Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) trade bodies and (c) businesses on the potential impact of class action lawsuits on levels of (a) inward investment and (b) economic growth.

I engage regularly with both stakeholders and my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including how we can prioritise and encourage economic growth.

The department’s remit is limited to collective actions brought in relation to competition issues. In that context, class actions can improve access to justice where bringing a claim would otherwise be impractical or unaffordable.

A robust competition regime, including a route that enables consumers (including businesses) to seek redress through litigation, facilitates consumer protection and encourages investment and growth.