Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
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 help tackle the use of Uyghur slave labour in supply chains that include critical minerals.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
This Government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account.
The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK’s economic growth and clean energy transition. The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment.
We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK’s existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains, and take action where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to minimise the operational and administrative compliance work for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced that government will cut administrative costs of regulation to business by 25% by the end of this Parliament. Reducing these costs on businesses will allow them to flourish and to innovate, enabling economic growth.
Our SME Strategy will be published later this year, delivering on our Growth Mission of supporting SMEs. It will feature the new Business Growth Service, simplifying
available support for SMEs on access to finance and providing training and operational efficiency advice.
DBT will also resume funding for the Help to Grow: Management training and will extend the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce supporting the digitisation efforts of a greater number of SMEs. These programmes should enable SMEs to minimise their operational and administrative compliance work.
Finally, the Government supports the introduction of e-invoicing that can significantly reduce administrative tasks, improve cash flow, boost productivity and reduce errors in tax returns.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, whether his Department has received representations from (a) brewers and (b) pub companies on the potential merits of extending the Guest Beer Agreement scheme to (i) England and (ii) Wales.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government notes the Scottish Pubs Code and the ‘guest beer agreement’ requirement, contained within it.
The England and Wales Pubs Code, which applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covers around 8,000 pubs. The government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Stakeholders including brewers and pub companies are encouraged to contribute to the review’s call for inputs which is open until 14 August.
Additionally, the government is completing an exercise to understand whether there are any barriers to market for small brewers. This exercise covers all pub models. Interested parties can contact beermarketreview@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, whether his assessment of the beer market will include consideration of (a) tied house arrangements and (b) their impact on market access for guest beers.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The beer market review, with specific reference to market access for small brewers, will cover all subcategories of the pub sector, including leased and tenanted pubs. It will not however consider the merits of different pub models.
The government is separately conducting a statutory review into the operation of Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Interested parties can submit their views to the call for inputs until 14 August 2025. The Pubs Code applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, when he expects the assessment of the beer market to be completed; and whether the findings will be published.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The intention is to complete the review this summer. Ministers will then consider the report’s findings and, following discussions with those parties that have contributed to the review, whether any further steps should be taken.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
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 self-employed people in the West Midlands.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Last year, the Business Secretary announced a new Business Growth Service, which will make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses across the West Midlands to get support and advice to grow, export and thrive.
The West Midlands Growth Hub is where entrepreneurs and SMEs across the West Midlands can obtain specialist advice, including on scaling up and accessing new markets.
Businesses can also access other Government programmes such as the Business Support Service, Help to Grow: Management, the UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisors, the Export Support Service and financial help via the British Business Bank.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 the creation of start-ups in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Start-up businesses can contact the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub, which supports SMEs in South Holland and the Deepings and across Greater Lincolnshire.
For new entrepreneurs, the Hub offers a comprehensive array of resources and fully funded programmes dedicated to start-ups and SMEs looking to scale-up, accelerate business growth and access new markets in the UK and overseas.
Backed by the British Business Bank, the Start Up Loans Company (SUL) helps new and early-stage UK businesses access affordable finance and mentoring support. SMEs can also access services such as the Business Support Service, Help to Grow: Management and the UK Export Academy.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made a recent assessment with the Secretary of State for Transport of the potential impact of public transport services in rural areas on the viability of high street businesses operating in market towns.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government recognises that rural residents must often travel further to access their local high street. We know that this can affect business viability for high streets in rural areas as employee and customer accessibility is a significant barrier.
The government is providing over £650 million for local transport outside city regions in 2025-26 to ensure that transport infrastructure and connections improve in our towns, villages and rural areas as well as in our major cities. Addressing intra-regional transport, connecting rural communities to their local high street will increase the viability of high street businesses in market towns. The government is also providing over £1 billion funding to support and improve local bus services and keep fares affordable where we can and increase connectivity to high streets in rural areas.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 high street businesses in North Shropshire.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Revitalising our high streets is a priority for this government. We are addressing anti-social behaviour and crime, working with the banking industry to roll out 350 banking hubs, stamping out late payments, empowering communities to make the most of the vacant properties, strengthening the Post Office network and reforming the apprenticeship levy, alongside our plans to reform business rates.
We have announced a new Business Growth Service that will make it easier for businesses across the UK to get the help, support and advice they need. It will bring together existing offers including the Business Support Service, which provides tailored information, advice, guidance and signposting on any business topic, and the network of local Growth Hubs across England. The Marches Growth Hub provides businesses of all sizes and sectors across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin with advice and support throughout the business journey.
Our forthcoming SME Strategy will set out our further plans to help businesses on the high street and beyond.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, whether he has consulted (a) small brewers and (b) independent pub landlords as part of his assessment of the beer market.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As part of its assessment of the beer market, the Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders, including small brewers and independent pub landlords.
The government is separately conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Interested parties can submit their views to the call for inputs until 14 August 2025. The Pubs Code applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs.