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 steps he is taking to ensure alignment between the special measures for British Steel and the UK’s obligations under international trade and subsidy control agreements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
During the development of the Special Measures Act my department ensured that the Government’s actions were and remain consistent with our obligations under international trade and subsidy control agreements. We remain mindful of those obligations as we work on determining the best long-term future for the company.
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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of the special measures on the competitiveness of other UK steel manufacturers not subject to intervention under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act gives the Government the power to direct British Steel, and its workforce, to keep the blast furnaces running safely. Our priorities remain continuing production, stabilising operations and remedying critical health and safety issues.
Competition between British Steel and other UK producers is limited, as they typically manufacture different types of steel products and serve distinct markets. The intervention is narrowly targeted and temporary, aimed at safeguarding national capability rather than conferring a commercial advantage. An impact assessment will be published in due course, following Regulatory Policy Committee scrutiny.
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 steps his Department is taking to support British aerospace manufacturers to utilise UK-US defence trade cooperation arrangements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Department welcomes the opportunities that come from the Government’s recent announcements on trade arrangements with the USA, alongside those from our longstanding defence cooperation agreements, which support our growth ambitions. We work directly with British Industry and trade associations to provide appropriate support to UK business including the aerospace sector, to access opportunities, including at trade shows in the US and globally, such as the recent Paris Air Show and DSEI later this year.
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 has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Economic Prosperity Deal on the UK’s domestic beef sector and associated supply chains.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As part of the US deal, we have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate (for example, 4.4 cents per kg on many products).
For the first time ever, this will open up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US market. This is a major opportunity for British farmers to sell their high-quality British beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.
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 assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms available to the Small Business Commissioner for resolving payment disputes.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Small Business Commissioner has played a crucial role in helping small businesses get paid on time since the role was introduced in 2016. However, this Government is aware of the challenges that small businesses continue to face with regards to late payment.
The Government is committed to consulting on proposals that would increase the powers available to the Small Business Commissioner in order to improve its effectiveness in tackling late payments and poor payment practices. The consultation outcome will be published shortly.
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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee's decisions on food and drink exporters from Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee which met on 03/06/2025, did not include decisions specific to food and drinks exports; no assessment has therefore been made of its impact on food and drink exporters from Buckinghamshire.
The Joint Statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/australia-uk-free-trade-agreement-joint-committee-statement) issued following the committee provides an overview of the discussion undertaken as part of the Joint Committee.
The total value of UK exports of food and drink products to Australia was £429.5m in 2024, up 8.9% on 2023.
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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US trade agreement on UK aerospace supply chains.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 16 June the US confirmed that certain UK aerospace products will no longer be subject to US tariffs. This deal is a win for the UK's world-class aerospace sector which was facing additional 10% tariffs, helping make companies more competitive and allowing them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation. The removal of US tariffs helps suppliers continue to do business in the US and deliver growth in 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, what the Government’s planned timetable is for laying legislation to implement the preferential duty-free quota for US beef imports under the Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 16 June, we announced concrete progress towards the implementation of the UK-US trade deal as agreed on 8 May.
The US Executive Order confirmed that the US will put in place the agreed quota for car exports to the US, reducing US tariffs from 27.5% to 10%. The UK will lay legislation to create our agreed beef and ethanol quotas in line with US implementation.
The government remains focused on making sure British businesses can secure the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.
The Economic Prosperity Deal and any implementing legislation will be presented to Parliament in due course.
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 plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the (a) ethanol and (b) beef quotas agreed as part of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 16 June, we announced concrete progress towards the implementation of the UK-US trade deal as agreed on 8 May.
The US Executive Order confirmed that the US will put in place the agreed quota for car exports to the US, reducing US tariffs from 27.5% to 10%. The UK will lay legislation to create our agreed beef and ethanol quotas in line with US implementation.
The government remains focused on making sure British businesses can secure the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.
The Economic Prosperity Deal and any implementing legislation will be presented to Parliament in due course.
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 his Department has made of the number of companies requiring additional funding to help scale-up.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The estimated equity finance gap (the difference between actual equity investment and potential equity investment) for all but established companies was £7.5 billion in 2021. [1] There is an equity finance gap in every region and nation of the UK; London has the largest absolute equity finance gap, while Yorkshire and Humber has the largest relative gap. [2] The British Business Bank is helping to close that gap through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds and the Regional Angels Programme, which also attract additional private investment for businesses outside London and the South East.
[1] Supporting Innovative Start-Up and Growing Businesses: Equity Finance Provision through the Pandemic: Interim Report by Marek Kacer, Nick Wilson :: SSRN (DBT commissioned and funded)
[2] Equity Finance and the UK Regions (BEIS research paper)