Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish guidance for triggering investigations into poor payment practices.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Commercial Payments Bill provides the Small Business Commissioner with the power to investigate a larger business where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that it has persistently engaged in poor payment practices. The Commissioner must consider the extent and impact of the suspected conduct, the resources required for an investigation, and whether an investigation would be proportionate in all the circumstances. Further detail will be set out in secondary legislation.
The Government will work with the Commissioner to ensure businesses understand their obligations and to consider what operational guidance should be published before the new legislation comes into force.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish a funding plan for the Small Business Commissioner; and, if so, when they will do so.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has confirmed that the Small Business Commissioner will have the resources needed to carry out its expanded functions. Detailed future funding arrangements will be determined through the usual departmental business planning and spending review processes. The Government does not currently intend to publish a separate funding plan, but will provide further information on the Commissioner's resourcing as the new functions are implemented.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 13 April (HL16133), on what date they intend to commence their review of the functioning of section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The government has committed to review the functioning of section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 in its entirety. As part of this review, we will engage with relevant and interested stakeholders and publish our findings in Parliament. The review will start shortly and the government will write to interested parties in due course.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether British Steel Ltd is balance-sheet solvent and cash-flow solvent, both including and excluding Government funding provided since 12 April 2025; and whether they will publish any such assessment.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish all ministerial directions issued in relation to British Steel Ltd under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025, including any directions concerning access to premises, accounting records, bank accounts, management information, insolvency proceedings, funding, trading decisions or relations with Jingye Group.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the CS01 confirmation statement filed by British Steel Ltd on 14 April 2026, stating that the company’s intended future activities were lawful, was filed with the prior knowledge, consent or direction of the Secretary of State; and whether the accuracy of that statement depended on any Government assurance, funding, direction or undertaking.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State has issued any direction under section 2(5)(d) of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 requiring British Steel Ltd, its directors, officers, creditors or any other person to refrain from taking proceedings under the Insolvency Act 1986 or otherwise in relation to the company or its steel undertaking.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of private capital's willingness to invest in British Steel under the present ownership and control structure.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
British Steel remains owned by Jingye and it would be inappropriate for HM Government to formally approach potential third-party investors in such circumstances. We are in discussions with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of the site and our long-term aspiration for the steel sector will require co-investment with the private sector.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many potential third-party investors have been formally approached regarding investment in British Steel since April 2025.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
British Steel remains owned by Jingye and it would be inappropriate for HM Government to formally approach potential third-party investors in such circumstances. We are in discussions with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of the site and our long-term aspiration for the steel sector will require co-investment with the private sector.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they plan to publish the revised implementation timetable for the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
As set out in the Implementation Roadmap, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will be delivered in phases to give employees and employers time to prepare.
Following Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 was repealed. In February further trade union measures will commence, including repealing the majority of the Trade Union Act 2016.
Further measures will take effect in April 2026, including day one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave, and launch of the Fair Work Agency.
The Government remains committed to the Implementation Roadmap timelines and will provide further updates and support for employers and workers in early 2026.