Written questions by Anderson.

What mechanisms exist for monitoring mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement contains provisions which allow the UK and EU to agree recognition of professional qualifications arrangements for specific sectors where this is jointly proposed by UK and EU regulators. The annual Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade oversees the implementation of these provisions. In the recent UK-EU Common Understanding, the UK and EU committed to setting up dedicated dialogues on the implementation of the recognition of professional qualifications provisions within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These dialogues will provide a dedicated space for deeper UK-EU collaboration on the recognition of professional qualifications.

What estimate he has made of the number jobs which will be created by US investment pledges made during President Trump's state visit in September 2025.

The commitments made as part of the state visit are expected to create over 15,000 jobs here in the United Kingdom (based on 7,600 jobs announced 17 September 2025 plus 8,250 jobs announced 16 September 2025).

What trade barriers his Department has identified in the Chinese market in (a) healthcare, (b) automotive and (c) professional services sectors.

We have identified the following challenges: in healthcare, complex regulatory approval processes for medicines and medical devices; in automotive, certification requirements, consumption taxes and tariffs; and in professional services firms face restrictions on business operations, onerous licencing, data localisation requirements, and limited recognition of qualifications. We regularly raise market access issues with Chinese authorities through diplomatic channels and ministerial engagements, including during the Secretary of State's recent visit to China.

If his Department will take steps to review international evidence of the impact of pay transparency laws on recruitment and retention.

While there is no immediate plan to introduce statutory pay transparency requirements for employers, we are currently considering responses to a Call for Evidence on equality law which included questions on this theme. We recognise that reforms introduced in other jurisdictions are prompting constructive debate around how best to include transparency in recruitment and pay systems. We are considering the full range of evidence and remain committed to identifying solutions that balance meaningful progress with the need to minimise unnecessary burdens on employers.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing statutory pay transparency requirements for employers.

While there is no immediate plan to introduce statutory pay transparency requirements for employers, we are currently considering responses to a Call for Evidence on equality law which included questions on this theme. We recognise that reforms introduced in other jurisdictions are prompting constructive debate around how best to include transparency in recruitment and pay systems. We are considering the full range of evidence and remain committed to identifying solutions that balance meaningful progress with the need to minimise unnecessary burdens on employers.

What criteria his Department plans to use to identify regulatory reporting requirements suitable for (a) simplification and (b) removal.

The Department for Business and Trade is undertaking a review to simplify and streamline the UK’s non-financial reporting framework. When considering what reporting can be simplified and removed whether the disclosure leads to decision-useful information for investors and other stakeholders will be key. It will also be important that the reformed framework places a proportionate burden on business. We will consult on reforms in due course.

With reference to the document entitled Backing your business, published on 31 July 2025, what steps his Department plans to take to support SMEs to access skills funding in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Government is supporting SMEs across the country, including in Buckingham and Bletchley, by investing £1.2 billion annually in skills by 2028-29 as set out in the Spring Budget. Through Skills England and the new Growth and Skills levy, we are making it easier for SMEs to access training, tackle barriers to engagement, and benefit from employer incentives. Our reforms to apprenticeships and technical qualifications, including foundation apprenticeships and employer incentive payments, will further support SMEs to recruit, train, and develop the skilled workforce they need.

What steps his Department is taking to support small businesses in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency with increased energy costs.

The Government is committed to engaging with and supporting small businesses across the UK through the transition to net zero. DBT has recently announced the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which will reduce electricity costs for over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses and reform the grid connections process. DESNZ will publish its response later this year to the September 2024 consultation on introducing a regulatory regime for the third-party intermediary (TPI) market. TPIs, such as energy brokers, play a prominent role in how SMEs secure contracts for the energy usage.

What methodology his Department plans to use to quantify the (a) time and (b) cost savings to SMEs from regulatory reform.

The government has committed to cut the administrative costs of regulation to business by 25% by the end of this Parliament. By focusing on reducing administrative costs, we will ensure that regulations achieve their policy objectives in the most efficient way possible with the lowest possible costs to business. My department is working across government to support delivery of this target and make businesses’ lives easier, including SMEs who represent the majority of businesses and are foundational to our economy.

How many regulations affecting SMEs are under review as part of the SME Regulation Review.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced that government will cut administrative costs of regulation to all business, including SMEs, by 25% by the end of this Parliament. We are working across government to deliver this target to make it easier to do business in the UK. The target focuses on reducing the overall burden of regulation rather than the number of regulations. Whilst there is no SME-specific target, we will be considering where regulation has a disproportionate impact upon SMEs and should be removed, supporting the aims of the plan for Small and Medium sized Businesses.

What plans the Department has to publish impact assessments of regulatory changes affecting small businesses.

Impact assessments are generally required for all the Government’s interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector and-or civil society organisation or public services. The Better Regulation Framework requires regulatory provisions with impacts on business of greater than +/-£10 million to be accompanied by a final impact assessment which is laid before Parliament alongside the regulations. These assessments consider the impact on small businesses, explore whether such businesses need to be in scope and identify mitigations for the additional burden.

With reference to p.53 of the document entitled Backing your business, published on 31 July 2025, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the level of SME participation in public procurement.

The Department for Business and Trade monitors the level of SME participation in our procurement through contract award data via a live commercial dashboard which captures supplier type and specifically whether a supplier qualifies as an SME. DBT will publish SME spend data annually (in line with Procurement Policy Note 001). Strategies for high value spend are scrutinised by the department's Commercial Approvals and Assurance Group which challenges teams on whether proposed contracts are sufficiently accessible for SMEs. The commercial team will present bi-annual progress updates against the department's SME spend target to the Minister for Small Businesses.

How many small businesses received Government-backed (a) start-up and (b) improvement grants in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency in the last three years.

The Government has published its Small Business Plan (Backing your Business) in July 2025. We are delivering the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation. We have also committed to funding for the 41 Growth Hubs across England which help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs to unlock their potential through bespoke support and resources. Buckingham and Bletchley is served by Buckinghamshire Business First and the South Midlands Growth Hubs who issue business support grants to SMEs in their area. The Department for Business and Trade does not hold statistics that cover the full range of Govt-funded business support at constituency level.

How many businesses with fewer than 50 employees have accessed government-funded business support grants in the past 12 months in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Government has published its Small Business Plan (Backing your Business) in July 2025. We are delivering the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation. We have also committed to funding for the 41 Growth Hubs across England which help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs to unlock their potential through bespoke support and resources. Buckingham and Bletchley is served by Buckinghamshire Business First and the South Midlands Growth Hubs who issue business support grants to SMEs in their area. The Department for Business and Trade does not hold statistics that cover the full range of Govt-funded business support at constituency level.

What modelling his Department has undertaken on the anticipated economic impact of expanding SME access to growth capital.

The economic impacts of increased access to capital are modelled by the British Business Bank drawing on independent evaluation evidence. The Bank models impact on job creation and economic output in the form of incremental gross value added (GVA).Over its first decade to 2023/24, the Bank has supported more than 200,000 businesses with an estimated boost to UK economic output of approximately £43 billion over the lifetime of their finance.The 24,000 businesses newly funded by the Bank in 2024/25 are expected to increase UK economic output by a further £8 billion and create 38,000 jobs over the lifetime of their finance.

What plans are in place to monitor the geographic distribution of SME lending facilitated by British Business Bank schemes.

Where possible, finance facilitated by the British Business Bank is mapped to a postcode level. Much of this data is published: for instance, the number and value of Start Up Loans data is published on the BBB website every quarter. Geographic data is also used in the evaluations of BBB programmes and on reporting on the BBB’s overall KPI of deployment of finance outside of London.In addition to publishing data on its own programmes, the BBB also publishes reports which highlight geographic patterns observed in UK small business finance. For example, the BBB's annual Small Business Finance Markets report and the annual Nations and Regions Tracker which is next due to be published in October 2025.

What mechanisms his Department uses to evaluate the effectiveness of export support services for SMEs.

DBT offers a range of support for SME’s, with the recent Small Business Plan unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest and revitalising the High Street as a place to do business. The new online Business Growth Service will deliver support for Digital Adoption and AI to unlock business potential. And our Trade Strategy offers a more targeted approach to export support, including the launch of the Ricardo Fund to help UK regulators remove regulatory barriers for businesses trading abroad.DBT has a robust monitoring and evaluation framework in place for export support and the Trade Strategy. The data will be published in DBT's Annual Report.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential long-term tariff revenue impact of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

The Department has not undertaken a quantitative assessment of the future long-term tariff revenue impact of the DCTS. Before launching the DCTS, the Department estimated based on historical trade patterns, annual tariff savings of up to £770 million to UK imports, benefitting UK businesses and consumers.  The Scheme's primary objective is to support trade-led growth and poverty reduction in developing countries. Any long-term impact on UK tariff revenue is expected to be modest and proportionate to the development benefits it delivers.

What mechanisms are in place to monitor delivery partners' performance in disbursing Drive35 programme funding.

DRIVE35 is delivered through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK, part of UKRI. DRIVE35 programme funding dispersed by the programme’s delivery partners is monitored in line with Cabinet Office Grant Functional Standards to ensure compliance with grant conditions and alignment with delivery requirements and the programme’s objectives. This includes undertaking effective assurance of the delivery activities undertaken by delivery partners.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Industrial strategy partnership: joint statement between the UK and France, published on 11 July 2025, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of bilateral investment projects.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) tracks UK investment in various ways, including through its global network and central platform, DataHub, which monitors all Office for Investment (OfI) projects. This includes investments announced on 11 July during the UK-France Summit and the UK-France Industrial Strategy Partnership.