Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
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 expand UK participation in global supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DBT is strengthening UK participation in global critical mineral supply chains by leveraging domestic processing and recycling capabilities, expanding international partnerships through trade agreements and financing tools, and mobilising investment to diversify sources and build resilience.
As part of the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technologies sector plan, the Government is prioritising measures to enhance national security and strengthen semiconductor supply chain resilience, while positioning the UK as a trusted global partner. We work with international partners through initiatives such as the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network and the G7 Point of Contact Group on Semiconductors to develop shared approaches and solutions that improve global supply chain resilience.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to reduce the cost of groceries by reducing tariffs on fruit and vegetables not (a) grown and (b) processed in the UK.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As part of the Budget, the Government launched an application window for new duty suspensions on 26 November to help reduce import costs. Stakeholders have until 4 February 2026 to apply for the UK Global Tariff rate to be temporarily suspended on goods which are not produced, or not produced in sufficient quantities, in the UK and Crown Dependencies, including on fruit and vegetables. As a result of the previous application window announced in March 2025, the Government suspended tariffs on a range of food and drink products including fruit juices, pine nuts and raisins.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has conducted a sectoral impact analysis of the potential UK accession to the PEM Convention.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the Government recognises that PEM accession could bring benefits to British businesses but that the potential benefits and risks will likely vary both within and across sectors. Our Call for Evidence, launched on 17 November, seeks input from business directly to better understand these sectoral impacts. It will end on 15 December.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
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 potential benefits and risks to UK exporters of joining the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, joining the PEM Convention could simplify rules of origin across the UK’s nearest neighbours and increase supply chain flexibility for UK exporters. However, the Government recognises the benefits and risks of accession could vary both within and across sectors. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence to seek direct business and partner input on the opportunities and risks that might flow from joining PEM. This will run until 15 December.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to publish a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Once the Call for Evidence has closed, the government will review and analyse the responses received and decide how best to proceed and what to publish.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
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 time and resources required to negotiate UK accession to the PEM Convention with existing members.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No decision has been made on UK accession to the PEM Convention. As set out in the Trade Strategy, we are now engaging business and PEM partners to consider the potential merits of accession and launched a Call for Evidence on 17 November. A decision to seek to join the PEM Convention will only be taken if it is in the national interest and reflects business sentiment. It would be premature therefore to comment on the nature of hypothetical negotiations or the resources that might be required to engage in them, hypothetically.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the answer of 4 November 2025 to question UIN 86627, has the Minister convened the roundtable together with with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the Post Office and key banks on potentially expanding the range of banking services available at post offices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Together with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, I plan to co-chair a roundtable with the Post Office and key banks. Due to diary constraints this has not been possible yet but will happen in due course.
Exploring opportunities for further collaboration between Post Office and the banking sector remains a priority and I plan to continue raising the issue at all appropriate opportunities, including the upcoming roundtable.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people impacted by the Horizon IT system failure received settlements lower than their original claims.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not hold this information in a way that allows for reliable reporting. Each claim is assessed individually, and settlement offers vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case. As such, providing a figure would be misleading.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much the Government paid in its settlement to Sir Alan Bates.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is unable to disclose amounts awarded to individual GLO claimants.