Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the document entitled Backing your business, published on 31 July 2025, what steps his Department plans to take to support SMEs to access skills funding in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Government is supporting SMEs across the country, including in Buckingham and Bletchley, by investing £1.2 billion annually in skills by 2028-29 as set out in the Spring Budget. Through Skills England and the new Growth and Skills levy, we are making it easier for SMEs to access training, tackle barriers to engagement, and benefit from employer incentives. Our reforms to apprenticeships and technical qualifications, including foundation apprenticeships and employer incentive payments, will further support SMEs to recruit, train, and develop the skilled workforce they need.