Written questions by Griffith.

What estimate he has made of the gross exports facilitated by the work of his Department's Independent Trade Advisers in the last period for which data is available.

In 2024/25, the Department for Business and Trade supported businesses to deliver over 2,700 Export Wins with a combined value of almost £24 billion. These successes were achieved through close collaboration across government and within the Department, including the work of International (not 'Independent') Trade Advisors.

How many Independent Trade Advisers his Department plans to employ on 30 September 2026.

As in PQ16188, the Member seems to be confusing his terminology as we do not employ any ‘Independent Trade Advisers’ but do employ 140 International Trade Advisers. We are undergoing a strategic organisational redesign to ensure we are best positioned to support UK businesses to grow and export and attract investment. This process is ongoing so it is not possible to determine numbers of staff in particular types of roles in September 2026.

How many Independent Trade Advisers were employed by his Department on 30 September in each of the last 5 years.

Assuming that the Member has asked about ‘Independent Trade Advisers’ in error when he means ‘International Trade Advisers’, as of September 2025, the Department for Business and Trade employs 140 International Trade Advisers (ITAs). The table below presents the corresponding figures for the preceding three years. Prior to this period, ITAs were engaged through delivery partners and were therefore not employed by the Department.DateITA HeadcountOctober 2022192September 2023154September 2024152September 2025140

If his Department will hold an African Investment Summit.

As set out in the Trade and Industrial strategies, this Government remains committed to strengthening UK-African trade and investment ties. According to the latest UNCTAD data, the UK had the second highest level of FDI stock in Africa at the end of 2023, after the Netherlands, and this strong position reflects our determination to deepen partnerships that deliver sustainable growth and create opportunities for UK and African businesses. We have no such specific plans, but will continue to work closely with business leaders to unlock investment potential and will announce details of future engagements once decisions have been finalised.

When he last received advice on the cost of decontaminating the site of the British Steel Limited Scunthorpe Steelworks in the event of decomissioning.

The Department received advice on decommissioning and land remediation costs ahead of making a generous offer of support in March 2025 to British Steel's current owner. The Government continues to consider all options in relation to the site at Scunthorpe.

If he will provide a list of the embassies and high commissions in which staff funded by his Department are based.

As set out in our Trade and Industrial Strategies, following the Spending Review, we are reshaping the DBT overseas network led by our HM Trade Commissioners so that it is as focused as possible on the markets, sectors and opportunities that will drive economic growth for the UK. We are also restructuring the network to maximise our impact globally while becoming a smaller, more agile, and more tech enabled Department. We are working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on implementing these changes. By March 2027 we expect to have DBT funded staff in approximately 80 global markets with a regional support offer for all other markets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 99540 on British Steel, when he last received advice on the cost of decommissioning the blast furnaces at the British Steel Limited Scunthorpe Steelworks.

The Department received advice on decommissioning and land remediation costs ahead of making a generous offer of support in March 2025 to British Steel's current owner. The Government continues to consider all options in relation to the site at Scunthorpe.

If he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of his Department’s international trade advisors for negotiating new free trade agreements.

The Member is confusing two separate roles. Our International Trade Advisors (ITAs) support businesses to sell overseas: they do not conduct trade negotiations, which are led by chief negotiators, who are senior DBT officials.

What assessment he has made of the cost to the a) private sector and b) public sector of abolishing the caps on unfair dismissal compensation claims.

The Government will be publishing an Enactment Impact Assessment on the impacts of the Employment Rights Act. This will include an assessment of the removal of the compensation cap for unfair dismissal on different sectors. This assessment can be found here when published: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK.

What estimate he has made of the cost of decommissioning the blast furnaces at the British Steel Limited Scunthorpe Steelworks.

British Steel remains privately owned and estimated costs to decommission the blast furnaces is commercially sensitive information.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of non-tariff measures to consumer prices on different UK Standard Industrial Classification groups.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not published a specific, comprehensive assessment detailing the potential impact of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on consumer prices across all individual UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) groups.DBT produces indicative valuation estimates for market access barriers using a range of methodologies including ad valorem equivalents (AVEs). The method estimates how export demand, and therefore export value, could change in response to the removal of NTM-associated costs and subsequent price changes. The methodology could be found at Methodologies for valuing market access barriers - GOV.UK. This methodology does not provide an assessment across all individual SIC groups.

How much of the £274 million provided to British Steel was for (a) raw materials, (b) salaries, (c) energy costs and (d) payments to supply chain creditors.

To date, a total of £274 million has been provided to support British Steel’s operations, with £173 million allocated to raw materials, £47 million allocated to payroll, and £22 million allocated towards energy costs. The remaining amount represents various other essential business costs covering operating activities, including capital expenditure and operational expenditure. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

Whether the £274 million funding provided to British Steel has been allocated as (a) a grant, (b) a loan and (c) an equity injection; and what conditions regarding repayment have been attached to that funding.

Funding is provided to British Steel under the provisions of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act, and is recoverable as a debt due to the Crown, as set out in section 3(6) of the Act. There are no conditions attached save the requirement for the funds to be used in accordance with the purpose set out in legislation. All funding released to British Steel is reviewed and approved in advance.

What the average monthly cost to the public purse has been for maintaining the operation of British Steel blast furnaces since the special measures under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 were introduced.

To date, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has provided British Steel with £274 million as working capital, which on average equates to approximately £34 million per month. This funding has been instrumental in supporting British Steel’s operational needs, covering items such as raw materials and salaries. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of maintaining British Steel's operations between 10 December 2025 and the publication of the Steel Strategy in 2026.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and delivering a steel strategy, to be published in early 2026. To date, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has provided British Steel with £274 million as working capital and during the period of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act. The Government is committed to supporting British Steel’s operational costs as needed, covering items such as raw materials and salaries. However, future costs are susceptible to wider macroeconomic factors and the contribution of DBT funding is therefore subject to change.

Whether he has made an estimate of the financial impact of the suspension of arms export licenses to Israel on British businesses.

We suspended certain licences for exports of military equipment on the basis of concerns of a clear risk of serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in IDF military operations in Gaza. The UK remains committed to our wider trading relationship with Israel which supports thousands of jobs in the UK.

For what reason the suspension of arms sales to Israel is not listed on his Department and Export Control Joint Unit's official guidance.

The suspension of licences on 2 September 2024 was announced in a Written Statement to Parliament published by the then Secretary of State for Business and Trade and in the then Foreign Secretary’s Oral Statement on that date. The suspension was also communicated publicly via a Notice to Exporters, and any exporters impacted by the decision were contacted directly. The UK’s export control guidance includes general information on the regulatory framework for strategic export controls, our lists of controlled items and the circumstances where exporters might need an export licence.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled DBT: Workforce management information October 2025, for what purpose the Department's non-payroll staff consultancy costs increased to £4,345,742.86 for October 2025.

Spend on Consultancy does vary month to month dependent upon which projects are underway through the year. An even spread is not expected. While consultancy costs for October 2025 are broadly in line with July and August 2025, they do appear as being significantly above those in September 2025. However, in September 2025, a correction exercise was undertaken whereby costs were removed and correctly reclassified having the effect of artificially lowering the September consultancy costs.

If he will review the dates set out in the Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap to account for the time taken for the Bill's passage.

There will be several phases of delivery following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill. For many measures, Government will consult on the detail of policy and implementation. As set out in the Implementation Roadmap, we will provide more detail on these policies and our timelines for implementation following consultation, with a clear commitment that we aim to work at pace to deliver these benefits to millions of working people.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June to Question 58286 on Trade Agreements: USA, if he will publish further detail on the quota system with respect to small volume manufacturers.

The preferential rate of 10% on UK-manufactured cars being exported to the US went live on 30 June. For 2025, there is a pro-rata quantity of 65,205 that can access the 10% tariff. From 1 January next year, the quota will be administered on a quarterly basis, this will give companies who make to order the flexibility to make better use of the quota. We agreed with the US that we can review the quota model. We have consulted with industry and are looking carefully at whether there are alternative quota arrangements that could better support UK exporters. We will provide further detail in due course.