Written questions by Anderson.

Whether his Department has identified sector-specific barriers to UK investment in the Republic of Korea since conclusion of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Throughout this negotiation we have sought to address current and future barriers, impacting both goods and services trade. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor trade and investment flows to assess the impact of the new agreement. This will include seeking to identify any new and emerging sector-specific barriers affecting UK investment in the Republic of Korea.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on UK institutional investment in Korean capital markets.

The upgrade agreement includes a range of commitments aimed at driving growth in services trade and investment. We assess that these will add £400m to existing services exports in the long-term. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and financial regulators on implementation of the financial services chapter of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Engagement between the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has focused on key aims for the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. HM Treasury officials, who negotiated financial services provisions, have engaged regularly with UK financial regulators throughout. The Department for Business and Trade will lead on implementing the agreement, with input from HMT officials on financial services provisions. The Financial Services chapter contains consultation provisions which provide a formal mechanism for the UK Government – including, where appropriate, representatives from its financial regulators - to discuss implementation of these commitments with the Republic of Korea.

What formal mechanisms exist for engagement with financial services firms on the operation of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Both DBT and HM Treasury conduct routine engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies. HMT’s Working Group discusses the negotiation and operation of UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. DBT conducts engagement with Financial Services firms and representative bodies as part of its broader services engagement programme. This includes bilateral conversations and fora to collate interests in UK trade agreements, including the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, and assess business sentiment regarding their negotiation.

What steps he is taking to monitor use of investment dispute resolution mechanisms under the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

The investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, including a modernised and transparent ISDS mechanism, will protect investors in both markets, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. This enhances the certainty investors need to make investments, which is crucial for economic growth. We have concluded negotiations but have yet to reach signature, let alone ratification. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses.

What steps he plans to take to assess the effectiveness of the investment and financial services provisions of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.

We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Republic of Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses, in line with standard practice.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the investment provisions of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on UK outward investment to the Republic of Korea.

The updated investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA will protect investors, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in the Republic of Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. We believe the commitments will help provide certainty, incentivising investment and driving economic growth. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of African countries with strategic economic development priorities that align with the UK’s Africa Approach.

The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to align the Africa Approach with multilateral development banks’ capitalisation cycles.

The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to co-ordinate the Africa Approach with the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the UK (i) public and (ii) private finance commitments for renewable energy projects in Africa since launch of the Africa Approach.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) setting out the Government's new Approach to Africa.The statement recognised that despite its abundant natural resources, Africa has the lowest levels of modern energy access, and the UK is working with the World Bank and African Development Bank to address that issue. We will provide further updates on implementation of initiatives arising from that work.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to monitor implementation of the Africa Approach across Government departments.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) setting out the Government's new Approach to Africa.The statement recognised that despite its abundant natural resources, Africa has the lowest levels of modern energy access, and the UK is working with the World Bank and African Development Bank to address that issue. We will provide further updates on implementation of initiatives arising from that work.

What support his Department provides to public health teams operating in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to increase men’s engagement with preventative health services.

On 19 November, to coincide with International Men’s Health Day, we published the first ever Men’s Health Strategy for England which aims to improve the health of all men and boys in England, including those in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.We recognise that many of the issues affecting men cannot be solved by the Government alone. The strategy sets out how other sectors, such as the National Health Service, local government, employers, charities, research funders and communities, can contribute to shared outcomes and highlights that improving men’s health will depend on how national priorities are translated into local delivery.The Department support Upper Tier Local Authorities, including Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, with the Public Health Grant. This is ringfenced funding given to local government to improve the health of their local populations and to reduce inequalities. We recently announced details of a three-year funding settlement for local government, including the Public Health Grant.

What guidance his Department issues to GP practices in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency on early detection of prostate cancer.

We are committed to ensuring that general practitioners (GPs) have the right training and systems to identify cancer symptoms. Use of specific clinical decision support tools are agreed at a local level. This will benefit cancer patients across England, including in Buckingham and Bletchley. GPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.The Department is taking cancer detection seriously, including in GPs. The Government has recently launched Jess’s Rule, a patient safety initiative that introduces clinical guidance to support clinicians in taking a “fresh eyes” approach in GPs. It asks GPs to think again if, after three appointments, they have been unable to diagnose a patient, or their symptoms have escalated. This will benefit all cancer patients, including prostate cancer patients.

What steps he is taking to increase (a) skills and (b) employment support for people in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency who are in receipt of sickness benefits.

The Get Britain Working White Paper, published in autumn 2024, and Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in spring 2025, set out the Government’s plan on skills and employment support, including for those in receipt of sickness benefits. Our Pathways to Work Guarantee offer of personalised employment, health and skills support for all disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits is backed by £1 billion a year of new funding by the end of the decade. Once fully rolled out, we anticipate this will include a support conversation to identify next steps, one-to-one caseworker support, periodic engagement and an offer of specialist long-term work health and skills support. In addition, Connect to Work is being made available across all of England and Wales. This is a voluntary, locally commissioned, Supported Employment programme for individuals that are disabled, have a health condition or experiencing non-health related barriers to work to find and sustain employment. There is no benefit-related requirement for this programme. DWP has agreed up to £7.2m in funding to Buckinghamshire County Council to deliver Connect to Work support across Buckinghamshire to around 1650 people by the end of the decade. We understand that Buckinghamshire County Council expect to open their service to participants at the start of April 2026. Through the Adult Skills Fund in the 2025/26 academic year, we are spending £1.4 billion for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. In Buckingham and Bletchley, the Adult Skills Fund fully funds learners who are unemployed or earn less than £25,750 (annual gross salary).

What steps he has taken to support young people in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes into employment, education or training.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:Support to find a job: For young people on Universal Credit who are looking for work, we are introducing a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach. This new support will identify specific work, training, or learning opportunities locally for each young person and ensure they are supported to take those up. This support could be delivered at a Youth Hub.Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain. Youth Hubs will bring together partners from health, skills and the voluntary sector, working closely with Mayors and local authorities to deliver joined-up community-based support.c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training: For young people on Universal Credit who are looking for work, we will create up to 150,000 additional work experience placements and up to 145,000 additional bespoke training opportunities designed in partnership with employers – Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). At the end of each SWAP, employers offer a guaranteed job interview to participants.Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment. This will reach around 55,000 young people over the next three years. We know young people need support quickly and that is why we will begin delivery of the Jobs Guarantee in six areas from spring 2026 in: Birmingham & Solihull, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire & Essex, Central & East Scotland, Southwest & Southeast Wales. We will deliver over 1,000 job starts in the first six months. This will be followed by national roll-out of the Jobs Guarantee across Great Britain.Prevention: We are also making it easier to identify young people who need support, by investing in better data sharing for those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), further education attendance monitoring, and new risk of NEET data tools giving local areas more accurate insights to target support where it's needed most. We are also investing in work experience opportunities for young people at particular risk of becoming NEET, focused on pupils in state-funded Alternative Provision settings, (education provided outside mainstream or special schools for children who cannot attend a regular school, often due to exclusion, health needs, or other circumstances). This builds on measures announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper earlier this autumn. The Growth and Skills Levy’s £725 million investment will deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities. Young people will benefit from:increased access to training with full cost of apprenticeships at SME’s covered by Government.A new wave of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as retail and hospitality sectors to get young people into work.Thousands more apprenticeship starts through a £140 million partnership with local leaders. 50,000 young people across the country will be better equipped for jobs of the future through a major investment to create more apprenticeships and training courses. As this programme is across Great Britian, my hon. Friend will be assured that it will have an effect on his constituency.

What steps is the Department taking to ensure providers of NHS services in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency have the resources to implement the men’s health strategy.

On 19 November 2025, to coincide with International Men’s Health Day, we published the first ever Men’s Health Strategy for England. This aims to improve the health of all men and boys in England, including those in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.The strategy includes investment in community-based men's health programmes and suicide prevention programmes, and a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to make sure people know what mental health support is available to them. It also includes comprehensive action on major health challenges including suicide, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.This strategy is a crucial first step, laying the foundation from which we can learn, iterate, and grow. We will work with the Men's Health Academic Network and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to develop and publish a one-year-on report, highlighting the improvements made and where future efforts will need to be targeted.The strategy is not just a plan, it is a call to action to create a society where men and boys are supported to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. We recognise that many of the issues affecting men cannot be solved by the Government alone. The strategy also highlights how everyone can help by setting out how other sectors, such as the National Health Service, local government, employers, charities, research funders, and communities, can contribute to shared outcomes.We do not hold data on how much funding has been allocated specifically to men’s mental health initiatives in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. This information may be held locally.

What funding has been allocated to initiatives targeting male mental health in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

On 19 November 2025, to coincide with International Men’s Health Day, we published the first ever Men’s Health Strategy for England. This aims to improve the health of all men and boys in England, including those in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.The strategy includes investment in community-based men's health programmes and suicide prevention programmes, and a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to make sure people know what mental health support is available to them. It also includes comprehensive action on major health challenges including suicide, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.This strategy is a crucial first step, laying the foundation from which we can learn, iterate, and grow. We will work with the Men's Health Academic Network and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to develop and publish a one-year-on report, highlighting the improvements made and where future efforts will need to be targeted.The strategy is not just a plan, it is a call to action to create a society where men and boys are supported to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. We recognise that many of the issues affecting men cannot be solved by the Government alone. The strategy also highlights how everyone can help by setting out how other sectors, such as the National Health Service, local government, employers, charities, research funders, and communities, can contribute to shared outcomes.We do not hold data on how much funding has been allocated specifically to men’s mental health initiatives in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. This information may be held locally.

What metrics will the Department use to measure improvements in men’s health outcomes in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency over the next five years.

On 19 November 2025, to coincide with International Men’s Health Day, we published the first ever Men’s Health Strategy for England. This aims to improve the health of all men and boys in England, including those in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.The strategy includes investment in community-based men's health programmes and suicide prevention programmes, and a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to make sure people know what mental health support is available to them. It also includes comprehensive action on major health challenges including suicide, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.This strategy is a crucial first step, laying the foundation from which we can learn, iterate, and grow. We will work with the Men's Health Academic Network and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to develop and publish a one-year-on report, highlighting the improvements made and where future efforts will need to be targeted.The strategy is not just a plan, it is a call to action to create a society where men and boys are supported to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. We recognise that many of the issues affecting men cannot be solved by the Government alone. The strategy also highlights how everyone can help by setting out how other sectors, such as the National Health Service, local government, employers, charities, research funders, and communities, can contribute to shared outcomes.We do not hold data on how much funding has been allocated specifically to men’s mental health initiatives in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. This information may be held locally.

Whether he has issued guidance on the processes for identifying firms in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency eligible for scale-up support.

As announced in the Industrial Strategy and Plan for SMEs, DBT is developing a new scale-up offer to help firms with high growth potential start, scale and stay in the UK. I am aware of the work my Honourable Friend is doing to drive investment into Bletchley and the businesses in his constituency through the Bletchley Investment Taskforce. I hope working together, in partnership with the Buckinghamshire Business First and South Midlands Growth Hubs, we can do more to support economically important scale-ups in his constituency and across the UK.