Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase the British Army's use of the British Army Training Unit Suffield in the (a) current and (b) next Parliament.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
BATUS continues to be used for both training and experimentation activity.
Below are the numbers of training exercises that have taken place at BATUS in each of the last 10 financial years, including the current financial year. 18 Training exercises have taken place in total.
Financial Year | Number of Training Exercises |
2016-17 | 3 |
2017-18 | 3 |
2018-19 | 2 |
2019-20 | 2 |
2020-21 | 0 |
2021-22 | 0 |
2022-23 | 2 |
2023-24 | 2 |
2024-25 | 2 |
2025-26 | 2 |
There is one further training exercise currently scheduled to take place next financial year 2027-27.
Future use of BATUS is dependent upon the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training exercises will take place at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
BATUS continues to be used for both training and experimentation activity.
Below are the numbers of training exercises that have taken place at BATUS in each of the last 10 financial years, including the current financial year. 18 Training exercises have taken place in total.
Financial Year | Number of Training Exercises |
2016-17 | 3 |
2017-18 | 3 |
2018-19 | 2 |
2019-20 | 2 |
2020-21 | 0 |
2021-22 | 0 |
2022-23 | 2 |
2023-24 | 2 |
2024-25 | 2 |
2025-26 | 2 |
There is one further training exercise currently scheduled to take place next financial year 2027-27.
Future use of BATUS is dependent upon the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the British Army is currently utilising the British Army Training Unit Suffield.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
BATUS continues to be used for both training and experimentation activity.
Below are the numbers of training exercises that have taken place at BATUS in each of the last 10 financial years, including the current financial year. 18 Training exercises have taken place in total.
Financial Year | Number of Training Exercises |
2016-17 | 3 |
2017-18 | 3 |
2018-19 | 2 |
2019-20 | 2 |
2020-21 | 0 |
2021-22 | 0 |
2022-23 | 2 |
2023-24 | 2 |
2024-25 | 2 |
2025-26 | 2 |
There is one further training exercise currently scheduled to take place next financial year 2027-27.
Future use of BATUS is dependent upon the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership provisions to facilitate UK-Canada trade; and whether his Department has identified any specific sectors where Canadian exporters continue to face non-tariff barriers when trading with the UK.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Businesses will benefit from better trade terms with Canada once they ratify our CPTPP accession, which should happen later this year. Canada began its ratification legislative process last September, and it is making good progress through their Parliament.
My Department is helping businesses take advantage of the opportunities offered by CPTPP through engagement, guidance, and practical support, and we will share detailed guidance on Canada at entry into force. The Government will continue to work with our Canadian counterparts to reduce barriers and enable businesses in both countries to reap the benefits offered by CPTPP.
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 press release entitled Joint statement between the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister of Canada, published on 15 June 2025, on what date (a) he and (b) the Prime Minister of Canada expect to receive the report from 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 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.
The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
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 types of trade barriers faced by Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises when exporting to the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce regulatory and customs friction for Canadian exporters following the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My Department is committed to supporting British exporters, including by ensuring they can trade under CPTPP terms with Canada as soon as possible.
UK businesses will benefit from the CPTPP Customs Chapter, which promotes efficient, consistent, transparent, and predictable customs procedures, while also allowing Parties to maintain effective customs control. CPTPP members have also committed to updating and enhancing the customs Chapter, as set out within the General Review Report in the CPTPP Ministerial Joint Statement, November 2025.
These enhancements will apply to the UK-Canada relationship once CPTPP enters into force between our countries, which should be later this year.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of 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 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.
The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.
The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will publish the findings of 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 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.
The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.
The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the current status is of the report of 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 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025 .
The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.
The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the British Embassy in Brussels' press release entitled Diplomat for a Day 2026 in Brussels: enter our competition' published on 9 January 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to UK taxpayers of this initiative.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The work experience competition referred to by the Hon Member is in its fourth year in Belgium, run by the UK embassy alongside their counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and not only provides an outstanding opportunity for the young women selected to take part, but an important means for the embassies involved to engage with high schools across their host country, and cement our strong relationships in that country for the future. The competition is delivered at minimal cost, shared across the four embassies, and while the Hon Member may take a different view, we believe in increasing the opportunities available to young women all over the world to play their full part in public life.