Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff positions in export support services will be reduced in each individual export market as a result of the Department's workforce reduction programme.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As set out in the Trade Strategy our overseas network will increasingly focus on the markets, sectors and opportunities that will drive UK economic growth for the next decade and beyond. We will have fewer export support staff in some markets as we focus more of our resource on attracting high value inward investment and tackling the market access barriers that hold British exporters back. We are working through the specific impact in each market, but directly supporting British exporters will remain the biggest part of what DBT teams do overseas.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in Competition Appeal Tribunal filings from 17 in 2023 to 3 in 2025 to date; and what assessment have they made of economic impact on jobs, investment, and growth in the UK’s legal services sector as a result of this reduction.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal provide an important route to redress for consumers that have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour and play a key role in the wider competition enforcement landscape. Truly competitive markets are to the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the wider UK economy.
The operation and impact of the opt-out collective actions regime is currently subject to review, with a call for evidence having closed on 14 October 2025. Responses are currently being considered, and a consultation will be brought forward in due course once options for improvement have been identified.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government response to the consultation on the resale of live events ticket of 19 November 2025, what is his target date for the introduction of legislation to implement the proposals set out in the response.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.
Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.
We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the effectiveness of secondary live event ticket sales price caps in other countries.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.
Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.
We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a secondary live event ticket sales price cap on levels of tourism.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.
Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.
We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish an impact assessment for the plan for a secondary live event ticket sales price cap.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.
Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.
We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the economic impact of collective action filings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, in particular in terms of jobs, growth and inward investment in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal provide an important route to redress for consumers that have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour and play a key role in the wider competition enforcement landscape. Truly competitive markets are to the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the wider UK economy.
The operation and impact of the opt-out collective actions regime is currently subject to review, with a call for evidence having closed on 14 October 2025. Responses are currently being considered, and a consultation will be brought forward in due course once options for improvement have been identified.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to tackle rogue traders and protect consumers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Consumer legislation sets out protections for consumers.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.
DBT provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board and Trading Standards Scotland to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
DBT also funds Citizens Advice to provide the consumer service which supports consumers to assert their rights. Citizens Advice also run an annual Scams Awareness campaign.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department holds a copy of the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide of September 2020 that was signed by both the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the National Investigation Service.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I confirm that the Department holds a copy of the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide of September 2020 that was signed by both the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and Thurrock Council (being the host of the National Investigation Service).
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her budget on the pubs and brewing sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Chancellor will make decisions on Budget in the round and these will be announced in the usual way. The government does not comment on speculation outside of fiscal events.