Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to the UK economy arising from the rapid growth of investment in AI technologies.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises that rapid growth in AI investment presents both opportunities and risks for the UK economy.
The Government closely monitors trends in investment, including through the AI Sector Study. We will continue to assess potential impacts of that investment on productivity, skills, competition, infrastructure and economic resilience. Our approach is to support AI adoption and investment that drives growth and innovation.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Minister is now leading on the Responsible Business Conduct review; when the review will be published; and what consideration has been given in the review to the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Human Rights in its report Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains, published on 24 July 2025.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Minister of State for Trade, Anas Sarwar, leads the Government's policy on responsible business conduct (RBC). The RBC Review assessed the effectiveness of the UK's current framework in addressing harms in global supply chains, including forced labour. The Review considered a range of evidence, including the Joint Committee on Human Rights' recommendations in its July 2025 report, Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains.
The Review has been completed and the Government is considering its findings. We will publish the Review and set out our plans soon.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the next round of negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement with Türkiye.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Delivering good growth across the UK is the government’s top priority. Bilateral trade with Turkey was worth over £28 billion last year, roughly doubling in the past decade in current prices. Negotiations to enhance the UK’s current free trade agreement with Turkey, which came into force in 2021, aim to build on this important trading relationship.
The fifth round of negotiations took place in Ankara between 15 and 23 June 2026, during which negotiators held constructive discussions across a wide range of areas. The sixth round of negotiations is expected to take place in London in the early autumn and will seek to build on the strong record of the negotiation’s 11 closed chapters to date.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Stockwood on 30 June (HL1217), what specific arrangements will be in place to facilitate the movement of steel to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Since the Government's response to HL1217 on 30 June, further information on Northern Ireland arrangements has been published on GOV.UK. These arrangements include certain dedicated Tariff Rate Quotas that allow eligible steel products to move into Northern Ireland, and serve to protect UK-origin steel moving within the UK from tariffs. Further detail on moving steel to Northern Ireland is contained in the Steel Notice and Government has communicated these arrangements to industry, with support continuing to be available to traders through the Trader Support Service and HMRC.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of Turkish investments in the UK and UK investments in Tϋkiye; and what support they provide to British companies seeking investment opportunities in Tϋkiye in relation to the infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology sectors.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Investment from Turkey makes an important contribution to economic growth, innovation and employment across the UK. In 2025–26, there were 25 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects from Turkey into the UK, creating 564 new jobs.
His Majesty's Government does not provide proactive support to British companies seeking investment opportunities in Turkey but generally backs the Turkish government’s ambition to attract FDI across a range of sectors.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb cols 1068-1070), what assessment they have made of whether late payments may be the fault of a third party or a bank; and whether such payments should be subject to statutory interest.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has not made a specific assessment of late payments being caused by third parties or a bank, but it does recognise late payments are often accidental and can arise due to issues with systems.
The Commercial Payments Bill preserves and strengthens the existing statutory interest regime, under which statutory interest arises where a qualifying payment is made late. Where a qualifying debt remains unpaid after the relevant date, statutory interest will generally accrue even if the purchaser attributes the delay to its bank, payment provider or another third party begins to run and strengthens enforcement of payment obligations.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish guidance for triggering investigations into poor payment practices.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Commercial Payments Bill provides the Small Business Commissioner with the power to investigate a larger business where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that it has persistently engaged in poor payment practices. The Commissioner must consider the extent and impact of the suspected conduct, the resources required for an investigation, and whether an investigation would be proportionate in all the circumstances. Further detail will be set out in secondary legislation.
The Government will work with the Commissioner to ensure businesses understand their obligations and to consider what operational guidance should be published before the new legislation comes into force.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish a funding plan for the Small Business Commissioner; and, if so, when they will do so.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has confirmed that the Small Business Commissioner will have the resources needed to carry out its expanded functions. Detailed future funding arrangements will be determined through the usual departmental business planning and spending review processes. The Government does not currently intend to publish a separate funding plan, but will provide further information on the Commissioner's resourcing as the new functions are implemented.
Asked by: Lord Ashcombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any International Climate Finance funding delivered through UK Export Finance will be affected by the announcement by the Prime Minister's Office of 22 July, Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares; and, if so, which projects are affected, and what the terms of the loans will be.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The capping of bus fares announced on 22 July 2026 will have no impact on financing or insurance support provided by UK Export Finance, including for its loan guarantee supporting Dints International’s contract to supply renewable energy and infrastructure work in Angola.
The Government is reprioritising £454 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including by switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans. The remaining £54 million savings are expected from underspends in the Department’s budget.
This will provide more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives.
The Government remains committed to spending 0.3% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance.
Asked by: Lord Ashcombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the £12.5 million UK Export Finance loan guarantee supporting Dints' renewable energy and infrastructure work in Angola forms part of the changes set out in the announcement by the Prime Minister's office on 22 July, Cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The capping of bus fares announced on 22 July 2026 will have no impact on financing or insurance support provided by UK Export Finance, including for its loan guarantee supporting Dints International’s contract to supply renewable energy and infrastructure work in Angola.
The Government is reprioritising £454 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including by switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans. The remaining £54 million savings are expected from underspends in the Department’s budget.
This will provide more flexible ways to meet the Government’s international climate objectives.
The Government remains committed to spending 0.3% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance.