Written questions by Baldwin.

What steps he is taking to help protect (a) jobs and (b) supply chains which are dependent on British Steel.

Steel is a priority for this Government. As shown with the passing of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act on 12 April, this Government will not hesitate to take unprecedented steps to safeguard the future of steelmaking in the UK, protecting jobs, national security and supply chains.Since the legislation was passed on 12 April, we have acted round the clock to secure the raw materials needed to keep the blast furnaces operating safely at Scunthorpe. British Steel, the UK’s only manufacturer of rail, has secured a new £500 million long-term supply contract with Network Rail, and the statutory redundancy consultation initiated by British Steel’s owners, Jingye, has been cancelled, removing the immediate risk to 2,700 jobs.

What programmes in his Department were not (a) renewed and (b) cancelled as a result of the zero-based budget review.

DBT conducted a comprehensive zero-based review as part of SR25 to identify a range of savings and efficiencies, including agreeing bespoke technical efficiency targets and delivery plans for day-today budgets with the Office for Value or Money. Through this work, DBT has committed to meeting the 5% savings and efficiencies target.The department is now setting multi-year budgets, through which final decisions will be made on any activities which will be cancelled, or allowed to lapse.

What the value was of his Department's activities which (a) lapsed and (b)were cancelled as a result of the 2025 zero-based budget review.

DBT conducted a comprehensive zero-based review as part of SR25 to identify a range of savings and efficiencies, including agreeing bespoke technical efficiency targets and delivery plans for day-today budgets with the Office for Value or Money. Through this work, DBT has committed to meeting the 5% savings and efficiencies target.The department is now setting multi-year budgets, through which final decisions will be made on any activities which will be cancelled, or allowed to lapse.

What the conversion success rate for inward investment deals managed by the Office for Investment is since October 2024.

The Office for Investment (OfI) facilitates high-value, strategically important inward investment into the UK. As a dedicated concierge service, it provides a seamless journey for investors, unlocking high-impact opportunities and accelerating delivery of the government’s growth priorities.Recently expanded to enhance its capabilities, the OfI played a pivotal role in securing the £63 billion announced at the International Investment Summit in October 2024. Since then, it has helped attract billions more across key Industrial Strategy sectors, including from Universal, Vishay, Vantage, Knauf, Rheinmetall, and Lendlease.A full list of companies cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivities.

What the value was of inward investment deals for the Office of Investment in (a) October 2024 and (b) June 2025.

The Office for Investment (OfI) facilitates high-value, strategically important inward investment into the UK. As a dedicated concierge service, it provides a seamless journey for investors, unlocking high-impact opportunities and accelerating delivery of the government’s growth priorities.Recently expanded to enhance its capabilities, the OfI played a pivotal role in securing the £63 billion announced at the International Investment Summit in October 2024. Since then, it has helped attract billions more across key Industrial Strategy sectors, including from Universal, Vishay, Vantage, Knauf, Rheinmetall, and Lendlease.A full list of companies cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivities.

Which businesses have used the Office for Investment since October 2024.

The Office for Investment (OfI) facilitates high-value, strategically important inward investment into the UK. As a dedicated concierge service, it provides a seamless journey for investors, unlocking high-impact opportunities and accelerating delivery of the government’s growth priorities.Recently expanded to enhance its capabilities, the OfI played a pivotal role in securing the £63 billion announced at the International Investment Summit in October 2024. Since then, it has helped attract billions more across key Industrial Strategy sectors, including from Universal, Vishay, Vantage, Knauf, Rheinmetall, and Lendlease.A full list of companies cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivities.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-US trade deal on the energy sector.

On 16 June, we announced concrete progress towards the implementation of the UK-US trade deal as agreed on 8 May. We continue to work closely with the energy sector to understand the impacts of the UK-US trade deal.The government is committed to supporting the UK’s energy sector, including through our Industrial Strategy in which Clean Energy Industries is one of the eight growth sectors.

Whether his Department plans to issue embargoed copies of the industrial strategy.

The Industrial Strategy will be published shortly, and the department is currently finalising plans for publication.

What budget was allocated to the Office for Investment in the spending review 2025.

£3.8 billion was allocated to The Department for Business and Trade as part of the Spending Review, which includes funding for the Office for Investment (OfI). As set out previously, (9th June), the OfI's budget for FY 2025/6 is £24,671,291.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the research published by IoD entitled IoD research finds employment law reforms will damage UK economic growth, published on 6 June 2025.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes con-sideration of impacts on economic growth. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessmentsThis represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, including on economic growth, given the current stage of policy development. We are refining our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses and trade unions.The department regularly meets with the Institute of Directors to discuss a range of policies included in the Employment Rights Bill and, as with all stakeholders, we value the insight they provide.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Record-breaking International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK, published on 14 October 2024, what the regional breakdown is of those jobs.

The figures released as part of the International Investment Summit last autumn are aggregate values of investment plans from several multi-national enterprises. The Office for Investment does not hold information from companies on the regional breakdown of their job proposals in their investment plans.

What key performance indicators his Department plans to use to measure the success of the Office for Investment; and how these differ from key performance indicators outlined at the launch of the Office.

The Office for Investment (OfI) is focusing on building and converting a pipeline of significant investments opportunities, delivering economic growth and strategic government priorities. This was also the focus of the OfI when originally launched in 2020 but there is now a greater expectation on the number of significant opportunities that will be supported.As demonstrated in the DBT Inward Investment Results 2024-25, DBT and OfI measure and report on several aspects of investments supported by the government’s investment promotion service including Gross Value Add (GVA) and jobs created outside of London and the South East.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, in May of which year the expanded Office for Investment will be operational.

The expanded Office for Investment (OfI) was officially launched on 5th June 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, how many staff were allocated to the expanded Office for Investment in each month from July 2024.

The number of staff (FTE) in the Office for Investment (OfI) was c.30 from July 2024 to June 2025. When the expanded OfI was launched on 5th June 2025, this figure increased to c. 230 FTE.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, what the budget is of the expanded Office for Investment.

The budget for the Office for Investment (OfI) for FY 2025/6 is £24,671,291.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, where the expanded Office for Investment will be located.

The Office for Investment (OfI) is a joint unit that works across the Department of Business and Trade, HM Treasury (HMT), and No 10 Downing Street to bring in top-tier investment to the UK. The main base will be in DBT offices. Seconded staff to HMT will be located at HMT buildings. The Minister will have offices in both DBT and HMT.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, what expenditure has been incurred to allocate (a) office space, (b) furnishings and (c)) computers to the Office for Investment since July 2024.

The overall budget for the Office for Investment (OfI) and the Investment Directorate (ID) for FY 2024/5 was £27,630,000. This included expenditure on the three categories outlined above but no specific further provision was made.

Whether he plans to commission an independent investigation into the Post Office data breach in June 2024.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.

What steps the Post Office has taken to prevent future data breaches.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.

What his planned timeline is for compensation payments to people impacted by the Post Office data breach in June 2024.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.