Every parliamentary written question tabled by Adam Jogee this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 97 · Department for Business and Trade
What steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Ireland is one of the UK’s closest and most important trading partners, with approximately £1.71 billion in bilateral trade each week. The UK Government is committed to strengthening this relationship further as demonstrated by the outcomes of the second ...
What steps he has taken to support the ceramics industry in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire since his appointment.
The British Industry Supercharger currently supports some ceramics businesses in Great Britain, including in Staffordshire, including in the technical and advanced ceramics, and brick production sectors, for the indirect costs of various electricity policy and network charges. Officials regularly engage with Ceramics UK, the sector’s main trade association, to explore how the ceramics industry can be supported. The Industrial Strategy, along with the Trade Strategy, have set out this Government’s approach to expanding trade opportunities and supporting UK businesses, including ceramics businesses.
What steps he has taken to support fish and chip shops with the cost of food in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.
Fish and chip shops, like many hospitality businesses, continue to face significant cost pressures, driven by global uncertainty, volatile energy markets, supply chain disruption and wider inflation, which have contributed to higher food input prices. The Government recognises the impact this has on businesses and communities, including in Newcastle under Lyme and across Staffordshire and is taking action to help businesses manage these costs. This includes permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties and increasing the employment allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. We continue to engage with industry through the Hospitality Sector Council to strengthen resilience and productivity across the sector.
What recent engagement he has had with his Canadian counterpart about the potential merits of increasing trade between the United Kingdom and Canada.
I am in regular contact with Minister Sidhu as we seek ways to grow bilateral trade – worth £31bn in the 12 months to September 2025 and up 17% on the previous 12 months .Last year, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026 to further grow trade and drive cooperation, including the review of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin to make the agreement easier to use by businesses on both sides.My Department is also committed to the UK trading with Canada under CPTPP terms. Canada has commenced its legislative process for the UK’s ratification, with Entry into Force expected later this year.
What steps he is taking to reduce the use of skin lightening products.
As product safety regulator, OPSS is responsible for ensuring that consumer products are safe. The UK Cosmetic Regulation requires that a safety assessment be completed by a qualified assessor to demonstrate the safety of a cosmetic product before it can be sold on our market.OPSS also provides funding to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to highlight the dangers to consumers of using illegal cosmetics, including skin lighteners, through its “Cost Of Beauty” Campaign. The campaign includes social media, outreach with targeted groups and working with traditional media, with the aim of raising attention to the risks of these products.
What discussions he has had with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about improving trade links between Commonwealth member states.
Neither the Secretary of State nor I have held discussions with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about anything.
What steps he is taking to support the creation of well-paid jobs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to Written PQ 107250 on 28th January 2026.
What recent steps he has taken to support brick production.
Brick deliveries remain well above the dip seen in 2022-2023, with around 80% of bricks used in the UK produced domestically. The Government’s housebuilding targets will support demand as industry delivers the new private, social and affordable homes our citizens need.Construction’s inclusion as a foundational industry in the Industrial Strategy will also help to drive brick production. Additionally, brick manufacturers could benefit from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme if they meet electricity intensity and sector criteria, though eligibility is not yet confirmed.
What recent steps he has taken to help reduce industrial energy costs for businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Our Modern Industrial Strategy will make industrial electricity costs cheaper with new support which could cut bills by up to 25% for more than 7,000 businesses. From 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity cost for eligible businesses by c.£35-40/MWh.We have also increased support for energy-intensive industries eligible for the British Industry Supercharger, with an uplift of the Network Charging Compensation (NCC) scheme from 60% to 90%.Companies in Newcastle-under-Lyme operating in frontier industries, or those supplying critical inputs to frontier industries such as specialised ceramics, are well placed to benefit from this support.
What steps he is taking to support the creation of well-paid jobs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
The Department for Business and Trade is supporting the creation of jobs and opportunities across the UK, including in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, by championing free trade agreements, supporting small and medium sized enterprises to export, securing foreign investment, developing the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and investing in growth sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies.
What steps he is taking to ensure that a) businesses, b) economic growth and c) higher education institutions in Newcastle-under-Lyme are impacted by trade deals.
As the Honourable Member would expect, we do not direct the effects of individual Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) towards specific organisations within specific constituencies, nor do we monitor the way they are exploited in such granular detail. However, FTAs have an important role to play in delivering economic growth in all constituencies and all sectors. Through FTAs, businesses can benefit from tariff reductions, improved market access, and enhanced protections in investment and digital trade. The Department is working hand-in-hand with UK businesses to ensure firms have the tools and knowledge they need to seize these opportunities. If the Honourable Member knows of specific businesses that need assistance in exploiting our FTAs, he should approach the department and we will be happy to assist.Last year we concluded trade negotiations with India and the Republic of Korea. Our assessments suggest these deals will have significant benefits across the UK economy and key industrial strategy sectors.
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 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 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 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.