theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to launch a public consultation on the measures outlined in Annex A of her Department's Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out our plans and proposals for reform to health and disability benefits and employment support. This includes some urgently needed reforms to PIP eligibility and Universal Credit rates that are not subject to consultation but on which Parliament will fully debate and vote. We included these changes in the Green Paper to allow readers to see the proposals in wider context and so they can provide more informed views.

The Green Paper does consult on many key elements of the reform package, including employment support and Access to Work, which are at the centre of our plans to improve the system for disabled people. We hope that a wide range of voices will respond to the consultation, and we are holding a programme of public consultation events across the country to help facilitate input.

We are also developing other ways to facilitate the involvement of stakeholders and disabled people in our reforms. In addition to the consultation itself, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups of people together for specific work areas and our wider review of the PIP assessment will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Sir Desmond Swayne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of spending on health and disability benefits by the end of the decade. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Incapacity and disability benefits spending is forecast to increase by £15.5 billion to £90.7 billion by 2029/30.

This includes a rise in spending on working-age benefits from £10.3 billion to £65.4 billion.

Without the 2025 Spring Statement measures, working-age benefits spending would be £4.5 billion higher by 2029/30.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the proportion of standard daily living awards that would fail on renewal under the proposed four-point rule for the Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: By 2029/30, we estimate that after behavioural responses, 320,000 claimants will have lost entitlement to the standard daily living component as a result of the 4-point policy change. More information on the impact of the proposed PIP changes on current and future claimants can be found in Table 4A of the Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Note:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many waiver requests from overpayment recovery of Universal Credit were (a) recorded and (b) granted (i) in full and (ii) partially for (A) each of the last two calendar years and (B) the current calendar year to date. \p Andrew Western: In last year's Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) waivers were included as part of the losses and special payments section on page 258: DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 (HTML) - GOV.UK.

Information regarding Secretary of State discretion to waive recovery of debt can be found in Chapter 8 of the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide which is published on gov.uk. Benefit overpayment recovery guide - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) understand and (b) mitigate the negative effects of night shift work on maternal health. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Reducing ill health at work is an important area of focus for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as outlined in their strategic objectives. One of the ways this is achieved is supporting employers to protect their workers’ health and keep them in the workforce. Having considered the impact of shift work on health and safety, HSE has published guidance for employers to support them in managing the risk (Managing shift work [HSG 256]).

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 all employers have a duty, so far as it is reasonably practicable, to protect the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. Specifically, the The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess health and safety risks to employees and to put in place arrangements to control those risks. Therefore, if an employer assesses shift work as a risk they should introduce control measures including those outlined in the guidance.

In addition, employers have a specific responsibility to complete an individual risk assessment for workers who are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have given birth in the last 6 months. They must review the existing general risk management and controls for pregnant workers and new mothers and discuss any concerns they have about how their work could affect their pregnancy. Employers must also account of any medical recommendations provided by their doctor or midwife. The individual risk assessment should then be regularly reviewed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Personal Independence Payments on helping disabled people into work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out our plans for reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and protect disabled people.

The Office of Budget Responsibility has committed to produce an assessment of the labour market impacts of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper at the time of the autumn budget.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department uses the family test; and what her Department's policy is on the publication of family test impact assessments. \p Andrew Western: DWP uses the Family Test during policy development and promotes its use across government.

Family Test assessments are not routinely published by DWP. Decisions on the publication of Family Test assessments fall within the responsibility of each Government department.
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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help support disabled people in the workplace. \p Liz Kendall: It is vital that workplaces are inclusive so disabled people have the same opportunities to get work, stay in work and progress in their careers.

That is why I have asked Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former boss of John Lewis, to lead an independent review into what more employers and Government can do together to support disabled people in work.

His interim review was published last month, and his final report will be in the summer.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many UK nationals resident in New Zealand have claimed unemployment benefits in each year since 2020. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The UK does not pay a UK Unemployment Benefit to people resident in New Zealand, and the UK has no information about UK nationals resident in New Zealand receiving benefits administered by that country.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what estimate she has made of the number of people with terminal illness who will have benefits reduced. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We recognise that people nearing the end of their life are some of the most vulnerable people in society and need fast track and unqualified support at this difficult time.

People who claim, or are in receipt of, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and are nearing the end of their life with 12 months or less to live, will continue to be able to access the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP. We will also maintain the existing fast-track route under the Special Rules for End of Life and where claims are currently being cleared in two working days. This fast-track route will not be impacted by the new eligibility requirement for PIP.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46071 on Personal Independence Payments: Veterans, when she plans to launch a wider review of the PIP assessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In our Green Paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, we announced plans to launch a process to review the PIP assessment. We will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. Timings for the review have not yet been confirmed. Any changes to the PIP assessment will need to work alongside the reforms set out in the Green Paper and we will provide further details as plans progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people working in the armed forces have claimed Personal Independence Payment in each year since 2020. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department does not hold data on whether Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are in the armed forces.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support young people into work. \p Andrew Western: DWP provides 16-24-year-olds with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level.

As part of the plan to Get Britain Working we will launch a Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work.

Eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers to test and learn before further roll out of the Youth Guarantee have launched in April.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many terminally ill people were declined the Personal Independence Payment in each year since 2015. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department does not centrally record if a claimant is terminally ill, unless they applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under Special Rules for End of Life (SREL).

Data on PIP clearances under SREL can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Clearances’ dataset. You can use the ‘Month’ filter to select each month for the last five years and add it as a row or column. You can use the ‘Clearance Type Detail’ filter to select those who were disallowed. You can use the ‘End of Life Rules indicator’ filter to select SREL claimants.

You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Financial Reporting Council’s review of the Stewardship Code on pension schemes' decarbonisation goals. \p Torsten Bell: The UK Stewardship Code is voluntary and provides signatories with an opportunity to report in a transparent and comparable way for clients and beneficiaries on how the signatory is delivering on the investment approaches mandated by their clients. The Financial Reporting Council’s recent consultation on the Code invited views on proposals to streamline reporting and help ensure that the Code’s principles can apply to a wide range of possible investment approaches. Pension schemes have climate-related reporting obligations set out in the TCFD regulations and DWP will work with the FRC as the revised Code is further developed, enabling the Code to continue to provide a means of demonstrating how the signatory’s stewardship contributes to meeting these obligations and any net zero goal the scheme may have.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Personal Independence Payments recipients do not meet four points on a single descriptor for (a) arthritis, (b) cardiovascular diseases, (c) respiratory diseases, (d) multiple sclerosis and neuropathic diseases, (e) cancer, (f) cerebral palsy and neurological muscular diseases and (g) psychotic disorders. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information you requested can be found in Table 2.28 in the Pathways to Work: Evidence Pack: Chapter 2.
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people into work in Southport constituency. \p Liz Kendall: Disabled people in Southport deserve the same choices and chances to work as anyone else.

That is why we will transform support for disabled people who can work to get the jobs they want and deserve, including by investing an additional £1 billion a year through our Pathways to work employment programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many UK nationals resident in Serbia have claimed unemployment benefits in each year since 2020. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The UK does not pay a UK Unemployment Benefit to people resident in the Balkan region, and the UK has no information about UK nationals resident in those countries receiving benefits administered by those countries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of Winter Fuel Payments on older residents in (a) urban, (b) rural, (c) northern and (d) southern areas. \p Torsten Bell: Winter Fuel Payment statistics are published annually, for the previous winter, and cover parliamentary constituencies, Local Authority areas, regional breakdowns, and international payments, amongst other things. The next release of annual Winter Fuel Payment statistics covering winter 2024 to 2025 will be published on 16 September 2025.
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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's estimate that there will be an additional 250,000 people in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30 as a result of modelled changes to social security on levels of health inequalities; and whether she plans to publish a health impact assessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The figure referred to does not take account of increased employment as a result of the Green Paper changes, or of other initiatives such as the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy. Further information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, alongside information published at the Spring Statement.

Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people who will never be able to work in Wolverhampton West constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The social security system will always be there for those who can’t work.

As part of the recent announcements, we are making changes to the rates in Universal Credit, we will ensure that the incomes of those with the most severe, lifelong conditions who will never be able to work have their incomes protected.

We will also guarantee that for both new and existing claims, those in this group will not need to be reassessed in future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to respond to Question (a) 47358, (b) 47359, (c) 47360, (d) 47361 and (e) 47362 tabled by the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs on 23 April 2024. \p Sarah Jones: A response was published on 12th May 2025 to Questions 47358, 47359, 47360, 47361 and 47362.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether it is his policy to not allow another Chinese partner for the Scunthorpe steel plant. \p Sarah Jones: Our unique and unprecedented action was related to an individual company no longer acting in good faith. No decisions have yet been made about British Steel's long-term future - that will come at a later date.

More broadly, the UK remains open to Chinese investment. At the same time, this Government will always prioritise our own security and resilience. We recognise the importance of the UK's powers through the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and intervene in investments and other acquisitions to protect national security where necessary.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles. \p Justin Madders: The Department has a contract with Enterprise for car hire. In the 2024/25 financial year there were 672 rentals, of which 4 were electric vehicle (EV) rentals (0.61%). All vehicle types were rented for 1672 days in total, of which 7 were EV rental days (0.42%).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to encourage whistleblowing in the business community. \p Justin Madders: My Department is responsible for routinely updating the Prescribed Persons Order, a list of relevant bodies to which a worker can make a protected disclosure about a wrongdoing. Recent whistleblowing disclosures have been highly concentrated in health, public administration, and the financial and insurance sectors. We continue to regularly review the list and address gaps to support more workers to qualify for whistleblowing protections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Tom Rutland:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to audit overseas factories that import into the UK for the same (a) social and (b) ethical compliance standards applied to domestic manufacturers. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to identify and prevent exploitation of workers and prevent environmental harms across their operations and supply chains, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

To promote the OECD Guidelines, the UK also operates an independent UK National Contact Point (NCP). The UK NCP engages bilaterally and multilaterally with the 51 other NCPs around the world, to ensure a consistent application, awareness and understanding of the OECD Guidelines.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-Colombia Investment treaty on the safety of human rights defenders in Colombia. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK continues to support the protection of human rights in Colombia, including by improving access to justice, protecting human rights defenders and promoting media freedom.

The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) includes binding investment protection provisions which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation. These commitments do not remove a government’s right to regulate in the public interest, nor its obligations to comply with other commitments, including with respect to human rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with businesses in the IT services sector on (a) the UK-India trade deal and (b) the Double Contribution Convention with India. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: Before launching free trade agreement talks with India, The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) ran a public call for input to help us understand what businesses and consumers wanted. As talks progressed, we frequently engaged with businesses across a range of sectors including the IT sector.

Double Contributions Conventions are international treaties designed to eliminate the double payment of social security contributions. The government regularly engages with a range of business representatives to understand their views and concerns in relation to the tax system.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the UK-India Free Trade Agreement includes tariff exemptions on steel imported from India. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: Steel is a top priority for this Government. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) does not include any text related to the implementation of the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

The FTA includes liberalised Most Favoured Nation tariffs on steel, but the UK’s trade remedies, including a global safeguard measure on certain steel products, continue to apply. Also, as part of our agreement, we included a ‘bilateral safeguard mechanism’ which allows us to temporarily increase tariffs or suspend tariff concessions if an industry is suffering or is at threat of serious injury as a result of reduced duties.
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public sector employers provide adequate support to employees returning from maternity leave. \p Justin Madders: Starting with the Employment Rights Bill, we will put in place legislation that makes it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for a six-month period after they return - except in specific circumstances. The Government will also make flexible working the default, except where it is not reasonably feasible. This will benefit employees returning to work from maternity leave by making it easier to balance work and childcare needs.

These changes will apply to eligible employees, regardless of whether they work in the public sector or elsewhere.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing UK tariffs on US meat and seafood products on (a) levels of meat imports and (b) food standards. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion. Investment supports around 2.5 million jobs across both countries. Trade is second only to the EU where our trading relationship is worth £813 billion.

We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers. That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States.

But we will only ever sign trade agreements which align with the UK’s national interests, and we will always uphold our high food standards.
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of flexible working patterns in (a) the Civil Service and (b) the wider public sector. \p Justin Madders: The government continues to monitor the impact of flexible working. There are numerous benefits of flexible working, which apply to both the public and private sectors.

Flexible working is essential in helping people achieve a better work life balance, which can lead to happier, healthier and more productive employees. This is good for employees and good for businesses. Flexible working can help make work more accessible to several groups by helping people to balance work with other responsibilities and needs in their personal lives. This includes those with disabilities, parents, and others with caring responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help tackle postcode-based delivery surcharges that misclassify accessible regions such as Perthshire as (a) remote and (b) offshore. \p Justin Madders: The postcode is a routing instruction used by Royal Mail to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately. Individual addresses are therefore not always a geographically accurate description of where a property is located.

Royal Mail updates the Postcode Address File daily and a Code of Practice sets out the process for change requests. The Code of Practice is available on Royal Mail’s website: www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/PAF-Code-of-Practice-211118.pdf.

Any concerns about the way in which a third party, including retailers and other postal operators, is using a postcode or applying a surcharge should be taken up directly with the company or organisation involved.

PAF Code of Practice (pdf, 93.1KB)
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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of fraudulent companies registered with Companies House. \p Justin Madders: In October 2023, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 was enacted with the primary purpose of bearing down on the fraudulent use of corporate structures in the UK. The process of implementing that legislation is underway but strengthened powers have already enabled the registrar of companies to intervene against 100,400 companies – equivalent to 2% of the register. This is further helped by expanded data sharing powers to collaborate with Law Enforcement partners to tackle strategic threats. Furthermore, this year Companies House is implementing mandatory Identity Verification to prevent false or hijacked identities being used.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to monitor levels of disguised employment in the hair and beauty sector. \p Gareth Thomas: This Government recognises the immense economic and social value of the hair and beauty industry, and we know it can be difficult for some to understand their tax obligations. We are working with the industry on producing educational material to help businesses remain within the rules, including providing clarity for those using the ‘rent-a-chair’ model which we are due to publish on GOV.UK this month.

We are committed to tackling false self-employment where HMRC will investigate evidence suggesting businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. We are also combatting high street crime, for example the National Crime Agency has been coordinating Operation Machinize, which saw 265 premises visited where officers secured freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Tom Rutland:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure international companies exporting into the UK are held to the same (a) quality and (b) safety regulations as domestic (i) manufacturers and (ii) sellers. \p Justin Madders: Product safety regulations set requirements for the safety of consumer products placed on the UK market. Importers must ensure their products comply and distributors must not supply products that they know, or should know, are dangerous.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards and local authority regulators enforce the law. They use data and intelligence to target enforcement activity at dangerous and non-compliant products at the border.

The Government’s Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will provide powers to further strengthen our product safety framework and update it to reflect modern supply chains, including through new, proportionate duties on online marketplaces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) creation and (b) growth of start-ups in (i) Mid Cheshire constituency, (ii) Cheshire and (iii) England. \p Gareth Thomas: We will publish our Small Business Strategy later this year with a clear ambition to promote startups and encourage entrepreneurship, built around the new Business Growth Service.

Start Up Loans are available in Cheshire and across England, helping new and early-stage businesses access affordable finance. Mid Cheshire businesses have benefited from 168 of these loans between 2012 and January 2025.

Existing support offers include Help to Grow: Management - UK, providing practical ways to enhance small business productivity and growth, and the British Business Bank's Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II delivering a £660 million commitment of new funding to smaller businesses across the North.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_141

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much and what proportion of the funding for steel through the National Wealth Fund will be used to maintain steel production in Scunthorpe. \p Gareth Thomas: The funding required to maintain iron and steel production at Scunthorpe will be drawn from the £2.5bn funding for steel, which is available through the National Wealth Fund and other routes. The National Wealth Fund is operationally independent, and financing is already accessible to projects that meet the investment principles. Companies across the UK are already engaging with them on projects within the steel sector.

The Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_142

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding his Department has been provided with under Section 8 of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025. \p Sarah Jones: The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Government the power to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, ensure they get paid, and order the raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Act.

The decision to introduce this legislation had collective agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine the potential impact to public purse, but the funding required for British Steel will come out of existing budgets and there will be no changes to the Government's fiscal rules.

The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.

We will publish the initial impact assessment in due course, including classification considerations.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_143

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the (a) start and (b) finish date was of each overseas trips taken by Prince Andrew in his role as a trade envoy. \p Gareth Thomas: I understand that the Duke of York visited multiple overseas states in his role as a Special Representative. To note the Duke of York was the Special Representative for UK Trade and Investment and not a Trade Envoy.

2002 - 2004

4-9 Feb 02

18-21 Mar 02

2-10 May 02

25-26 Jun 02

29-30 Jan 03

12-13 Feb 03

9-13 Sept 03

23-27 Sept 03

19-26 Oct 03

27 Nov-8 Dec 03

09-Jan-04

08-Mar-04

2004/05

26 Mar-4 Apr 04

19-25 Apr 04

24-26 May 04

07-Sep-04

25-27 Oct 04

3-9 Oct 04

24 Nov-5 Dec 04

22-23 Nov 04

12-27 Feb 05

2005/06

4-5 Apr 05

18-25 Apr 05

17-18 May 05

11-14 Oct 05

28-30 Nov 05

13-17 Nov 05

03-Mar-05

14-Mar-05

30-Mar-05

21-25 Jan 06

14-Feb-06

2006/07

25 Mar-2 Apr 06

3-7 Jun 06

3-7 Jul 06

25-30 Sept 06

29 Oct-4 Nov 06

23-24 Nov 06

11-Oct-06

24-May-06

15-May-06

07-Nov-06

08-Nov-06

25-27 Jan 07

05-Feb-07

12-13 Feb 07

26-27 Feb 07

28 Feb-13 Mar 07

2007/08

11-18 Apr 07

28 May-1 Jun 07

07-Jun-07

27-29 Aug 07

03-Sep-07

1-4 Oct 07

23-26 Oct 07

1-10 Nov 07

24-Apr-07

14-May-07

25-Jun-07

15-Oct-07

22-Oct-07

13-15 Jan 08

20-22 Jan 08

23-25 Jan 08

5-16 Feb 08

2-7 Mar 08

9-15 Mar 08

2008/09

30 Mar-3 Apr 08

13-May-08

18-20 May 08

03-Jun-08

30 Jun-1 Jul 08

16-Jul-08

5-12 Sept 08

28 Sept-3 Oct 08

29 Oct-7 Nov 08

10-Dec-08

28-30 Jan 09

02-Feb-09

17-18 Feb 09

13-Mar-09

14-20 Mar 09

2009/10

18-21 May 09

1-4 Jun 09

22-24 Jun 09

22-24 Sept 09

29 Sept-8 Oct 09

19-Oct-09

24 Oct-4 Nov 09

14-16 Dec 09

27-29 Jan 10

7-12 Feb 10

8-13 Mar 10

23-26 Mar 10

26-28 Mar 10

2010/11

13-14 April 10

16-22 April 10

3-11 May 10

16-20 May 10

18-May-10

8-10 June 10

07-Jul-10

6-11 Sept 10

8-20 Oct 10

12-16 Jan 11

26-28 Jan 11

6-16 Feb 11

2011/12

4-8 Apr 11

16-19 May 11

14-Sep-11

18-23 Sept 11

26 Sept-2 Oct 11

06-Oct-11

23-28 Oct 11

30 Oct-1 Nov 11

20-23 Nov 11

26-28 Jan 12

27 Feb-3 Mar 12
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_144

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the high growth accelerator programme in the West Midlands on the number of new jobs created in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency. \p Gareth Thomas: The High Growth Accelerator is a great example of locally led business growth delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority through Business Growth West Midlands.

Last year’s pilot saw fifty SMEs on track to boost investment and turnover by £20m with the West Midlands. The High Growth Accelerator continues into its second year, and the Department will be working closely with the Combined Authority to support its outcomes.

DBT will be launching its New Business Growth Service which will make it easier and quicker for SMEs to find government advice and support and will be an integral part of the SME Strategy that will be published in 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_145

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate on automotive manufacturers in the context of Stellantis closing its Luton plant. \p Sarah Jones: Stellantis’ decision to close its diesel van plant in Luton was a commercial decision taken as part of its response to wider challenges. Regrettably, despite active engagement from Government, we were unable to reverse the company’s decision. My Department has regular engagement with automotive manufacturers around the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). Having heard from industry and other stakeholders, in April the Government announced changes to the ZEV Mandate by significantly increasing flexibilities for manufacturers up to 2030. This allows them to comply with requirements in the way most suitable to their business and consumer demand, avoid fines and not need to buy credits from competitors.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_146

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase (a) support for and (b) resilience of the vehicle manufacturing industry. \p Sarah Jones: The Budget committed over £2 billion of funding support to 2030 to unlock capital investment in zero emission vehicle manufacturing and supply chains. This funding will ensure the resilience of the sector and boost competitiveness. We’ve also listened to business on regulations, and the changes announced by the Prime Minister on 7 April introduced significant extra flexibility into the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. And we continue to open up markets - and have protected British carmakers jobs - as our new deal with India and our landmark deal with the US clearly demonstrate.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_147

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support growth in the UK steel industry. \p Sarah Jones: Steel is one of the Government’s top priorities. We are continuing to develop our upcoming steel strategy which will articulate what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment.

We remain committed to providing up to £2.5bn for the steel sector, which will be delivered though the National Wealth Fund and other routes. We are developing our thinking on how this funding will be aligned with the steel strategy.

The National Wealth Fund is operationally independent, and financing is already accessible to projects that meet the investment principles.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_148

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the long-term resilience of small businesses in (a) England and (b) Essex. \p Gareth Thomas: Business cash levels have been resilient and have strengthened since the pre-pandemic and pre-referendum periods. According to figures published by BVA BDRC, in Q1 2025, 29% of SMEs were holding over £10,000 in credit balances compared to 23% in 2018 and 2019. SMEs have also increased their levels of cash relative to their turnover, with credit balances amounting to 28% of turnover in Q1 2025 compared to 24% in 2018 and 2019.1

The Southeast Growth Hub is where small and medium sized businesses across Essex can benefit from specialist advice on how to scale up, access new markets and receive financial support through the British Business Bank.

1 SME Finance Monitor – March 2025
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_149

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of introducing a Guest Beer Agreement scheme in England and Wales. \p Gareth Thomas: Hospitality businesses, including pubs and independent breweries, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.

The government wishes to see small brewers retain and expand their access to UK pubs, maximising drinkers’ choice and supporting local economies. The government is currently conducting a wide-ranging review of the beer market to assess whether there are any market barriers that should be addressed, we will report back with findings this summer.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_150

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has received recent representations from trade unions on the six person limit on pickets; and whether he has considered amending this limit. \p Justin Madders: The Department has not received recent representations from trade unions on the six person limit on pickets. The six person limit is a recommendation contained in a Code of Practice on Picketing; any consequential changes to the Code will be considered following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_151

Chris McDonald:To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of cases involving the use of offensive weapons. \p Lucy Rigby: This Government’s priority is to keep our streets safe, that is why we have committed to halve knife crime in a decade as part of our Safer Streets Mission.

As well as committing to more police officers and police community support officers on our streets, the Government has taken swift action to tackle knife crime by creating new offences and penalties to deter the possession and sale of these barbaric weapons, including implementing the ban on zombie-style knives and machetes, and bringing forward plans to ban ninja swords later this year.

As Solicitor General, I superintend the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS prosecutes knife crime robustly, providing early investigative advice on offending to build strong cases and deliver justice for victims.

Working closely with police forces in Merseyside, Thames Valley, West Midlands and Sussex, the CPS recently completed a two-year pilot of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs). SVROs, which can be applied for by the CPS, provide police with the power to search a person subject to an order for bladed articles or offensive weapons in a public space. The pilot has already yielded positive results. For example, in Merseyside, the CPS has secured more than 270 SVROs against offenders who posed a significant risk to the public. In the same region, over the past year knife crime has decreased by 6.5% and violent crime has reduced by more than 32% in the areas identified as hotspots for antisocial behaviour and serious violence. An evaluation report about the pilot is due in summer 2025, ahead of a decision by the Government to roll the powers out nationally.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_152

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the finalised text of the proposed treaty with Mauritius on the matter of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory. \p Stephen Doughty: Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_153

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44421 on China: Cook Islands, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the 99-year initial period of UK exercise of Mauritian sovereign rights on access for the (i) US and (ii) UK. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to his previous Question 44421, which remains the same.