Department for Business and Trade

The Government is committed to bringing in a new era of partnership that sees employers, unions and Government work together in co-operation and through negotiation – putting an end to the worst strikes chaos seen in decades under the previous administration. The Employment Rights Bill will be introduced in the first 100 days in Government and will play a key role in delivering aspects of the Plan to Make Work Pay. This will include legislation on sectoral collective bargaining, with Adult Social Care being the first sector for this to be introduced

The Government recognises the sacrifices made by so many veterans and the huge debt of gratitude owed to those who have served their country.

The current pattern of UK bank holidays is well established and accepted. Whilst an additional bank holiday may benefit some sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.

No company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. The Department for Business and Trade will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK's existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools that are emerging, to ensure it can best tackle forced labour in supply chains, and work with businesses and international partners to understand the impact of measures to combat forced labour.

The UK's labour market enforcement system is fragmented and ineffective. This is bad for workers and bad for businesses who do the right thing. This government will finally establish a single body, the Fair Work Agency, to enforce workers' rights, including strong powers to inspect workplaces and take action against exploitation.

More details, including proposed budgets for the body, will be provided in due course.

We as a government will work to remove unnecessary barriers to trade with the EU.

UK businesses can access DBT’s export support services via Great.gov.uk. This comprises a digital self-serve offer and our wider network of support, including Export Champions, the Export Academy, our International Markets network, and UK Export Finance. Alongside this, our international trade advisers use their extensive experience of exporting and knowledge of the needs of SMEs in their sectors and regions to provide one-to-one tailored support to businesses across the UK. The Department are exploring options to improve our export support offer to UK businesses.

The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.

The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.

When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions, in line with the UK's Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza.

The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.

The Government is committed to introducing statutory rights for trade union equality representatives to strengthen equality at work for all. Further information including impact assessments will be published in due course.

The Employment Rights Bill will be introduced in the first 100 days in Government and will play a key role in delivering aspects of the Plan to Make Work Pay. This will include legislation on sectoral collective bargaining, with Adult Social Care being the first sector for this to be introduced.

The Department for Business and Trade wants to reset our relationship with the EU and deepen ties with our European neighbours.

The Department will work to improve the UK's trade and investment relationship by tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade.

The Department will seek to negotiate a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks, to help touring artists, and to secure mutual recognition for professional qualifications to open up priority markets for service exporters.

The Secretary of State has already held positive discussions with his European Commission counterpart Valdis Dombrovskis and has met with German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck to discuss UK-German shared trade interests.

No company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. The Department for Business and Trade will be working with colleagues across Government to tackle forced labour in supply chains, including polysilicon used in the manufacture of solar panels.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is relaunching the Solar Taskforce, which will focus on identifying and developing supply chains that are resilient, sustainable and free from forced labour.

The Government's Overseas Business Risk guidance makes clear to UK companies the risks of operating in certain regions and urges them to conduct appropriate due diligence when making business decisions.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

Small businesses are the beating heart of our high streets, our communities, and essential to our economic success. This Government will hardwire the voice of small business into everything we do.

The Government is committed to improving access to finance for small businesses by reforming the British Business Bank and freeing up capital for small and medium-sized firms so they can expand. We have also announced our plan to align key institutions under the National Wealth Fund, which will boost growth and unlock investment. They can also access support from UK Export Finance, which helps UK exporters win contracts, fulfil orders, and receive payment by providing guarantees, insurance and loans to support export activities.

The Department for Business and Trade are currently assessing progress across the programme of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) currently under negotiation and determining which matters will be raised in negotiations. The Department's trade deals will be aligned with our industrial strategy and designed to bring prosperity to communities across the country and fulfil our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.

The UK maintains the right to regulate public services, including the education sector, in all our trade agreements. FTA commitments typically do not prevent treaty partners from imposing domestic restrictions on academic freedom.

The Government has committed to introducing modern, secure, electronic balloting, while ensuring we maintain high standards of engagement, participation, and cyber security. Further information on the implementation of electronic balloting will be outlined in due course.

The Government is committed to introduce modern, secure, electronic balloting and workplace balloting for trade union ballots. In doing so, we will ensure that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained.

All DBT employees have an existing set of Terms and Conditions which confirm their expected hours of work. Given the nature of private office roles, employees may need to work additional or irregular hours, which is taken into account when determining their remuneration. The private offices operate as a team which ensures responsibility for being available to support Ministers outside of regular working hours is shared, work/life balance is monitored, and all employees can switch off regularly.

The Government has no intention of changing the law in relation to secondary action, including secondary picketing. We are working on establishing a Fair Pay Agreement in the social care sector and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Post Office is an essential service in communities across the country. The Government is committed to finding ways to strengthen the Post Office, through consulting with sub-postmasters, trade unions and customers. This will include supporting the development of new products, services and business models that will help reinvigorate the high street.

The Acas statutory Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures provides basic practical guidance to employers, employees and their representatives and sets out principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace. As part of our Plan to Make Work Pay we will work with Acas to consider whether there is a need to update procedures in this area.

Consumers experiencing issues with Ford wet belt engines should contact Ford or the retailer directly to resolve the issue. Consumers can also contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 for advice. If consumers are unable to resolve issues directly, the Motor Ombudsman, which is independent of government, can investigate and seek a resolution.

The Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA) has and continues to investigate issues with Ford wet belt engines, including where raised directly by owners. The DVSA will continue to engage with Ford to better understand the reasons for failure and have the power to require Ford to take safety recall action if evidence suggests it is necessary.

Employee thresholds used by this department to classify micro, small and medium-sized firms are shown in the table below:

Small businesses are essential to our economic success.

This Government is committed to take action on late payments to ensure small businesses and the self-employed are paid on time. The practice of cash retentions can create problems for contractors in the construction supply chain, due to late and non-payment. Any policy solution must be a sustainable one that works for the industry.

Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties currently benefit from 75 per cent business rates relief, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2024-25. The small business multiplier is frozen at 49.9p for 2024/25.

The government identified that the current business rates system disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets. In England, the government will replace the business rates system, so we can raise the same revenue but in a fairer way.

The British Business Bank supports SMEs to grow by improving their access to finance, through the Growth Guarantee Scheme which offers a 70% government guarantee on loans.

We will establish Skills England which will have a new partnership with employers at its heart and will reform the apprenticeship levy, a key ask of hospitality businesses.

The Government is committed to ensuring justice and financial redress is delivered as swiftly as possible for postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal, whether that is through the redress schemes that are already operating or the new scheme which we intend to launch before the end of this month for those whose convictions have been overturned by the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act and the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act.

Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties currently benefit from 75 per cent business rates relief, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2024-25. The small business multiplier is frozen at 49.9p for 2024/25.

The government identified that the current business rates system disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets. In England, the government will replace the business rates system, so we can raise the same revenue but in a fairer way.

We will establish Skills England, a new partnership with employers at its heart and reform the apprenticeship levy, a key ask of hospitality businesses.

The English Devolution Bill will establish a new framework for English devolution. It will give local leaders the tools they need to drive growth, including empowering communities with a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, such as empty shops and pubs.

Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties currently benefit from 75 per cent business rates relief, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2024-25. The small business multiplier is frozen at 49.9p for 2024/25, protecting over a million ratepayers from bill increases.

The British Business Bank supports SMEs to grow by improving their access to finance. The Growth Guarantee Scheme offers a 70% government guarantee on loans to SMEs of up to £2 million in Great Britain, and £1 million in Northern Ireland and is available until the end of March 2026.

This Government backs our wonderful construction industry and is working to ensure we have a high-quality and professional construction industry, with consumer protection at the heart of this. TrustMark, sponsored by the Department and licenced by the Government, is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home. In addition the Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced competence requirements for both individuals and businesses working in the built environment.

Any action that the Government takes forward more widely on licensing to protect customers and standards needs to be robust, proportionate and evidence based.

The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011 prohibited compulsory retirement taking place unless it could be objectively justified.

Compulsory retirement ages in the current Police pension scheme were removed with the introduction of the 2015 Police pension scheme. Compulsory retirement ages for Firefighters were removed more than 10 years ago.

Nothing in the private pension system sets a mandatory retirement age in the private sector. The Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) sets the earliest point at which you can access your private pension without facing an unauthorised payments charge (except in cases of serious ill health).

In 2023, the value of goods associated with full declarations cleared by HMRC on GB to NI movements was £17.8bn, increasing by £3.6bn (26%) from 2022. More detail can be found here.

The Department for Business and Trade continues to work closely with the Northern Ireland devolved government and all other stakeholders to ensure the Windsor Framework delivers positive outcomes for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland.

Under terms agreed between Airbus and Spirit, Airbus will acquire the elements of Spirit’s Belfast site responsible for the A220 airliner. This includes the wing and mid-fuselage sections. The Government is working with the Northern Ireland Executive to help ensure the best outcome for Short Brothers and all its incredibly skilled, hard working, staff. My Department is in touch with Spirit, Airbus, Boeing and other potential buyers. We have a keen interest in seeing that any acquisition includes a commitment to develop Short Brothers and its supply chain, and to provide the best possible opportunity for growth in Northern Ireland.

Thank you to the Hon. Member for raising this topic. This Government is committed to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay in full and updating Britain’s employment protections, so they are fit for our modern economy and the future of work. This includes strengthening protections from sexual harassment and harassment in the workplace. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the Plan, including an Employment Rights Bill that will be introduced to Parliament within 100 days of taking office.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Ofcom’s duties, as the independent regulator for postal services, include furthering the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.

Ofcom’s regulatory framework supports competition by imposing minimal intervention in competitive areas of the postal market, for example, in relation to parcel services. Ofcom also requires Royal Mail, as the designated universal service provider, to allow access to its network for the provision of certain bulk letter and large letter services and impose a number of safeguards to protect postal operators reliant on this access.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The construction of a small nuclear reactor at Port Talbot to provide energy for the manufacture of steel has not been discussed as part of Tata Steel's plans for the construction of an Electric Arc Furnace at the site. The UK Government does not have a role in Tata Steel's energy purchasing arrangements, and the energy sources that Tata will choose to use are a commercial decision for them.

The Alternative Routes to Market for New Nuclear Projects consultation explored potential wider roles of nuclear energy beyond electricity generation, including large scale industrial applications. The consultation responses are now being analysed and will help shape future policy.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders data shows 905,117 cars were produced in the UK in 2023, a 16.8% increase on 2022. It is positive to see that in January to March 2024 the UK produced 222,371 cars, 1.1% more than the same period in 2023.

The automotive sector directly supports 152,000 jobs and contributes £19.4 billion in gross value added to our economy (from a turnover of £85 billion). The Government continues to support the automotive sector, including through the Automotive Council.

I am unable to comment on ongoing transactions for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

I am unable to comment on ongoing transactions for reasons of commercial sensitivity.