theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_78

Shaun Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers claimed parental leave pay through Small Employers Relief in each of the last five years. \p James Murray: Data for the financial year 2024/25 has not yet been fully analysed as the financial year has only recently ended. Data for financial years 2020/21 until 2023/24 is provided below.

The table below shows the number of PAYE schemes who claimed compensation for any of the four Statutory Parental Payments, qualifying them for Small Employers’ Relief.

Date

Statutory Maternity Pay  Scheme Count

Statutory Paternity Pay  Scheme Count

Shared Parental Pay  Scheme Count

Statutory Adoption Pay  Scheme Count

Total

20/21

62,800

10,200

500

300

73,800

21/22

63,000

14,600

600

300

78,500

22/23

61,000

15,700

600

400

77,700

23/24

58,600

15,000

600

400

74,600

Notes:

1) Data collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and extracted in December 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates.

2) PAYE scheme counts have been rounded to nearest 100.

3) The table shows the count of PAYE schemes who claimed Small Employers’ Relief, with schemes used as a proxy for business count.

The table below shows how much compensation was paid to PAYE schemes claiming Small Employers’ Relief but not the entire value of parental payment claims.

Date

Statutory  Maternity Pay Compensation (£000’s)

Statutory  Paternity Pay Compensation (£000’s)

Shared Parental Pay  Compensation (£000’s)

Statutory Adoption Pay  Compensation (£000’s)

Total (£000’s)

20/21

10,500

200

100

100

10,900

21/22

12,400

300

200

100

13,000

22/23

13,400

1,400

200

400

15,400

23/24

17,400

400

200

200

18,200

Notes:

1) Data collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and extracted in December 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates.

2) Claims values have been rounded to nearest £100,000.

The table below shows the proportion of claims for Small Employers’ Relief compensation against total parental pay reclaims.

Date

Total Compensation Count

Total Recovery Count

Proportion

19/20

77,000

202,000

38%

20/21

74,000

185,000

40%

21/22

79,000

196,000

40%

22/23

78,000

196,000

40%

23/24

75,000

196,000

38%

1) Data collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and extracted in December 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates.

2) Total number of claims rounded to nearest 1000.

3) The proportion calculation assumes all schemes claiming compensation are also counted within number of claims for recoveries.

Further breakdowns of information by income decile or of employees by region are not currently available from published statistics, and collating and verifying the relevant data solely for the purpose of answering this question would incur disproportionate cost.

Some related information may be found in this call for evidence: Parental leave and pay review: call for evidence - GOV.UK, including the number of claimants by income decile and region up to 2023/24.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_79

Jim Shannon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to support small businesses changing finance providers. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is committed to ensuring the UK has a highly competitive and diverse banking sector, working in the interests of all consumers and businesses across the country. It is important that businesses shop around for their banking needs as this drives competition, improves choice and helps keep prices fair. There are a number of policies that help facilitate this:

Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover of less than £6.5m are already able to use the current account switch service – designed to make it easier to shop around for their business current account.

The Commercial Credit Data Sharing scheme requires the UK’s largest banks to share credit information on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with other lenders through designated Credit Reference Agencies. This has helped lower the barriers to entry for new finance providers and improved credit scoring in the SME finance market, giving small businesses more choice when applying for finance. The Government will consult on enhancing the scheme later this year to ensure it continues to keep pace with market changes.

The Government has also committed to consult on improving the Bank Referral Scheme. The scheme requires designated banks to refer SME business customers that they reject for finance, to platforms that can match the SME with alternative finance providers.

The British Business Bank’s Finance Hub also provides independent and impartial information on different finance options for scale-up, high growth, and potential high growth businesses, as well as resources that support SMEs to innovate and become more sustainable

Finally, in December 2024 the Secretary of State for Business and Trade also announced a new Business Growth Service (BGS) which will make it easier and quicker for businesses across the UK to get the help, support and advice they need to grow and thrive.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_80

Dan Carden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the report by ActionAid UK entitled Who Pays the Price?, published in April 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The government is restoring the global leadership needed to tackle the climate and nature crisis, and aiming to make Britain a clean energy superpower with zero carbon electricity by 2030.

At COP 29, the Prime Minister announced the UK’s ambitious and credible Nationally Determined Contribution target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, excluding international aviation and shipping emissions. We must unlock a much greater scale of climate and nature finance to support developing countries’ energy transitions and those most vulnerable to climate change and nature degradation.

While the UK government does not set out what private companies, including banks, should invest in, we are supportive of the standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in June 2023 and are consulting on the UK version of these standards, UK Sustainability Reporting Standards. These aim to support long-term, sustainable decision-making by the business and investment community by providing high-quality information about the sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54290 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has any role in relation to the cyber-security of financial institutions in and near the City of London. \p Emma Reynolds: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK's technical authority for cyber security, including helping to protect the UK's critical infrastructure and services from cyber-attacks. The Bank of England, through the Prudential Regulation Authority and working closely with the NCSC, requires PRA-regulated financial institutions to have rigorous cyber-security frameworks in place and requires regular assessment of financial institutions’ cyber security measures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_82

Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that crypto asset businesses have access to banking systems. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is aware that cryptoasset firms are facing challenges associated with access to banking services, and it is engaged with the sector on these matters.

Whilst the Government recognises that access to banking decisions are largely commercial in nature, we expect business to be treated fairly. That is why the Government has already taken action in this space, including bringing forward legislation to enhance relevant protections in cases where a business has their bank account terminated by their provider.

The Government is also currently finalising legislation to create a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK. Under this regime, firms will need to be licensed by the FCA to provide relevant cryptoasset services in or to the UK, and the Government would not expect such licensed firms to be subject to restrictions by banking services providers simply because of the sector they belong to.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_83

Jim Shannon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of trends in the level of the cost of travel insurance abroad for people diagnosed with cancer. \p Emma Reynolds: Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. For example, the existence of pre-existing medical conditions may represent an increased risk.

However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA is clear that it monitors firms to ensure they provide products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.

It is worth noting that different insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining the price of insurance based on their differing claims experience. Since some specialist travel insurers may be more equipped to provide cover for consumers with pre-existing medical conditions, the government would encourage consumers to shop around for the most suitable cover at the best price.

To support consumers in accessing travel insurance, the FCA also requires travel insurers to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical conditions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fiscal policy on levels of food inflation in Fylde constituency since 4 July 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which published its latest forecast on 26 March 2025. The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy decisions on levels of food inflation, nor on inflation at a constituency level. The Office for National Statistics publishes food inflation data based on observed price movements at a national level, which is not disaggregated to constituency level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_85

James Naish:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will commission a review of UK (a) pension fund and (b) insurance fund exposure to Chinese corporations sanctioned by allied jurisdictions. \p Emma Reynolds: There are currently no plans to commission a review of UK pension fund and insurance fund exposure to Chinese corporations sanctioned by allied jurisdictions.

The Government does routinely assess the impacts of its sanctions.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that motorists are aware of their rights in relation to mis-sold car finance agreements involving discretionary commission arrangements. \p Emma Reynolds: The government notes that this matter is currently being considered by the Supreme Court and a judgment is expected to be handed down in due course.

The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed that subject to the Supreme Court outcome, if consumers are found to have lost out from widespread failings by motor finance firms they are likely to set up a consumer redress scheme. On June 5, they published a statement setting out the key considerations that will influence the design of any redress scheme.

The Financial Conduct Authority will set out their next steps within 6 weeks of the judgment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on who the members are of the Royal Mint (a) sub-committee on the selection of themes and (b) advisory committee. \p Emma Reynolds: The Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) is an advisory non-departmental public body that advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Royal Mint) and HM The King on matters of design with respect to circulating and commemorative coins. RMAC exists to promote numismatic (i.e. the study of coins) and – more broadly - medallic art in the UK, ensuring designs meet high standards of decency and good taste. Non-executive members of the Committee are unremunerated Crown appointments.

RMAC typically comprises four Royal Mint executive members, seven non-executive members including the current Chair, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston, a representative from HM Treasury and experts in art, design, heraldry, typography, sculpture, history and numismatics. Currently the RMAC comprises of three non-executive members and nine executive members; more information can be found on the Royal Mint Museum's website: Royal Mint Advisory Committee.

RMAC’s Sub-Commitee on the Selection of Themes, chaired by Baroness Stuart, brings together at least two non-executive members of RMAC alongside a representative from HM Treasury and The Royal Mint to examine proposed themes for future commemorative and circulating coins, making recommendations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

HM Treasury is currently running a public appointments campaign to appoint four non-executive members to RMAC: a generalist, artist, art historian and lettering expert. Confirmation of these appointments will be made in the autumn.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_88

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is (a) (i) represented on and (ii) consulted by and (b) able to veto the decisions of the Bank of England's Banknote Character Advisory Committee. \p Emma Reynolds: The roles and responsibilities for the production and issuance of banknotes are detailed in the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on the financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England.

The Bank of England is responsible for all aspects of the design, production, and issuance of banknotes, including the selection of characters, design features, and security measures. The Bank of England is required to seek HM Treasury approval only for the introduction of new denominations, as set out in section 1(1) of the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and Section 9C of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Bank of England may keep HM Treasury informed of developments on a non-statutory, informal basis, but there is no requirement for consultation with HM Treasury on matters of design or character selection.

As a consequence, HM Treasury is not represented on the Bank of England’s Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

The 2025 Memorandum of Understanding can be found here:

Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England Memorandum of Understanding
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62701 on Defence: Finance, when the Single Intelligence Budget was last included in the core defence budget. \p Darren Jones: The Single Intelligence Account is not included in the Ministry of Defence’s budget.

Historically, the SIA’s budget has included elements of NATO-qualifying defence expenditure. In order to recognise the important contribution the intelligence agencies play in national defence, by 2027, we will consider the whole of the SIA to be NATO-qualifying, in line with our allies. It will be included towards the 2.6% target for core defence spending.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_90

James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government press release entitled Government and business put forward "Team UK" approach to unleash defence sector's potential, published on 7 July 2025, how much in cash terms of the stated increase of defence spending to 2.6% is accounted for by (a) reductions in Official Development Assistance spend and (b) the addition of the single intelligence account to the defence budget. \p Darren Jones: The Chancellor’s Spring Statement 2025, table 2.1, outlines the changes to defence and Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending that will see NATO qualifying core defence spending increase to 2.5% GDP by 2027.

CP1298 – Spring Statement 2025

The Single Intelligence Account (SIA) budget is not being added to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) budget, but, in line with our allies, will be considered fully NATO qualifying defence spending by 2027. The inclusion of SIA will increase defence spending by around 0.1% in 2027, meaning that NATO qualifying defence expenditure will reach 2.6% GDP in 2027. Full details of the SIA budget over the Spending Review period can be found here:

Spending Review 2025 (HTML) - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the total amount of Barnett consequential funding which will be made available to Wales following the City Region Local Transport funding announced on 4 June 2025. \p Darren Jones: The 2025 Spending Review set the Department for Transport’s budget for 2026-27 to 2028-29. In line with the Statement of Funding Policy, the Barnett formula is applied to changes in overall department settlements, not to individual programmes. As a result, it is not possible to identify specific Barnett consequentials arising from individual programmes, such as the Transport for City Regions funding announced on 4 June 2025. This is the normal operation of the Barnett formula at Spending Reviews.

The Welsh Government’s settlement at the 2025 Spending Review is the largest in real terms since devolution in 1998. It ensures that the Welsh Government continues to receive more than 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in England, which is above their 15% higher relative need agreed in the Welsh Government Fiscal Framework.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Sir Mel Stride:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) welfare payments and (b) other services paid to people with indefinite leave to remain in each financial year since 2019-20 onwards. \p Darren Jones: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_93

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Table 5.8 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much of the spending line Memo: Police Core Spending is made up of (a) government grant and (b) council tax receipts in each year. \p Darren Jones: As set out in the Spending Review 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.

Police core spending power includes projected spending from a mix of central government funding and local taxation through the police council tax precept. This 2.3% projection is therefore premised on the police being funded through increases to both. However, this remains subject to final decisions on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The government will set out spending plans for police forces in England and Wales, including the final precept level and core government funding, at the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_94

Iqbal Mohamed:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of HMRC’s capacity to monitor the importation of goods from (a) countries and (b) territories subject to (i) arms embargoes, (ii) trade sanctions and (iii) other trade restrictions. \p James Murray: HMRC operates a risk-based model for customs compliance which is designed to support the flow of compliant international trade, while maintaining effective controls to collect revenue, protect the UK economy and wider society from harm and uphold the UK’s reputation as a trusted trading partner.

Imported and exported goods must be declared to HMRC and are subject to risk-based controls and verification. There are additional controls and restrictions on goods imported from and exported to certain countries, including those subject to arms embargoes and sanctions.

The controls and verification are tailored to the underlying risks but may include physical examinations of goods at the time of import or export and/or documentary checks.

HMRC collects the UK’s international trade in goods data and publishes this as two accredited official statistics series on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) civil society as part of negotiations towards digital trade ambitions outlined in the General terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal, last updated on 20 June 2025. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK and US are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, improving access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. The deal opens the way to a future UK US technology partnership through which our science-rich nations will collaborate in key areas of advanced technology, for example biotech, life sciences, quantum computing, nuclear fusion, aerospace and space.

This landmark economic agreement comes off the back of close collaboration between DBT and DSIT Ministers and officials. The PM, Business Secretary, and other Ministers across government have regular engagement with industry, civil society and businesses on a range of priorities.

We will continue our engagement with stakeholders from across the UK, including civil society, on the EPD throughout these remaining negotiations and the implementation of the deal.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) Bournemouth University, (b) Health Sciences University and (c) other higher education institutions on the delivery of the Industrial Strategy. \p Sarah Jones: The UK has some of the best universities in the world - four in the top ten – and according to research by Global University Venturing, in 2022 was second only to the US in total investment into university spin-outs. The Government recognises the contribution that Bournemouth University, Health Sciences University and other institutions make to higher education and their unique and critical role as engines for innovation and for meeting the skills needs of our growth-driving sectors and places where they concentrate. We will continue to support our universities including through Higher Education Innovation Funding, worth £280 million in 2024-2025, and as part of our broader record public investment in R&D of more than £86 billion over the Spending Review period.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken economic modelling on the potential impact of sustained high industrial electricity prices on the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector until 2035. \p Sarah Jones: Competitiveness depends on a wide range of factors. The Government recognises that high industrial electricity costs negatively impact the competitiveness in UK manufacturing, in line with the academic literature.

The Government announced the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme in the Industrial Strategy to reduce industrial electricity prices by c. £35 - £40/MWh from 2027 for around 7000 businesses. In addition, we also announced an increase in support for our most energy-intensive industries eligible for the British Industry Supercharger package, with an uplift of the Network Charging Compensation (NCC) scheme from 60% to 90%.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_99
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_99

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department has allocated for the (a) advertising and (b) promotion of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, published 23 June 2025 in the (i) 2025-26 and (ii) 2026-27 financial years; and how much and what proportion of this will be spent on advertising in newspapers. \p Sarah Jones: Marketing including paid advertising is necessary to reach a target audience of senior business decision makers, raising awareness of the UK’s new modern industrial strategy and the opportunities it presents for business growth. The Department of Business and Trade declares all advertising and media spend above £25,000 through its monthly transparency reporting process. These figures are published on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_100
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department has spent on advertising the Industrial Strategy in (a) newspapers, (b) other print media, (c) online and (d) in total. \p Sarah Jones: Marketing including paid advertising is necessary to reach a target audience of senior business decision makers, raising awareness of the UK’s new modern industrial strategy and the opportunities it presents for business growth. The Department of Business and Trade declares all advertising and media spend above £25,000 through its monthly transparency reporting process. These figures are published on gov.uk.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Indian Government on reducing tariffs on English wine. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK Government seeks the best possible outcome for UK businesses in all aspects of negotiations and ongoing market access engagement with other governments, based on industry engagement and economic analysis.

Under the UK-India FTA we agreed a review mechanism, allowing us to revisit areas of interest in future, which could include liberalisation on English Wine.

The Department for Business and Trade also offers extensive export support for English wine producers through business.gov.uk. At the start of July there was a Meet-The-Market roadshow hosted across England with direct access to department trade officers from key growth markets.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ongoing UK–US trade negotiations (a) in July 2025 and (b) at other times on (i) manufacturers and (ii) exporters in Scotland; and what steps he is taking to ensure that (A) automotive manufacturing and (B) other sectors with a significant presence in Falkirk are included in any future trade agreement. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: We are currently implementing the first phase of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal. The deal protects manufacturing through the removal of tariffs for aerospace goods and reducing tariffs for automotive, alongside the implementation of a new quota. The US was the 2nd largest goods export market for Scotland in 2024.

We will continue our extensive engagement with businesses from across the UK, including those in Scotland, throughout these remaining negotiations.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ban on Kava on UK-based (a) importers and (b) retailers of traditional South Pacific herbal products. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: Since January 2003 the herb kava-kava, and any food containing it, is banned from entry to the UK. This is because of concerns regarding its toxic effect on the liver. The Department for Business and Trade has not made any assessment related to this import ban.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support high street businesses. \p Gareth Thomas: This government is committed to supporting high street businesses. DBT is working across government to reform business rates, empower local authorities to address vacant properties through high street rental auctions and to tackling anti-social behaviour and crime in town centres through the Crime and Policing Bill.

We also provide a range of existing services to SMEs. This includes Growth Hubs – run in Cambridgeshire by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – providing local businesses with access to advice and support.

Our forthcoming SME Strategy will set out the government’s plan to do more to support small businesses across key areas, including thriving high streets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support local, independent coffee shops. \p Gareth Thomas: Hospitality businesses, including independent coffee shops, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and community cohesion.

The government plans to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 and we’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects which aim to help those furthest from the job market into employment and boosting productivity.

In addition, the government announced a Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, meaning over 600 small and medium sized hospitality businesses will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments to help cut energy costs, this will include cafes.

Our Small Business Strategy will set out further measures which will assist local, independent coffee shops.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support SMEs to (a) access finance, (b) innovate and (c) grow in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. \p Gareth Thomas: The Business Secretary's announcement of a new Business Growth Service is designed to simplify access, advice and support for Somerset businesses looking to grow, innovate and thrive.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Hanham and across Somerset can access the West of England Growth Hub which offers specialised guidance on scaling up, entering new markets, and exploring various financial support options, including through the British Business Bank

Additionally, Innovate UK is the national innovation agency, supporting businesses across all sectors and regions through grants, loans, investor partnerships and innovation procurement.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_107
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_107

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with Fujitsu Ltd on its involvement in the Horizon IT system failures; and whether his Department plans to pursue accountability for the company’s involvement in the wrongful prosecution of sub-postmasters. \p Gareth Thomas: We welcome Fujitsu’s acknowledgement of their moral obligation to contribute to the cost of the scandal.

On 7 March 2025, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Fujitsu’s global CEO agreed to begin talks on Fujitsu’s contribution to the costs of the scandal, prior to the conclusion of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report.

The extent of culpability for the scandal of Fujitsu and others – and hence any further accountability measures – will not be clear until all parts of Sir Wyn Williams’ Inquiry report are published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_108

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will visit the new Robotics Living Lab at the Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, to make an assessment of its contribution to sustainable approaches for fashion manufacturing. \p Gareth Thomas: The Government recognises the importance of the Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) at Manchester Fashion Institute for its key role in helping modernise the fashion industry. Officials have visited the Lab and recognise how, by combining robotics and digital technologies, RoLL supports small businesses and contributes to the UK’s wider goals of achieving low-carbon, high-value manufacturing.

The Ministerial team's plans for engagement, including regional and local visits, are revisited regularly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_109

Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the level of exports from Welsh businesses to the EU before the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreemen is implemented. \p Gareth Thomas: DBT hosts a wide range of events across all sectors to promote exports, including bringing over 100 businesses to Cardiff as part of the Made in the UK, Sold to the World tech roadshow in Cardiff.

We are also piloting Digital Trade Corridors to ease border processes and modernising export services to improve accessibility. These measures aim to reduce trade friction and help Welsh businesses grow their EU exports ahead of the SPS Agreement’s implementation.

My department hosted events for all UK food and drink businesses in July, attended by Welsh exporters Wrexham Lager, Village Bakery and the Lobster Pot.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_110

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the number of working days lost to strike action in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Justin Madders: In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the trade union-related measures within the Employment Rights Bill and these are available here: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_111

Sarah Green:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what further steps he (a) is considering and (b) plans to take to help improve the ability of Companies House to (i) identify people attempting to evade (A) tax liabilities and (B) other responsibilities and (ii) hold those people accountable. \p Justin Madders: Companies House is working with HMRC and Insolvency Service to identify the outcomes required to achieve an impact on the drivers of tax evasion, and assess the activities and resources required to deliver those outcomes. This expands on existing work that is strengthening our ability to target abuse of the register and tax system, increasing our ability to tackle tax evasion with greater visibility and accuracy of customer data. This work involves intelligence sharing between the organisations, and informs Companies House’s ongoing threat assessment.

We have no plans at present to require companies to provide VAT numbers to Companies House.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_112

Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will review the effectiveness of the Supply of New Cars Order 2000. \p Justin Madders: The Supply of New Cars Order 2000 was introduced following a Competition Commission investigation, to remedy or prevent the adverse effects identified by the Competition Commission in relation to the car retail market. Responsibility for reviewing the Supply of New Cars Order lies with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which keeps markets remedies under review. While the CMA has not initiated a review of this order at this time, it welcomes submissions where existing remedies may no longer be fit for purpose.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_113

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will meet with representatives from Unite the Union at BAE Systems Warton to discuss the impact of not purchasing new Typhoon jets for use by the Royal Air Force. \p Maria Eagle: The Secretary of State has met with the General Secretary of Unite the Union over the last three months to discuss a range of issues including this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_114

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39917 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, how many drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles were purchased by his Department since 25 March 2025. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July 2025 to Question 64478.

Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement (docx, 31.5KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_115

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs created in Northern Ireland as a result of increased defence spending. \p Maria Eagle: Northern Ireland plays a crucial role in the defence of the United Kingdom, with a defence industrial base that is at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and our enduring support to Ukraine. For example, in March 2025 we announced a £1.5 billion contract for Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine, which will create 200 direct jobs in Northern Ireland with more expected to be created in the supply chain.

The UK Government will set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy how we will make defence an engine for growth, ensuring that our defence spending boosts prosperity, jobs and security for working people across all the nations and regions of the UK, including in Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_116

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Defence Investment Plan. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), on 13 June in response to Question 58671.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_117

Peter Lamb:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will consider facilitating the supply of (a) medical equipment and (b) drugs due to expire to Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: As a world leader in military rehabilitation, the UK is contributing to the NATO funded Project RENOVATOR, which includes the provision of medical equipment to help deal with the thousands of injured Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel.

Since July 2024 Project RENOVATOR has procured and delivered over 5,000 individual items to a value of £1.244 million, with £4.8 million of further deliveries planned. Items include specialist rehabilitation equipment, gym equipment to aid rehabilitation and medical equipment.

Project RENOVATOR is only one aspect of the UK military medical support to Ukraine. The medical equipment the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided to Ukrainian personnel includes over 110,000 individual medical first aid kits, with an additional 114,000 tourniquets, 57,000 first field dressings, 9,000 chest seals and 8,000 chest decompression devices

On the supply of medication, the MOD follow the World Health Organisation guidance. Thus, medicines are not to be gifted unless they can be used before expiry and are already licenced or available as a treatment option in that country. The MOD does not gift expired products; if the medication is not suitable for use in the UK, it is not suitable for use by others.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_118

Peter Lamb:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will consider transferring Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles awaiting disposal to Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are key platforms for the British Army to meet Defence Commitments.

Although small numbers are scheduled for disposal, these will have been selected in line with serviceability and suitability for role. As such, without substantial investment, they are not likely to offer significant capability to Ukraine. Providing such small numbers would only increase the diversity of Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet, increasing their logistic and training burdens.

The UK will continue to work with Ukraine to identify how best to help them to resist Russian aggression.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_119

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen the UK’s ability to protect its satellite infrastructure from (a) cyber attacks, (b) jamming and (c) other forms of hostile interference. \p Luke Pollard: Protecting the UK's satellites and related ground infrastructure is a Defence priority. The Strategic Defence Review affirms that satellite communication and data relays are fundamental to the Armed Forces’ ability to understand the battlespace, exchange information, and make and communicate decisions in real time.

Our ongoing work in this area focuses on improving space awareness, asset security, and system resilience, whilst incorporating relevant lessons from the conflict in Ukraine and from our Allies and international partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_120

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's news story entitled British Army to increase lethality over the next decade while Royal Navy steps up innovation in NATO, published on 5 June 2025, what metrics will be used to assess the Army’s baseline for its current lethality; and what the level of each metric will be in order for the Army to have achieved its target of increasing lethality ten-fold. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry gave him on 12 June 2025, to Question 57781.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_121

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on UK access to the Security Action for Europe fund. \p Luke Pollard: We welcome all European efforts to increase defence spending and provide the critical capability uplift needed by Europe, including through the EU’s European Defence Readiness / ReArm initiatives and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument.

SAFE was formally adopted by the European Council on 29 May 2025. Alongside the UK’s recently agreed Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in the SAFE instrument. Recognising the important role that the UK’s world-leading defence industry plays for European security, the Defence Secretary has already engaged Commissioner Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, on our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation under SAFE. We also continue to engage allies bilaterally, including through the recent Lancaster House modernisation 2.0, to ensure we are all contributing to a more resilient defence industrial base for Europe.