Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the Guest Beer Agreement scheme introduced in Scotland.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Hospitality businesses, including pubs and independent breweries, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.
The government wishes to see small brewers retain and expand their access to UK pubs, maximising drinkers’ choice and supporting local economies. The Government is currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers'
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is planning new trade (a) agreements and (b) partnerships with countries other than (i) the US and (ii) China to help UK SMEs offset tariffs on goods manufactured in those counties.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK's Trade Strategy will mark a reset in our approach to international trade and set out the future priorities for our trade policy. This strategy will also set out how trade can stimulate economic growth through delivery of targeted business benefits in a rapidly changing global landscape. We will continue to support SMEs through future agreements, including measures that will help offset tariffs and access global markets.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2025 to Question 55194 on Import Duties: USA, if he will set out the level of tariff reductions for UK SMEs under the economic deal concluded with the United States of America on 8 May 2025; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those reductions on SMEs reliant on international supply chains.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains, including on SMEs.
The US has committed to further negotiations, including on the 10% tariffs introduced on 2nd April.
We have announced a range of measures to support SMEs, including access to additional finance through the British Business Bank and sector specific measures. We are also expanding UKEF’s capacity to support business by £20 billion, with £10 billion specifically aimed at businesses impacted by the current US tariffs. Any business which is concerned about what tariff changes mean for them can find clear guidance and support on business.gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2025 to Question 55194 on Import Duties: USA, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce (a) regulatory compliance, (b) customs procedures and (c) other non-tariff barriers for UK SMEs accessing the United States market.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains, including on SMEs.
The US has committed to further negotiations, including on the 10% tariffs introduced on 2nd April.
We have announced a range of measures to support SMEs, including access to additional finance through the British Business Bank and sector specific measures. We are also expanding UKEF’s capacity to support business by £20 billion, with £10 billion specifically aimed at businesses impacted by the current US tariffs. Any business which is concerned about what tariff changes mean for them can find clear guidance and support on business.gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55229 on Electric Bicycles: Sales, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of enforcement action taken by Local Authority Trading Standards against the sale of illegally modified electric bikes in the last 12 months.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Under product safety regulations, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and Local Authority Trading Standards (LATS) have powers to remove unsafe products or prevent them entering the UK. In 2023-2024, 2.4m goods, including e-bikes, were denied entry. LATS report serious risk products to OPSS, which has published 22 recalls and 29 other safety alerts on unsafe e-bikes and associated products since 2022. Last year OPSS led a LATS programme to inspect businesses that repair, maintain or modify e-bikes and raise awareness of legal responsibilities for safety.
Enforcement of illegally modified electric bikes on public roads is a police matter.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of pubs on (a) social cohesion and (b) economic activities.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We recognise the vital role pubs play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the UK, I co-chair the Hospitality Sector Council to discuss matters affecting the sector and to recognise their contribution to the economy, which was around £50bn GVA in 2024, representing 2% total UK output. We've recently launched Hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which fast-track individuals into hospitality vacancies by providing flexible training and support for job seekers.
Additionally, we've launched a new £1.5 million Hospitality Fund to co-invest in projects that boost productivity and help community pubs adapt to local needs. We're working with the Licensing Taskforce to reduce burdens and encourage growth.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the availability of skilled workers in (a) technical and (b) engineering roles in (i) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DfE continues to make available education and training opportunities in technical and engineering sectors across the country including in Fylde and Lancashire.
DfE’s levy-funded growth and skills offer, with apprenticeships at the heart, is aligned with the industrial strategy, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries such as in engineering and technical sectors.
DBT is working with DfE, following the announced additional £625 million for construction skills training, to support the industry led Construction Skills Mission Board to collaboratively secure the workforce needed to meet future demand and deliver the government’s infrastructure and built environment commitments.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 UK exporters mitigate the potential impact proposed US tariffs on (a) consumer electronics and (b) agricultural goods.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On 8 May, we concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal and we will continue our extensive engagement with businesses from across the UK throughout these remaining negotiations.
We continue to support UK businesses, including those that sell consumer electronics and agricultural goods, to grow and export around the world and to the US. Businesses can access export support via great.gov.uk such as the Export Academy, International Markets Network, Growth Hubs and Help to Grow: Management scheme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 adequacy of (a) targeted relief and (b) export support for the (i) creative and (ii) publishing industries affected by changes to international trade policy.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My department has a dedicated exports promotion programme for the creative industries to grow their exports. We will continue to use trade and economic partnership agreements to reduce trade barriers for creative industries businesses.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to provide financial support to British SMEs relocating manufacturing out of China to avoid newly introduced tariffs.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There are no current plans to support businesses with relocating their production out of China specifically. However, the Government-backed British Business Bank helps businesses to access the finance they need to invest and grow, including to relocate parts or all of their business.
UK Export Finance can help SMEs win contracts by providing attractive financing terms to buyers, support working capital loans to take on and fulfil orders effectively, and make sure SMEs get paid by offering Government-backed insurance against buyer default.