Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 impact of withdrawing UK Research and Innovation operational funding for international research facilities on UK operational standing within those international science infrastructure projects and the retention of UK-based scientific talent in frontier physical sciences.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation and the Science and Technology Facilities Council undertook a structured assessment of the impacts of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. This considered factors including scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. Major international subscriptions are being fully protected, helping to maintain UK participation in world-leading facilities and collaborations. As part of the prioritisation process, STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, protect funding for grant funded postdoc researchers at 25/26 levels, while PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 took to ensure that recent UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) operational funding decisions for key facilities aligned with the UK's broader strategic investments in frontier physical sciences prior to those decisions being finalised; and what formal impact assessments were conducted regarding the continuity of UK capital investment in those same facilities.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UKRI, through STFC, has undertaken a prioritisation process to ensure its overall financial stability and the ongoing affordability of its National Laboratories, large scale, multi-disciplinary facilities, and the PPAN portfolio. The cross-UKRI Facilities Strategic Advisory Group, which included representation for the physical sciences, were consulted on the range of options under consideration. These are considered, strategic choices to focus resources where they deliver long-term capability and value. The aim is a stronger, more focused, and more sustainable STFC delivering impact for the UK. The outcomes seek to protect key strategic priorities and capabilities including the operation of STFC’s National Laboratories and facilities.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what changes will be made to the UK Space Agency's funding and remit following the transition to the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the Government's review of arms-length bodies, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is now an integral part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and its staff are departmental officials. This transition does not alter UKSA’s funding or remit.
UKSA expertise continues to drive implementation of policy, funding programmes, sector support and promotion of the UK’s civil space capabilities. The Government is providing £7.8 billion over this spending review period until 2029/30, of which £3.3 billion is allocated to UKSA. This is the highest level of investment in space ever made by the UK.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 promote the UK space sector; and what role UK Space Agency communications will play.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Support from the Department and UK Space Agency (UKSA) includes funded delivery plans, targeted funding through grants, procurement, regulatory reform, support for local clusters and international partnerships. UKSA communications explain how space delivers the Government’s priorities of economic growth and national security and defence, promote funding opportunities to industry and academia and help commercialise the most promising areas of our space economy.
The Government is providing £7.8 billion over this spending review period until 2029/30, of which £3.3 billion is allocated to UKSA. This is the highest level of investment in space ever made by the UK. We will shortly publish more detail in our space strategy.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of orbital mirror constellations on astronomical observation and light pollution in the UK, and whether the Government is taking any steps, through international space regulatory bodies, to establish light-reflection limits for Low Earth Orbit satellites.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Government has funded three studies to date and engages internationally through a range of fora, including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, to help develop guidelines and governance structures that meet the needs of the modern space age. This work includes international engagement on matters such as sustainability and the protection of dark and quiet skies for astronomy and scientific observation.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 effectiveness of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association in the context of its role as an approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body, including in relation to its independence and compliance with the requirements for ADR providers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme is a voluntary, non-statutory dispute resolution scheme, set up by the industry and independent of government.
DBT funds the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) who accredit and regularly audit BVRLA against key principles including neutrality, independence and effective complaints handling under a new mandatory accreditation and monitoring framework in the 2026 ADR Regulations.
The new 2026 ADR Regulations replace the 2015 ADR Regulations, introducing mandatory accreditation of all ADR providers, strengthened accreditation and monitoring standards and new sanctioning powers to tackle poor performance.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster controlling a majority share of the UK live music ticketing market on competition and consumer outcomes.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring markets work well for consumers and businesses. As the UK’s lead consumer and competition authority, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has a statutory duty to promote competition for the benefit of consumers. It is the role of the CMA to examine potential breaches of competition law, including abuse of a dominant position, and investigate markets if it thinks there are competition or consumer problems. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition matters which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance and oversight the Government provides to private postal companies to ensure that agreements with trade unions on pay and conditions are respected; and what steps the Government is taking to support adequate pay and employment standards in the postal sector.
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)
Pay and terms and conditions of employment, provided they are lawful, are, in general, a matter for private businesses to agree with their workforce and their representatives.
The Secretary of State met Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU, and Daniel Křetínský, the owner of EP Group, on 16 February and again on 19 March 2026 to facilitate continued discussions on these matters.,
The Plan to Make Work Pay will boost fairness in the workplace, ensure equality of treatment and opportunity, and support low-paid workers.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 to ensure that UK consumption and supply chains do not indirectly contribute to (a) deprivation and (b) exploitative conditions in lower-income countries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government is committed to rooting out human rights and labour abuses from global supply chains. We support responsible business conduct standards to accelerate the positive contribution of companies to sustainable development and help businesses avoid and address any direct or indirect adverse impacts.
In the Trade Strategy, we launched the Responsible Business Conduct review, to evaluate the UK’s current approach, and assess the merits of alternative policy options to support responsible business. Ministers will update Parliament when the review is complete.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 to ensure businesses selling e-scooters and e-bikes make customers aware of the legal restrictions on the use of those products.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
All consumer products, including e-bikes and e-scooters, must be safe when placed on the market. Businesses are responsible for ensuring that their products comply with the relevant product safety regulations and they must include any instructions needed for safe use or safety warnings.
In addition, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency conducts market surveillance activities of e-scooter retailers to ensure they are being sold lawfully and that retailers are making legal restrictions on e-scooter use sufficiently clear.