Every parliamentary written question tabled by Gregory Campbell this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 50 · Department for Business and Trade
Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the creation of fake operatives posing as remote workers by North Korea.
The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Home Secretary on this issue.
What assessment he has made of the level of dependence of the hospitality industry on younger employees and those paid the National Living Wage.
Hospitality employs many young people - with ONS statistics reporting that around 42% of all hospitality workers are between the ages of 16-24 (2023). That is why, from April 2026, foundation apprenticeships will expand into hospitality, with up to £2,000 available for non‑levy‑paying SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16–24. The Low Pay Commission reports that 24.6% of hospitality jobs in 2025 were paid at or close to the statutory minimum. This reflects combined statutory minimum‑wage exposure and does not provide NLW‑only estimates. From 1 April 2026, the NLW will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 for eligible workers aged 21 and over.
When he plans to respond to the written correspondence from the hon. Member for East Londonderry dated 6 February 2026 on a Music Export Growth Scheme Application.
The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days, but in some instances it can take longer. The Department apologises for the delay and confirms that the response has now been issued.
Pursuant to Questions 112100 and 115340, what was the breakdown in each of the years specified in Northern Ireland.
None in 2024 and 4 in 2025.
Whether he plans to announce an outcome of the consultation on the provision of statutory paid leave and job protection for parents of critically ill children by the summer recess.
As set out in the terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers, the government plans to consult this year. The consultation response will be published during the final phase of the review. This will be between autumn 2026 and winter 2026/27.
Pursuant to Question 112100 answered on 23 February 2026, if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers approved in both (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade approved 67 grant awards for the Music Export Growth Scheme in 2024 and 59 grant awards in 2025.
How many applications were approved under the Music Export Growth Scheme from Northern Ireland in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Four.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the responses by private sector businesses to the first 12 months since the publication of the General Product Safety Regulations in December 2024.
In light of the feedback from businesses on the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the Department has reviewed and updated guidance for businesses and supported businesses through extensive engagement, our Business Growth Service and the Export Support Directory. The Government announced a £16.6 million package to help boost trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, including a ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service for businesses. We also intend to consult early this year on major reforms to the UK product safety framework. Our proposals will take account of feedback received from businesses on GPSR in Northern Ireland.
If he will take steps with Invest NI and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the trade deal between the UK and South Korea impacts all areas of the United Kingdom.
The FTA between the UK and the Republic of Korea will apply to all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. DBT have worked closely with the Devolved Governments throughout the negotiations. Digitised trade provisions and new rules of origin will benefit Northern Ireland by supporting easier export of products such as pharmaceuticals, a key export from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Korea. DBT’s Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team will help businesses understand and benefit from the new UK-Republic of Korea FTA, working in partnership with businesses and their representatives from across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland.
Pursuant to WPQ 3948 Dated 9/9/2024, which areas in the nations and regions of the UK were events held to ensure that businesses become more aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Since September 2023 the Department for Business and Trade has attended or coordinated over 70 events (online or in-person) to ensure that UK businesses are aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In person events have so far taken place in areas across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and online events have been targeted at UK businesses based throughout the UK.
What steps her Department is taking to help support and promote biotechnology in Northern Ireland through the Industrial Strategy.
Life sciences, which includes biotechnology, is one of the priority sectors under the Government’s Industrial Strategy. This summer the Government published the UK Life Sciences Sector Plan, setting out a bold ambition to make the UK the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030. The Plan supports growth across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, recognising its particular strengths in precision medicine, diagnostics, advanced manufacturing and clinical research. The Office for Life Sciences is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to align priorities, attract investment, and deliver growth in Northern Ireland’s life sciences sector.
What steps he is taking to help reduce economic dependence on the South East of England.
Under the UK’s Industrial Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade is driving regional growth by supporting priority sectors and attracting investment. This includes working with partners to deliver Industrial Strategy Zones, which provide tax incentives and funding to stimulate investment in city regions such as the advanced materials manufacturing in Greater Manchester, defence in Plymouth, clean energy in Inverness and the Highlands, compound semiconductors in South Wales and advanced manufacturing, photonics, and biotechnology in Northern Ireland.The Business Growth Service offers SMEs a streamlined, UK-wide platform to access funding, expert advice, and export opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and connecting firms with local and national support through business.gov.uk.
What information his Department holds on the number of haulier businesses that have declared insolvency in each year between 2021 and 2024.
Estimated numbers of companies with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 49200 (Freight rail transport) and 49410 (Freight transport by road) that entered insolvency in the UK in each calendar year between 2021 and 2024 are presented in the table below.Calendar Year49200 – Freight rail transport49410 – Freight transport by roadTotal20210265265202204114112023050350320243471474
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67823 on Overseas Trade: Germany, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the lighthouse projects agreed with Germany on economic growth in the UK in the next 12 months.
The Kensington Treaty signed between the UK and Germany commits the parties to mutually supporting economic growth, job creation, digital transition and innovation, working with our businesses and mobilising investment to grow our economies. As part of implementation, DBT is leading on the planned UK-Germany Business-Government Forum, which will draw on business insights to identify growth-driving opportunities. DBT is also supporting projects led by other Departments. A Strategic Science and Technology Partnership will create a framework to support the development of cutting-edge critical technology in areas including quantum, AI, space and clean energy. We will also work towards expanding North Sea Energy cooperation and developing infrastructure to generate greener, cheaper, more secure energy. Finally, we will move towards strengthening collaboration between UK and German public financial institutions to contribute to boosting investment in growth-driving sectors.
What estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that have been created in the small business sector in Northern Ireland in the period since the inception of the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland.
The £70million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland has been open for applications since November 2023. From inception to May 2025, a total of £18million has been lent or invested in 35 businesses in Northern Ireland; this investment has also led to the crowding in of an additional £12million in private sector funding.It is not possible at this early stage to estimate the number of jobs that have been created as a result. The benefits generated by the fund for the Northern Ireland economy, including additional Gross Value Added and jobs created, will be assessed by independent evaluations of the fund, likely to take place in 2026 at the earliest.
What steps he plans to take to help encourage private sector investment in Northern Ireland.
The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy sets out our key policies to drive growth and investment in every region across the UK. In addition to a range of sector initiatives, Northern Ireland will receive £30 million through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund to drive transformative innovation in the Belfast and Derry/Londonderry corridor. We will also continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to establish the Enhanced Investment Zone. The Regional Investment Summit, taking place in October 2025 will showcase our regional economies and drive investment across the entirety of the UK.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Bundesbank's report entitled What’s behind the sustained decline in German export market shares?, published on 14 July 2025.
Germany is the UK’s second-largest trading partner globally. We recognise the importance of resolving trade frictions between the UK and Germany where they occur. Our new UK-Germany Treaty, signed on 17 July, has economic growth and industrial collaboration at its heart. This will help drive trade between the UK and Germany through both a series of ‘Lighthouse projects’ and a broader implementation plan. For example, a new Business-Government Forum will connect the UK and German governments with leading businesses to identify opportunities and barriers to growth, with a focus on growth-driving sectors including advanced manufacturing, life sciences and financial services.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61117 on Business: Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is for allocating the remaining funding to businesses in Northern Ireland.
The £70 million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland launched in November 2023. The Fund has an investment period of five years, so the approximately £52 million remaining should be fully invested by November 2028.
With reference to his Department's publication entitled The UK’s modern industrial strategy, published on 23 June 2025, whether the strategy will provide additional funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods.
The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential. Through the Industrial Strategy we are targeting investment towards our eight-growth driving sectors, creating new opportunities so British workers can upskill and fill vacancies and supporting businesses to scale up. The industrial Strategy identifies and accelerates the highest-potential opportunities in these sectors, tackling investment barriers and unleashing the potential of clusters across the country.The £1.5bn Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, laying the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards. The Industrial Strategy does not provide direct funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods but complements it with a package of measures to boost regional growth.
If he will have discussions with representatives of the PXN Group on supporting private sector venture funding opportunities in Northern Ireland.
Ministers have regular discussions with private sector partners who can help deliver the Government's priority of economic growth across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Private sector venture funding opportunities would not normally form part of such discussions as they are commercially sensitive and an investor's ability to identify such opportunities is part of their competitive advantage. Any investment partnerships with government are based on fair and open procurement by the British Business Bank, undertaken independently of ministers.