Written questions by Baldwin.

What steps his Department is taking to expand UK participation in global supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.

DBT is strengthening UK participation in global critical mineral supply chains by leveraging domestic processing and recycling capabilities, expanding international partnerships through trade agreements and financing tools, and mobilising investment to diversify sources and build resilience. As part of the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technologies sector plan, the Government is prioritising measures to enhance national security and strengthen semiconductor supply chain resilience, while positioning the UK as a trusted global partner. We work with international partners through initiatives such as the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network and the G7 Point of Contact Group on Semiconductors to develop shared approaches and solutions that improve global supply chain resilience.

What specific steps his Department is taking to tackle non-tariff barriers currently facing SMEs in the automotive sector that export to the United States.

We are committed to supporting UK businesses to trade internationally. In May, under the General Terms of the Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota, the first and only country to do so - saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually and delivering on our Plan for Change.We are now continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will also look at addressing specific tariff and non-tariff barriers, and unlocking new commercial opportunities that benefit both nations - including SMEs.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 96648, if she will set a target date for announcing the split between capital and revenue funding.

The detailed split of the Floods budget into resource and capital budgets is agreed during departmental business planning.

What is the estimated impact of the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the competitiveness of UK steel exports.

From 1 January 2027, the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will apply to specific goods imported from the aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, and iron & steel sectors. The UK CBAM is designed to address the risk of carbon leakage and to ensure that CBAM goods which are imported from overseas face a comparable carbon price to what is paid by manufacturers producing the same goods in the UK. The UK CBAM does not apply to UK exports. Therefore, the UK CBAM is not expected to have an impact on the competitiveness of UK steel exports.

What is the Department's policy on the use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms in future free trade agreements.

The UK’s International Investment Agreements aim to enhance opportunities for UK businesses to expand overseas, with commitments that seek to limit the barriers they face, make it easier to navigate local rules, and ensure investments are treated lawfully, and protected against unfair or arbitrary action. The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate and build strong trade and investment relationships.

Whether he plans to publish the Steel Strategy before the expiry of the current steel safeguards in 2026.

The Government will publish the steel strategy in early 2026, before the expiry of the current steel safeguard in June 2026.

On what date his Department submitted the Impact Assessment relating to the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 to the Regulatory Policy Committee for review.

The request for formal review of the Impact Assessment was submitted on 3 November 2025. The Regulatory Policy Committee responded earlier this week, and the final Impact Assessment will be published in January 2026.

What his timetable is for the (a) consultation on and (b) implementation of the compensation scheme for steel undertakings referenced in his statement of 10 December 2025.

The Government is engaging with Jingye, the owners of British Steel, to find a pragmatic path forward for the future of the company. The Government wishes to make further progress in those discussions before introducing such a scheme. The Government does not plan to consult on the scheme since the directions in the Act have been applied to only one company.

What proportion of the £274 million funding provided to British Steel has been used to settle outstanding invoices owed to small and medium-sized enterprises in the supply chain; and what estimate he has made of the remaining value of unpaid invoices to such businesses.

Revenue generated from sales funds the majority of British Steel's operating costs, with additional funding provided to British Steel under the provisions of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to enable safe operation of its blast furnaces and related steel works. British Steel have confirmed it cannot currently disaggregate payments or invoices by SME status; however, all invoices are processed in line with contractual payment terms.

Food and Rural Affairs, further to her answer to Q92990 if she can break down the annual expenditure and the total £4.2 billion into capital and revenue.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are investing £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood and coastal erosion schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country.This is £1.4 billion on average each year – a 5% increase on the current average of £1.33 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26.Further details will be published in due course, including the split between capital and revenue funding.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 June to Question 61930, how many P85 forms have been submitted in each month from May 2025 to date.

The table below shows the number of P85 forms submitted to HMRC electronically from May 2025 to September 2025. MonthP85 iFormsMay 20254,500June 20254,500July 20254,900August 20255,200September 20256,300Figures rounded to 100

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to extend the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Scheme beyond December 31st 2025.

Legislation introduced in July 2023 permanently closes the legacy EU Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in England at the end of December 2025, The scheme was designed to help fresh fruit and vegetable growers increase their power in the supply chain, but it was only available to Producer Organisations, with around just over 20% of the sector accessing it and the vast majority not benefitting. Future support for the sector is being considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and value for money for the taxpayer. The Government is committed to our excellent horticulture sector and the vital role that it plays in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of fresh home-grown produce. Of at least £200 million allocated to The Farming Innovation Programme through to 2030, to date nearly £40 million—representing 26% of total awards—has been granted to research projects benefiting the horticulture sector offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Wider Government support that we are providing for horticulture includes: our five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses; as well as extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.

Further to Question 93370, if she will commission from HMRC an analysis of the tax contribution of the British nationals the ONS estimates have left the UK since July 2024.

HMRC does not hold data on all income sources of all individuals that have left the UK, and incomes of individuals vary each year. Individuals who have chosen to leave the UK may still be liable to pay tax in the UK. HMRC published analysis on Income Tax Liabilities and Statistics annually. Income Tax statistics and distributions - GOV.UK

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to devolve the District Council power to evict travellers and illegal encampments from council-owned land to Town and Parish councils.

The Government currently has no such plans. Policy announcements will be made in the usual way.

Whether he plans to reduce the cost of groceries by reducing tariffs on fruit and vegetables not (a) grown and (b) processed in the UK.

As part of the Budget, the Government launched an application window for new duty suspensions on 26 November to help reduce import costs. Stakeholders have until 4 February 2026 to apply for the UK Global Tariff rate to be temporarily suspended on goods which are not produced, or not produced in sufficient quantities, in the UK and Crown Dependencies, including on fruit and vegetables. As a result of the previous application window announced in March 2025, the Government suspended tariffs on a range of food and drink products including fruit juices, pine nuts and raisins.

What analysis she has commissioned from HMRC of the tax contribution made by the 257,000 British nationals who the ONS estimates left the UK in 2024.

The Chancellor has not commissioned any analysis from HMRC on the tax contribution of the ONS estimate of 257,000 British nationals who left the UK in 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will break down the total £4.2 billion to flood defence spending in the Spending Review 2025 into capital and resource spending.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are investing £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood and coastal erosion schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country.This is £1.4 billion on average each year – a 5% increase on the current average of £1.33 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Whether his Department has conducted a sectoral impact analysis of the potential UK accession to the PEM Convention.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the Government recognises that PEM accession could bring benefits to British businesses but that the potential benefits and risks will likely vary both within and across sectors. Our Call for Evidence, launched on 17 November, seeks input from business directly to better understand these sectoral impacts. It will end on 15 December.

Whether his Department plans to publish a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin.

Once the Call for Evidence has closed, the government will review and analyse the responses received and decide how best to proceed and what to publish.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits and risks to UK exporters of joining the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, joining the PEM Convention could simplify rules of origin across the UK’s nearest neighbours and increase supply chain flexibility for UK exporters. However, the Government recognises the benefits and risks of accession could vary both within and across sectors. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence to seek direct business and partner input on the opportunities and risks that might flow from joining PEM. This will run until 15 December.