Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Office for National Statistics on initiating a reassessment of the public sector classification of British Steel.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Government the power to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, ensure they get paid, and order the raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Act.
The decision to introduce this legislation had collective agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine the potential impact to public purse, but the funding required for British Steel will come out of existing budgets and there will be no changes to the Government's fiscal rules.
The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
We will publish the initial impact assessment in due course, including classification considerations.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish a regulatory impact assessment for the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Government the power to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, ensure they get paid, and order the raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Act.
The decision to introduce this legislation had collective agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine the potential impact to public purse, but the funding required for British Steel will come out of existing budgets and there will be no changes to the Government's fiscal rules.
The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
We will publish the initial impact assessment in due course, including classification considerations.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of support for British Steel Limited through the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025; and how much his Department has committed to underwrite.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Government the power to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, ensure they get paid, and order the raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Act.
The decision to introduce this legislation had collective agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine the potential impact to public purse, but the funding required for British Steel will come out of existing budgets and there will be no changes to the Government's fiscal rules.
The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
We will publish the initial impact assessment in due course, including classification considerations.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding his Department has been provided with under Section 8 of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Government the power to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, ensure they get paid, and order the raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Act.
The decision to introduce this legislation had collective agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine the potential impact to public purse, but the funding required for British Steel will come out of existing budgets and there will be no changes to the Government's fiscal rules.
The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
We will publish the initial impact assessment in due course, including classification considerations.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
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 in the IT services sector on (a) the UK-India trade deal and (b) the Double Contribution Convention with India.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Before launching free trade agreement talks with India, The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) ran a public call for input to help us understand what businesses and consumers wanted. As talks progressed, we frequently engaged with businesses across a range of sectors including the IT sector.
Double Contributions Conventions are international treaties designed to eliminate the double payment of social security contributions. The government regularly engages with a range of business representatives to understand their views and concerns in relation to the tax system.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to (a) lay his Department’s trade strategy before Parliament and (b) provide copies of that strategy to the media.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Business and Trade is committed to upholding our parliamentary commitments and transparency. The Trade Strategy will be laid in Parliament, making the paper accessible to members of both Houses, in due course and will be made available on gov.uk once it is launched.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
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 (a) business groups and (b) employer organisations on the potential impact of the level of efficiency of employment tribunals on SMEs.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are committed to ensuring that Employment Tribunals operate effectively, ensuring workers have access to justice while minimising burdens on the majority of businesses which play by the rules.
As part of the development of the Employment Rights Bill, the Government has consulted with businesses extensively and further engagements (including on this topic) are planned.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate his Department has made of the financial impact of Employment Tribunal delays on UK businesses.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are committed to ensuring that Employment Tribunals operate effectively, ensuring workers have access to justice while minimising burdens on the majority of businesses which play by the rules.
As part of the development of the Employment Rights Bill, the Government has consulted with businesses extensively and further engagements (including on this topic) are planned.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 5 March 2025, column 273, how many officials from his Department have travelled to the United States to discuss a potential UK-US trade deal since 20 January 2025; and on what dates.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Prime Minister travelled to Washington DC to meet with President Trump on 27 February. During their meeting, they agreed to deepen the UK-US relationship and to work together on a trade deal focused on tech. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has been engaging with the US Administration including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade and UK government officials will be travelling to the US during the week beginning 17 March to meet with members of the US administration.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 5 March 2025, Official Record Column 273, what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the US administration on a UK-US trade deal.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK-US relationship is already very strong, with trade of around £300 billion, and shared investment of over £1.2 trillion at the end of 2023. The Prime Minister and President Trump met on 27 February and agreed to deepen this relationship and to work together on a trade deal focused on tech. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has also been engaging with the US Administration including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries, and will continue to make every effort to support British business.