Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - 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
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 (Reform UK - 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
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 (Reform UK - 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
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 (Reform UK - 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 - Secretary of State for Scotland
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 (Reform UK - 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 - Secretary of State for Scotland
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.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the role of Commonwealth trade agreements in increasing the UK’s export growth rate in the services sector.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
UK exports in services to Commonwealth countries rose in current prices from £36.4 billion in 2019 to £58.1 billion in the 12 months to September 2024 and represents 61.5% of UK exports to Commonwealth countries in the latest period.
The UK increases services exports and removes barriers to services trade through many of our trade agreements covering 35 Commonwealth countries. For example, the UK’s accession to CPTPP provided UK and Malaysian firms and professionals with certainty when looking to deliver services in their respective territories.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help reduce the level of administration for companies applying for export licences.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is implementing a new digital export licensing system, LITE, to provide a modern digital service that streamlines the export licence application process.
ECJU has an ongoing programme of Continuous Improvement and we routinely identify and implement opportunities to make targeted improvements to the way we operate and manage the export licensing service to help us adapt to the changing demands on the system.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the export licence process.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is implementing a new digital export licensing system, LITE, to provide a modern digital service that streamlines the export licence application process.
ECJU has an ongoing programme of Continuous Improvement and we routinely identify and implement opportunities to make targeted improvements to the way we operate and manage the export licensing service to help us adapt to the changing demands on the system.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support export manufacturing.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting UK businesses, including those in the manufacturing industry, to grow and export. Under the umbrella of the recently announced Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT's wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.
As part of our work on a new trade strategy and a small business strategy, we are looking at further proposals to help UK businesses to export more.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of (a) trends in the level of (i) trade facilitation, (ii) economic cooperation and (iii) market access within the Commonwealth and (b) the potential merits of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council in promoting trade.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Commonwealth includes some of the UK’s biggest trading partners including Canada, and South Africa. Trade values have increased steadily in current prices from £105.6bn in 2014 to £170.2bn (12 months to end September 2024) through economic cooperation initiatives with Commonwealth members, such as Free Trade Agreements, negotiations with India, and trade facilitation work such as the Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore updating rules affecting exporters of goods and services.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads on Commonwealth engagement including with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council who are preparing for the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit in London, April 2025.