Department for Business and Trade
We are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Plaid Cymru
Liz Saville Roberts (PC - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)Shadow PC Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Liberal Democrat
Sarah Olney (LD - Richmond Park)Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Scottish National Party
Deidre Brock (SNP - Edinburgh North and Leith)Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Commons Business)
Richard Thomson (SNP - Gordon)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Trade)
Labour
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab - Life peer)Shadow Spokesperson (Business and Trade)
Lord Leong (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Business and Trade)
Liberal Democrat
Lord Fox (LD - Life peer)Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Business)
Scottish National Party
Richard Thomson (SNP - Gordon)Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Business)
Labour
Jonathan Reynolds (Lab - Stalybridge and Hyde)Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Lord McNicol of West Kilbride (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Business and Trade)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Labour
Chi Onwurah (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)Shadow Minister (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Rushanara Ali (Lab - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Shadow Minister (Investment and Small Business)
Ministers of State
Lord Johnson of Lainston (Con - Life peer)Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Greg Hands (Con - Chelsea and Fulham)
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton)
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Maria Caulfield (Con - Lewes)Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Stuart Andrew (Con - Pudsey)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Equalities)
Kemi Badenoch (Con - Saffron Walden)
President of the Board of Trade
Lord Offord of Garvel (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
09:30
Oral questions - Main Chamber
2 May 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Business and Trade (including Topical Questions)
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09:30
Oral questions - Main Chamber
13 Jun 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Business and Trade (including Topical Questions)
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09:30
Oral questions - Main Chamber
18 Jul 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Business and Trade (including Topical Questions)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help protect workers …
These Regulations amend the Trade Remedies (Dumping and Subsidisation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/450) (the “Dumping and Subsidisation Regulations”), …
A Bill to Provide for the quashing of convictions in England and Wales for certain offences alleged to have been …
12:00
Policy and Engagement
Department for Business and Trade Commons Appearances
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:- Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
- Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
- Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.
Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Bills currently before Parliament
A Bill to provide for the regulation of competition in digital markets; to amend the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 and to make other provision about competition law; to make provision relating to the protection of consumer rights and to confer further such rights; and for connected purposes.
Monday 22nd April 2024
Tuesday 30th April 2024
A Bill to Provide for the quashing of convictions in England and Wales for certain offences alleged to have been committed while the Horizon system was in use by the Post Office; to make provision about the deletion of cautions given in England and Wales for such offences; and for connected purposes.
Monday 29th April 2024
Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament
A Bill To Enable the implementation of, and the making of other provision in connection with, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th March 2024 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to provide for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under, or in connection with, schemes or other arrangements to compensate persons affected by the Horizon system and in respect of other matters identified in legal proceedings relating to the Horizon system.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th January 2024 and was enacted into law.
Department for Business and Trade - Secondary Legislation
Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
(350 in the last 7 days)
(347 in the last 7 days)
(139 in the last 7 days)
(347 in the last 7 days)
(20 in the last 7 days)
(4 in the last 7 days)
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)The items licensed for export under the temporary Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) were intended for flight trials and testing. Items exported under a temporary SIEL must be returned to the UK within 12 months of the date on which the licence was granted.
We are monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely. All licences are kept under careful and continual review, and we are able to amend, suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The items licensed for export under the temporary Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) were intended for flight trials and testing. Items exported under a temporary SIEL must be returned to the UK within 12 months of the date on which the licence was granted.
We are monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely. All licences are kept under careful and continual review, and we are able to amend, suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Strikes Act ensures there is a balance between the ability to strike and ensuring the public can continue to access essential services during strike action. Impact assessments have been published for the Act, as well as subsequent regulations, including for passenger rail, ambulance services, fire and rescue services and border security.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Under existing legislation employees taking part in official protected industrial action lasting up to 12 weeks are protected from dismissal. The question of what other disciplinary action an employer can take in these circumstances was recently considered by the Supreme Court in the case of Mercer v Alternative Futures Group Ltd. The Government is carefully looking at the judgment in that case and will respond in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The INEOS Olefins project is a petrochemical plant being built to produce a range of petrochemicals products rather than burnable fuels. Therefore it neither processes nor produces any form of aviation fuel.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
None.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The number of people registered to a tailored event run by UKDSE Export Faculty since July 2022 (due to staff changes, unable to retrieve number of companies at other tailored faculty before this time): 834 people
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The number of people registered to a tailored event run by UKDSE Export Faculty since July 2022 (due to staff changes, unable to retrieve number of companies at other tailored faculty before this time): 834 people
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Ministers support domestic and overseas trade shows to further the UK national interest. Further information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
We continue to monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza closely. The UK has not granted any export licences to UK-based AI companies to export to Israel.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The UK operates one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
There are no extant licences which meet these criteria.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
HM Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. This is an important lever for promoting both UK prosperity and national and global security.
We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC).
The SELC provide a thorough risk assessment framework for export licence applications and require us to think hard about the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. We will not license the export of equipment where to do so would be inconsistent with the SELC. These are not decisions we take lightly.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Department for Business and Trade’s export promotion campaign ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ is tailored regionally, and in March 2024 Lord Offord, Minister for Exports held the ‘Made in the Midlands’ Roadshow in the region
The International Trade Advisory Service has staff in Birmingham supporting businesses to export. The Export Academy provides online educational support and the Export Digital Enquiry Service answers specific international trade queries
The Government has provided £160M for the creation of a West Midlands Investment Zone. The West Midlands Combined Authority estimate that this may bring up to £5.5B investment and 30,000 new jobs by 2034.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Government does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We do not release confidential or commercially sensitive information provided by exporters as part of their export licence application. However, we do publish data on export licensing decisions on a quarterly basis in the Official Statistics, including data on outcome, end user destination, overall value, type (e.g. military, other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail's commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services. In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, 'safeguard caps', on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom reviewed the safeguard caps in 2023, including the impact of price rises on consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, and on 24 January 2024 announced its decision on the retail price caps that would apply to Royal Mail's universal postal services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ministers at DBT met Harland and Wolff in January and September 2023.
Officials remain in close contact and last met Harland and Wolff in April 2024.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
HM Government does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Government does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK Defence and Security Exports within the Department for Business and Trade uses an analytical assessment tool to build a picture of how the UK is perceived by overseas governments. This analysis is combined with information received from overseas networks and industry groups to build a holistic understanding of how effective UK efforts are in terms of building international relationships and influencing customers. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is updated regularly on perceptions of the UK offer.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) runs a comprehensive programme of overseas trade events and missions where UK industry capabilities are promoted in established and developing markets. UKDSE also works with Embassies and High Commissions, His Majesty's Trade Commissioners (HMTCs) and the Global Defence Network to promote UK capabilities and build industrial partnerships. Events and trade missions are assessed against objectives set to ensure that continuous improvement is embedded within the UK offer. This includes feedback from UK industry, and the UK's global networks also report regularly on perceptions of the UK at overseas events. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is updated regularly on progress.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
2021
Requested – 3
Fulfilled – 3
2022
Requested - 5
Fulfilled – 5
2023
Requested – 16
Fulfilled – 12
2024 (to date)
Requested – 6
Fulfilled - 4
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The total sector advisors working for UK Defence and Security Exports (formerly Defence and Security Organisation) as of 1st April each year between 2020 and 2024 was as follows:
- 1st April 2024 19
- 1st April 2023 18
- 1st April 2022 16
- 1st April 2021 22
- 1st April 2020 12
The department no longer holds the data for 2019, as this data was held on a previous position management system.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports do not have any employed staff based overseas.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports have 16 members of staff working in the regional team that covers Americas, Pacific and East Asia.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) estimate that a total of 171 UK SME defence firms have used the showcase pod at events supported by UKDSE, from 01 January 2019 to present (22 April 2024)
2019
66
2020 (Reduced activity due to Covid-19 pandemic)
5
2021 (Reduced activity due to Covid-19 pandemic)
3
2022
42
2023
41
2024 - to date
14
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
a) Oceanology International
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this event.
b) DPRTE
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this event.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Information is not recorded per year, below is the total number of businesses that have completed the listed modules:
(a) land - 236
(b) maritime - 236
(c) air - 236
(d) security - 206
(e) cyber security - 206
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
a) Intersec
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this security focussed event.
b) World Police Summit
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this security focussed event.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
a) export licencing – No information available.
b) doing business with prime contractors – 26 individuals attended live.
c) working with the media – No session held to date.
d) preparing for events – 29 attended live.
e) finance for export – 11 attended live.
f) support from other government departments and bodies – No session held to date.
g) developing export strategies – No session held to date.
h) global market focus – No session held to date.
i) business culture and know how across the world – No session held to date.
j) pitching for international contracts sessions – No information available.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Information prior to 2021 is not available. The following number of companies requested Soldier on Stand support at an exhibition:
2021
Requested – 3
2022
Requested - 5
2023
Requested – 16
2024 (to date)
Requested – 6
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
There have been the following number of sessions delivered in each module delivered since 2019:
(a) Land - 10
(b) Maritime - 10
(c) Air - 10
(d) Security - 8
(e) Cybersecurity - 9
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UKDSE currently has 77 companies participating with their products on the capability showcase. This figure will fluctuate as contracts expire and/or new products are placed within the showcase.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Yes, when delivering a Soldier on Stand service. Charges are based upon current military capitation rates.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
a) Singapore Airshow 2024
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this event. The UK Pavilion was coordinated by ADS Group Trade Association.
b) Asia Pacific Maritime 2024
0 – UKDSE did not support any defence companies to attend this civil maritime focussed event.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UKDSE directly supported 9 defence companies at DIMDEX 2024, either through participation on the UKDSE stand or through the Soldier on Stand service.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports has provided active support to the following UK domestic events:
2019
Security & Policing 2019 (March 2019)
DPRTE 2019 (March 2019)
DSEI 2019 (September 2019)
International Security Expo 2019 (December 2019)
2020
Security & Policing 2020 (March 2020)
Farnborough International Airshow 2020 (July 2020) – Virtual event due to Covid-19 pandemic
DPRTE 2020 (September 2020) – Virtual event due to Covid-19 pandemic
International Security Expo 2020 (November 2020) – Virtual event due to Covid-19 pandemic
2021
Security & Policing 2021 (March 2021) – Virtual event due to Covid-19 pandemic
DSEI 2021 (September 2021)
International Security Expo 2021 (September 2021)
DPRTE 2021 (October 2021)
2022
Security & Policing 2022 (March 2022)
DPRTE 2022 (May 2022)
Seawork 2022 (June 2022)
Farnborough International Airshow 2022 (July 2022)
International Security Expo 2022 (September 2022)
DVD 2022 (September 2022)
3CDSE (November 2022)
2023
Security & Policing 2023 (March 2023)
DPRTE 2023 (March 2023)
Seawork 2023 (June 2023)
DSEI 2023 (September 2023)
London International Shipping Week (September 2023)
International Security Expo 2022 (September 2023)
2024
Security & Policing 2024 (March 2024)
DPRTE 2024 (March 2024)
Planning for events scheduled to take place later in 2024 is also in progress.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Business Growth West Midlands is a regional business support function and is funded by both the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). DBT supports small and medium enterprises with national programmes such as the Growth Hub network and through schemes such as Help to Grow. The new Help to Grow Campaign includes a dedicated website, acting as a resourcing hub for business support and advice, as well as SME leadership training schemes, Help to Grow Management and Help to Grow: Management Essentials.
UK businesses, including those in Birmingham, can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises a digital self-serve offer and our wider network of support, including trade advisers, Export Champions, the Export Academy, our International Markets network and UK Export Finance.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has created an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Defence and Security Exports to coordinate support for defence and security exports. In December 2023 the IMG agreed that Government should prioritise support for exports which deliver four HMG priorities: geopolitical impact; support for sovereign capabilities; benefits to HMG defence and security; and contribution to UK prosperity.
On 16 April 2024, the IMG agreed to focus its effort on priority markets. These will be reviewed annually. Each IMG will identify and discuss markets requiring specific Ministerial interventions in support of long-term strategic objectives.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) strategic industry relationship management programme has 15 companies in it, while UKDSE also engages with many other companies individually and collectively through the relevant Trade Associations.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The total military advisors working for UK Defence and Security Exports as of 1st April each year between 2019 and 2024 was as follows:
- 1st April 2024 13
- 1st April 2023 12
- 1st April 2022 12
- 1st April 2021 15
- 1st April 2020 6
- 1st April 2019 9
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports has supported a number of trade missions since 2019. However, it has not consistently recorded this information because trade missions are not part of the main published UKDSE events programme.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports has supported a number of trade missions since 2019. However, it has not consistently recorded this information because trade missions are not part of the main published UKDSE events programme.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
UK Defence and Security Exports has supported a number of trade missions since 2019. However, it has not consistently recorded this information because trade missions are not part of the main published UKDSE events programme.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
This information is not recorded with respect to the whole Department for Business and Trade.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The number of civil servants employed were
| March 24 | March 23 | March 22 | March 21 | March 20 | March 19 |
UK Defence and Security Exports | 103 | 99 | 82 | 72 | 65 | 66 |
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Please see below the full year outturn for UK Defence and Security Exports for the period 2019/20 - 2022/23.
2019/2020 | UKDSE | £10m |
2020/2021 | UKDSE | £9.7m |
2021/2022 | UKDSE | £12.0m |
2022/2023 | UKDSE | £13.7m |
Please note that the 2023/24 outturn will be available once DBT’s accounts are finalised.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)