Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is undertaking a cross-government review of industrial energy costs and support mechanisms for energy-intensive industries.
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 government recognises that high energy prices put financial pressure on industry. The only way to bring energy bills down for good is by reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, by deploying clean, homegrown energy we control.
DESNZ and BIST are working together to improve business competitiveness, recognising the role energy costs can play in supporting investment and growth. This includes developing policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas
The government is pressing ahead with the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which will reduce electricity costs for over 10,000 businesses in Great Britain by up to £40 per megawatt hour, with support reaching bills from April 2027. Applications for year one opened on 1 October 2026 and close on 30 November 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, (a) what progress his Department has made towards enabling research funders to ensure scrutiny of animal use in grant decisions and (b) whether guidance is provided to funding assessment panels on evaluating non-animal alternative methods.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading delivery of the commitment to enable funders to ensure thorough scrutiny of animal use in funding decisions. UKRI is developing its funding service to support this and encourage research applicants to develop and implement alternatives to animal use. UKRI’s policy on research and innovation involving animals also encourages applications with the potential to advance the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). Work to strengthen consideration of alternative methods in funding decisions is continuing, with further progress to be reported through implementation of the Replacing Animals in Science strategy.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there is a target date set in autumn 2026 for laying the Private Parking Code of Practice before Parliament.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government laid the Code before Parliament on 20 October 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Marine Management Organisation on the response to the Marine Protected Area Stage 3 consultation.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is in regular contact with the Marine Management Organisation on a wide variety of marine and fisheries issues, including the Marine Protected Areas Stage 3 consultation.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if his Department will confirm whether the Responsible Business Conduct Review will be published ahead of the UK-EU summit on the 20th of November 2026.
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 Responsible Business Conduct Review has been completed. With the formation of a new government, we are considering the findings with fresh eyes and will set out our position in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
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 potential merits of implementing trade remedies on imports of glass packaging from Turkey.
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)
On 5 March 2026 the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) opened a subsidy investigation on glass containers from Turkey.
The TRA submits evidence-based determinations to the Secretary of State, inclusive of an assessment of whether a measure would be in the UK’s economic interest. Where the TRA recommends a measure, the Secretary of State considers the evidence alongside relevant matters in the public interest before taking a decision.
The TRA is an independent arms-length body and as such it would not be appropriate to comment further. All TRA recommendations are published on its public file at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what audit processes and compliance mechanisms HM Revenue and Customs plans to establish to verify the accuracy of origin declarations where importing businesses vouch that goods do not originate from illegal Israeli settlements, in preparation for the proposed import ban.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Border Force and HMRC conduct both physical and documentary checks to verify that goods imported to the UK are not subject to sanctions or other forms of prohibitions and restrictions. These checks can be intelligence-led, risk-based or randomised. HMRC does not reveal specific details about its anti-smuggling or targeting methods, or compliance techniques. This is operationally sensitive information the disclosure of which could serve to undermine enforcement and compliance activity.