Department for Business and Trade

The Government is responsible for setting statutory minimum wage rates which provide consistency and clarity for all employers and workers operating across different locations and different sectors. When it comes to sector-based policy, we are currently working to deliver the first Fair Pay Agreement process for adult social care in England, which will see sector representatives negotiate pay, terms and conditions for the sector.

Based on the lessons learned from this, officials will carefully consider any future sectors where such arrangements may be relevant.

The Department for Business and Trade has not considered this. The private sector is responsible for determining any specific training their employees require, although under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers have a duty to ensure their employees receive adequate information, instruction, and training to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

The Act and its relevant statutory provisions only apply to the self-employed where their work activity poses a risk to the health and safety of others. The requirement for delivery drivers to be licensed falls to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Police.

UK product safety regulations require that all consumer products placed on the market must be safe. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 place responsibilities on importers of electrical products to ensure their safety and compliance with the law. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce these laws and can require the removal of non-compliant or unsafe products from supply. While standards can be designated by Government as a voluntary route for businesses to demonstrate compliance with the law, businesses remain responsible for ensuring products comply with the full regulatory requirements.

My department works closely with hospitality businesses to assess impact of rising operating costs across energy, staffing, compliance and taxation.

This includes regular engagement with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council which provides a formal forum to co-create solutions to pressures facing the industry.

We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.

The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries, the findings from which are currently being considered by ministers.

We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like investing £440,000 to help rural pubs diversify as community hubs, delivered with Pub is The Hub to unlock over 40 stalled projects.

We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as Society of Independent Brewers, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.

The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries, the findings from which are currently being considered by ministers.

We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like investing £440,000 to help rural pubs diversify as community hubs, delivered with Pub is The Hub to unlock over 40 stalled projects.

We also maintain regular engagement with trade bodies such as Society of Independent Brewers, as well as colleagues across government, to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest evidence and genuinely support the sector’s long-term stability.

The Department for Business and Trade welcomes the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations but has no wider plans to commemorate this.

The landmark UK-India trade deal includes chapters on labour, gender, environment and anti-corruption. In common with most free trade agreements it enables the two partners to discuss important matters including human rights on a regular basis. It is not our only means of advancing concerns.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network across India track human rights across the country. We engage Indian stakeholders on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society.

My Department is committed to supporting British exporters, including by ensuring they can trade under CPTPP terms with Canada as soon as possible.

UK businesses will benefit from the CPTPP Customs Chapter, which promotes efficient, consistent, transparent, and predictable customs procedures, while also allowing Parties to maintain effective customs control. CPTPP members have also committed to updating and enhancing the customs Chapter, as set out within the General Review Report in the CPTPP Ministerial Joint Statement, November 2025.

These enhancements will apply to the UK-Canada relationship once CPTPP enters into force between our countries, which should be later this year.

Businesses will benefit from better trade terms with Canada once they ratify our CPTPP accession, which should happen later this year. Canada began its ratification legislative process last September, and it is making good progress through their Parliament.

My Department is helping businesses take advantage of the opportunities offered by CPTPP through engagement, guidance, and practical support, and we will share detailed guidance on Canada at entry into force. The Government will continue to work with our Canadian counterparts to reduce barriers and enable businesses in both countries to reap the benefits offered by CPTPP.

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

In November, I met the CEOs of Royal Mail and International Distribution Services and raised concerns about Royal Mail's performance. They reported continued targeted action to improve reliability. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if quality of service does not improve.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and implement a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

The government does not collect or hold this information. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.

This government believes that strong trade unions are essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement, and low pay.

Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are introducing a new duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a union and simplifying the statutory recognition trade union process, so that working people have a more meaningful right to organise through trade unions should they choose to do so. These measures affect all those in an employment relationship, including delivery company workers who meet the worker status criteria.

I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on fireworks-related issues. I also recently met with the Scottish Government, and a number of MPs to discuss fireworks policy and hope to meet with the Fireworks Impact coalition in the near future.

The insights from these discussions, as well as other evidence gathered on the impact of fireworks will guide future action.

The Government currently has no plans to consider regulating pub owning companies with less than 500 tied tenants, or to regulate breweries. Pub owning businesses that don’t meet the qualifying threshold for the Pubs Code can, however, join a voluntary scheme administered by the Pub Governing Body. This scheme, also known as the Voluntary Pubs Code, provides signatories with a dispute resolution service and fair methods of determining rent by an independent expert.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

In 2024, the UK exported 77% of the cars it produced, and non zero emissions cars can continue to be sold internationally beyond 2030.

The Department engages regularly with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), including on matters related to steel product categories. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led, and we encourage bright steel bar and bright drawing businesses to raise any concerns directly with the TRA. In the 2021 transition review, the TRA determined that category 27 (bright steel bar) did not meet the threshold for serious injury required to justify safeguard continuation; no subsequent evidence has been submitted to support reinstatement.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and actively engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The Department will ensure industry views are considered as part of any formal procedure undertaken by the TRA with respect to bright steel bar and associated raw materials

In order to assess regulations as they affect business, the department employs a number of methodologies and draws on data from a wide variety of internal and external sources. We have not identified any data gaps that limit the Department’s ability to assess regulations. For example, in order to estimate the benefits of removing trade-related barriers facing UK exporters, the Department uses a methodology which is published on Gov.UK and continuously reviewed to ensure that it remains effective and proportionate, including consideration of any data challenges.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025 .

The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.

The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

We have not made such specific assessments, however we are keen to progress a UK Deposit Return Scheme and are currently evaluating the Welsh Government's proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025.

As part of that process we have been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the Welsh Government proposal on the UK internal market.

We have not made such specific assessments, however we are keen to progress a UK Deposit Return Scheme and are currently evaluating the Welsh Government's proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025.

As part of that process we have been engaging with stakeholders to gather evidence and feedback on the impact of the Welsh Government proposal on the UK internal market.

The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in UK and global supply chains and ensuring that UK businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. A range of existing measures already support this, including the Procurement Act 2023, Overseas Business Risk guidance, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The review launched in the Trade Strategy into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct focuses on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. It will assess effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and the merits of alternative measures to support responsible business practices.

The Government continues to closely monitor market trends, including for categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, to ensure UK manufacturers retain reliable access to appropriate feedstock. We are exploring a range of options to support the UK steel industry and ensure security of supply beyond the expiry of the Safeguard in June this year. We will share more information in due course.

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

Steel is a high priority for this Government. We have worked closely with industry on potential impacts and their needs in terms of EU market access and are now engaging closely with the EU to make the case. We expect the EU to honour the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The UK will always defend its critical steel industry where required, and we want to work with our closest allies to address global challenges. We look forward to saying more soon, including in our forthcoming Steel Strategy.

This government is committed to hardwiring the voice of SME owners and entrepreneurs into government policy.

For example, as part of co-designing our Plan for Small Business launched in July 2025, DBT Ministers engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions, including through roundtables across key areas, such as High Streets, Markets and Finance, as well as specific policy events such as at Wilton Park.

Ministers and their teams continue to work closely with individual SMEs and the trade associations that represent them on an ongoing basis.

The Government is committed to revitalising former coalfield areas by driving local growth and creating high-skilled, long-term employment through targeted industrial and regional strategies. In the Industrial Strategy we announced £1.2 billion of additional investment in skills per year by 2028-29.

On 23 June 2025, the Government published the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, which consolidates previous Freeport and Investment Zone programmes. Several Investment Zones are located in or near former coalfield heartlands, including the East Midlands, South Yorkshire, and the North East. These zones receive up to £160 million over 10 years for tax incentives and interventions in skills and infrastructure.

The Government continues to work with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which supported over 7,200 people in 2024/25 to improve their skills and job opportunities. In Wales, the Welsh Government provides specific capital grants to safeguard and improve community facilities in coalfield communities.

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

Ofcom is responsible for regulation of the postal services sector and requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

In its last review of the postal regulatory framework, Ofcom acknowledged that the safety and security of parcels moving through delivery networks remains a key consumer concern and it is monitoring this issue over the review period lasting until 2027. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.

The Postal Services Act 2011 introduced a general authorisation regime to provide postal services, removing the requirement for postal operators to hold a licence.  However, the provision of those services by postal operators may be subject to regulatory conditions imposed by Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the sector.

Ofcom requires that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

Ministers have been clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.

The Network Charging Compensation (NCC) Scheme is one of the three components making up the British Industry Supercharger (the Supercharger). The other two components are the GB Capacity Market Exemption and Energy Intensive Industries Exemption Scheme. The most current list of recipients of Supercharger support, and therefore NCC Scheme support, can be found at the following link: Contracts for Difference (CfD) and renewables obligation (RO): list of companies awarded an exemption - GOV.UK. These recipients, and future Supercharger recipients, will benefit from 90% compensation from network charges from 1 April 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made a specific assessment of the merits of private debt recovery practices for fuel transactions. However, the Government expects all firms to treat individuals in debt fairly and to act in a responsible manner. Under general commercial law, businesses may claim reasonable debt recovery costs and interest on late payments. The specific imposition of administration fees by private firms in fuel recovery is a commercial matter, though such fees must remain transparent and proportionate to the costs incurred.

The Government remains committed to improving debt collection practices across all sectors and will continue to monitor the impact of these practices on consumers and businesses.

The Government recognises the significant role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth, employment and community cohesion across the UK. That is why we are offering targeted support for the sector.

We've permanently lowered tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit. The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation.

The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

The Parental Leave and Pay Review’s Call for Evidence closed on 25 August 2025 after receiving almost 1500 responses, which are currently being analysed and will go on to inform the review.

We are engaging with a range of stakeholders, including advocacy groups, trade unions and business representatives, including through a series of thematic roundtables to inform our ongoing work. We intend to continue this engagement in 2026.

The Review will be concluded in early 2027 and the Government will outline next steps for taking any reforms forward to implementation.

We recognise the significant contribution hospitality businesses, including pubs, make in driving economic growth and providing jobs, especially in rural and coastal communities.

No formal assessment has been made of the role pubs play in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas. In 2024, the hospitality sector contributed £51.3 billion to the UK economy, representing around 2% of total output and supporting 2 million jobs, or 6.1% of total UK employment.

The Government recognises the vital role community pubs and high-street hospitality venues play in local economies and social life; we also recognise the pressures they face.

The Government has permanently lowered business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties and have introduced a £4.3 billion support package over the next three years to protect ratepayers from increases following the business rates revaluation. Additionally, through the English Devolution Bill, we have introduced a strong new ‘right to buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets, empowering local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to revamp our high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premises

We will continue work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) is designed to put postmasters back into the position they would have been in ‘but for’ Horizon, and no one will pay more tax than at the time of the shortfalls. All fully assessed HSS awards are paid gross and taxable in the year in which redress is paid, unlike other schemes where awards are paid after tax deductions. To avoid claimants being unduly affected, HSS provides a tax top-up, so redress is not reduced. Postmasters also receive £1,200 for independent tax advice and help with tax returns. Payments related to the fixed-sum option on HSS, and associated top-ups, are tax exempt.

The Government is committed to supporting small and start-up businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for small and medium size businesses in a generation.

Start-ups play a crucial role in fostering competition and innovation, and we are improving access to finance for start-ups through Start Up Loans provided by the British Business Bank.

Last year, we launched a new Business Growth Service to make it easier for small businesses to access the right advice and support and we are boosting SME growth through new digital and AI Adoption initiatives.