Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the regulatory requirements applying to AI-enabled toys for children.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Government has committed to reviewing product regulations including the Toys (Safety) Regulations. These reviews will examine whether changes are needed to detailed safety requirements to reflect modern challenges, such as the use of AI in toys.
Following an appropriate consultation as required under The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, Government will decide whether to implement any changes to the Toy (Safety) Regulations to ensure they address modern safety issues and technological developments, harness opportunities to create economic growth, and continue to protect people and places from product-related harm.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop a regulatory framework to ensure that workplace use of artificial intelligence tools complies with UK employment and data protection law.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Information Commissioner’s Office has committed to developing a statutory code of practice on artificial intelligence, so organisations have certainty on how to deploy AI in ways that uphold people’s rights and build public confidence.
Artificial Intelligence is a general-purpose technology with many applications, which is why the government believes most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use by our existing regulators.
The Plan to Make Work Pay set out the Government’s commitment to work with workers, trade unions, employers and experts to ensure rights and protections keep pace with technological change.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of SumUp's UK Business Confidence Report 2025, and of the implications of those findings for policies relating to the cost pressures faced by small and independent retailers.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We recognise the challenges facing businesses at the moment. This is why we are taking action – including through creating a fairer business rates system which includes introducing permanently lower rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties.
We're protecting the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, which means that 865,000 employers will pay no employer NICs at all this year.
We also recognise the challenge in accessing the right skills which is why we've created Skills England, the new Growth and Skills Levy, the introduction of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, as well as qualifications reform and the Independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, this Government is ensuring employers will be better supported to recruit and train the domestic workforce with the skills they need.
Finally, our Plan for small and medium-sized businesses aims to tackle late payments, boost access to finance, and remove red tape to enable SMEs across the country to grow and thrive.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enforce the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to prevent anti-competitive practices by major digital platforms.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As the UK’s independent competition authority, the Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for enforcing competition law. Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers to investigate and take appropriate action if it finds that businesses are behaving anti-competitively. This includes bespoke powers to address the practices of large technology firms that have substantial and entrenched market power.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of employee monitoring tools.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Workplace monitoring technology has the potential to increase business productivity and improve efficiency, but it can also pose risks to workers’ when used disproportionately or without consideration of data protection, equality and employment rights.
The Plan to Make Work Pay makes clear workers’ interests will need to inform the digital transformation taking place in the workplace. We therefore committed to making the introduction of workplace monitoring technologies subject to consultation and negotiation.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect graduate and entry-level jobs.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Economic growth is the central mission of this government and is vital to giving the next generation the opportunities to thrive.
The labour market is very strong by historical and international standards, and whilst there has been a downturn in graduate vacancies over the last 12 months, the employment rate for graduates in England has remained steady over the past 10 years at around 87% on average.
In June the Government published our modern Industrial Strategy, which will support good jobs and higher incomes across the country. This outlined interventions including £1.2 billion of additional investment in skills per year by 2028-29.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the proposed merger of Anglo American and Teck Resources for jobs in United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty's Government are pleased that the UK will remain as the base for Anglo Teck's incorporation, tax and primary listing, recognising London's role as a global centre for mining finance. We also welcome the news that a corporate office will be retained in London and that Anglo Teck has committed to progress the development of the Woodsmith Project (a polyhalite fertiliser mine) in North Yorkshire, a significant investment in the region.
The Department for Business and Trade will continue to engage with both companies as plans for the merger, including jobs, develop.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current level of confidence in the economy among small businesses; and how they plan to support small businesses.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Small businesses are vital to our communities and are essential to our economic success. Whilst we recognise the business environment has been difficult in recent times for many small businesses, according to the Lloyds Bank Business Barometer business confidence rose in June 2025 and is at its highest since 2015.
The upcoming SME Strategy Paper will outline our vision for small businesses to boost scale-ups, revitalise high streets, improve access to finance and markets. We are engaging with small business owners on the development of the Business Growth Service (BGS), to ensure that we deliver on our mission to make it easier for businesses to get the support they need to grow and thrive.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of artificial intelligence chatbots in toys aimed at children; and what plans they have to introduce regulations governing the use of AI in such products.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Office for Product Safety and Standards is actively exploring the implications of integrating artificial intelligence into consumer products including toys, particularly the regulatory challenges this poses for ensuring product safety. The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which completed its passage through Parliament on 10 July, grants new powers to help ensure the UK's regulatory framework remains responsive to emerging technologies such as AI.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of United States tariffs on UK businesses, and what steps they are taking to reduce those impacts.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The UK and the US have reached a deal which was announced on 8th May 2025. We continue to negotiate a wider economic deal with the United States that will further support our industries and safeguard jobs.
We have announced an additional £500 million in lending capacity under the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), delivered by the British Business Bank and we are also expanding UKEF’s business support package by £20 billion, £10 billion of which will be used specifically for businesses impacted by the current US tariffs.
Businesses concerned about the impact of US tariffs can also find clear guidance on business.gov.uk.