Written questions by Goldsborough.

What steps his Department is taking to support businesses to create well-paid jobs.

Through our modern industrial strategy, we’re backing businesses to create well-paid jobs across the UK. We’re investing in skills through apprenticeships, technical colleges and regional training programmes to help every area grow. Our global partnerships are delivering real results - the recent US State Visit will create over 15,000 jobs, our renewed India partnership nearly 7,000 and the Regional Investment Summit has unlocked £10 billion and 1,000 new jobs driving prosperity nationwide.

If he will make an estimate of the number of jobs created via foreign direct investment in South Norfolk constituency in the last 12 months.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) works closely with local authorities and investment partners to monitor and support the impact of foreign direct investment in the South Norfolk constituency. Foreign direct investment in the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area resulted in 14 FDI projects and the creation of 516 new jobs in 2023-24, including both single-site and multi-site projects. While this area covers South Norfolk, specific statistics for the parliamentary constituency are not published due to confidentiality concerns.

What steps he is taking to help support food producers from Norfolk to increase exports.

DBT provides a wide-ranging package of export support for food and drink businesses in Norfolk and across the whole of the UK. This includes educational support to upskill food producers via our Export Academy and one to one support from International Trade Advisors and our extensive overseas network, with trade advisors promoting UK food in over 100 countries. Overseas we deliver a comprehensive programme of trade shows, trade missions and events to connect exporters with buyer and new market opportunities. Our UK Export Finance agency helps companies access export finance, with a dedicated finance manager covering Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

What estimate he has made of the number of workers that will be affected by the increase to the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in Norfolk.

In total, over 3 million workers are expected to receive a pay rise due to increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage in April 2025. We will also publish an Impact Assessment alongside the legislation that implements the increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. The Impact Assessment will provide a regional and country breakdown on the number of workers benefitting from an increase.

How many and what proportion of workers aged above 16 years old are paid within 50p of the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in (i) East Anglia and (ii) Norfolk.

The Low Pay Commission publishes a report that provides a coverage of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) each year, shortly before the rates are updated in April. The report provides a Local Authority and Regional breakdown of NMW and NLW coverage, including those paid below or within 5p of the applicable rate. Data on those who are within 50p of the rates is not provided as part of the report.