Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the terms of reference are for the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group will meet this Autumn to deepen our trading relationship further, including to address existing market access barriers, to expand existing arrangements into new areas, such as digital trade, and to explore cooperation in the development of critical minerals and sovereign artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to place in the Library a copy of the report of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Growing our bilateral trade is a shared priority. In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group will meet this Autumn with the objective of deepening the bilateral trading relationship further and seeking to address existing market access barriers affecting bilateral UK-Canada trade. It will report back to the Prime Minister. I will keep Parliament informed of how the discussions progress.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, who will be part of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group will meet this Autumn and will consist of officials from the UK and Canadian Governments.

We remain receptive to any views of relevant business and industry with an interest in UK-Canada trade.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the annual cost of the Belu water used in the House of Commons; and when the contract was last tendered.

Answered by Nick Smith

The total cost for Belu Water in the financial year 2024–25 was £54,652.50 (ex VAT).

The contract for the supply of branded bottled water was last tendered in April 2025, under procurement reference GSP1294, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023). The procurement followed a low-value process and was awarded to Belu Water Limited, which sources water from mid-Wales, for an initial term of two years, with options to extend for a further 2 x 1-year periods.

The current contract commenced on 26 May 2025, and the total value, based on indicative volumes over the initial term of two years is £89,289.00 (inc. VAT), shared between the House of Commons and House of Lords on a 67:33 basis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of inviting external stakeholders to provide information for the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group’s consideration of market access barriers.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group will meet this Autumn with the objective of deepening the bilateral trading relationship further and seeking to address existing market access barriers affecting bilateral UK-Canada trade.

As part of our preparation for the Working Group, my department is considering feedback from a range of stakeholders to inform our approach, and we are open to receiving views from any other businesses with an interest in UK-Canada trade.

The working group will begin meeting shortly and report back to both Prime Ministers in December.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which Minister has responsibility for the Post Office.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Departmental Ministerial portfolios can be found at Department for Business and Trade - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department have included mandatory commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion training as part of it's procurement contracts awarded since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In accordance with government commercial policy, the department uses centrally maintained frameworks provided by Crown Commercial Service and otherwise uses the suite of standard contracts maintained by Cabinet Office, for the majority of contracts. These terms and conditions require the supplier to perform its obligations under the contract in accordance with equality law, but do not include a requirement to undertake mandatory training.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, HCWS937, what his planned timetable is for concluding discussions with Fujitsu on their financial contribution; and whether he plans to seek binding commitments from that company.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The full extent of Fujitsu’s culpability for the Horizon scandal will only become clear once all volumes of Sir Wyn Williams’ Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report have been published. In the meantime, the Department continues to engage with Fujitsu regarding their potential financial contribution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, HCWS937, what the estimated cost is of funding legal advice for appeals; and how he plans to ensure timely access to that funding.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My Department will start publishing legal costs associated with Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals as part of the quarterly legal cost publication on GOV.UK. The next legal costs publication is scheduled for early November.

We work closely with legal representatives and encourage claimants to seek funded legal advice. We have processes in place to ensure prompt payment, provided guidance in the published tariff is followed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, HCWS937, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that vulnerable postmasters are aware of the 31 January 2026 deadline.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Post Office has contacted the vast majority of current and former postmasters who may be eligible for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). Following the announcement of the scheme’s closure date, the Post Office will write to postmasters again to ensure they are aware of the 31 January 2026 deadline, in line with the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation. This step is part of ongoing efforts to ensure vulnerable postmasters are informed and supported throughout the process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, HCWS937, whether legal support will be extended to postmasters who accepted fixed sum offers; and how he plans to notify those postmasters.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In line with the Government’s response to Recommendation 9 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report, postmasters who accepted fixed sum offers under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme will be able to seek funded legal advice if they wish to apply for permission to appeal.

My Department is working closely with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and the Independent Reviewer on the practical implementation of the appeals process, including its scope and criteria. We will engage with legal representatives and postmaster representative organisations on the process before it is launched.

My Department will write to all eligible postmasters when the process is launched.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, what mechanisms are in place to monitor whether decision-makers are applying a generous approach within the appropriate range of compensation.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

On 9 October, the Department for Business and Trade and the Post Office published a joint statement setting out what constitutes “full and fair” redress, following a recommendation from Sir Wyn Williams. This statement has been embedded in the guidance for each redress scheme to ensure that decision-makers apply a consistent and generous approach within the appropriate range of compensation. Each scheme also has an independent reviewer, who was consulted on the statement and plays a key role in monitoring its application and ensuring that decisions align with the principles of fairness and full redress.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Dame Harriett Baldwin; Chris Coghlan; Bobby

Found: Q50 Dame Harriett Baldwin: Obviously.

Found: Prof Larissa Naylor [FRE0133] Green Alliance [FRE0134] The Lakes by Yoo [FRE0135] Dame Harriett Baldwin