Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Ofcom’s regulation of (a) Evri and (b) other parcel delivery companies on (i) the recruitment, vetting and oversight of self-employed couriers, (ii) the suitability and safety of vehicles used for parcel delivery and (iii) consumer protection and complaints resolution in the context of reports of ((A) lost, (B) delayed and (C) improperly delivered parcels; and whether he plans to strengthen regulatory requirements for such operators.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is important that all parcel operators provide a good service to their customers and reduce the number of lost, delayed or improperly delivered parcels as far as possible. Evri and other parcel operators are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions. All delivery companies must comply with employment and traffic or vehicle safety obligations.

Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, requires that all operators have a straightforward, accessible, and affordable complaints process. It does not regulate the employment models of Evri or other delivery companies.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) adequacy of the (i) performance and (ii) outcomes of Royal Mail’s Optimised Delivery Model trials and (b) whether these trials demonstrate that the model can meet the requirements of the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Operational implementation of the reforms to the Universal Service Obligation are a matter for Royal Mail’s management working with its workers and unions. The government does not have a role in the operational decisions of the business.

Ofcom is responsible for monitoring Royal Mail’s delivery of its universal service obligations and has committed to monitoring the implementation process closely, to identify any issues with the roll-out of changes, whether the cost savings have been realised, and any impacts on the consumer experience.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending company law to move from shareholder primacy towards a stakeholder-governance model.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, directors have a fiduciary duty to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of employees, customers and suppliers, and to the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment. Section 172 enshrines in law the principle of “enlightened shareholder value”, which recognises the relevance of stakeholder interests to the long-term success of a company. This contrasts with the “shareholder maximisation” model adopted in other jurisdictions, in which directors’ sole duty is to maximise returns to shareholders. The Government has no plans to amend Section 172.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether Royal Mail has provided his Department with evidence to substantiate any projected cost savings in relation to the Optimised Delivery Model.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Royal Mail produced its own modelling to estimate the net savings of key elements of its Optimised Delivery Model proposal to support its response to Ofcom’s Call for Input. Royal Mail’s submission is available on Ofcom’s website.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator responsible for securing a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service, has been clear that realising the benefits of reform is dependent on Royal Mail’s ability to implement them operationally.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish the methodology for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department of Business and Trade recently launched a consultation on the proposed approach to eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. The final approach to eligibility will be published in due course following the consultation’s closure in January.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assumptions his Department uses in relation to trade elasticities when modelling the long-term effects of UK accession to plurilateral digital trade agreements.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has not undertaken modelling of the long-term effects of UK accession to plurilateral digital trade agreements. Consequently, no assumptions regarding trade elasticities have been applied in this context.

The OECD has published analysis on the potential economic impacts of concluding the WTO’s Joint Initiative on E-Commerce. However, this analysis is not UK-specific.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Royal Mail meets its statutory service standards and provides accurate reporting on delivery performance.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

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

Ofcom has a primary duty to secure the provision of a universal postal service, having regard to its financial sustainability and efficiency. On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced changes to the universal postal service obligation intended to have a significant positive impact on the financial sustainability of the universal service and support its continued provision.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s service standards with powers to take enforcement action where failures are identified without sufficient justification. Ofcom requires Royal Mail to publish its quality of service performance data on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Mail on the continued viability of the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

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

Ofcom has a primary duty to secure the provision of a universal postal service, having regard to its financial sustainability and efficiency. On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced changes to the universal postal service obligation intended to have a significant positive impact on the financial sustainability of the universal service and support its continued provision.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s service standards with powers to take enforcement action where failures are identified without sufficient justification. Ofcom requires Royal Mail to publish its quality of service performance data on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Evri and other delivery companies on leaving parcels unattended on doorsteps.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is unacceptable for delivery companies to leave parcels unattended on doorsteps where that has not been requested by a customer.

The government wants to see all operators provide a good level of service, including incorporating customers’ preferences on deliveries. However, Evri and other delivery companies are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.

Ofcom engages regularly with all parcel operators to understand their approach to implementation of, and compliance with, its consumer protection measures.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has updated its computable general equilibrium models to incorporate post-2024 trade flow data.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT uses data provided by the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) for CGE modelling. The latest publicly available data is GTAP 11 with the latest reference year 2017. As a consortium member of the Project, we have early access to forthcoming newer versions before they are published. Making use of this we used the pre-publication GTAP 12 dataset, with latest reference year 2019, for the modelling presented in the Impact Assessment of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many sub postmasters resident in Wales have had claims related to the Horizon IT system (a) settled and (b) not settled.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has not, to date, compiled data on Horizon-related claims by the UK’s constituent countries; however, we intend to include this breakdown in a future publication. Overall, across the UK, as of 28 November 2025, approximately 10,000 claims have been settled under the Horizon redress schemes, while around 2,600 received claims remain unsettled.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to WPQ 3948 Dated 9/9/2024, which areas in the nations and regions of the UK were events held to ensure that businesses become more aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Since September 2023 the Department for Business and Trade has attended or coordinated over 70 events (online or in-person) to ensure that UK businesses are aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In person events have so far taken place in areas across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and online events have been targeted at UK businesses based throughout the UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what financial assistance has been given to Northern Ireland industry in each of the last 5 years under (a) the Industrial Development Act 1982 and (b) the Export and Investment Guarantee Act 1991.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Spend under the Industrial Development Act 1982 across the UK is reported in its annual reports (Industrial Development Act 1982: annual report - GOV.UK) and includes some support to Northern Ireland businesses, such as the Energy Intensive Industry, Music Export Growth and the Start Up Loan Schemes. Most NI industrial support is provided under the Industrial Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, for which the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy holds the spending details.

Over the last five years, UK Export finance (UKEF) has provided hundreds of millions of pounds of support to businesses in Northern Ireland, including a loan guarantee for Wrightbus, based in North Antrim, enabling it to sell its zero-emission buses to markets in Europe and north America.

Full details of the support provided by UKEF can be found online at: UK Export Finance: business supported - GOV.UK.

UKEF does not publish a breakdown of support provided by UK nations or regions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework on the competitiveness of UK manufacturers exporting to the EU.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As with other relevant EU regulations, the Department for Business and Trade is monitoring the EU’s Clean Industrial State Aid Framework (CISAF) and its impact on British businesses including UK manufacturers exporting to the EU. The government is using TCA structures and informal channels to ask questions and where necessary raise concerns about new EU regulations. During this year's annual Level Playing Field Trade Specialised Committee, the UK raised the CISAF and its impact on Third Countries with the EU.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether companies in the UK plastics manufacturing sector will be eligible for inclusion in the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As set out in the Industrial Strategy, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will support eligible manufacturing frontier industries within ‘IS-8’ manufacturing sectors and manufacturing foundational industries that provide key inputs to those frontier sectors, subject to meeting a threshold of electricity intensity. The Department for Business and Trade has recently launched a consultation outlining the proposed methodology for identifying eligible businesses within these parameters. The consultation document includes an indicative list of eligible industries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to unlock opportunities from the free trade and digital agreements with Ukraine.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The UK-Ukraine Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement is the central pillar of the UK’s trading relationship with Ukraine. Under this Agreement, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029 (with the exception of poultry and eggs which are liberalised until 31 March 2026), with businesses in both countries benefiting from this arrangement. The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement supports businesses to trade more efficiently and cheaply, including through secure electronic transactions, e-signatures, and e-contracts. The UK-Ukraine Trade Committee oversee these agreements and discusses how to enhance further our bilateral trade and investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government (1) how the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement is being utilised to support the adoption of precision-farming, digital agriculture and the deployment of remote-sensing technologies in Ukraine, and (2) what support is being provided to the United Kingdom agriculture and agritech businesses to unlock export opportunities from the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement modernises our digital trade relationship, benefitting businesses and consumers in both countries. Our joint commitments, such as securing trusted cross‑border data flows and fostering open digital markets and digital trading systems, and continuing cooperation on digital issues support Ukraine’s adoption of data‑driven tools such as precision‑farming and remote‑sensing technologies. The UK-Ukraine TechBridge initiative, which assists the utilisation of the Digital Trade Agreement, facilitates connections between UK and Ukrainian tech sectors, building mutually beneficial commercial partnerships and helping Ukraine to secure investment into its dynamic technology sector. The initiative covers six priority sectors, including agri-tech.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill has not yet been published; and when they plan to publish it.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Due to the current volume of legislation before Parliament, the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill will not be published for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session. Both houses of Parliament were informed of this in July 2025. The Government’s plans for legislation in subsequent sessions will be set out in the usual way through the King’s Speech.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to uphold environmental, social and governance standards and prevent human rights and environmental abuses within the critical minerals industry.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government places a high priority on mining and mineral processing being carried out to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. We put ESG at the heart of our international approach to critical minerals and are using our multilateral and bilateral agreements to promote high standards globally. The UK is also reviewing its approach to responsible business conduct policy, focusing on the global supply chains of businesses operating in the UK, including businesses who extract, import or use critical minerals.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has assessed the potential merits of introducing paid bereavement leave.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can experience. This is why we have introduced a new right to bereavement leave in the Employment Rights Bill which will be available to those grieving the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

The Bill deals with the introduction of leave only, and we are consulting further on the detail of the entitlement to ensure it supports employees while remaining proportionate for employers. It will remain at employers' discretion to offer pay, as many already do.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 97021, what proportion of his Department's expenditure on Microsoft Software licenses and services was allocated to a) new service implementations and b) renewal or maintenance of existing system; and how this compares to the previous year’s expenditure in each category.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. We do not routinely capture or report expenditure on Microsoft software licences and services split between new service implementations and renewal or maintenance of existing systems. A year-on-year comparison is therefore not available.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with small and medium-sized enterprises on the potential impact of restrictive software licensing practices on their businesses.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers regularly meet with businesses of all sizes.

Government is committed to delivering a competitive and prosperous digital economy. That is why we implemented the new digital markets regime on 1 January 2025. The Competition and Markets Authority now has bespoke powers to increase competition in digital markets.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he expects any shift from direct waged or salaried employment towards (a) self employment and (b) use of temp and staffing agencies as a result of measures in the Employment Rights Bill.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act and this is available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This includes analysis on wider impacts, and considers potential employment effects.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of measures on zero hours contracts in the Employment Rights Bill on the (a) music festival and live music events, (b) theatre and (c) exhibitions, conferences and business events sectors.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs for businesses and the subsequent effects, as well as assessments on how the proposed zero hour contract measures could affect different sectors. The impact on the sectors in question will depend on the regulations that we will bring forward following consultation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce youth unemployment in the context of employment levels in the hospitality sector.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the importance of the Hospitality sector in providing employment for young people. The Budget made more than £1.5bn available over the next three years for investment in employment and skills support. This funds £820m for the Youth Guarantee and provides £725m for the Growth and Skills Levy, ensuring young people have the support they need to earn or learn.

We are supporting more than 50,000 young people into apprenticeships in England by fully funding apprenticeship training costs for all eligible 16-24-year-olds, removing the need for non-levy paying employers to co-fund these learners. We are also expanding foundation apprenticeships into sectors such as hospitality and retail, where young people are traditionally recruited. All these measures will be available to assist the hospitality sector in employing young people.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on improving service levels in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I have discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the chief executive of Royal Mail and its parent company, and they recognise the need to do more to meet service delivery targets.

In October, Ofcom, the independent regulator of postal services, fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality of service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the comparative (a) employment practices and (b) delivery of delivery companies excluding Royal Mail; and what plans he has to ensure similar standards to those applied to Royal Mail to improve delivery outcomes.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the independent regulator for the postal sector.

Delivery companies are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions. Ofcom does not regulate the employment models of delivery companies.

The Government will consult on the topic of employment status generally, as soon as possible in the New Year.

Delivery targets covering all postal operators would be a decision for Ofcom to consider as part of its reviews of postal regulation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the cost to the a) private sector and b) public sector of abolishing the caps on unfair dismissal compensation claims.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government will be publishing an Enactment Impact Assessment on the impacts of the Employment Rights Act. This will include an assessment of the removal of the compensation cap for unfair dismissal on different sectors. This assessment can be found here when published: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the investment provisions of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on UK outward investment to the Republic of Korea.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The updated investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA will protect investors, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in the Republic of Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. We believe the commitments will help provide certainty, incentivising investment and driving economic growth. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and financial regulators on implementation of the financial services chapter of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Engagement between the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has focused on key aims for the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. HM Treasury officials, who negotiated financial services provisions, have engaged regularly with UK financial regulators throughout.

The Department for Business and Trade will lead on implementing the agreement, with input from HMT officials on financial services provisions. The Financial Services chapter contains consultation provisions which provide a formal mechanism for the UK Government – including, where appropriate, representatives from its financial regulators - to discuss implementation of these commitments with the Republic of Korea.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has identified sector-specific barriers to UK investment in the Republic of Korea since conclusion of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Throughout this negotiation we have sought to address current and future barriers, impacting both goods and services trade. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor trade and investment flows to assess the impact of the new agreement. This will include seeking to identify any new and emerging sector-specific barriers affecting UK investment in the Republic of Korea.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take to assess the effectiveness of the investment and financial services provisions of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Republic of Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses, in line with standard practice.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK financial services firms can effectively use the (a) data localization and (b) transparency commitments in the UK-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Although we have concluded negotiations, we have not yet reached signature, let alone ratification, so this question is premature. However DBT’s Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team helps businesses understand and benefit from the UK’s new Free Trade Agreements, such as the new UK-Republic of Korea FTA, working in partnership with businesses and their representatives.

New data localisation and transparency provisions will provide legal certainty to UK firms on their treatment by Korean authorities, underpinned by appropriate enforcement mechanisms. The Republic of Korea has also agreed to publish new regulatory guidance on its domestic data rules which will give firms practical, accessible information to help navigate the Republic of Korea’s data regime and make effective use of the agreement’s commitments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of information about (a) streamlined import/export documentation and (b) simplified licensing rules under the UK-South Korea Free Trade Agreement for businesses with limited international trade experience.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The upgraded UK-Republic of Korea FTA will include provisions to streamline import and export documentation requirements by simplifying customs declarations and allowing businesses to self-certify the origin status of their goods so that they can qualify for preferential tariffs. The Republic of Korea has also committed to publishing customs information in English, making it more accessible for UK businesses. The FTA also streamlines licensing processes by encouraging online publication of key information, eliminating unreasonable fees and facilitating electronic payments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on UK manufacturing businesses of the expiry of the UK steel safeguard in 2026; what discussions he has had with steel-using industries about trade measures to be introduced following that expiry; and when he plans to publish details of those measures.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Steel is a top priority for this Government. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

DBT Ministers and officials regularly engage with stakeholders across the steel industry, including producers and downstream businesses. On 10 November, Minister McDonald and I met with representatives from across the downstream steel sector.

We look forward to saying more in early 2026, including publishing our Steel Strategy.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on UK institutional investment in Korean capital markets.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The upgrade agreement includes a range of commitments aimed at driving growth in services trade and investment. We assess that these will add £400m to existing services exports in the long-term. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what formal mechanisms exist for engagement with financial services firms on the operation of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Both DBT and HM Treasury conduct routine engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies. HMT’s Working Group discusses the negotiation and operation of UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. DBT conducts engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies as part of its broader services engagement programme. This includes bilateral conversations and fora to collate interests in UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, and assess business sentiment regarding their negotiation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of eliminating tariff rates quotas on Moroccan fresh produce at times of the year when the produce is not in season in the UK.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Morocco are currently undertaking a review of tariffs on Agriculture goods, of which greater access to the UK market for tomatoes is a priority for Morocco. Tomatoes are amongst a number of products which are being considered as part of the negotiation. Any final agreement will need to benefit UK business and consumers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of his Department’s international trade advisors for negotiating new free trade agreements.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Member is confusing two separate roles. Our International Trade Advisors (ITAs) support businesses to sell overseas: they do not conduct trade negotiations, which are led by chief negotiators, who are senior DBT officials.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of weight-loss injections upon the levels of grocery sales within the UK.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government Office for Science are currently exploring existing evidence and potential future implications of weight-loss drugs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision by Rolls-Royce to consider moving its £1.6 trillion jet engine project and 40,000 jobs to America.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

Government, through its modern Industrial Strategy, is working with industry, including Rolls-Royce, to support its industrial ambitions to unlock growth and jobs in the UK.

Government is supporting the aerospace sector, including Rolls-Royce and its supply chain, through Aerospace Technology Institute research and development programme which has funding of up to £2.3 billion to 2035. The support awarded to Rolls-Royce is key to helping it develop its new UltraFan engine which, when realised, will secure jobs in the UK for decades to come.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the British Toy and Hobby Association’s report entitled Still toying with children’s safety, published on 23 October 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 require that all toys must be safe before being placed on the UK market, including online. Despite this, we recognise that non-compliant products remain available to UK consumers.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 provides Government with the necessary powers to update product safety legislation, including to modernise and clarify the responsibilities of online marketplaces. As announced at Budget, we will consult on proposals in early 2026.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards takes action to address non-compliant products sold online, including monitoring marketplaces, test purchasing, and taking appropriate enforcement action where necessary.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to provide support to people who claim to have been sacked for trying to unionise whilst working at Rockstar North.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government is looking into the matters in relation to Rockstar North. Section 152 of the Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 protects employees from dismissal for being or seeking to be a member of a trade union. An employee who considers they were unfairly dismissed can bring a claim to an employment tribunal.

It is a fundamental part of our employment framework that workers have a voice in the workplace and can utilise their right to organise via trade unions. Indeed, the government is strengthening protections for trade union membership and activities through the Employment Rights Act.

The government is always willing to engage with employers, including Rockstar North, to ensure that they comply with their obligations.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on the application of online advertising regulations for illegal gas work promotions.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with Ofcom on this matter.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 make it a criminal offence for anyone who is not on the Gas Safe Register to carry out gas work in domestic properties.

The Advertising Standards Authority requires all advertising to be legal and socially responsible. It is working with online platforms which have signed up to its Intermediary and Platform Principles to encourage compliance with the advertising codes online.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, is also working to improve transparency and accountability in the online advertising supply chain.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, who is the Chief Risk Officer for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Each risk in the National Risk Register assigned to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a designated Risk Owner, working within the Department which is responsible for designated risk areas. The Secretary of State and the Permanent Secretary are ultimately responsible for all risks owned by DBT as the Lead Government Department.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that companies operating in the UK are carrying out robust due diligence to identify and prevent modern slavery practices within their operations and supply chains.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK’s current approach to tackling forced labour in global supply chains is focused on driving transparency. Section 54 of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of £36m or more to publish modern slavery statements.

The Government launched a review in the Trade Strategy, into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains.

The review is progressing and is considering the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and the merits of alternative measures to support responsible business practices, including mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. We shall update the House when the review is complete.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential value to the UK economy of enhanced services trade provisions in the UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement; what specific barriers to UK services exports to Turkey are being addressed in the negotiations referenced in his written ministerial statement of 11 December 2025; and what recent developments have taken place in negotiations regarding mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Detailed economic scoping analysis of an upgraded UK-Turkey FTA was published in March 2024. A full Impact Assessment will be published upon the completion of negotiations.

In the four quarters to the end of Q2 2025, UK-Turkey bilateral services trade was worth £7.7 billion, with UK exports comprising £3.4 billion. Despite this strong performance, Turkey is a relatively restrictive services export market, with an above-average OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index scoring. We are seeking to ease this restrictiveness, providing improved market access and greater legal certainty for UK services exporters, including through provisions on recognition of professional qualifications.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many full time equivalent staff in his Department have been employed for the purpose of making social media content in each of the past three years.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Due to the difficulty of disaggregating the number of staff who are employed to produce social media content from staff who are employed to work on broader digital communications, it is not possible to report exact figures in response to this question.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support UK festival organisers with the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill, in the context of the workforce flexibility requirements of the sector.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Festivals are crucial to the UK's culture, providing a platform for emerging artists, supporting local economies and creative jobs, and bringing joy to thousands.

The impact on UK festivals will depend on the regulations that we will bring forward following consultation on the measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The government will ensure there is sufficient time for businesses to familiarise themselves with these new employment rights before they come into force, and we intend to provide clear guidance for employers and for workers in advance of implementation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the Premier League and the Football League.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act and this is available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the increase in energy prices and the tariffs on UK steel imports to the United States of America, when will the steel strategy be published.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector. We are cutting electricity costs for steel producers by reducing network charges via the British Industry Supercharger by 90%, up from 60%, as announced in our Industrial Strategy.

We are also ensuring the long-term viability and competitiveness of the sector through the steel strategy. A robust position on trade is a critical element of this strategy, underpinning our approach to defending against unfair practices and global overcapacity. We are prioritising developing robust measures in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June 2026 to protect our domestic sector and secure stable and reliable supply chains, and engaging with our partners. We will therefore publish the steel strategy in early 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are employed by non-departmental public bodies of the Department for Business and Trade through Skilled Worker visas.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of tax and regulatory changes for businesses on employment levels.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Delivering on our plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards and create opportunities for all. We are committed to working in partnership with businesses to realise that ambition, enabling businesses and workers to thrive.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

The OBR judged that none of the tax measures in this Budget will have a material impact to justify adjusting their employment forecast and have not yet made a judgement on the Employment Rights Bill given ongoing policy development.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with businesses on ensuring customers can contact them on the telephone and not just by email.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, businesses are obligated to provide contact information in a clear and comprehensible manner which is easily, directly and permanently accessible. This includes the business name, the geographical address where the business is established, a telephone number, and email address.

The specific mechanisms businesses use to provide customer services is a commercial decision that the government does not normally seek to intervene in.

While there is no record of a specific discussion on this matter, the Department engages regularly with businesses on consumer law.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to monitor use of investment dispute resolution mechanisms under the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, including a modernised and transparent ISDS mechanism, will protect investors in both markets, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. This enhances the certainty investors need to make investments, which is crucial for economic growth. We have concluded negotiations but have yet to reach signature, let alone ratification. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what is the largest number of companies registered to a single individual acting in the role as an officer of those companies.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

With the information currently available, the largest number of active officer appointments linked to a single individual is 1008. This information is available publicly through Companies House data products.

That individual may have more appointments if they have used different appointment names and/or addresses with other companies. This will change when Companies House completes its implementation of mandatory identity verification. Having verified identities will ensure that Companies House can accurately determine how many companies an specific person is linked to. This will improve corporate transparency and deliver significant value to anyone considering transacting with a company.

We demand that the UK Government revise the current ‘right to repair’ regulations to include smartphones, cordless phones, tablets, and laptops.

Growing trends have seen a big growth in the sales of higher powered 1.3g retail fireworks, most of these type of products are dangerous and very noisy, totally unsuitable for the places where general public use them. If this was stopped most of the noise & safety issues would be dealt with.

Ban the use of bio-beads in sewage and water treatment facilities, and enforce strict regulations to ensure no further environmental contamination occurs during the transition.

Move one of the current bank holidays from May to the 11th November.

Ban spikes on residential boundary fences.

We want the government to limit fireworks and bonfires to 2 nights a year only: bonfire night itself and the closest Saturday. We also think there should be a timeframe of 6pm to 9pm. Issue fines for anyone who doesn’t comply.

We would like the Government to introduce a cap on charity fundraiser fees to protect donors and ensure charities serve the causes they were intended for.

Support young entrepreneurs by funding training on fundraising, financing, and scaling startups in tech and other high-growth sectors. Introduce stronger tax incentives to boost innovation, investment to help incubate and grow more young entrepreneurs.

Found: In theory, it could be the Department for Business and Trade on parental leave, or even the Department

Found: MP Minister of State for Trade Department for Business and Trade

Found: Letter from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Trade Policy at the Department for Business and Trade,

Found: Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Department for Business and Trade

Found: It currently sits in the Department for Business and Trade.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the findings of PwC’s Youth Employment Index regarding the role of long-term sickness in driving youth economic inactivity.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Long-term sickness continues to be the most common reason for economic inactivity in the working age population. Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Backed by £240 million investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched in November 2024 is driving forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity.

Young disabled people and young people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. Existing measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care and WorkWell.

Additionally, the Youth Guarantee and Pathways to Work will guarantee specialist support for young people with long-term health conditions and disabled young people. We have announced an £820 million funding package for the Youth Guarantee to overhaul support and give a generation of young people a brighter future.

We set out our plan for the “Pathways to Work Guarantee” in our Pathways to Work Green Paper and we are building towards our guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits. The guarantee is backed by £1 billion a year of new, additional funding by the end of the decade. We anticipate the guarantee, once fully rolled out, will include: a support conversation to identify next steps, one-to-one caseworker support, periodic engagement, and an offer of specialist long-term work health and skills support.

In recognition of employers’ vital role in addressing health-related economic activity, we appointed Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the independent Keep Britain Working Review. The Report was published on 5 November. In partnership with DBT and DHSC, we are immediately launching Vanguards to test new employer-led approaches to support individuals to stay in work and develop a Healthy Workplace Standard, putting Sir Charlie’s key recommendations into action from day one.  Additionally, the JWHD has developed a digital information service for employers, continues to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme, and continues to increase access to Occupational Health.

The NHS 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, stated our intention to break down barriers to opportunity by delivering the holistic support that people need to access and thrive in employment by ensuring a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. It outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work.

Additionally, Alan Milburn will author an independent report to tackle the persistently high numbers of young people out of work, education and training. The report will examine why increasing numbers of young people are falling out of work or education before their careers have begun, with a particular focus on the impact of mental health conditions and disability. It will make recommendations for policy response to help young people with health conditions access work, training or education, ensuring they are supported to thrive and are not sidelined. It will complement the Timms Review by focusing specifically on the links between youth mental health, economic inactivity and the benefit system.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for South Shropshire dated 11 September 2025 with case reference number SA36696.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The email from the hon. Member for South Shropshire dated 11 September 2025 with case reference number SA36696 has been transferred to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). DBT will respond in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in her Department.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Please see a list of all the Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs) in DSIT to date, including job title, renumeration, time commitment and expected end date.

Live Appointments:

• Matt Clifford: the Prime Minister’s AI Opportunities Advisor. 1 day per week, Term Dates: 13/01/2024 - 13/01/2026.
• Dr Dan Mahoney: Life Sciences Investment Envoy. 15 days per year, Term Dates:18/11/2024 - 18/05/2026.
• Theo Blackwell: Local Digital Champion. 2 days per week, Term Dates: 13/01/2025 - 31/12/2025.
• Yoshua Bengio: International AI Safety Report Chair. 26 days per year, Term Dates: 29/01/2025 - 31/03/2026.
• Lord David Willetts: Regulatory Innovation Office Chair. 36 days per year, Term Dates: 07/03/2025 - 07/03/2027
• Steve Bates: Office for Life Sciences Executive Chair. Full-time, Term Dates: 29/09/2025 - 29/03/2027.
• Anne Lingford-Hughes, Peter Johnson, Hilary Evans-Newton, Nadeem Sarwar, Husseini Manji, Kathryn Abel and Naveed Sattar: OLS Healthcare Goals Chairs, 4-8 days per month, Term Dates: 30/09/2025 - 05/03/2027 (DHSC appointments with joint accountability between DHSC, DSIT and DBT)
• Simon Johnson, Tom Blomfield and Raia Hadsell: AI Ambassadors. 2 days per year, Term Dates: 21/11/2025 - 21/11/2026.
• James Wise: Sovereign AI Champion, 10 days per year. Term Dates: 21/11/2025 - 21/11/2026.
• Anne Marie Imafidon: Women in Tech Envoy. 20 days per year, Term Dates: 15/12/2025 - 15/06/2027.
• Prof. Sir Jonathan Irving Bell: Life Sciences Champions, 30 days per year, Term Dates: 01/01/2011 - 31/122025
• Sir Jon Symonds: Life Sciences Champions, 30 days per year, Term Dates: 01/01/2021- 31/12/2025.

Appointments that have now ended

• Matt Clifford: Lead Reviewer of the Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. 4-8 days per month, Term Dates: 22/07/2024 - 03/09/2024.
• Martha Lane Fox (Co-Chair), Poppy Gustafsson, Paul Willmott (Co-Chair), Jeni Tennison, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, Lou Cordwell, Aaron Maniam, David Eaves, Sarah Hunter, Lisa Harrington, Josie Cluer and Lord Richard Allan: Digital Centre Design Panel Members. 1 day a month, Date: 30/09/2024 - 04/01/2025.
• Ian Hogarth: AI Safety Institute Chair. 10 days per year, Term Dates: 10/02/2025 - 09/12/2025.

Appointments made before July 2024 (publicly available information)

• David Morris: UK Government Space Advisor. 2022 to 2024.
• Simon Fell: Rural Connectivity Champion. 2023 to 2024.
• Hilary Evans: Co-Chair for Dementia Mission. 2023 to 2024.
• Nadeem Sarwar: Co-Chair for the Dementia Mission. 2023 to 2024.
• Stephen McPartland: Chair of the McPartland Review. 2024.
• Alice Sullivan: Independent Reviewer of Data Collection. 2024.

Found: caught using methods that are non-compliant with international humane trapping standards. 25 DBT

Found: I have shared the contents of this letter with both the Department for Business and Trade and the Northern

Found: The Department for Business and Trade intervened in the proceedings to defend the UK’s trade union

Found: The Department for Business and Trade intervened in the proceedings to defend the UK’s trade union

Found: That review is co-led by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Work Pensions

Found: TOTAL AME DEPT AME Department for Business and Trade X013A004 X013A004-TRADE DEVELOPMENT (

Found: Competition and Markets Authority 4 Crown Estate Office 5 Crown Prosecution Service 6 Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: LPC) The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent public body (sponsored by The Department for Business and Trade

Found: The SAU has published its report providing advice to DBT concerning the proposed modified Network Charging

Found: The Referral 1.1 On 7 November 2025, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) requested a report from

Found: Treasury, ONS, DCMS, DfE, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Business and Trade

Found: The TRA is an arm’s length body of the Department for Business and Trade. 

Found: The second was hosted by DBT to gather feedback and insight for the formation of the Fair Work Agency

Found: The second was hosted by DBT to gather feedback and insight for the formation of the Fair Work Agency

Found: within the UK and internationally alongside Government colleagues from DfT and the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Where investors have specific requirements, the Department for Business and Trade

Found: Further, the Department for Business and Trade, recognising the challenge that many kinship carers face

Found: Project Willow, alignment with 8 Invest 2035: the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, Department for Business and Trade