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 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.
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 framework his Department intends to put in place to help small and medium sized enterprises in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency engage with Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade provides practical CPTPP guidance for businesses via business.gov.uk market pages. This covers policy areas such as rules of origin, preferential tariffs and digital trade, as well as sector-specific guidance for CPTPP countries.
Small and medium sized businesses can access export support through our UK and overseas teams using our digital enquiry service, and tailored assistance is available on business.gov.uk to help businesses enter new markets and expand their presence in existing ones. We actively engage through events and working with the wider business community to promote CPTPP opportunities.
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 will take to assess the opportunities for businesses in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to benefit from recent developments in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Last week, I met with other CPTPP Ministers in Melbourne, where they agreed to launch accession talks with Uruguay, held trade and investment dialogues with both the EU and ASEAN, and agreed on areas where the CPTPP Agreement can be improved.
These developments demonstrate our strong commitment to the continued expansion of high-standard, rules-based trade to benefit businesses across the UK, as outlined in the Trade Strategy.
Access to new markets, closer relations with other trading blocs and improved rules will create opportunities for businesses across the UK, including those in Bletchley and Buckingham.
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 likely effect on regulatory alignment for UK businesses resulting from future Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership rule-reviews.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Assessment of the effects of regulatory alignment under the CPTPP Agreement relate to the CPTPP Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Chapter.
While this chapter does not require regulatory alignment, it encourages greater transparency for CPTPP members to be better informed about the development of product regulations and conformity assessment requirements. The chapter enables members to request technical discussions and provides routes to address issues.
For CPTPP to remain of the highest possible standard, the UK has engaged in the General Review process in a way which seeks to protect and promote UK interests, including on the TBT chapter.
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 impact assessment his Department has made of increased Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership membership on trade flows to and from the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
According to the published Impact Assessment, the UK’s accession to CPTPP will help boost the South East’s economy by around £450 million in the long run. However, no analysis was undertaken at a constituency level.
HMRC statistics show that 2024 trade flows between the South-East region of England and CPTPP markets (excluding Brunei) comprised goods exports worth £2.8 billion. The South-East had the third-highest goods exports to CPTPP countries in the UK.
My Department will continue to measure trade flows across the UK to ensure that all businesses can make the most of the opportunities offered by the Agreement’s expansion.
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 resources allocated to improve export advisory capacity within UK business support services.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is putting in place the policies and support needed to drive export-led business growth.
DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service – designed to help businesses across the UK start, scale, and succeed globally. From tailored market advice to free training through the Export Academy, we are making it easier for businesses to navigate global markets, seize opportunities, and build resilience.
Our Export Champions are also sharing their experience and encouraging and inspiring new and fledgling exporters.