Written questions by Jogee.

What recent steps have been taken to further develop trade links between the United Kingdom and Jamaica.

This Government is strengthening trade with Jamaica through multiple initiatives. UK Export Finance has signed a Framework for Cooperation with the Jamaican government enabling us to support a range of critical infrastructure projects with substantial UK content, including the replacement of bridges across the country. My department also recently funded the first inward mission from the Caribbean life sciences sector, which included senior Jamaican delegates, to deepen collaboration and tackle barriers to trade. We are also cooperating on digital trade, with Jamaican firms forging partnerships with UK businesses through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme.

What steps he is taking to financially support pubs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

The Government recognises the importance of pubs and the wider hospitality sector, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire. We continue to support these vital local businesses through a range of measures designed to ease cost pressures and strengthen communities.The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. We’ve introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit.The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

What steps he is taking to support the hospitality sector in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

The Government recognises the importance of pubs and the wider hospitality sector, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire. We continue to support these vital local businesses through a range of measures designed to ease cost pressures and strengthen communities.The government has also introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. We’ve introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit.The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

What recent steps he has taken to support (a) pubs, (b) publicans and (c) the pub industry in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency since his appointment; and what plans he has to visit a public house in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

The Government fully recognises the cultural and economic significance of pubs in communities, like Newcastle-under-Lyme and has taken a range of steps to support pubs and publicans.We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents and so we are creating a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025).Additionally, we have cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products, covering about 60% of pub sales saving pubs over £85m annually. We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable valueWe continue to work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council, working together to address the challenges facing all hospitality businesses.

What steps he is taking to support investment in businesses in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

The Department for Business and Trade supports regional growth by working with local areas to attract private investment, helping business to grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme. As part of the recent Office for Investment expansion, we work with local areas, leveraging public finance from institutions like the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, to deliver strategic investments, aligned with the 10-year Infrastructure and Industrial strategies. Carlsberg Britvic plans to invest £4 million in Staffordshire, supporting hundreds of jobs, and the approval, of the M54-M6 link road, will further boost the local economy.

What recent steps his Department has taken to improve the rights of older workers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay will strengthen employment rights for people, at all stages of their working lives, boosting fairness and equality in the workplace. Measures in the Employment Right’s Bill to make it easier to access flexible working may help older workers balance their work with changes in their personal circumstances. The existing right to one week of unpaid carer’s leave from day one may help older workers manage work and care commitments. The government is currently reviewing the implementation of unpaid Carer’s Leave, including examining the potential benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave, while being mindful of the cost and impact on small employers.

What steps he is taking to encourage private sector investment in businesses in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The Department for Business and Trade supports regional growth by working with local areas to attract private investment, helping business to grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme. As part of the recent Office for Investment expansion, we work with local areas, leveraging public finance from institutions like the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, to deliver strategic investments, aligned with the 10-year Infrastructure and Industrial strategies. Carlsberg Britvic plans to invest £4 million in Staffordshire, supporting hundreds of jobs, and the approval, of the M54-M6 link road, will further boost the local economy.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delivery of the Industrial Strategy on people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential, targeting government investment towards eight-growth driving sectors (IS-8). There are clusters of the IS-8 sectors across the whole country, and the policy package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by businesses in these sectors.To ensure robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of the Industrial Strategy, we have chosen six economic indicators that reflect a range of desirable objectives for the IS-8 and the economy as a whole, which will be tracked at the economy-wide, sector and place level. Monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy will be overseen by the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council who will take a data-led approach.

What progress his Department has made on improving parental rights for workers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

We are strengthening rights for parents through the Employment Rights Bill, including making Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave ‘day one’ rights for qualifying employees, removing restrictions on taking Paternity Leave after Shared Parental Leave, strengthening flexible working rights, and bolstering protections for new and expectant mothers. We also launched the Parental Leave Review on 1 July which will consider how parental leave can better reflect modern work and childcare realities and support working families.

What steps he has taken ensure the continued availability of post office services in rural communities in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire since his appointment.

The Government protects the sustainability of the Post Office network - and the rural network in particular - by providing an annual Network Subsidy. This ensures Post Office Limited maintains a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with the Government-set access criteria.This financial year we are providing £83 million in subsidy, up from £50 million previously, and building on the uplift provided last year. The access criteria ensures that, however the network changes, 99% of the UK population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office.

Whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Kenya on the sunset clause on investment in the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement.

The UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) does not contain expiry provisions or ‘sunset clauses’, so preferential market access will continue indefinitely. The EPA does include a ‘rendez-vous clause’, committing Parties to conclude negotiations on areas such as investment. This was discussed at the UK-Kenya EPA Committee of Senior Officials in 2022.At the 2023 Ministerial EPA Council, both sides agreed to accelerate efforts to remove investment barriers, and the UK held workshops with Kenyan officials in March 2025 to support this.

If he will make an assessment of the impact of the Economic Partnership Agreement on (a) African and (b) Caribbean countries.

The Department for Business and Trade engages closely with partner governments and businesses to gather feedback on tariff arrangements, including Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African and Caribbean countries. Whilst this feedback is not shared externally, the Government does publish two sets of UK trade data with developing countries: statistics on UK utilisation of tariff preferences under trade agreements, and country factsheets outlining broader trade relationships.These data sources are available on the gov.uk website.

Whether his Department is taking steps to assess the potential impact of economic partnership agreements made with countries in Africa in the last 5 years on those countries' (a) economic development, (b) level of exports from and (c) capacity to pursue (i) regional integration plans and (ii) the African Continental Free Trade Area.

I refer the member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to the answer my predecessor gave on 3 September 2025 to UIN 71764.

What discussions his Department has had with the African Business Chamber since 5 July 2024.

The Department expects to be represented at the African Business Chamber’s November 2025 Business Forum. The Department is happy to meet with the African Business Chamber to discuss further our work.

What recent discussions he has had with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.

Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade are available on the transparency pages of gov.uk.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbt-ministers-transparency-publications

Whether the Department plans to consult (a) Parliament and (b) civil society in its assessment of (i) the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreements to date and (ii) the potential merits of negotiating issues listed in the sunset clauses of those agreements.

The UK's Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) do not contain expiry provisions or 'sunset clauses'. The preferential market access they provide to developing country partners will continue indefinitely. EPAs do include review clauses allowing for discussion on areas such as investment, competition, and services.The Department's approach to these reviews will be guided by dialogue with partners and aligned with UK growth and development objectives, as per the Trade Strategy. There is no obligation for partners to negotiate where they are unwilling. The Strategy also commits to engaging governments and businesses on expanding EPAs to include services. Broader stakeholder consultation will be considered in any review process.

What discussions he has had with international partners on their willingness to negotiate on (a) investment, (b) competition, (c) services, (d) intellectual property, (e) government procurement and (f) other aspects of the sunset clauses of Economic Partnership Agreements.

The UK's Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) do not contain expiry provisions or 'sunset clauses'. The preferential market access they provide to developing country partners will continue indefinitely. EPAs do include review clauses allowing for discussion on areas such as investment, competition, and services.The Department's approach to these reviews will be guided by dialogue with partners and aligned with UK growth and development objectives, as per the Trade Strategy. There is no obligation for partners to negotiate where they are unwilling. The Strategy also commits to engaging governments and businesses on expanding EPAs to include services. Broader stakeholder consultation will be considered in any review process.

What steps the Department has taken to assess the potential impact of Economic Partnership Agreements on (a) a country’s (i) economic development and (ii) ability to export and (b) the ability of African partner countries to implement (A) the African Continental Free Trade Area and (B) other regional integration plans.

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) support inclusive, sustained economic growth and promote regional integration by providing duty-free access for partner exports to the UK and generous cumulation provisions aligned with AfCFTA objectives. Without this access, current trade faces significant risks.The Department engages closely with partner governments and businesses to gather feedback on tariff arrangements. The Government publishes two key sources of UK trade data with developing countries: statistics on UK utilisation of tariff preferences under trade agreements, and country factsheets outlining broader trade relationships. These data sources, alongside feedback, have shaped EPA priorities, as articulated in the UK's Trade Strategy.

Whether the Department plans to engage in negotiations on aspects of the sunset clauses of Economic Partnership Agreements.

The UK's Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) do not contain expiry provisions or 'sunset clauses'. The preferential market access they provide to developing country partners will continue indefinitely. EPAs do include review clauses allowing for discussion on areas such as investment, competition, and services.The Department's approach to these reviews will be guided by dialogue with partners and aligned with UK growth and development objectives, as per the Trade Strategy. There is no obligation for partners to negotiate where they are unwilling. The Strategy also commits to engaging governments and businesses on expanding EPAs to include services. Broader stakeholder consultation will be considered in any review process.

What recent steps he has taken to support working families in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire through the parental leave system.

Through the Employment Rights Bill the Government will ensure that Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave are ‘day one’ rights, removing continuity of service requirements for employees.In the Plan to Make Work Pay the Government committed to a review of the parental leave system. This review was launched on 1 July and will explore how the system can better support working families and reflect the realities of modern work and childcare. All current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements will be in scope.