Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

The UK Government does not comment upon operational security matters.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3 January is attached.

The Government is considering the Liaison Committee's report and looks forward to discussing it with the incoming Chair once elected.

The Government is considering the Liaison Committee's report and looks forward to discussing it with the incoming Chair once elected.

The definition is detailed in the Functional Standards Common Glossary, which is published on the gov.uk website.

The Cabinet Office is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence (AI) and effective use of data.

The Cabinet Office Data Strategy promotes the use of high quality data and analytics to gain insights that drive decision making and operational effectiveness.

In parallel, we are growing the department’s AI capabilities through the design and application of a range of solutions, including Redbox which is a tool to help staff perform research, drafting and reviewing faster, reducing administrative burdens and improving response times for stakeholders. Other solutions are also in development (e.g. machine learning applications and generative AI) to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy activity.

We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

The department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.

We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.

UK product safety law requires that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the market. Businesses, including those in supply chains for products manufactured overseas, have responsibilities to only make safe products available, and UK regulators have powers to remove non-compliant products from the market.

Government has introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to modernise regulations to reflect increasingly globalised and online supply chains. The powers in this Bill will allow us to make any necessary changes to our regulations to ensure the best protections for consumers and support for reputable retailers.

Small businesses are the heart of our high streets and communities and are essential to our vision for growth and economic success.

The Government is committed to improving access to finance for small businesses, including sole traders, so they can grow and reach new domestic and international markets. Sole traders can benefit from the Start Up Loans programme, which helps entrepreneurs access the finance and mentoring advice they need to make their business ideas a reality.

Additionally, UK Export Finance offers financial support to boost export activities and helps exporters win contracts, fulfil orders, and make payment guarantees.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working in close coordination with law enforcement, the Department for Business and Trade and other relevant government departments to support each of the affected retailers. This includes providing technical expertise and strategic guidance which assist with incident response and recovery.

The NCSC is maintaining active engagement with the wider retail sector to share threat information and offer mitigative guidance aimed at reducing the risk from further incidents.

The Government offers free guidance, tools and training to help businesses improve their cyber resilience. This includes a new Cyber Governance Code of Practice to help boards and directors manage digital risks, and the Cyber Essentials scheme which is highly effective in protecting businesses against cyber-attacks.

Details of any Ministerial and Senior Officials' meetings and engagements can be found in the Department’s quarterly transparency returns on Gov.uk.

Within the Department for Business and Trade we have produced an AI governance framework for how we use AI both internally and externally to ensure safe and effective use of AI. On our departmental risk register we have identified a number of risks associated with the use of AI in particular in relation to leakage of sensitive information or incorrect decisions being made on the back of outputs from AI outputs. Our mitigations to these risks include blocking non-approved AI tools and guidance to staff that all outputs from AI should be checked for accuracy.

National security is a top priority for this government. DBT are working closely with MOD and other Government Departments as we develop the Plan for Steel, the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the Strategic Defence Review respectively, to ensure that key government priorities are reflected across these strategies.

At the recent Business and Trade Committee on 26 March, along with the Minister for Defence, I emphasised the importance of retaining steelmaking capabilities in the UK with the Government providing up to £2.5bn for steel through the National Wealth Fund and other routes.

This is why we continue to work tirelessly to safeguard the future of Scunthorpe and protect its workers. We have made a generous offer to British Steel designed to achieve that.

National security is a top priority for this government. DBT are working closely with MOD and other Government Departments as we develop the Plan for Steel, the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the Strategic Defence Review respectively, to ensure that key government priorities are reflected across these strategies.

At the recent Business and Trade Committee on 26 March, along with the Minister for Defence, I emphasised the importance of retaining steelmaking capabilities in the UK with the Government providing up to £2.5bn for steel through the National Wealth Fund and other routes.

This is why we continue to work tirelessly to safeguard the future of Scunthorpe and protect its workers. We have made a generous offer to British Steel designed to achieve that.

The UK automotive sector is an integral part of driving our economic growth and, like industry, the Government is concerned about the potential impact of automotive tariffs.

We are disappointed by this decision by the United States to impose global tariffs on the automotive industry and know this will be extremely concerning for businesses and consumers. We are keeping all options on the table and will always respond in the national interest. We continue to have productive discussions on securing a wider economic deal.

The median age of computers issued to officials in the Department is 2 years.

We are working across Government to understand the demand impacts for the construction sector to deliver our built environment and infrastructure commitments. This includes working with Skills England, who will bring businesses, training partners and unions together with national and local government to develop a clear assessment of the country’s skills need – and map pathways by which they can be filled.

On 23 March, Government announced reforms that will get young people into well paid, high skilled, jobs in the construction sector by funding additional placements, establishing Technical Excellence Colleges, launching new foundation apprenticeships, and expanding Skills Bootcamps.

The UK is taking various steps to strengthen our bilateral trade relationship with Canada, which was worth £27 billion in the 12 months to September 2024, up 7% on the previous 12 months.

This includes our work with Canada on their ratification of the UK’s membership of the multilateral Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Once ratified, this will provide additional benefits for UK firms seeking to do business in Canada, building on our existing bilateral trade agreement with Canada which already supports trade between our two countries.

Transparency is embedded within the regulatory requirements for pre-pack administration procedures. The administrator must give creditors a detailed explanation of why the pre-pack sale was the best outcome. This report is filed at Companies House and is also sent to the administrator’s regulatory body for monitoring and compliance. The Government’s review of administrator pre-pack reports in 2023 concluded there is a high level of compliance with the transparency requirements.

The Government keeps these requirements under regular review.

Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the regulatory authority for the postal sector.

As an independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. While the government does not have a role in Ofcom's regulatory decisions, in January, I met with representatives from Ofcom to discuss the proposed changes to the universal service obligation and the importance of Royal Mail's quality of service.

Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the regulatory authority for the postal sector.

As an independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. While the government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions, in January, I met with representatives from Ofcom to discuss the proposed changes to the universal service obligation and the importance of Royal Mail’s quality of service.

In 2021, the Government’s review of the effectiveness of the voluntary pre-pack sales in administration measures recognised that some improvements needed to be made. Regulations were subsequently made which provide for greater scrutiny to assure stakeholders that such sales are appropriate.

The regulations require connected parties to obtain an independent opinion on the purchase of a business and/or its assets where a pre-pack sale is proposed prior to its completion.

The Government keeps these regulations under regular review.

The Government protects the sustainability of the branch network by providing funding on the basis that the Post Office meets its minimum access criteria to ensure that, across the country, 99% of the population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office including those living in Slough and Berkshire. The Government works to ensure Post Office Limited maintains a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria. Along with the annual £50 million subsidy, we are providing a further £37.5 million this year to safeguard services in the uncommercial parts of the network.

This government is committed to supporting businesses and communities that make our high streets, including those in Slough, successful.

This means addressing anti-social behaviour and crime, rolling out banking hubs, stamping out late payments, empowering communities to make the most of the vacant properties, strengthening the Post Office network, reforming the apprenticeship levy, and reforming business rates.

We will also use High Street Rental Auctions, to provide local authorities in England with a tool to tackle vacancy, promote minimum letting standards for commercial units and flexible rents.

DBT provides core funding for the Berkshire Growth Hub, which provides access to advice and support for local businesses. Slough council have also used UK Shared Prosperity Fund money to establish a new weekly market in Slough high street.

Our Small Business Strategy Command Paper, to be published in 2025, will set out this government’s intentions on supporting small businesses across key areas, including thriving high streets.

Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider.

As an independent business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services. The government does not have a role in the company’s day-to-day commercial or operational decisions. In setting its prices however, Royal Mail must work within the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services.

Government is committed to ensuring that only safe products can be sold in the UK. Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, all toys placed on the market must meet essential safety requirements.

Where products are identified that do not meet these requirements, the Office for Product Safety and Standards works with local Trading Standards to bring these into compliance with the regulation, or to remove them from sale.

The growth in e-commerce has brought significant challenges to the product safety legal framework. The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will enable regulations to be updated to better reflect modern online supply chains.

UK product safety regulations require that only safe consumer products be placed on the market. Importers must ensure their products comply with these regulations, including any requirements covering chemicals or banned substances. Distributors have a duty of care to not sell products they know, or should know, are unsafe.

National and local regulators enforce these regulations, including using data and intelligence to target checks on dangerous and non-compliant products entering the UK at the border and sold online.

The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, introduced to Parliament in September, provides powers to further strengthen the UK's product safety framework.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) works closely with local authorities and investment partners to monitor and support the impact of foreign direct investment in the Berkshire area.

Official statistics at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbt-inward-investment-results-2023-to-2024 show that Foreign Direct Investment projects created 1,270 new jobs in Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in 2021-22, 746 in 2022-23 and 399 in 2023-24.

The definition is detailed in the Functional Standards Common Glossary, which is published on the gov.uk website.