Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has undertaken any recent assessment of business sentiment regarding closer economic relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

The message we are getting from businesses is clear: they are facing more barriers and increased costs as a result of how we left the EU. For example, in a survey published by the British Chambers of Commerce in December 2025, more than half of its exporting members disagreed that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was enabling their business to grow or increase sales.

The deals we are striking with the EU will bring down barriers that stop businesses trading and investing with our closest partner and biggest market. The food and drink deal and emissions trading agreements alone will add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040.