and South West England have been vital for the minerals industry and in support of the UK Critical Mineral Strategy. I have met BGS recently to discuss how they can support to further realise the UK’s Critical Minerals potential.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support people who were underpaid wages by their former employers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government takes enforcing the minimum wage very seriously. We are clear that anyone entitled to the minimum wage should receive at least the correct minimum wage rate based on their age or apprenticeship status.
HMRC enforces minimum wage regulations on behalf of DBT and considers all complaints from workers. Workers do not need to be currently employed to raise concerns and can complain about underpayments by former employers. If an underpayment of wage is found, HMRC will order employers to pay the workers their money back, and a penalty to the government. HMRC will investigate any underpayments from the last 6 years.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support her Department is providing to small independent funeral directors in response to market pressures from large direct cremation providers.
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 government provides comprehensive support for small businesses across all industries, including the UK funeral sector. Resources such as the Business Growth Service, via business.gov.uk, and local Growth Hubs can support small independent funeral directors as they face market pressures from large direct cremation providers.
In addition, the recently announced Small Business Plan sets out this Government’s approach for economic transformation alongside the Modern Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy. The Plan includes proposals to tackle the scourge of late payments, modernise the tax system, improving access to finance, revitalise high streets and equip small businesses with digital skills.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
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 clean energy workforce strategy on UK jobs in critical mineral supply chains.
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)
Critical minerals underpin the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the Government’s clean energy goals. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs will publish a full Clean Energy Workforce Strategy shortly setting out further actions to support delivery of the clean energy workforce and ensure that the jobs created across the country are high quality.
The Department for Business and Trade is working closely with industry and partners such as the Critical Minerals Association to identify and to help address workforce gaps across UK critical mineral supply chains.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using spending allocated to the DRIVE35 programme for the domestic critical minerals industry.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
DRIVE35 builds on the Advanced Propulsion Centre R&D programmes and the Automotive Transformation Fund. These programmes have funded a number of critical mineral projects that are strengthening the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) supply chains, from lithium refinery Green Lithium to battery recycler Altilium.
DRIVE35 will continue to support the latest R&D, accelerate commercial scale-up, and unlock capital investment in ZEV technologies, including their upstream supply chain which can include critical minerals projects.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his planned timetable is for the consultation on the British industrial competitiveness scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh for thousands of eligible businesses. These firms will be exempt from paying levies on the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market.
We announced that we would consult on eligibility and design of the scheme. We recognise the need to work quickly and we will publish the consultation and Terms of Reference as soon as we can. We have committed to ensure that the scheme is ready to launch in 2027.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will set out the terms of reference for the consultation on the British industrial competitiveness scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh for thousands of eligible businesses. These firms will be exempt from paying levies on the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market.
We announced that we would consult on eligibility and design of the scheme. We recognise the need to work quickly and we will publish the consultation and Terms of Reference as soon as we can. We have committed to ensure that the scheme is ready to launch in 2027.