Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the risks posed to UK-developed AI systems by (a) data poisoning, (b) model manipulation and (c) software supply chain compromise; and if she will publish any related guidance.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
For the most advanced AI systems, our world-leading AI Security Institute is a centre of UK expertise, advancing our scientific understanding of their capabilities and the associated risks. AISI has already run a large study on backdoor data poisoning, and conducted the largest AI agent red-teaming study to date, identifying tens of thousands of vulnerabilities across sectors including finance, healthcare and customer support. AISI continues to work hand in hand with developers and with the National Cyber Security Centre to make AI protections stronger.
The government has already published a Code of Practice to set the baseline security requirements for AI models and systems, alongside working with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to create a global standard (EN 304 223) that builds on the Code.
This standard is relevant to all organisations and sets out requirements for developers and deployers of AI alongside data custodians. To support organisations, we have contributed to the publication of an implementation guide (TR 104 128) and we are now working to produce a conformity assessment in ETSI (TS 104 216). The government has also recently completed some pilot training workshops with various professions, including small businesses and published the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025-2026 which examined adoption and security approaches by UK organisations to AI. The findings are being used to determine if additional guidance is needed. SMEs should consider this standard when adopting AI-enabled tools and services.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of levels of cyber preparedness among SMEs adopting AI-enabled tools and services; and whether she plans to publish guidance specifically for smaller businesses.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
For the most advanced AI systems, our world-leading AI Security Institute is a centre of UK expertise, advancing our scientific understanding of their capabilities and the associated risks. AISI has already run a large study on backdoor data poisoning, and conducted the largest AI agent red-teaming study to date, identifying tens of thousands of vulnerabilities across sectors including finance, healthcare and customer support. AISI continues to work hand in hand with developers and with the National Cyber Security Centre to make AI protections stronger.
The government has already published a Code of Practice to set the baseline security requirements for AI models and systems, alongside working with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to create a global standard (EN 304 223) that builds on the Code.
This standard is relevant to all organisations and sets out requirements for developers and deployers of AI alongside data custodians. To support organisations, we have contributed to the publication of an implementation guide (TR 104 128) and we are now working to produce a conformity assessment in ETSI (TS 104 216). The government has also recently completed some pilot training workshops with various professions, including small businesses and published the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025-2026 which examined adoption and security approaches by UK organisations to AI. The findings are being used to determine if additional guidance is needed. SMEs should consider this standard when adopting AI-enabled tools and services.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made a quantitative assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on recruitment intentions among (a) micro businesses and (b) small businesses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has published 29 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act. The analysis shows that the Act could have small, positive effects on the level of employment: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. Each Impact Assessment considers how impacts may vary depending on business size.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that are eligible for the Employment Allowance and will pay a higher level of National Insurance contributions relative to 2024/25 in each of the next three years.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Estimates on the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that are eligible for the Employment Allowance and will pay a higher level of National Insurance contributions relative to 2024-25 over the next three years are not available.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost per business of complying with the provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 by (a) business size and (b) sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has published 29 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK.
Each Impact Assessment considers the cost of the policy, as well as how impacts may vary depending on business size and by sector. The assessment shows that those in low-paid, low quality and insecure work will amongst the largest beneficiaries of the Act.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the cumulative potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions and the National Minimum Wage on the level of labour costs for (a) micro businesses, (b) small businesses and (c) medium-sized businesses.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on individuals, businesses and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts. The Government has also published an impact assessment on the 2026 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, including an assessment of business size impacts.
National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW), rates are recommended by the independent and expert Low Pay Commission (LPC). In accepting the LPC’s recommendations – which balances the cost of living with impacts on businesses and competitiveness, as well as wider labour market and economic conditions – the Government supports the lowest-paid workers in the economy whilst ensuring that macroeconomic conditions remain stable to create the conditions for growth.
The Government continues to support micro, small and medium-sized, including by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500 to help protect the smallest businesses from changes to employer National Insurance contributions, as well as the Small Business Plan published in July 2025, delivering the most comprehensive package of SME support in a generation.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has modelled the potential impact of changes to employers' National Insurance contributions introduced in April 2025 on the level of (a) recruitment, (b) staff retention and (c) wage growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on individuals, businesses and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts. The Government has also published an impact assessment on the 2026 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, including an assessment of business size impacts.
National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW), rates are recommended by the independent and expert Low Pay Commission (LPC). In accepting the LPC’s recommendations – which balances the cost of living with impacts on businesses and competitiveness, as well as wider labour market and economic conditions – the Government supports the lowest-paid workers in the economy whilst ensuring that macroeconomic conditions remain stable to create the conditions for growth.
The Government continues to support micro, small and medium-sized, including by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500 to help protect the smallest businesses from changes to employer National Insurance contributions, as well as the Small Business Plan published in July 2025, delivering the most comprehensive package of SME support in a generation.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has undertaken modelling of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the level of employment opportunities for people aged between 18 and 24.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Businesses are able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270. These reliefs are estimated to have been worth around £2.5 billion in 2025/26.
In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the impact that the increase in employer NICs would have on labour supply. In their latest forecast (taking into account all government policies expected to have a significant impact), the OBR expect that employment levels will rise in every year of the forecast, reaching 35.3m in 2030-31.
The OBR have not estimated a breakdown by age.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
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 cumulative potential impact of (a) changes to employer National Insurance contributions, (b) changes to the National Minimum Wage, and (c) the Employment Rights Act 2025 on the recruitment, investment, and growth plans of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has published a range of analytical documents covering the policies referenced, which set out their likely impacts on businesses of different sizes.
As per our Better Regulation requirements, each Impact Assessment covering the Employment Rights Act 2025 and The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026 includes a small and micro business assessment. These analyses also consider the economic impacts on the wider economy.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was also published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
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 Employment Rights Act 2025 on administrative and compliance costs for (a) micro businesses employing fewer than 10 people, (b) small businesses employing between 10 and 49 people, and (c) medium-sized businesses employing between 50 and 249 people.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has published 29 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. Each Impact Assessment considers the cost of the policy, as well as how impacts may vary depending on business size.