Written questions by Griffith.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to consider resuming exports of defence equipment to Israel.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 18 September to Question 72496.

When she will publish the road safety strategy.

The Government intends to publish the Road Safety Strategy this year.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 December to Question 95961 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will modify the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, published on 28 November, to reflect that the calculation for the applicable Transition Relief cap for 2026/27 is made from the base liability for 2025/26 before RHL relief has been applied.

No, I will not modify the Budget 2025: RHL Factsheet. It is correct.

Communities and Local Government, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November so that that the formula for the calculation of Transitional Relief calculates 2025-26 BL as A multiplied by M minus RHL relief where applicable.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a Transitional Relief Scheme and a Supporting Small Business Relief scheme – both of which help ratepayers that are seeing significant bill increases as a result of the 2026 business rates revaluation. The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayer losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. As is made clear in paragraph 8(b) of the Annex to the Business Rates Information Letter issued on 26 November, the Base Liability (BL) within the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme will reflect any Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief or 2025/26 Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief applicable at 31/3/26.

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.

Communities and Local Government, when he will publish guidance for Businesses on the application of the a.) Transition Relief Scheme, b.) Transition Relief Supplement, and c.) Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a business rates Transitional Relief, Transitional Relief Supplement and Supporting Small Business Relief. Regulations providing for the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Transitional Relief Supplement must be made by 31 January 2026 and will be laid in the coming weeks. The Government will publish guidance for local authorities on the administration of the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026/27 billing cycle. The Government has provided information on the Transitional and Supporting Small Business Reliefs that will apply from 1 April 2026 on gov.uk here.

How many consultations his Department plans to hold on the Employment Rights Bill prior to its implementation.

Twenty-six consultations are currently planned to deliver the Employment Rights Bill and commitments made in the Implementing the Employment Rights Bill publication, across relevant Government departments. Five have already concluded and six are currently live.

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.

How many safety incidents were reported at the British Steel Limited site in Scunthorpe in each quarter of the last year.

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, British Steel Limited reported 11 cases in Q1 2025, 15 in Q2, 7 in Q3 and 7 to date in Q4, across all of their sites, including Scunthorpe. In the year to date there have been 30 Lost-Time Injuries, and 44 high-potential near misses. Since the 12 April, to ensure the continued safe operation of the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025, the UK Government has made health and safety a priority, with £8.1 million spent on essential improvements, including structural inspections, safety-critical equipment, and protective workwear. British Steel appointed a new Health, Safety & Environment Director and additional resources have strengthened oversight, supported by external specialists delivering hazard awareness and cultural change programmes. I emphasised the continued importance of health and safety in discussions with British Steel's executive team during my visit to the Scunthorpe site on 6 November.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a secondary live event ticket sales price cap on levels of tourism.

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

With reference to the Government response to the consultation on the resale of live events ticket of 19 November 2025, what is his target date for the introduction of legislation to implement the proposals set out in the response.

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

If he will publish an impact assessment for the plan for a secondary live event ticket sales price cap.

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the effectiveness of secondary live event ticket sales price caps in other countries.

The government has announced that it will introduce new measures to end the scourge of ticket touting and put fans back at the heart of live events, including a resale price cap.Our consultation revealed widespread support for a price cap from fans, industry and consumer groups. After thorough consultation, we intend to draw on all the evidence we have gathered – including insights on international comparisons – to prepare legislation that is targeted and effective.We will legislate when Parliamentary time allows, and an impact assessment, including an assessment of economic impacts, will be published when legislation is introduced to Parliament.