Written questions by Dewhirst.

Whether (a) his department and (b) ACAS have issued on whether an employee can be summarily dismissed for gross misconduct if they lie or deceive when applying for the job.

There is government guidance on GOV.UK on summary dismissal for reasons relating to gross misconduct. Acas has issued both a statutory Code of Practice and non-statutory guidance covering gross misconduct. These do not specifically mention dismissal for lying or deception during the recruitment process. Misconduct involving dishonesty may meet the threshold for gross misconduct if it fundamentally undermines trust and confidence.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on productivity; and what information his Department holds on the OBR having made such an assessment.

The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. It cites academic evidence linking stronger employment protections to improved productivity and highlights that better job security, wellbeing, and reduced undercutting of good employers may lead to a more productive workforce.The OBR have not yet made an assessment of the Act as policy development is still ongoing. The OBR has stated that it plans to include the Act in its forecasts once details are sufficiently confirmed, and we will support them in preparing for any forecast in future.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, to Question 107050, on Stamp Advisory Committee, on what dates those five meetings of the Committee took place.

The five meetings of the Stamp Advisory Committee which were attended by an official from the Department for Business and Trade took place, respectively, on 21 November 2024; 23 January 2025; 10 July 2025; 11 September 2025; and 20 November 2025.Additionally, an official from the Department attended a Committee meeting on 22 January 2026.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2025, to Question HL12107, on Trade Agreements: Maldives, if he will list every country currently within the Free Trade Agreement programme, where HM Government is looking to negotiate new or updated free trade agreements.

Negotiations with the Republic of Korea on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have concluded and both sides are preparing for signature later this year. FTA negotiations continue with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Switzerland, Turkey and Greenland. Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) also continue.In addition, the UK is engaged in Costa Rica and Uruguay's Accession Working Groups, as part of their accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

With reference to the transparency data entitled the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, UK Export Finance, Workforce Solutions, Alexander Mann Solutions, what was the purpose of the "Social Value - The number of Social Value network events delivered to the supply chain in the financial year" as a KPI, and what were the topics and nature of the specific network events that were delivered.

Government Departments are required to apply at least 10% weighting to Social Value in tender evaluations, in line with the Social Value Model. Additionally, procurement regulations require that for all contracts worth more than £5 million, departments report and publish four Key Performance Indicators, including at least one relating to Social Value.The Social Value events delivered for UK Export Finance by Alexander Mann Solutions aimed to educate participants in the delivery of Social Value commitments and Government requirements.The event delivered in that quarter covered 'Wellbeing in the Workplace'.

Pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2026, to Question 107051, on DBT: Social Media, if he will name any other specific social media influencers who have been commissioned by the department or its contractors to undertake paid advertising for the department for any other campaigns or programmes since July 2024, including their social media handles.

Apart from the 2025 National Minimum and Living Wage campaign, no other social media influencers have been commissioned by the Department or its contractors to undertake paid advertising for other campaigns or programmes since July 2024.Influencer marketing is regarded as a credible promotional channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way to reach audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. The Department will look to draw on influencer marketing in future campaigns where this helps achieve campaign objectives.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025, to Question 91946, on EU Files Forum, on what dates the EU Files Forum has met since July 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade hosted the first official-level EU Files Forum with key UK Business Representative Organisations on 5 June 2025. The Forum meets on a quarterly basis to facilitate a dialogue between government and the UK business community on evolving EU legislation.Since June, the Forum has met on the following dates:• 10 September 2025• 4 December 2025• 5 March 2026

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 98107 on Department for Business and Trade: Public Appointments, whether any of those direct ministerial appointees have made a declaration of political activity.

Of the 30 direct ministerial appointees, 6 have declared political activity.Due diligence is conducted and individuals are required to complete a formal declaration of interests, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. These appointees deliver vital expertise to government and there is no bar to political activity for these roles.

What the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in his Department.

Direct ministerial appointments are published on GOV.UK in line with Cabinet Office best practice.Current direct ministerial appointments in the department are:Name(s) and Job TitleAnnual RemunerationTime Commitment Expected End DatePress Release LinkJon Bolton, Steel Council, Co-Chair£850 per day47 days per annum31 December 2025 (TBC)Link (2025 appointment)Nita Clarke Non-Executive Board Member£15,00020 days per annum10 December 2027Link (2024 appointment)Professor Chris Dungey Advanced Manufacturing AI Champion UnremuneratedNo specific time commitment1 December 2026Link (2025 appointment)Doug Gurr Interim Chair, Competition and Markets Authority£106,666Up to 2 days per week21 July 2026LinkRichard Judge Independent Regulatory Reviewer£500 per day1 day per week20 October 2026Link (2025 appointment)Nigel Railton Interim Chair, Post OfficeUp to £150,0002 days per week25 May 2028Link (2025 appointment)Shaheen Sayed Professional Businesses Services AI ChampionUnremunerated50 hours over 1 year appointment25 November 2026PBS announcement and DSIT AI champions linkSamantha Seaton Smart Data Council Co-ChairUnremunerated20 days per annum17 October 2027Link (2025 appointment)Professor Sir Steve Smith International Education Champion UnremuneratedNo specific time commitment30 September 2026Link (original 2020 appointment) Link (2024 reappointment)Omar Ali, Mike Hawes OBE, Dame Vivian Hunt DBE, Allison Kirkby, Paul Lindley OBE, Catherine McGuinness CBE, Michelle Ovens CBE, Mike Soutar, Sarah Walker, Charles Woodburn CBE Board of Trade Advisers UnremuneratedMeets quarterly. Occasional ad-hoc commitments13 March 2026Link (2025 appointment)Dame Clare Barclay (Chair), Kate Bell, Rt Hon Greg Clark, Professor Dame Diane Coyle, Greg Jackson, Tunde Olanrewaju, Henry G Overman, Henrik L Pedersen, Dr Aislinn Rice, Roy Rickhuss, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell (Deputy Chair) Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, Members£800 per dayUp to 2-3 days per month13 April 2026 (Chair) 17 June 2026 (Members)Link (2025 appointment) Appointees are listed alphabetically by surname.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64058 on DBT: Directors, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments was informed of her political background when his Department made the request.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments was consulted prior to Nita Clarke's appointment without open competition as a DBT Non-Executive Board Member, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. As required under the Code, Nita Clarke declared her political activity for the Labour Party during the appointments process.

Whether the Certification Officer has received the BDO auditor's report on the Unite trade union's hotel and conference centre development.

The Certification Officer has received the BDO auditor's report and is currently reviewing this.

Whether applicants for company directorships on the Companies House register can nominate Palestinian as their nationality.

‘Palestinian’ is included in the list of nationalities permitted for the purposes of company filings. The full list of nationalities and geographical names is available at the link below: Nationalities and countries for company filings - GOV.UK

With reference to the written statement of 13 March 2025, HCWS517, on Board of Trade, when the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of all matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations last met.

The Board of Trade last met on the 21st May 2025.

Whether any representatives of the Government sit as observers or members on Royal Mail’s Stamp Advisory Committee; and whether proposals for new stamps are reviewed by the Government before they are presented for approval by the Sovereign.

A representative of the government from the Department of Business and Trade sits as a member on Royal Mail’s Stamp Advisory Committee.Decisions on Royal Mail’s annual stamp programmes are the direct responsibility of the company. Stamp designs are thoroughly reviewed by the Stamp Advisory Committee, who endorse their presentation for approval by the Sovereign.

Whether he is taking steps to accelerate the removal of retained EU law; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's exit from the EU increases international competitiveness.

The Government’s approach to assimilated law reform (formerly ‘retained EU law’) is to deliver reforms that serve the national interest and support economic growth and wider Government priorities. Unlike the previous Government we will not set arbitrary targets for revoking assimilated law for the sake of it.This Government is seizing the flexibility of Brexit, making the best choices for business and citizens from its position outside the EU as evidenced through significant deals with the US and India and our new partnership with the EU.

What steps he is taking to remove barriers to trade for UK seafood exporters.

The Government has secured a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the EU that will remove red tape for UK seafood exporters and businesses. This will make it easier to sell British fish to our largest trading partner, which will in turn drive growth.UK businesses, including those in the seafood industry, can access DBT’s wealth of export support via business.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.In addition, we will shortly be publishing our Trade Strategy which will set out our plans to explore opportunities for further lowering barriers to trade.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Business and Trade of 31 October 2024, Official Report, column 927, what his Department's timetable is for publishing a Command Paper on support for small businesses.

The Government expects to publish the SME strategy later this year.This will set out the Government’s vision for SMEs, from encouraging entrepreneurship to boosting scale-ups, across key policy areas such as creating thriving high streets, making it easier to access finance, opening up overseas and domestic markets, building business capabilities, and providing a strong business environment.The paper will complement the Government’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy.

Whether the Small Business Strategy will consider the cost of full electrification of commercial properties for SMEs.

We will launch the Small Business Strategy later this year complementing the Government’s forthcoming Industrial and Trade Strategies as part of our economic growth mission.The strategy will help drive small business growth and productivity, for example – from boosting scale-ups to supporting budding entrepreneurs. It will cover a number of key policy areas, including creating thriving high streets, making it easier to access finance, opening up overseas markets, building business capabilities and supporting entrepreneurship. Although the full electrification of commercial properties is not a policy proposal we expect to be covered in the Small Business Strategy, we remain committed to a Net Zero economy by 2050.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on businesses’ reliance on gas for profitable commercial operations.

The Secretary of State works closely with all of Cabinet, discussing a wide range of issues. He is committed to this Government's growth mission and ensuring the UK is a place where businesses can thrive.

What discussions his Department has had with (a) fish and chip and (b) other commercial food providers on pressures faced by SMEs due to (i) taxation, (ii) the price of fish and (iii) the expense of full electrification.

Fish and chip shops are integral to our high streets, communities and culture. Commercial food providers more broadly play a key role in supporting economic growth in every corner of the UK. I recognise that these businesses are being challenged by rising costs, but we are protecting the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance and creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street. The Government remains committed to supporting electrification and addressing the barriers to investment in electric technology. This includes further development of policy options to address the high cost of electricity relative to natural gas, and the implementation of planning reforms to speed up infrastructure development and unblock issues on grid connection delays.