Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 number of UK business sectors that will fall within scope of the market-access discussions with Turkey.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations with Turkey, but we have held three successful rounds of negotiations to date.
We already have a goods focussed FTA with Turkey, providing tariff-free access on industrial goods. Both countries are now working towards ambitious outcomes across trade in services and digital trade, areas not covered by the existing agreement. We will continue to work with our independent regulators on any decisions relating to cooperation with Turkey.
Our prioritisation decisions will align with our Industrial Strategy - including its eight sectors of focus - and Trade Strategy and will be informed by the latest economic data, with the aim of fulfilling our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what processes his Department uses to determine which UK industries will be prioritised during negotiations for an enhanced free trade agreement with Turkey.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations with Turkey, but we have held three successful rounds of negotiations to date.
We already have a goods focussed FTA with Turkey, providing tariff-free access on industrial goods. Both countries are now working towards ambitious outcomes across trade in services and digital trade, areas not covered by the existing agreement. We will continue to work with our independent regulators on any decisions relating to cooperation with Turkey.
Our prioritisation decisions will align with our Industrial Strategy - including its eight sectors of focus - and Trade Strategy and will be informed by the latest economic data, with the aim of fulfilling our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has set any departmental benchmarks for the data required to support decisions on regulatory co-operation with Turkey under a future agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations with Turkey, but we have held three successful rounds of negotiations to date.
We already have a goods focussed FTA with Turkey, providing tariff-free access on industrial goods. Both countries are now working towards ambitious outcomes across trade in services and digital trade, areas not covered by the existing agreement. We will continue to work with our independent regulators on any decisions relating to cooperation with Turkey.
Our prioritisation decisions will align with our Industrial Strategy - including its eight sectors of focus - and Trade Strategy and will be informed by the latest economic data, with the aim of fulfilling our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 number of small businesses in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency that will be eligible for the new cost-reduction support programmes announced in 2025 following the Willow Review.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in the transition to net zero. We are helping SMEs countrywide access sustainability benefits through initiatives such as the new Business Growth Service, the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) for decarbonisation advice, and the rollout of smart meters. Additionally, the Made Smarter Adoption programme for manufacturing SMEs in the South East will double its budget from April to £3.1m, boosting productivity through digital adoption-focused skills and grants.
Following the Willow Review, £200,000 has been allocated to enhance UKBCH and integrate it with the Business Growth Service. The network of local Growth Hubs, including Buckinghamshire Business First, offer tailored support at any stage of a business's journey and can signpost to these new and improved offers.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has issued guidance on the processes for identifying firms in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency eligible for scale-up support.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As announced in the Industrial Strategy and Plan for SMEs, DBT is developing a new scale-up offer to help firms with high growth potential start, scale and stay in the UK. I am aware of the work my Honourable Friend is doing to drive investment into Bletchley and the businesses in his constituency through the Bletchley Investment Taskforce. I hope working together, in partnership with the Buckinghamshire Business First and South Midlands Growth Hubs, we can do more to support economically important scale-ups in his constituency and across the UK.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to establish metrics to monitor the effectiveness of the Government’s scale-up interventions.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Monitoring and evaluation are an important way of identifying lessons that can be learnt to improve both the design and delivery of future interventions. Consistent with HMT guidance, we will establish metrics and proportionate monitoring and evaluation provisions for DBT’s scale-up interventions.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 number of UK businesses in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency that have participated in trade remedy investigations in each of the last three years.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
According to the records available, no producers have registered with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) to an investigation using a contact address within the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, between 01/01/2023 and 13/12/2025. Other interested parties do not routinely provide the TRA with an address.
Due to commercial sensitivities, I am unable to comment on engagement with businesses which may inform decisions on whether to open a case.
If any businesses in your constituency have concerns about unfair trading practices, I would encourage them to contact the TRA at contact@traderemedies.gov.uk.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what metrics are used to evaluate UK participation in joint regulatory co-operation forums with the European Union.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not use a single fixed set of metrics. A range of data is utilised, including the importance of sectors impacted and the level of regulatory burden businesses are facing. The UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) includes a series of Annual Trade Specialised Committees (TSCs). Agendas and minutes are published here. Regulatory cooperation takes place across these committees. More information on the UK-EU Trade Partnership Council can also be found here. The Domestic Advisory Group, which advises on implementation of the TCA, also monitors the TCA’s operation, including regulatory cooperation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria his Department uses to determine which sectors are prioritised for UK-EU regulatory co-operation.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not use a single fixed set of metrics. A range of data is utilised, including the importance of sectors impacted and the level of regulatory burden businesses are facing. The UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) includes a series of Annual Trade Specialised Committees (TSCs). Agendas and minutes are published here. Regulatory cooperation takes place across these committees. More information on the UK-EU Trade Partnership Council can also be found here. The Domestic Advisory Group, which advises on implementation of the TCA, also monitors the TCA’s operation, including regulatory cooperation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what specific measures his Department will offer companies located in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to help them navigate any non-tariff barriers emerging from Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership dialogues.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My officials engage extensively across the UK and overseas to assess opportunities and identify non-tariff barriers arising from CPTPP membership. This includes hosting targeted events and webinars to promote the utilisation of the Agreement, providing updates on the latest developments, and gathering feedback from businesses on how CPTPP is working in practice.
The Department’s business-facing teams are equipped with the tools and information they need to confidently engage with businesses, helping them understand and navigate non-tariff barriers, and access commercial opportunities across CPTPP markets.