Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 mitigate the potential impact of UK visa policy changes on SMEs that trade with Colombia.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
UK exporters remain able to travel to Colombia visa-free to provide their goods and services. The UK also continues to welcome Colombian nationals with visit visas travelling to the UK for business reasons.
DBT supports UK businesses of all sizes to export to Colombia, including through the British Embassy in Bogota. The UK-Andean Countries trade agreement provides preferential access to both UK and Colombian businesses, while the next UK-Colombia ministerial trade dialogue will provide an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen our trade relationship further, including in light of the UK’s new industrial and trade strategies and its upcoming SME Strategy.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 encourage the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in procurement processes related to the development and supply of sustainable aviation fuel.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Department supports SME participation in innovative sectors such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the Business Growth Service. This makes it easier for businesses to get advice and support they need and later this year, we will publish a SME Strategy Paper to promote inclusive supply chains and easier access to finance.
The SAF Mandate sets targets for SAF uptake and creates new market opportunities. To support SAF production, the Department for Transport has launched the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF). The AFF funding is allocated through a competitive process and is available to a range of entities, including SMEs and start-ups.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with his Colombian counterpart on the potential impact of the mancozeb ban on (a) bilateral trade and (b) regional stability.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The decision to withdraw the use of mancozeb in Great Britain does not immediately affect imports. The UK Government recognises the importance that bilateral trade between the UK and Colombia plays in boosting growth and ensuring regional stability. The UK is open to discussing the concerns of our trade partners, though DBT Ministers have not met with Colombia on this issue.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 UK trade policy on (a) levels of UK-Caribbean economic engagement and (b) Chinese influence in that region.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK’s Economic Partnership Agreement with CARIFORUM, which is the most comprehensive trade agreement that the UK has signed with developing countries, supports growth across the region and in the UK. Between 2023 and 2024, UK-CARIFORUM bilateral trade in goods and services increased by 20.5% in current prices. The UK and CARIFORUM regularly discuss how to strengthen bilateral trade further through the structures outlined in our agreement.
The UK will continue to position itself as the trading partner of choice in the Caribbean, building on our historic, economic and cultural ties.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 implications for his policies of trends in the number of pub closures; and what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of closures.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities, providing accessible jobs and supporting economic growth across the UK.
The Government is creating a fairer business rate system and reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products. This work will be supported by the publication of The Small Business Strategy Command Paper later this year.
We are working with the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges facing the sector. We are also working with Pub Is The Hub to help rural pubs adapt to the changing needs of their communities.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 the UK crypto and digital asset industry.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Details of any meetings and engagements with the UK crypto and digital asset industry can be found in the Department’s quarterly transparency returns on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps with representatives of food delivery companies to help tackle the use of rented profiles by people who have not been properly vetted to make deliveries to private addresses.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In December, I wrote to Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, to ask what steps they have in place to ensure that all drivers and riders are legally entitled to work in the UK, including substitutes, and what sanctions they have in place should this not be the case.
In March, the government announced its intention to amend the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, to extend the scope of employers required to carry out Right to Work checks to those who engage limb (b) workers or individual sub-contractors, including those carrying out food deliveries in the gig economy and their substitutes.
The Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill represents a significant corner stone of the Government’s Plan for Change. One of the objectives being to rebuild confidence in the immigration system.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to regulate third party sellers who sell dangerous toys on online marketplaces.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Legislation is clear that toys must be safe before being placed on the market. The Office for Product Safety and Standards, within my department, works to ensure retailers, online marketplaces and third-party remove unsafe toys from sale.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will enable regulations to be updated to reflect modern online supply chains. Government intends to use the Bill powers to create a proportionate regulatory framework where online marketplaces take steps to:
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 effectiveness of the Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore in reducing non-tariff barriers for UK businesses exporting (a) digital services and (b) physical goods.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (DEA) stands out as one of the most comprehensive digital trade agreements globally and locks-in market liberalisations in key areas for businesses such as cross-border data flows. The seven Memoranda of Understanding signed alongside the DEA facilitate engagement on several key areas, including Fintech and Lawtech services. Trade digitalisation pilots conducted under the agreement framework demonstrated significant business benefits to trade in goods, including 40% reduction in trade processing time, 89% reduction in paperwork, and 67% improvement in staff productivity. We keep the effectiveness of the agreement under review as part of its ongoing implementation.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with his Commonwealth counterparts on the potential for mutual recognition agreements on professional qualifications.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Business and Trade recognises the importance of mutual recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ) to support services trade and domestic labour market outcomes.
International agreements provide mechanisms for officials to regularly engage with their Commonwealth counterparts on RPQ. Officials engage frequently with counterparts in Australia, New Zealand and the CARIFORUM states through Professional Services Working Groups, joint and specialised committee structures.
Independent UK regulators set standards, assess professional qualifications and are responsible for agreeing Mutual Recognition Agreements on RPQ. DBT is committed to promoting RPQ opportunities and supporting regulators in their discussions with Commonwealth counterparts.