Written questions by Anderson.

If she will take steps improve accessibility for high-growth SMEs to the research and development tax credit system.

The Government recognises the important role that R&D plays in driving innovation and economic growth as well as the benefits it can bring for society. The UK’s R&D tax reliefs have a key role to play in supporting R&D investment in a fiscally sustainable way.R&D intensive, lossmaking, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) qualify for an enhanced rate of relief (“ERIS”). This gives eligible companies a cash value of £27 for every £100 spent on R&D. The Government expects around 20,000 SMEs annually will benefit from this support, which is worth around £600 million per year. To give additional certainty and assure compliance HMRC offers an Advanced Assurance scheme to eligible SMEs (companies with a turnover of below £2 million and less than 50 employees) claiming R&D tax relief for the first time. To further support accessibility, HMRC publishes comprehensive guidance and has produced new “guidelines for compliance” explaining what is and is not R&D.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help encourage (a) women and (b) people from ethnic minorities to found start-up companies.

This government is working to advance equality of access to start-up opportunities irrespective of gender or race. Everyone who can and wants to set up a small business should have access to support to do so, whether through direct government support or through programmes delivered by mayors and other institutions. Ensuring this support can be accessed by all is key to the government’s mission to secure economic growth and boost productivity throughout the UK. All businesses can access support via, Help to Grow Management, Growth Hubs, and the British Business Bank.The government’s Start Up Loans programme provides finance and mentoring support to founders, with 40% of loans going to women and 21% to people from ethnic minorities.The government-backed and industry-led Invest in Women Taskforce is working to make entrepreneurship more accessible to women, so that 30% of all businesses are female-powered by 2030.

If she will negotiate a new financial services memorandum of understanding with the EU that includes measures on green finance.

Green finance measures are covered by the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for financial services regulatory cooperation between the EU and the UK. The MoU is published online:UK-EU Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Services Cooperation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Joint Statements following meetings of the Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum, established by the MoU, are published online:Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)