Every parliamentary written question tabled by Bradley Thomas this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–13 of 13 · Department for Business and Trade
What steps he is taking to (a) promote the use of made in Britain labelling on products and (b) prevent that labelling being used when a large part of the production process has been outside of the UK.
Aside from certain specified products such as food there is no requirement for goods to be labelled with their country of origin. The government does not have plans to introduce such a requirement on behalf of consumers.Under the Digital Markets, Competit...
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of sharp edges on plastic collars of tethered bottle caps on the safety of people with pre-existing conditions.
All products placed on the UK market must be safe. Under the General Product Safety Regulations, producers are required to ensure that products are safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, including where product features may present...
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of Ofcom customer protection regulations against poor delivery services from couriers such as Evri.
I am clear that some delivery companies need to do more to meet the rightful expectations of customers.Ofcom is the regulator for the postal sector and is operationally independent.Ofcom has recognised the growing concern about the performance of delivery operators and has taken action to discuss with them what steps they have taken to comply and, where its assessment indicates that specific parcel operators are not operating in line with the existing requirements, Ofcom will consider whether enforcement action is necessary or additional regulation is needed to ensure consumers are adequately protected. To that end, Ofcom has sent a regulatory compliance letter to parcel operators.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of a public holiday to commemorate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Government recognises the remarkable legacy of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.We regularly receive requests for additional bank and public holidays to mark a variety of occasions. While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2 billion.For these reasons, the Government currently has no plans to change the well-established pattern of bank holidays.
When he will visit Bromsgrove constituency to discuss the impact of government policy on the hospitality industry with (a) publicans and (b) landlords.
Hospitality businesses, including those in Bromsgrove, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and social cohension. We've launched a licensing taskforce aimed at cutting red tape and removing barriers that hinder progress. The Government also plans to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. Additionally, we've introduced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council priorities. This includes helping those furthest from the job market into employment and boosting productivity across the sector.Whilst I don't have any immediate plans to visit Bromsgrove, I will endeavour to visit in future as part of my wider business engagement programme.
Whether the Government considers increased trade with China to be an inherent risk to national security.
China is the world’s second largest economy and predicted to be the largest driver of global growth from 2021 to 2035. Identifying opportunities to build secure and resilient growth through a mature, stable, and balanced relationship with China is in our national interest. National security and growth are not opposed – they are mutually reinforcing. The UK must engage with international partners, including China, on trade and investment to grow our economy, while ensuring we uphold our security and values by challenging China on areas where we disagree.
How many officials are working on the negotiations of a trade deal with the United States.
DBT’s Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations (TPIN) Group operates a flexible resourcing model to maximise efficiency across priorities. In January 2025, DBT had 675 staff working in TPIN. The US is the UK’s largest single country trading partner, with trade worth around £300 billion in the year to September 2024.
What steps his Department is taking to help promote retail entrepreneurship in Bromsgrove constituency.
The Government supports entrepreneurs, including those in Bromsgrove, through Start-up Loans via the British Business Bank and through programmes such as Growth Hubs in England and Help to Grow: Management across the UK. We will publish our Small Business Strategy later this year, which will signal a clear overarching ambition to promote entrepreneurship and articulate a new vision for business support, built around the new Business Growth Service. The strategy will enable scale-ups and other small businesses to grow, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate, export, and create new jobs. Our Industrial Strategy is unreservedly pro-business, engaging on complex issues that are barriers to investment, like skills, recruitment of international talent, data, R&D, technology adoption, access to finance, competition, regulation, energy prices, grid connections, infrastructure, and planning – all through the lens of promoting investment.
What steps he is taking to secure a trade deal with the United States.
The UK-US trading relationship is already worth around £300 billion, supporting over a million jobs and representing 17% of total UK trade. This government's priority is economic growth and increasing trade with international partners is a major part of that. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy and agreed to meet soon for further discussions.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States.
The UK-US trading relationship is already worth around £300 billion, supporting over a million jobs and representing 17% of total UK trade. This government's priority is economic growth and increasing trade with international partners is a major part of that. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy and agreed to meet soon for further discussions.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a strategic industry register to document key industries and companies of national significance.
The modern Industrial Strategy focuses on eight growth-driving sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defense, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services.For each, an ambitious sector plan will be designed in partnership with business, devolved governments, regions and other stakeholders, through bespoke arrangements tailored to each sector. The industrial strategy, alongside sector plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year spending review.
What discussions he has had with the United States State Department on trade.
The UK looks forward to working with President Trump and his administration to deepen our trading relationship with the US. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy, and agreed to meet soon for further discussions.The US Government has clear rules that preclude other governments from formally engaging with members of the US Cabinet before they are officially confirmed by the Senate. We are still waiting for both the Commerce Secretary and the US Trade Representative to be confirmed by the Senate.
What steps he is taking to support the long-term viability of pubs (a) in Bromsgrove constituency and (b) nationally.
Pubs, including those in Bromsgrove, are at the heart of our communities and vital for economic growth. That is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure bu...