Written questions by Maguire.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact on consumers of breweries (a) stating and (b) implying that their products are being brewed in one location when they are produced in another location.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact on consumers of breweries misleading them on where their products are brewed.The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions, that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision. This could include breweries misrepresenting where their products are produced. Misrepresentation may be taken as an unfair trading practice and constitute an offence.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of prevalence of multinational companies marketing (a) beers and (b) brewery brands as being from (i) small and independent brewers and (ii) from a specific geographical location.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of the level of prevalence of multinational companies marketing beers and brewery brands as being from small and independent brewers or from a specific geographical location. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision. This could include multinational beverage companies misrepresenting where their alcohol products are produced. Misrepresentation may be taken as an unfair trading practice and constitute an offence.

Whether his Department plans to assess the compatibility of existing bilateral investment treaties containing Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions with the UK’s (a) net zero commitments and (b) climate policy objectives.

The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate.Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove governments’ right to regulate in the public interest, including with respect to the environment.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims arising from climate-related planning and regulatory decisions on public finances.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.An independent Tribunal determines the level of liability, if any, in any Investor State Dispute proceedings. The Government has never faced a successful ISDS claim.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of the commercial laundry industry to the economy.

The Government recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment, nor does it have any current plans to, on the contribution of the commercial laundry industry to the economy.

Whether his Department plans to undertake an assessment of the potential economic impacts on (i) Cornwall, and (ii) the wider UK economy, arising from capacity constraints in the commercial laundry sector during peak seasonal demand in areas with high levels of tourism.

The Government recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment, nor does it have any current plans to, on the contribution of the commercial laundry industry to the economy.

What steps his Department is taking to support local, independent coffee shops.

Hospitality businesses, including independent coffee shops, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and community cohesion.The government plans to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 and we’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects which aim to help those furthest from the job market into employment and boosting productivity.In addition, the government announced a Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, meaning over 600 small and medium sized hospitality businesses will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments to help cut energy costs, this will include cafes.Our Small Business Strategy will set out further measures which will assist local, independent coffee shops.

How many claims have been (a) made to and (b) rejected by the compensation schemes for sub-postmasters impacted by Horizon IT; and what proportion of those claims have successfully concluded.

Claimant eligibility for each redress scheme is confirmed before claims are progressed. No eligible claims have been rejected. We have made significant progress in delivering redress to victims of the Horizon scandal. The table below demonstrates the progress made as of 30 June 2025, however there is still more to do: SchemeFull & Final Claims receivedFull & Final Offers madeFull & Final Offers acceptedFull & Final claims paidProportion Concluded (claims paid/claims received)Horizon Shortfall Scheme: eligible claims before deadline2,4172,4172,1222,11988%Horizon Shortfall Scheme: eligible late claims7,7505,1604,7744,73261%Group Litigation Order Scheme46045233633473%Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme41641040139795% A further 71 full and final payments have been made to 71 (of the 111) postmasters whose convictions were quashed via the courts.In total, approximately £1,098 million (over 1 billion) has been paid in redress across all schemes.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a guest beer provision as part of the third statutory review and post-implementation review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator.

The Pubs Code (the Code) applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs. The statutory review will consider the operation of the Code and performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator over the review period and interested parties can submit their views to the call for inputs until 14 August 2025.The government is also currently completing a separate exercise to understand whether there are any barriers to market for small brewers. Interested parties can contact beermarketreview@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

With reference to paragraph 2.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC295, what discussions his Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with representatives of (i) breweries and (ii) consumers on the consultation on encouraging small brewers to retain and expand their access to pubs.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that the government would consult on ways to encourage small brewers to retain and expand their access to UK pubs.We are undertaking commercially confidential discussions with a wide range of market participants to gain a better understanding of the supply, sale and dispense of cask and keg beers, together with the nature of competition between brewers, including local/small suppliers.We will then discuss the findings with competition and markets experts before considering further steps.

Whether his Department plans to reform business rates for the beer and pub sector.

The Department for Business and Trade engages with His Majesty's Treasury (HMT) at Ministerial and official level on a range of issues, including business rates reform and how this will affect the hospitality sector.

What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a permanent reduction in business rates for the beer and pub sector.

The Department for Business and Trade engages with His Majesty's Treasury (HMT) at Ministerial and official level on a range of issues, including business rates reform and how this will affect the hospitality sector.

What steps his Department is taking to support small businesses to meet the carbon reporting requirements of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

We recognise that reporting requirements of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are having incidental impacts on some UK businesses exporting to the EU.EU CBAM implementation and guidance remains fundamentally a matter for the European Commission. The Commission have proposed changes to EU CBAM which are intended to exempt most small businesses and make reporting requirements easier to comply with. The Commission intends to undertake a full review of its CBAM later this year, which we will watch closely.The Commission website is the most up to date source of information for businesses seeking guidance on requirements: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of compliance with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism requirement for accurate carbon emissions data from complex supply chains on small manufacturers.

We recognise that reporting requirements of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are having incidental impacts on some UK businesses exporting to the EU.EU CBAM implementation and guidance remains fundamentally a matter for the European Commission. The Commission have proposed changes to EU CBAM which are intended to exempt most small businesses and make reporting requirements easier to comply with. The Commission intends to undertake a full review of its CBAM later this year, which we will watch closely.The Commission website is the most up to date source of information for businesses seeking guidance on requirements: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en.

If he will ensure that (a) UK legal services and (b) the use of English law are promoted overseas as part of an integrated trade policy.

The UK has a reputation for the rule of law and as a global centre for legal services excellence. To date, the government has ensured the inclusion of commitments which facilitate the provision of legal advisory services in UK and international law by UK lawyers in its Free Trade Agreements with the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, Australia and New Zealand.Furthermore, the government will seek to support UK service suppliers, including those from the legal sector, via the future Trade Strategy which will reflect the government's ambition to improve UK's trade and investment with international partners.

What plans his Department has to support small-medium enterprises in Cornwall, in the context of the proposed rise in employers' National Insurance contributions.

The government is reforming business rates to offer permanent reductions for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, which represent a significant portion of Cornwall's SMEs. We have also shielded the smallest businesses and charities from the impact of increased Employer National Insurance by raising the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500.Looking ahead, the government has announced plans to launch a Business Growth Service, designed as a national initiative with local delivery at its core, and will publish a Small Business Strategy Command Paper later this year.

If he will publish his timetable for the third Statutory Review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator.

The next statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator, as required by the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and associated regulations, will cover the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025. The review will commence once the current review period has ended. The Secretary of State is required to publish a report of the findings of the review and lay a copy of the report before Parliament as soon as practicable after the end of the review period.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of investing in the marine economy.

The Department for Business and Trade recognises the critical importance of the marine economy to the UK, facilitating around 95% of the country’s trade in goods, directly employing 227,000 people and generating over £55bn in business turnover in 2019. This sector also plays a vital role in advancing the UK’s sustainability goals - highlighted by the Department for Transport's recent announcement of a further £30m investment into the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. My department works closely with the sector to support new investment opportunities and to help achieve sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth.

If he will take steps to support small businesses with the costs of compliance with (a) EU general safety and performance requirements and (b) EU regulations.

UK businesses exporting medical devices to the EU should comply with EU General Safety and Performance Requirements (GSPR), which outline the criteria for medical and in vitro diagnostic devices marketed in the EU. These apply under the EU Medical Device Regulations (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), which came into force in 2017.Responsibility for interpreting and providing guidance on EU legislation rests with the European Commission. For detailed guidance, businesses should refer to the European Commission's website. UK Government continue to assess implementation milestones of MDR and IVDR. Businesses experiencing EU market access issues, may seek support via the UK Export Support Service.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of the EU General Product Safety Regulation on UK small businesses exporting to the EU.

I appreciate that for some businesses, the updated EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) will require changes, and we take these concerns very seriously. Government is supporting small businesses to understand GPSR and is engaging directly with businesses to assess the regulation’s impact.We have published guidance on GPSR’s application in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review. The responsibility for interpreting EU legislation lies with the European Commission. The Commission have published their own business guidance and impact assessment of the regulation.Small businesses exporting to the EU may also wish to contact the Government’s Export Support Service.