Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent warehouse and fulfilment jobs listed as not requiring English from being offered.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.
Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.
Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of having non-fluent English speakers in warehouse jobs on health and safety.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.
Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.
Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has issued guidance on English language requirements for employment within warehouses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.
Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.
Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of warehouse workers who cannot speak fluent English.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.
Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.
Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to promote British made electronic (a) devices and (b) appliances to consumers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is supporting British made electronic devices and appliances by backing domestic manufacturers, promoting innovation, and strengthening product standards. We work closely with industry bodies such as AMDEA (Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances), who lead consumer information campaigns helping shoppers identify high quality UK made products. We also continue to uphold strong safety standards through the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Through this partnership approach, we aim to boost the visibility, competitiveness and consumer confidence in British made electronics and appliances.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 promote inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing in the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department promotes inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing through targeted support from the Office for Investment and our global investment network. We work closely with devolved administrations and local partners to showcase the UK’s strengths, including world‑class R&D. Investors can access tailored advice, regulatory support, and incentives such as capital allowances and funding for innovation.
The enhanced Office for Investment is actively pursuing and managing major investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies, helping to make the UK the best investment destination in the world.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support electronic device repair businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department offers a range of support offers for SMEs across the UK, including those in the electronic device repair sector as featured in the new Business Growth Service website.
These measures are set out in the Small Business Plan released in July 2025; this includes the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in financial support; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets and boosting Digital and AI Adoption among small businesses.
In Ashfield, and across Nottinghamshire, businesses can access free, impartial business advice through the government-backed Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Growth Hub.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to create an attractive business environment for inwards investment in the electronics industry.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is ensuring the UK remains a top destination for foreign investment through policy stability, improving planning and championing competitive sectors. We are creating investable opportunities that drive productivity, highquality jobs and sustainable growth. The 2025 Trade Strategy builds on improvements to the Office for Investment to ensure our trade and international agreements strengthen FDI.
The Industrial Strategy supports electronic firms through commitments to supply chains for advanced manufacturing including power electronics, clean energy technologies and digital. Priorities include automotive, batteries, aerospace, space and advanced materials, while semiconductors are identified as a key technology with its own semiconductor programme.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of statutory and compliance costs on (a) small and (b) micro businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that too many small businesses have been held back from achieving growth and reaching their full potential in recent years. That is why we published our Plan for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses. The Plan contains over 200 targeted actions which will make a real difference to the day-to-day trading operations of small businesses, supporting them to grow and reduce costs. This includes reducing regulatory admin costs by 25%, tackling late payments, modernising the tax and customs system and launching a new Business Growth Service, all of which will save businesses time and money.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 small consultancy businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has, for the first time, chosen to put Professional and Business Services at the heart of our modern industrial policy, with consultancy as one of its key Frontier Sectors driving future growth.
The Department supports small consultancy businesses through a range of measures designed to improve capability, competitiveness and access to opportunities. Smaller consultancies benefit from improved access to government procurement and initiatives that encourage investment in digital, AI and innovation, helping them develop new services and grow sustainably. The government has pledged to cut regulatory administrative costs by 25% - a move designed to unlock growth, boost innovation and reduce burdens on businesses across key sectors.
In addition, SMEs can access tailored advice via the Business Growth Service, local Growth Hubs, the Help to Grow: Management scheme, and finance through the British Business Bank, strengthening their leadership, skills and long-term resilience.