Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what role the National Cyber Security Centre plays in facilitating export controls to prevent the proliferation of sensitive technology in the areas of (a) artificial intelligence, (b) quantum computing, (c) biometric tools and data and (d) intangible technology transfers.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The National Cyber Security Centre is HM Government’s national technical authority for information security and advises the Export Control Joint Unit, in the Department for Business and Trade, on export licence applications for goods involving sensitive communications or computer technology.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of energy market liberalisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on levels of investment by British hydropower companies in that country.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has taken recent steps to help support British hydropower companies to increase trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the context of energy market liberalisation in that country.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing trade with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the aid required by that country.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to promote agricultural technology to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not have an office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assess the commercial opportunities, either in general or the specific sectors named in the questions. However, DBT can support opportunities in DRC via its hub in South Africa or sector advisers. The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Popat, has a watching brief to evaluate the opportunities in DRC and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa is working to ensure we understand the potential for British Business to operate ethically in the DRC. Both our Trade Envoy and HMTC are due to visit the DRC in April.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to commission a review into the (1) economic, and (2) other, (a) benefits, and (b) disbenefits, of Brexit.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade has no plans to commission a review into the economic, and other benefits or disbenefits of Brexit. However, to mark the fourth anniversary of Brexit, on 31st January this year, the Department for Business and Trade published an overview of Brexit successes: Brexit 4th Anniversary
Since the referendum the UK has grown faster than Germany, Italy, and Japan. Latest figures show that UK exports are £862bn in current prices and 2% above pre-COVID (2018) levels when adjusting for inflation. The lnternational Monetary Fund (lMF) predicts that between 2024-2029 the UK will see the third fastest growth in the G7.
The Department has secured free trade deals with 73 countries plus the EU, partners that accounted for £1.1 trillion UK trade in 2022 and simplified import tariffs to lower costs for businesses and households.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will bring forward legislation to protect whistleblowers in the NHS complaints process.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers can shine a light on wrongdoing, and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recriminations. There are legal provisions within the Public Interest and Disclosure Act 1998 that protect workers against detrimental treatment for speaking up in the public interest. In March 2023, the Department for Business and Trade announced a review of the whistleblowing framework, which aims to examine the effectiveness of the framework in meeting its original objectives, which are to facilitate whistleblowing, protect whistleblowers against detriment and dismissal, and to facilitate wider cultural change around whistleblowing. The review is still ongoing, and the Government will publish the evidence, and set out the next steps this year.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in reference to the Office for Students consultation on proposed regulatory advice and other matters relating to freedom of speech, announced on 26 March 2024, what discussions (a) she and (b) the Office for Students have had on this with (i) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, (ii) other Ministers in the Department for Business and Trade, (iii) Officials in that Department, (iv) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, (v) other Ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and (vi) officials in that Department.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Officials regularly speak on matters of mutual importance across government, particularly on cross-cutting policy and new legislation. The department’s officials continue to engage with both the Office for Students (OfS) and other governmental departments (OGDs) surrounding the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (the Act).
Officials will continue to engage with the OfS and OGDs ahead of the Act coming into force, currently planned for 1 August 2024 for the main provisions, including the complaints scheme. The content of the consultation published on 26 March 2026 is a matter for the OfS.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase business investment (a) outside London and (b) in (i) York and (ii) north Yorkshire.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government-owned British Business Bank is supporting business investment across the UK including through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds. This includes the £660m Northern Powerhouse Fund II programme, supporting growing businesses across the North of England.
Our Growth Hub network is also supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors across England. The Department for Business and Trade is working across the UK, including in York and North Yorkshire to showcase strong, commercial investment opportunities to potential investors and support business to grow. The Government has also agreed a £540 million mayoral devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire to support growth and business investment.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what advertising campaigns directed at local businesses have been undertaken by her Department's trade hub in Northern Ireland since 1 January 2024.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Engaging with businesses in Northern Ireland (NI) is a key priority for the Department for Business and Trade. The “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” campaign continues to raise awareness of export benefits and the free UK government support available to help businesses grow internationally.
This year, the department’s Northern Ireland team has promoted specific opportunities to NI businesses through the Australia and New Zealand Roadshow and the Food and Drink Export Council’s Peer-to-Peer event in Cookstown. Businesses are encouraged to use the department’s services like the UK Export Academy and provide peer support via our Export Champion programme.