Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with industry stakeholders on opportunities to grow UK-based manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cell equipment by 2030.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support good jobs and support sustainable economic growth as we accelerate to net zero. Our Clean Industries Sector Plan sets out a strong offer for domestic manufacturing such as the £1bn Great British Energy supply chain fund included in our comprehensive Public Finance Institution offer, as well as considering expanding the Clean Industry Bonus to hydrogen.
My officials in the UK and overseas are working closely with UK-based companies to highlight and develop opportunities across the hydrogen value chain both in the UK and abroad.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to support exports of UK-manufactured hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to international markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies constitute a frontier Industrial Strategy sector, so the government has committed targeted support to boost exports by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, increasing access to international supply chains, and expanding clean energy sector agreements. UK Export Finance can offer a range of support for overseas sales, and as set out in the new Trade Strategy, aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029. Additionally, DRIVE35 will provide £2.5bn for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing including fuel cells, and the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme offers grants to UK fuel cell manufacturers investing in UK-based research and development.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consideration his Department has given to investment strategies for (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural areas which do not fall within the catchment areas of (i) large cities and (ii) mayoral combined authorities.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Investment is aligned with the UK's Industrial Strategy, focusing on growth-driving and foundational sectors. The OfI will actively pursue and manage investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies, across the UK and will support rural areas such as Wiltshire. I am delighted that Siemens Mobility is moving ahead with its £100 million investment in a rail infrastructure, digital engineering, and R&D facility after receiving Wiltshire County Council planning permission. Furthermore, German defence technology company, STARK, is opening a 40,000sq ft factory in Swindon, Wiltshire, producing military drones for NATO, creating over 100 skilled jobs.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 62821 on Manufacturing Industries: Rural Areas, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that investment in city-based advanced manufacturing zones will produce positive economic spillover effects for rural communities in Wiltshire.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Everywhere will benefit from the Industrial Strategy’s national policy offer – there are clusters of the growth driving sectors across the whole country including in rural areas and our package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by these businesses.
Our wider Growth Mission supports people and businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, through policies to create the conditions for businesses to invest and employ, and consumers to spend with confidence. This includes interventions in the Small Business Strategy.
We recognise that rural areas offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy and we are committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has conducted region-specific modelling of economic spillover effects in (a) Wiltshire and (b) other counties.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not undertaken region-specific modelling of economic spillover effects for (a) Wiltshire or (b) other individual counties. In developing place-based policy, DBT may draw on cross-government evidence—for example, Office for National Statistics publications (e.g., subnational trade flows; UK input–output tables) and Department for Transport scheme appraisals of “wider economic impacts”—but these are not DBT analyses, are method- and scheme-specific, and are not designed to produce county-level spillover estimates. DBT keeps the available evidence under review to inform programmes where appropriate.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, published on 23 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that investment in advanced manufacturing is allocated to rural communities.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Deeper partnerships with mayors and devolved governments will deliver real change in local communities, ensuring Sector Plan gains across the UK.
As part of this, we will support specific city regions and clusters through a new £600 million Strategic Sites Accelerator, and by investing £160 million in each of the UK's regional Advanced Manufacturing investment zones. This targeted support will have positive spillover effects on surrounding rural and urban communities.
Government has also secured £4 billion from the British Business Bank and £27.8 billion from the National Wealth Fund to support business across the UK access the finance they need to grow.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Invest 2035 on rural economies; and what steps he plans to use to monitor its impact on rural inclusion.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Invest 2035 was published in October last year, seeking views on the UK’s Industrial Strategy. The Modern Industrial Strategy was published on 23 June, setting out a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential, targeting investment towards eight-growth driving sectors (IS-8). The Strategy focuses efforts on the city regions and clusters where the IS-8 concentrate. There are clusters across the country, including in rural areas, and the policy package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by businesses in the IS-8 sectors.
The Government supports a robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of the Industrial Strategy. We have chosen six economic indicators that reflect a range of desirable objectives for the IS-8 and the economy as a whole, which will be tracked at a sector and place level. Monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy will be overseen by the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council who will take a data-led approach to assess progress on the overall Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to conduct a cross-sector review of business practices in supporting recently bereaved customers.
Answered by Justin Madders
Government has no plans to conduct a cross-sector review of business practice in supporting recently bereaved consumers. The Financial Conduct Authority have considered this issue across financial services and have published guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers in line with the FCA’s Consumer Duty.
Outside of the financial sector, internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, companies are expected to treat consumers with compassion and understanding in such circumstances.
Business dealing with vulnerable consumers can also refer to the British Standard on Inclusive Service which utilises best practices from BS ISO 22458 on Consumer Vulnerability.
Through the Employment Rights Bill, the Department is establishing a new statutory right to Bereavement Leave. As part of this, it is also considering how to better support individuals experiencing bereavement, including by providing clearer guidance for employers.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
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 ensure that fair dealing improvements under Grocery Supply Code of Practice are extended to upstream suppliers who are not covered by the Code.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Groceries Code is a competition measure owned by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA can only change the Code in ways which address the specific effects on competition found during its original market investigation, and not to address new issues or sectors.
The government has introduced Fair Dealing Regulations under the Agriculture Act 2020 to deal with the production end of the supply chain in specific sectors. These are enforced by the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
The government is currently undertaking the fourth statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The review additionally asks if there are unfair contractual practices in parts of the supply chain not covered by the GCA or ASCA.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of consolidating the functions of the Grocery Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator to create a unified regulator with a broader oversight remit.
Answered by Justin Madders
The government is currently undertaking the fourth statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The consultation to this review includes question about the GCA’s remit in relation to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), and additionally asks if there are unfair contractual practices in parts of the supply chain not covered by either Adjudicator. The government encourages those interested to respond to the consultation by 5 August.