Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Ofcom's press release entitled Universal postal service must modernise, published on 24 January 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposals to reduce the number of Royal Mail service days on (a) working conditions and (b) staff numbers.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of customers as well as being financially sustainable and efficient. The Government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.

The Government will consider any recommendations that Ofcom puts forward, but Ministers are not currently minded to introduce new legislation to change the obligations on postal deliveries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Ofcom's press release entitled Universal postal service must modernise, published on 24 January 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposals to reduce the number of Royal Mail service days on postal delivery targets.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of customers as well as being financially sustainable and efficient. The Government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.

The Government will consider any recommendations that Ofcom puts forward, but Ministers are not currently minded to introduce new legislation to change the obligations on postal deliveries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a reduction in Royal Mail service days on small (a) businesses and (b) online traders.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of customers as well as being financially sustainable and efficient. The Government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.

The Government will consider any recommendations that Ofcom puts forward, but Ministers are not currently minded to introduce new legislation to change the obligations on postal deliveries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase business investment (a) outside London and (b) in (i) York and (ii) north Yorkshire.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government-owned British Business Bank is supporting business investment across the UK including through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds. This includes the £660m Northern Powerhouse Fund II programme, supporting growing businesses across the North of England.

Our Growth Hub network is also supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors across England. The Department for Business and Trade is working across the UK, including in York and North Yorkshire to showcase strong, commercial investment opportunities to potential investors and support business to grow. The Government has also agreed a £540 million mayoral devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire to support growth and business investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2024 to Question 15852 on Scallops: Isle of Man, whether (a) Isle of Man queenies, (b) Isle of Man manx loaghtan lamb and (c) Jersey royal potatoes were included in the original list of 77 food and drink products submitted by the Department for International Trade to the Japanese authorities on 30 April 2021 for which it was seeking geographical indication protection in Japan under the terms of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the Honourable Member to the response provided to Question UIN 15852 published on 4 March 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government why a grant of £8 million was recently paid to Vertical Aerospace to develop a flying taxi company at a time when the firm faced material uncertainty.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

A research consortium led by Vertical Aerospace, including four universities, was awarded an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme grant to develop propeller technology.

The ATI Programme co-funds UK research and development activity with industry to develop zero-carbon and ultra-efficient aircraft technology. Grants are awarded after a competitive process, with only the best projects recommended - those that offer real innovation, emissions reduction and tangible economic benefits to the UK.

Due diligence checks are completed ahead of all awards, with grants paid in arrears based on activity delivered against an agreed plan. Safeguards are in place in the event of business failure.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress she has made on establishing an exceptional compensation scheme for holidaymakers who have outstanding (a) loss of life and (b) serious personal injury claims against UK companies.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government understands that an alternative route for Thomas Cook personal injury claimants is being pursued that would potentially be financially beneficial to them.

The Government is committed to establishing a payment scheme for customers of Thomas Cook with serious and long-term injuries for which the company would have been liable but for its insolvency, if it is established that there are no alternative routes to compensation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what advertising campaigns directed at local businesses have been undertaken by her Department's trade hub in Northern Ireland since 1 January 2024.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Engaging with businesses in Northern Ireland (NI) is a key priority for the Department for Business and Trade. The “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” campaign continues to raise awareness of export benefits and the free UK government support available to help businesses grow internationally.

This year, the department’s Northern Ireland team has promoted specific opportunities to NI businesses through the Australia and New Zealand Roadshow and the Food and Drink Export Council’s Peer-to-Peer event in Cookstown. Businesses are encouraged to use the department’s services like the UK Export Academy and provide peer support via our Export Champion programme.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2024 to Question 17476 on INEOS: Belgium, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of new business outside the UK on (a) sites and (b) industries in the UK.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the Honourable Member to the response provided to Question 19719 on 25 March.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2024 to Question 14506 on Small Businesses: Telephone Services, how much her Department spent on the operation of the Business Support Helpline in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government supports all types of businesses through its core services, including GOV.UK and Growth Hubs operating in England.

Additionally, we also provide, as part of this package of support, The Business Support Helpline, which provides information, advice, guidance, and support to around 30,000 people in England every year.

The chart below details our last three full years' spending on this service.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including titanium on the list of metals that are sanctioned when originating from Russia.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Metals are Russia’s biggest export after oil and gas. The UK Government is leading on efforts to restrict imports to the UK of Russian metals, delivering on G7 commitments.

In December last year, we introduced further restrictions on several base metals, including copper, aluminium, and nickel. These added to existing sanctions on products including iron and steel.

The UK Government does not comment on future sanctions policy as to do so could reduce its impact. We will continue to apply pressure against Putin and his regime, until Ukraine prevails or Putin ends his war of choice.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19719 on INEOS: Belgium, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of that guarantee on existing and competitor refineries in the UK.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK Export Finance conducted its customary due diligence in line with its policies and obligations to inform its decision-making about supporting Project One. This included consideration of environmental, social and climate change risks and impacts, but did not include an assessment of the type specified in the question.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19719 on INEOS: Belgium, what estimate she has made of the number of jobs that will be created as a result of that guarantee.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade cannot provide a specific number of jobs supported. As advised in the response to UIN 19719, UK Export Finance's guarantee to commercial lenders will help secure new export opportunities for the UK that would not otherwise have happened, in turn supporting jobs across the UK, both in those businesses with which INEoS contracts direcfly, and in their supply chain.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Table 2.4 of the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, what the (a) destination country and (b) type of goods to be exported were for each Standard Individual Export Licence and Standard Individual Trade Control Licence revoked under Criterion 1.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

As part of our commitment to transparency, HM Government publishes 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. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department's press release entitled UK businesses welcome protection for iconic British food and drink in Japan, published on 27 February 2024, how many food and drink products are included in the second group for which her Department are seeking geographical indication protection in Japan under the terms of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

For the second tranche of GIs, the UK has put forward 39 food and drink products seeking GI protection under the terms of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The second group is set to be announced once Japan has concluded its examination of the names.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the pay ranges at each grade are for Competition and Markets Authority staff based (a) in and (b) outside London.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Current pay at the Competition and Markets Authority ranges from a minimum of £25,300 to a maximum of £27,900 for Administrative Officers, the lowest pay grade, to a minimum of £127,000 to a maximum of £208,100 for Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3, which is Director General level and the most senior grade. My officials will share a detailed breakdown of pay ranges separately.

In relation to pay in and outside of London, the CMA does not differentiate pay based on location. Pay and funding are the responsibility of HM Treasury, who are the financial sponsors of the CMA.

Pay Bands

Administrative Officer to Grade 6 – effective from 1 September 2023

Senior Civil Service – effective from 1 April 2023

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department's press release of 27 February 2024 entitled UK businesses welcome protection for iconic British food and drink in Japan, for what reason Yatsushiro Tokusan Banpeiyu was not included among the 37 Japanese products listed in that press release as receiving geographical indication status in the UK, but was included among the 37 Japanese products added to the protected food and drink names website maintained by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 March 2024.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Kikuchi Suiden Gobo was added onto the UK GI register as a protected product on 8 March 2024. The department has amended the press release of 27 February 2024 to include Kikuchi Suiden Gobo. The updated press release can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-businesses-welcome-protection-for-iconic-british-food-and-drink-in-japan.

The entry for Yatsushiro Tokusan Banpeiyu was delayed but has now been completed and is listed alongside the other 37 first tranche products from Japan.

The UK was unable to register Iwate Mokutan as a GI because there is no classification under current UK domestic legislation which could include charcoal. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs wrote to the Japanese authorities in 2022 to explain this decision, which they accepted.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department's press release of 27 February 2024 entitled UK businesses welcome protection for iconic British food and drink in Japan, for what reason Kikuchi Suiden Gobo was included among the 37 Japanese products listed in that press release as receiving geographical indication status in the UK, but was not included among the 37 Japanese products added to the protected food and drink names website maintained by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 March 2024.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Kikuchi Suiden Gobo was added onto the UK GI register as a protected product on 8 March 2024. The department has amended the press release of 27 February 2024 to include Kikuchi Suiden Gobo. The updated press release can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-businesses-welcome-protection-for-iconic-british-food-and-drink-in-japan.

The entry for Yatsushiro Tokusan Banpeiyu was delayed but has now been completed and is listed alongside the other 37 first tranche products from Japan.

The UK was unable to register Iwate Mokutan as a GI because there is no classification under current UK domestic legislation which could include charcoal. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs wrote to the Japanese authorities in 2022 to explain this decision, which they accepted.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with car manufacturers on levels of disruption to supply chains for (a) temperature sensors and (b) other spare parts for electric vehicles since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

HMG understands the concerns of the Automotive industry regarding the potential impact of the invasion on its business operations and supply chains worldwide. The Department for Business and Trade ministers regularly meet with sector bodies and auto manufacturers to discuss a variety of automotive related trade issues, including an understanding of any direct and indirect impacts on UK operations.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether provisions have been made for employees of The Bodyshop who were made redundant.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I understand this will be a concerning time for those impacted. The Department for Work and Pensions’ Rapid Response Service is a service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy.

The range of support may include:

• Connecting people to jobs in the labour market.
• Help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them.
• Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour market).
• What benefits they may get and how to claim.

Employees may be entitled to statutory redundancy pay, compensatory notice pay and holiday pay from the Insolvency Service. Further information may be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-body-shop-in-administration-information-for-employees-and-creditors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of expenditure by UK Defence and Security Exports on (a) domestic and (b) overseas trade shows in each year since 2010.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Department for Business and Trade has made no such estimate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2023 to Question 1306 on Energy: Prices, if she will make an (a) estimate of when the Supercharger proposals will be fully implemented and (b) an assessment of the potential impact of their full implementation on the international competitiveness of UK electricity costs.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The government committed to implementing the Supercharger measures between April 2024 and April 2025. The 4 statutory instruments that enact the Supercharger came into force on 1 April and the first measure has been implemented. The second measure will be implemented from 1 October and the final measure will be implemented from April 2025.

Taken together, the government estimates that Government support on electricity prices for Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) in the form of the British Industry Supercharger could be worth (on average) around £24-£31 Per MegaWatt Hour (MWh) for eligible businesses, closing the competitive gap with their international competitors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to commission a review into the (1) economic, and (2) other, (a) benefits, and (b) disbenefits, of Brexit.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has no plans to commission a review into the economic, and other benefits or disbenefits of Brexit. However, to mark the fourth anniversary of Brexit, on 31^st January this year, the Department for Business and Trade published an overview of Brexit successes: Brexit 4th Anniversary

Since the referendum the UK has grown faster than Germany, Italy, and Japan. Latest figures show that UK exports are £862bn in current prices and 2% above pre-COVID (2018) levels when adjusting for inflation. The lnternational Monetary Fund (lMF) predicts that between 2024-2029 the UK will see the third fastest growth in the G7.

The Department has secured free trade deals with 73 countries plus the EU, partners that accounted for £1.1 trillion UK trade in 2022 and simplified import tariffs to lower costs for businesses and households.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's press release of 27 February 2024 entitled UK businesses welcome protection for iconic British food and drink in Japan, what the outcome was of the application by the Japanese authorities to award geographical indication status in the UK to Iwate Mokutan/Iwate Kirizumi, as published for consultation by the Department for International Trade on 21 December 2021.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Kikuchi Suiden Gobo was added onto the UK GI register as a protected product on 8 March 2024. The department has amended the press release of 27 February 2024 to include Kikuchi Suiden Gobo. The updated press release can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-businesses-welcome-protection-for-iconic-british-food-and-drink-in-japan.

The entry for Yatsushiro Tokusan Banpeiyu was delayed but has now been completed and is listed alongside the other 37 first tranche products from Japan.

The UK was unable to register Iwate Mokutan as a GI because there is no classification under current UK domestic legislation which could include charcoal. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs wrote to the Japanese authorities in 2022 to explain this decision, which they accepted.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much her Department has spent on the SME team at UK Defence and Security Exports in each financial year since 2019-20.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The department has interpreted this as the amount spent on staffing costs for Civil Servants on DBT payroll within the SME team at UK Defence and Security Exports. The cost for each financial year since 2019-20 is outlined in the table below.

Staffing costs include the base salaries, allowances, overtime, non-consolidated performance bonuses and employer National Insurance and pensions contributions for those working in the team during the relevant financial reporting period.

Note: Due to Machinery of Government changes the costs up to and including July 2023 relate to the former Department for International Trade only and then following the transfer of staff in August 2023 to DBT.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether an Elbit Systems UK (a) company, (b) subsidiary and (c) agent has been issued with a licence to export aero-engines for military use since 2008.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Our records show that since 2008 and up to 30 June 2023, which is the date of the Government’s most recent Official Statistics release on export licensing decisions, we have not issued an export licence to ‘Elbit Systems UK’ to export aero-engines for military use.

Our records also show that as at 30 June 2023, we had granted one temporary Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) to export military aero-engines to ‘Elbit Systems Limited’ in Israel.

We do not hold a comprehensive list of all of the subsidiaries or companies owned by Elbit Systems Limited.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether military aero-engines have been exported to (a) Elbit subsidiaries and (b) companies owned by Elbit Systems Ltd in Israel.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Our records show that since 2008 and up to 30 June 2023, which is the date of the Government’s most recent Official Statistics release on export licensing decisions, we have not issued an export licence to ‘Elbit Systems UK’ to export aero-engines for military use.

Our records also show that as at 30 June 2023, we had granted one temporary Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) to export military aero-engines to ‘Elbit Systems Limited’ in Israel.

We do not hold a comprehensive list of all of the subsidiaries or companies owned by Elbit Systems Limited.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has held discussions with UK Export Finance on (a) the closure of the ethanol plant at Grangemouth and (b) the proposed INEOS plant in Antwerp.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK Export Finance and the Department for Business and Trade are strategically and operationally aligned, and routinely share relevant information across all business areas.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19719 on INEOS: Belgium, how many (a) ethanol and (b) ethanol-related products will be produced at the new Ineos site in Antwerp.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The INEOS Project One plant will not be producing ethanol or ethanol related products.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16834 on Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur's report entitled Paying polluters: the catastrophic consequences of investor-State dispute settlement for climate action and human rights relating to the transparency of investor-State dispute settlements.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to Question 16553 on 11 March.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions officials in her Department have had with the Royal Mail Group PLC on installing post boxes on new housing estates.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The installation of post boxes on housing estates is an operational matter for Royal Mail as an independent business. The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational decisions.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the postal sector, requires Royal Mail to ensure there is a post box within half a mile of the premises of at least 98% of users of postal services. Royal Mail is also required to report annually to Ofcom the number of customer complaints received about the provision and/or location of post boxes.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of Royal Mail's failure to meet the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to monitor Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations.

While the Government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions, I have met the Chief Executive of Royal Mail’s parent company to raise concerns about its performance in delivering the Government’s commitment to a universal postal service which meets consumer needs.

Ofcom fined the business £5.6m for failing to meet its service delivery targets in 2022-23 and continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance to ensure service issues are addressed as a priority.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Royal Mail’s fulfilment of the Universal Service Obligation in Portsmouth in 2023.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to monitor Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations.

While the Government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions, I have met the Chief Executive of Royal Mail’s parent company to raise concerns about its performance in delivering the Government’s commitment to a universal postal service which meets consumer needs.

Ofcom fined the business £5.6m for failing to meet its service delivery targets in 2022-23 and continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance to ensure service issues are addressed as a priority.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on ensuring local independent retailers are not adversely affected by restrictive practices with regard to choice of stock by wholesale suppliers.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Responsibility for investigating individual and market-wide competition issues falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority. The Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers to investigate and act if it finds that businesses are behaving anti-competitively in a market.As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to help increase business investment in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) the East Midlands.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government-owned British Business Bank is supporting business investment across the UK including through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds. This includes the £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, supporting growing businesses across the Midlands.

Our Growth Hub network is also supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors across England. The Department for Business and Trade is working across the UK, including in Greater Lincolnshire to showcase strong, commercial investment opportunities to potential investors and support business to grow. The Government has also agreed a £720 million mayoral devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire to support growth and business investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) vineyards producing and (b) retailers selling wine in pint measures since January 2024.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department does not hold this information. The sale of prepacked wine in 568ml ‘pint’ quantities will be permitted after the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) (amendment) Regulations 2024 come into force on 19^th September 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people have been employed in the SME team at UK Defence and Security Exports in each year since 2019.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

2024/25 to date

2.5

2023/24

2.5

2022/23

2.5

2021/22

2.5

2020/21

3.5

2019/20

4

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people have been employed in the events team in UK Defence and Security Exports in each year since 2019.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

2024

6.5

2023

6.5

2022

6.5

2021

4.5

2020

6.5

2019

6

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on how many occasions the Change in Circumstances Review assessment process in the Export Controls Joint Unit has led to extant export licences being suspended in each year since 2010; and what the destination country was in each case.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has in place an established process for responding at pace to changing conditions in a country where the UK has previously granted export licences, and where those licences remain extant.

The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities. The MOD advises DBT on the risks of diversion of exported goods and national security risks arising from hostile state activity. The Department of Business and Trade, with DBT Secretary of State as the decision-making authority, decides whether to amend, suspend or revoke any relevant licences.

We publish comprehensive Official Statistics every quarter about the decisions we make on licence applications, including any decisions to suspend or revoke licences. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on how many occasions the Change in Circumstances Review assessment process in the Export Controls Joint Unit has led to extant export licences being revoked in each year since 2010; and what the destination country was in each case.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has in place an established process for responding at pace to changing conditions in a country where the UK has previously granted export licences, and where those licences remain extant.

The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities. The MOD advises DBT on the risks of diversion of exported goods and national security risks arising from hostile state activity. The Department of Business and Trade, with DBT Secretary of State as the decision-making authority, decides whether to amend, suspend or revoke any relevant licences.

We publish comprehensive Official Statistics every quarter about the decisions we make on licence applications, including any decisions to suspend or revoke licences. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria are used to decide to initiate the Change in Circumstances Review process in the Export Controls Joint Unit.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences and refuse new licence applications as circumstances require.

The Government can and does respond quickly and flexibly to changing or fluid international circumstances. ECJU has in place an established process for responding at pace to changing conditions in a country where the UK has previously granted export licences, and where those licences remain extant.

The criteria for initiating this process can include, but are not limited to, protests, coup d’etats, changes to sanctions, or conflict with a neighbouring country.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many industry secondees worked in what departments of the Competition and Markets Authority in financial year 2022/23.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In the financial year 2022 to 2023 there were a total of 23 industry secondees working at the Competition and Markets Authority. One was working in Enforcement, nine in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser and thirteen in Legal Services.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding the Competition and Markets Authority provided to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

For the financial year 2022 to 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority provided a contribution of £88,954 to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Competition and Markets Authority employees were seconded to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In the financial year 2022 to 2023 five employees from the Competition and Markets Authority were seconded to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Change in Circumstances Reviews were undertaken in the Export Controls Joint Unit in each year since 2010; and which countries were subject to each such review.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has in place an established process for responding at pace to changing conditions in a country where the UK has previously granted export licences, and where those licences remain extant.

The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities. The MOD advises DBT on the risks of diversion of exported goods and national security risks arising from hostile state activity. The Department of Business and Trade, with DBT Secretary of State as the decision-making authority, decides whether to amend, suspend or revoke any relevant licences.    We publish comprehensive Official Statistics every quarter about the decisions we make on licence applications. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Given its diplomatic sensitivity, the Government is unable to disclose the specific number and destination countries of Change in Circumstances Reviews.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress she has made on trade discussions with Switzerland.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Since launching trade negotiations with Switzerland in May 2023, the UK has held four rounds of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement. The fourth round took place from 4 to 8 March 2024. Discussions were productive, provisionally closing the chapter on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This will help UK SMEs expand their operations more easily into the Swiss market.

The fifth round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in early summer where we will look to make further positive progress.

We continue to keep Parliament and the public informed through regular parliamentary and GOV.UK updates.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Table 2.3 of the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, how many (a) Standard Individual Export Licence and (b) Standard Individual Trade Control Licence export applications were refused under Criterion 2 of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria due to (i) a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, (ii) established serious violations of human rights in the destination country and (iii) a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

As part of our commitment to transparency, HM Government publishes 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. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Table 2.3 of the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, what the destination countries were for refused (a) Standard Individual Export Licence and (b) Standard Individual Trade Control Licence export applications broken down by each Criterion.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

As part of our commitment to transparency, HM Government publishes 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. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of UK export controls in controlling the proliferation of sensitive technology in the areas of (a) artificial intelligence, (b) quantum, (c) biometric tools and (d) intangible technology transfers.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government has been reviewing export controls and their application to sensitive emerging technologies across a range of sectors.

We are looking shortly to publish the results of that review and launch a public consultation on the process for ensuring the controls evolve to meet the challenge of new and emerging technologies.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to implement the Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative Code of Conduct.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The UK is a subscribing state to the 'Code of Conduct for Enhancing Export Controls of Goods and Technology that could be Misused and Lead to Serious Violations or Abuses of Human Rights'. The UK has committed to applying export controls to ensure that relevant goods and technologies are used in compliance with international human rights law.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative Code of Conduct, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the private sector, (b) academics and (c) civil society representatives on human rights and the implementation of export control measures.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Export Control Joint Unit has a regular and ongoing dialogue with the private sector, academics and civil society representatives about all aspects of export control policy and implementation, including human rights.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring manufacturers to provide information to consumers of (a) cars and (b) other high value products on the extent to which repairs for those products are reliant on critical metals that are affected by supply-side disruption as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Currently manufacturers are only legally required to provide consumers with information on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, for new cars and vans at the point of sale. There are no obligations on manufacturers to provide information on where the materials are sourced and no assessment has been made of the potential merits of doing so. The UK Critical Minerals Strategy, published in July 2022, sets out steps for ensuring the long-term security of critical minerals like those needed for electric vehicle batteries.

The Government understands the concerns of the automotive industry regarding the potential impact of the invasion on its business operations and supply chains worldwide.  We are in regular dialogue with UK auto manufacturers and business representative bodies to understand any direct and indirect impacts on UK operations, including trade related issues.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will hold discussions with (a) FRP Advisory and (b) The Body Shop International Limited on alleged procedural errors in recent redundancy processes.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My officials at the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service have been working with the administrators from FRP Advisory to ensure that employee redundancy claims can be paid as soon as possible. If employee consultation requirements in relation to redundancies have not been met, their representative may make a complaint to an Employment Tribunal. If the complaint is upheld, the Tribunal has discretionary power to make a Protective Award in compensation to the affected employees.

Administrators are licenced by a regulatory body, which would be responsible for investigating any matters relating to their conduct as officeholders. The Insolvency Service will review complaints about the conduct of the company’s directors to assess whether further investigation would be appropriate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the value of her Department's (a) remote and (b) non-remote quantifiable contingent liabilities was on (i) 31 March (A) 2017, (B) 2018, (C) 2019, (D) 2020, (E) 2021, (F) 2022 and (G) 2023 and (ii) 26 March 2024.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The value of departmental contingent liabilities for the periods up to and including the 2022/23 financial year have already been published in the former Department for International Trade's Annual Report and Accounts which is available at the following location:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-international-trade-annual-report-and-accounts.

Contingent liabilities for the current financial year will be published in the Department for Business and Trade's Annual Report and Accounts in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the provisions of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 on the ability of trade unions to represent their members in workplace disputes.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Strikes Act does not prevent or restrict the ability of trade unions to represent their members in workplace disputes, nor does it remove the ability for strikes to take place. It simply ensures there is a balance between the ability to strike and the need to ensure the public can continue to access essential services during strike action.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possible involvement of EVE Energy in the West Midlands Gigafactory and of the criteria that were used in the selection process.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are determined to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing as we transition to electric vehicles, while ensuring taxpayer money is used responsibly and provides best-value. It would not be appropriate to comment on speculation or the commercial affairs of private companies.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Table 2.4 of the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, what the (a) destination country and (b) type of goods to be exported were for each Standard Individual Export Licence and Standard Individual Trade Control Licence revoked under Criterion 2.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

As part of our commitment to transparency, HM Government publishes 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. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to help support people made redundant by The Body Shop International Limited.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

While this is a commercial decision for the company, we understand that this will be a concerning time for workers at The Body Shop, and we stand ready to support those impacted.

Affected employees will be able to access our broad range of support, including Universal Credit and JobCentre Plus, through the Department for Work and Pension's Rapid Response Service.

Employees who worked for the company under an employment contract may be eligible for statutory redundancy pay, compensatory notice pay, and holiday pay, for which they can apply to the Insolvency Service.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many export licence applications were escalated to the dispute resolution mechanism or complex cases mechanism in each year since 2010; and what the destination country was in each such case.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against announced policies and the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). Decisions are routinely taken by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. These decisions are taken in consultation with officials from other government departments, principally the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence but occasionally other Departments are also consulted depending on the nature of the case.

There is no single ‘dispute resolution mechanism’ which is regularly or consistently enacted. There have been various occasions since 2010 where different procedures have been set up to enable wider consultation and scrutiny of export licensing cases with Ministers across Government. These were in reaction to specific concerns or strategic priorities at the time. They can involve different attendees and terms of reference depending on the situation. We do not maintain data on how often this sort of procedure has been used over multiple years.

There is no specific ‘complex case mechanism’. ECJU receives a high volume of ‘complex cases’ and the vast majority are decided upon by consensus. However, if ECJU officials are unable to come to a consensus about a case they could refer it to MOD and FCDO Ministers, and ultimately to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade who has the responsibility for making the final decision. This happens extremely rarely in practice and therefore we do not maintain data on its occurrence over multiple years.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of export controls on cyber-surveillance tools.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The UK already controls the export of a range of cyber-surveillance tools. Export licence applications for such items are rigorously assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria taking full account of risks to national security and human rights. The UK Government continues to work through the international export control regimes to ensure these controls remain up-to-date.

In assessing licences involving sensitive communications technology, the Export Control Joint Unit also takes advice from HM Government’s National Cyber Security Centre.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what role the National Cyber Security Centre plays in facilitating export controls to prevent the proliferation of sensitive technology in the areas of (a) artificial intelligence, (b) quantum computing, (c) biometric tools and data and (d) intangible technology transfers.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The National Cyber Security Centre is HM Government’s national technical authority for information security and advises the Export Control Joint Unit, in the Department for Business and Trade, on export licence applications for goods involving sensitive communications or computer technology.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of energy market liberalisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on levels of investment by British hydropower companies in that country.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has taken recent steps to help support British hydropower companies to increase trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the context of energy market liberalisation in that country.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing trade with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the aid required by that country.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to promote agricultural technology to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will make an assessment of the likelihood of the presence of (a) engines and (b) engine parts produced by UAV Engines, Staffordshire, in the Hermes 450 drone used in the strikes on World Central Kitchen vehicles.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

We continue to monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza closely but are not commenting on specific licences.

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.

We are carefully reviewing initial findings of Israel’s investigations into the killing of World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers.

The findings of the inquiry must be published in full and followed up with a wholly independent review to ensure the utmost transparency and accountability.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many extant strategic export licences were referred to Ministers in (a) her Department, (b) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and (c) the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2010; and what the destination countries were in each such case.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against announced policies and the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). Given the high volume of decisions taken every week, the vast majority of licensing applications are decided upon by officials within the Export Control Joint Unit acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, using the framework provided by the SELC. These decisions are taken in consultation with officials from other government departments including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence.

In practice a very small proportion of export licensing decisions are escalated to Ministers. For example, this happens when a decision is finely balanced or when Ministers have asked for certain types of cases to be referred to them for decision. As with any part of Government, ECJU officials would consult Ministers from the three Departments in the normal course of their work, including on some export control applications, as and when necessary. We do not maintain a central record of how many times this has happened in the last 14 years.

Ministers are always consulted on any decisions related to revoking or suspending licences. We report on the volume of revoked and suspended licences in our Quarterly Statistics and Annual Report. These can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many strategic export licence applications were escalated to Ministers in (a) her Department, (b) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and (c) the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2010; and what the destination countries were in each such case.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against announced policies and the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). Given the high volume of decisions taken every week, the vast majority of licensing applications are decided upon by officials within the Export Control Joint Unit acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, using the framework provided by the SELC. These decisions are taken in consultation with officials from other government departments including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence.

In practice a very small proportion of export licensing decisions are escalated to Ministers. For example, this happens when a decision is finely balanced or when Ministers have asked for certain types of cases to be referred to them for decision. As with any part of Government, ECJU officials would consult Ministers from the three Departments in the normal course of their work, including on some export control applications, as and when necessary. We do not maintain a central record of how many times this has happened in the last 14 years.

Ministers are always consulted on any decisions related to revoking or suspending licences. We report on the volume of revoked and suspended licences in our Quarterly Statistics and Annual Report. These can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Table 2.4 of the UK strategic export controls annual report 2022, published on 19 July 2023, HC1681, for what reasons the number of (a) Standard Individual Export Licences and (b) Standard Individual Trade Control Licences revoked under Criterion 1 increased in 2022.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the Government expanded the scope and scale of its sanctions measures against Russia. This resulted in an increase in export licences needing to be revoked because they were not consistent with new sanctions. Consequently, these licences were revoked under Criterion 1.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2023 to Question 5143 on Baby Care Units: Parental Leave, what her planned timetable is for bringing forward the remaining statutory instruments under the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as quickly as possible and work is ongoing across Government to deliver these new entitlements by April 2025, subject to parliamentary scheduling.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department has taken to raise awareness of carer's leave amongst employers.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has carried out a range of activities to raise awareness of Carer’s Leave with employers. This includes producing associated guidance, which is available through GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/carers-leave), and working closely with a range of stakeholders, including Carers UK and the Business Representative Organisations, to communicate the changes directly to employers, for example through newsletters and webinars. The Department is also promoting Carers Leave through the ‘Help to Grow’ website (https://helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/new-changes-to-employment-law/).

Acas has also produced guidance (https://www.acas.org.uk/carers-leave).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate UK Export Finance made of the potential value of (a) goods and (b) services from UK (i) businesses contracted directly by and (ii) supply chain businesses that will be used in INEOS Project One, Belgium as a result of the support it has committed to that project.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK Export Finance’s (UKEF’s) support for export transactions is conditional on the inclusion of UK goods and services, with a general requirement that there should be at least 20% UK content relative to the value of its support. In this instance, UKEF support has already secured over €200 million of UK content into this project.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will extend the Automotive Transformation Fund (a) into and (b) beyond the 2025-26 financial year; and whether any contracts with suppliers to deliver the Automotive Transformation Fund extend (i) into and (ii) beyond the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

As part of the Advanced Manufacturing Plan, we have announced over £2bn of capital and R&D funding over five years to 2030, boosting the UK’s competitiveness and unlocking strategic investments in our automotive industry.

This funding will be delivered via Auto2030, an ambitious programme building on the work of the Automotive Transformation Fund and the Advanced Propulsion Centre R&D programmes, ensuring continuity in HMG support.

This programme will leverage the UK’s unique innovation ecosystem, building on its strengths as a global centre of automotive R&D. Details of funding opportunities under Auto2030, including delivery mechanisms, will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made representations to Royal Mail on the impact of price rises on SMEs.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - 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 prices controls, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.

On 24 January 2024, following a public consultation, Ofcom announced its decisions regarding retail price caps on Royal Mail’s universal postal services to apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential reasons for skills shortages.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The workforce is more highly qualified than 15 years ago, but adult participation in further education has declined significantly. This has left us with a gap in higher technical skills: only 4% of young people achieve a qualification at higher technical level by 25 compared to 33% who get a degree or above. We know through our work with investors and businesses that we do not have enough technicians, engineers or health and social care professionals to meet our challenges. Therefore, the Government are investing an additional £3.8 billion into skills and further education over this Parliament to help workers develop the skills businesses need.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the Goldman Sachs report entitled the Structural and Cyclical Costs of Brexit, published on 9 February 2024.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government keeps track of external analysis from third parties often based on a range of assumptions and hypothetical views. Since leaving the EU, the Department for Business and Trade has secured free trade deals with 73 countries in addition to the EU, partners which accounted for £1.1 trillion UK trade in 2022, and simplified import tariffs to lower costs for businesses and households.

The UK’s total trade with the world (including goods and services) increased by £43bn (inflation adjusted) in 2023 compared to 2018. Since the referendum, the UK has grown faster than Germany, Italy, and Japan and the IMF forecasted that the UK will see the 3rd fastest cumulative growth in the G7 over 2024-2029, ahead of Germany, Italy, France, and Japan.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU on levels of trade.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Since leaving the EU, the Department for Business and Trade has secured free trade deals with 73 countries plus the EU, that accounted for £1.1 trillion of UK trade in 2022. The UK was the world’s 4th largest exporter in 2022.

The UK’s total trade with the world (including goods and services) increased by £43.3bn (inflation adjusted) in 2023 compared to 2018, and our services exports to the world were at a record high in 2023, increasing by £48.9bn (inflation adjusted) compared to 2018.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what funding UK Defence and Security Exports offers to companies to exhibit at international defence and security trade shows.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

UK Defence and Security Exports does not offer any funding to companies to exhibit at international defence and security trade shows. UKDSE offers other services to companies such as equipment demonstration through the Export Support team and opportunity to purchase space on the main UK stand at some events.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the annual budget was for UK Defence and Security Exports in each year since 2010.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

UK Defence and Security Export’s outturn is not available before 2016/17. Please see below the full year outturn for UK Defence and Security Exports for the period 2016/17 - 2022/23.

Please note that the 2023/24 outturn will be available once DBT’s accounts are finalised.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the headcount was of UK Defence and Security Exports in each year since 2010.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The headcount of civil servants employed in UK Defence and Security Exports (2018-2024)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the graduate visa route on export earnings.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government remains committed to sustainable growth in student numbers and the International Education Strategy ambition to host 600,000 international students a year. The Department for Business and Trade is aware of the potential impact of any changes to the Graduate Route visa via assessments made by stakeholders such as Universities UK. To that end, HMG’s International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, is advising the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Graduate Route.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase business investment in Suffolk.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Department for Business and Trade works with local stakeholders to promote investment opportunities in the region to potential overseas investors and provide support for foreign investors wishing to set up in the area. The Government works closely with clients to understand their requirements and to reduce any barriers which may inform the client’s decision to locate in the region.

The Government is also backing the Freeport East to create new jobs and attract new businesses in high growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing and engineering.

The Government supports a range of programmes dedicated to supporting small and medium businesses to grow. This includes free access to the Business Support Helpline, Help to Grow, Growth Hubs, UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisors, and the Export Digital Enquiry Service. Government funded support is also available through the British Business Bank.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the economic impact of the free trade agreements with (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand since they came into force.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department’s impact assessments of the UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements were published on 17 December 2021 and 28 February 2022 respectively. These impact assessments set out the potential long-run incremental economic impact of these FTAs and are available on gov.uk.

The agreements entered in force on the 31 May 2023, and we continue to monitor the economic impact of the two Governments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of restrictions on equity dilution on the capacity of fast growing companies to recruit.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Share awards can provide an important recruitment incentive and help align employee interests with those of the company. UK company law permits the allotment of shares for employee share schemes without applying the pre-emption provisions that otherwise require newly issued shares to be offered to existing shareholders first to avoid equity dilution. The Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules require shareholder approval of employee share schemes while allowing companies in unusual circumstances to allot shares to retain or recruit a director without such prior approval.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of calling on the Investment Association to amend its principles of remuneration to provide greater flexibility for the dilution of equity in favour of employees in fast growing businesses.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government welcomes the Investment Association’s commitment to review and update its Principles of Remuneration later this year, and its stated objectives to simplify the Principles and ensure that they help support a competitive UK listing environment alongside promoting the right outcomes for shareholders.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February to Question 12549 on Harland and Wolff: Export Credit Guarantees, what progress her Department has made on negotiations with Harland & Wolff in relation to compliance with applicable subsidy control rules.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

For reasons of commercial sensitivity, UK Export Finance does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department (a) collects and (b) produces labour market information.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade is responsible for employment rights.

In order to support this, the department collects and produces labour market information through published impact assessments, and statistics on trade union membership in the UK. This is undertaken to better inform policy decisions. They can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade/about/statistics.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to promote businesses owned by women.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government promotes women-led businesses through partnerships with the private sector. With the Council for Investing in Female Entrepreneurs we have created the Invest in Women Hub (iiwhub.com) which provides information and free access to expert mentors.

We are working with the Invest in Women Taskforce towards their goal of making the UK the best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur, including by raising private sector capital to invest in women-led businesses.

The Women’s International Networking Programme aims to increase the participation of women-led businesses in international trade through access to networks, role models and DBT intelligence.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many meet the buyer events were held by UK Defence and Security Exports in each year since 2019.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

2019

1

2020

0

2021

1

2022

2

2023

3

2024 (to date)

1

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many UK-based companies produce batteries for electric vehicles; and what is their collective capacity.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

AESC currently has a 1.9GWh facility operational in Sunderland. The UK has a further 52GWh per annum battery capacity committed – 12GWh from the AESC Gigafactory under construction in Sunderland and a further 40GWh from the planned Agratas Gigafactory. This is over half the capacity needed to meet industry demand forecasts of around 90GWh by 2030.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many international trade shows UK Defence and Security Exports officials (a) supported and (b) attended in each year since 2010.

Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

A) Supported by a UKDSE exhibition stand presence:

Information prior to 2014-2015 unavailable.

2014-2015

19

2015-2016

24

2016-2017

17

2017-2018

24

2018-2019

22

2019-2020

21

2020-2021

3

2021-2022

7

2022-2023

8

2023-2024

14

B) Attended

UK Defence and Security Exports has not consistently recorded this information centrally. Individual attendance records are not held in the format requested.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she last met with representatives from Ofcom to discuss plans for reforming the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of customers as well as being financially sustainable and efficient.

The Government will consider any recommendations that Ofcom puts forward, but Ministers are not currently minded to introduce new legislation to change the obligations on postal deliveries.

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Found: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has been supporting the development of greater battery recycling

Found: For example, the Department for Business and Trade has made a specific commitment regarding free trade

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Found: We have noticed that the Department for Business and Trade is reviewing its whistleblowing framework

Found: The DBT could help us to sell our defence industry globally. Those are the visibility points.

Found: provides technical, commercial and rail policy information; promotes exports in partnership with DBT

Found: Retail, in particular, involves different Government departments, eg Department for Business and

Found: initiatives, as well as more coordination between government departments as this issue cuts across DBT

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Found: DBT should be free to argue that the UK can tackle trade barriers a broad without prejudice to domestic

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Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which Department is responsible for foreign direct investment into research and development in the UK.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for the promotion and facilitation for foreign direct investment (FDI). DSIT works closely with DBT to promote global collaboration and investment opportunities in R&D.

FDI is a key source of R&D funding, accounting for 14% of UK R&D investment. Our collaborative approach resulted in the successful 2023 Global Investment Summit, securing over £29 billion, including investments in AI, life sciences and quantum.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she plans to take to help ensure (a) energy companies and (b) network operators can contact consumers on the Energy Priority Services Register during a power cut once the digital switchover is complete.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT is engaging with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to ensure robust measures are in place to mitigate any risks arising from the Public Switched Telephone (PSTN) switchover in the energy sector. The details regarding contingency plans and consumer prioritisation in the energy sector falls within DESNZ’s remit.

DSIT works closely on a range of resilience issues in partnership with industry, through the Electronic Communications Resilience & Response Group (EC-RRG), who engage in regular dialogue with the Energy Networks Association across a range of issues to help strengthen resilience between the telecoms and energy sectors.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) also recently consulted on proposals to establish a multi-sector Priority Services Register to enable better data sharing between providers of gas, water, electricity, and telecoms providers, and allow consumers to be registered as vulnerable across sectors. The consultation closed in January 2024, with a response expected in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the number of enrolments of international students on the finances of universities.

Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)

The government seeks to ensure that there is a fair and robust migration policy, whilst maintaining the UK’s place as a top destination for the best and brightest students from around the world. The department remains committed to the ambitions set out in the government’s International Education Strategy to host 600,000 international students per year and to increase the value of our education exports to £35 billion per year, both by 2030.

The department expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. The UK has four universities in the top ten, and 17 in the top 100, worldwide. The UK has a highly sought after higher education experience, which is respected by students across the globe. The department is hugely proud to have met its international student recruitment ambition two years running.

However, the level of legal migration remains too high. As a result, on 4 December 2023, the government announced a new package of measures to reduce net migration and curb abuse and exploitation of the country’s immigration system.

The Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of the higher education sector in England, continues to work closely with the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, and other governmental departments to assess the impact of these changes on higher education providers.

Our universities are autonomous institutions responsible for managing their own budgets. The department also works closely with the OfS to understand the evolving landscape, including on risks relating to international students.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK Science and Technology Framework, last updated on 9 February 2024, what assessment her Department has made of its progress against the goal of working with industry and philanthropic partners to increase inward investment by Summer Recess 2023.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT has made significant strides towards enhancing collaboration with industry and philanthropic partners to bolster investment.

Last year’s successful Global Investment Summit attracted more than £29 billion, including landmark investments in AI, life sciences and quantum. We will continue to build on our collaborative approach to increase philanthropic and private investment, including working with DBT and the Office for Investment, to further our investment ambitions.

We announced £25 million for UK Biobank conditional on philanthropic match-funding within a consortium. So far, we have secured £16 million from philanthropists Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin, and work is underway to secure further donations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will bring forward legislation to protect whistleblowers in the NHS complaints process.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers can shine a light on wrongdoing, and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recriminations. There are legal provisions within the Public Interest and Disclosure Act 1998 that protect workers against detrimental treatment for speaking up in the public interest. In March 2023, the Department for Business and Trade announced a review of the whistleblowing framework, which aims to examine the effectiveness of the framework in meeting its original objectives, which are to facilitate whistleblowing, protect whistleblowers against detriment and dismissal, and to facilitate wider cultural change around whistleblowing. The review is still ongoing, and the Government will publish the evidence, and set out the next steps this year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in reference to the Office for Students consultation on proposed regulatory advice and other matters relating to freedom of speech, announced on 26 March 2024, what discussions (a) she and (b) the Office for Students have had on this with (i) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, (ii) other Ministers in the Department for Business and Trade, (iii) Officials in that Department, (iv) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, (v) other Ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and (vi) officials in that Department.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Officials regularly speak on matters of mutual importance across government, particularly on cross-cutting policy and new legislation. The department’s officials continue to engage with both the Office for Students (OfS) and other governmental departments (OGDs) surrounding the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (the Act).

Officials will continue to engage with the OfS and OGDs ahead of the Act coming into force, currently planned for 1 August 2024 for the main provisions, including the complaints scheme. The content of the consultation published on 26 March 2026 is a matter for the OfS.

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