Written questions by Morgan.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed steel trade measures on the manufacturing and construction sectors in Shropshire.

Awaiting answer.

If he will take steps to provide self-employed workers who choose to adopt with the same support as employees who are entitled to statutory adoption pay.

The Government is aware of concerns raised about the adequacy of support for self-employed workers who choose to adopt.Local Authorities can already make discretionary payments equivalent to Maternity Allowance to self-employed adopters who do not qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay, where eligible.However, we recognise the system needs improvement, which is why we are undertaking a review of the parental leave and pay system. As part of this, we are considering the adequacy of parental leave entitlements for all groups, including self‑employed parents. The Review is expected to conclude in early 2027.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of parental allowance for self-employed workers who choose to adopt.

The Government is aware of concerns raised about the adequacy of support for self-employed workers who choose to adopt.Local Authorities can already make discretionary payments equivalent to Maternity Allowance to self-employed adopters who do not qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay, where eligible.However, we recognise the system needs improvement, which is why we are undertaking a review of the parental leave and pay system. As part of this, we are considering the adequacy of parental leave entitlements for all groups, including self‑employed parents. The Review is expected to conclude in early 2027.

When he plans to publish proposals for increased product safety requirements under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

The powers in the Act enable the UK to maintain high product standards, supporting businesses and economic growth, by allowing the UK Parliament the power to update relevant laws. As stated in the budget announcement we plan to consult in early 2026 on major reforms to modernise and simplify the UK’s product safety framework, including to rebalance the playing field between online and physical retailers, improve consumer safety and streamline processes for enforcement.

How many times he has met Royal Mail leaders in the past 12 months; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings.

In November last year, I met with Royal Mail’s CEO, Alistair Cochrane, and with Martin Seidenberg, the CEO of Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS).In July last year, my predecessor, Justin Madders MP, met with Mr Cochrane, then Royal Mail’s interim CEO.In May last year, the then Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, met with Daniel Křetínský, the CEO of EP Group, which owns IDS.Ministers and officials continue to have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. However, minutes of these meetings are not routinely published.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consistency of postal deliveries in rural areas.

The Government is committed to an efficient universal service for users throughout the UK, including those in remote and rural areas.   It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s service standards. The regulator sets Royal Mail enforceable targets to deliver a certain proportion of 1st and 2nd class post on time each year. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.

What steps he is taking to help improve postal delivery times in North Shropshire constituency.

I have discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the chief executive of Royal Mail and its parent company, and they recognise the need to do more to meet service delivery targets.In October, Ofcom, the independent regulator of postal services, fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality of service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

What the mean average length of time from submission to payment for (a) the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (b) the Group Litigation Order Scheme and (c) the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme.

This Government has greatly accelerated redress. The total amount paid to victims has increased fivefold since July 2024. We have begun payments of a £75,000 fixed offer for those postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) who want to accept it.For HSS, the average time from claim submission to final settlement payment is 183 working days, inclusive of fixed sum and full assessed claims.For GLO, the average time from full claim submission to final settlement payment is 64 working days, inclusive of fixed sum and full assessed claims.For HCRS, it has taken on average 7 working days from claimants submitting their claim to receiving payment, with all settled claims to date being fixed sum settlements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59153 on High Street Businesses: North Shropshire, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Post Office network in North Shropshire.

The Government is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Post Office network. This includes protecting the network by setting minimum access criteria (for example, to ensure that 99% of the UK population lives within three miles of a post office). To ensure Post Office provision in communities, such as North Shropshire, the Government plans to provide up to £83 million of network subsidy in this financial year. This is an increase from the £50 million p.a. provided in the previous Parliament and follows a similar uplift in the 2024/25 financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 59418 on Business: Imports, whether his Department has made (a) financial and (b) logistical support schemes available to high street businesses facing increased shipping costs due to extended import routes from Asia.

Globalised supply chains and the associated logistics costs remain a critical factor for the success of UK businesses and those on High Street.The Supply Chain Centre will work in tandem with businesses to identify risks to critical supply chains and recommend actions to reduce their impact on business operations.Businesses are also able to access a wide range of support offers by the Department, including the Business Growth Service which brings together a range of existing core services as well as new and improved elements of the business support offer. Further details will be released in the SME Strategy later this summer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59415 on Business: Market Towns, whether he has made an assessment with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential impact of rural public transport on high street (a) footfall and (b) business viability in North Shropshire constituency.

The government believes that local leaders, working with bus operators, are best placed to make decisions around the provision of local bus services. The government has confirmed £955m for the 2025/26 financial year to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities, including in rural areas. This includes £243m for bus operators and £712m to local authorities across the country, of which Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4m.The government has reaffirmed its commitment to bus services in this Spending Review by confirming around £900m each year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve vital bus services. Improved bus routes and connectivity will increase access to local high streets improving footfall and business viability in North Shropshire.North Shropshire high street businesses are supported by the Marches Growth Hub which provides businesses of all sizes and sectors across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin with advice and support throughout the business journey.

Whether the Post Office will continue to provide banking services after the expiration of banking framework 4 in 2030.

Banking Framework 4 is a commercial agreement between the Post Office and the banking sector which will ensure that the Post Office continues to provide cash and basic banking services to the end of the decade. Decisions on future service provision are subject to commercial and voluntary negotiations between the Post Office and the banking sector.The Post Office Green Paper, due to be published soon, will set out further detail on the Post Office’s long-term future.

What steps he is taking to support high street businesses whose shipping imports from Asia have to be re-routed around Africa.

For businesses to invest and thrive they need confidence in their supply chains. This government is committed to assessing where supply chains critical to the United Kingdom's economic security and growth could be vulnerable to disruption, including those in the growth driving sectors outlined in the industrial strategy.The Business Secretary has announced a new Business Growth Service which will make it easier and quicker for businesses across the United Kingdom, including those on the high street, to receive advice and support to help them grow and thrive. The Business Growth Service will bring together under one single, trusted banner a range of existing core services as well as new and improved elements of the business support offer that will be delivered both centrally and locally.

Whether he has made a recent assessment with the Secretary of State for Transport of the potential impact of public transport services in rural areas on the viability of high street businesses operating in market towns.

The government recognises that rural residents must often travel further to access their local high street. We know that this can affect business viability for high streets in rural areas as employee and customer accessibility is a significant barrier.The government is providing over £650 million for local transport outside city regions in 2025-26 to ensure that transport infrastructure and connections improve in our towns, villages and rural areas as well as in our major cities. Addressing intra-regional transport, connecting rural communities to their local high street will increase the viability of high street businesses in market towns. The government is also providing over £1 billion funding to support and improve local bus services and keep fares affordable where we can and increase connectivity to high streets in rural areas.

What steps his Department is taking to support high street businesses in North Shropshire.

Revitalising our high streets is a priority for this government. We are addressing anti-social behaviour and crime, working with the banking industry to roll out 350 banking hubs, stamping out late payments, empowering communities to make the most of the vacant properties, strengthening the Post Office network and reforming the apprenticeship levy, alongside our plans to reform business rates.We have announced a new Business Growth Service that will make it easier for businesses across the UK to get the help, support and advice they need. It will bring together existing offers including the Business Support Service, which provides tailored information, advice, guidance and signposting on any business topic, and the network of local Growth Hubs across England. The Marches Growth Hub provides businesses of all sizes and sectors across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin with advice and support throughout the business journey.Our forthcoming SME Strategy will set out our further plans to help businesses on the high street and beyond.

If he will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Transport on the adequacy of access to postal services in rural areas where (a) post office branches have recently closed and (b) postal outreach services have recently ceased.

The Government protects the sustainability of the Post Office branch network, including in North Shropshire and across the rural network, providing funding stipulating that Post Office meets its minimum access criteria ensuring 99% of the population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office, across the country. Government confirmed the network subsidy will be up to £83 million for Financial Year 25/26. Post Office are committed to consulting on any proposed branch changes, as set out in the Principles of Community Engagement document agreed with Citizens Advice. These consultations focus on customers’ access to Post Office products following any proposed change. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, requires Royal Mail to ensure that across the UK, the premises of no fewer than 95% of users of postal services are within 5 kilometres of an access point.

What steps he is taking to improve access to postal services in North Shropshire constituency.

The Government protects the sustainability of the Post Office branch network, including in North Shropshire and across the rural network, providing funding stipulating that Post Office meets its minimum access criteria ensuring 99% of the population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office, across the country. Government confirmed the network subsidy will be up to £83 million for Financial Year 25/26. Post Office are committed to consulting on any proposed branch changes, as set out in the Principles of Community Engagement document agreed with Citizens Advice. These consultations focus on customers’ access to Post Office products following any proposed change. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, requires Royal Mail to ensure that across the UK, the premises of no fewer than 95% of users of postal services are within 5 kilometres of an access point.

What progress his Department has made in resolving Horizon Shortfall Scheme claims for sub-postmasters in North Shropshire constituency.

As of 30 April 2025, £507 million has been paid in redress via the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). This includes approximately £240 million in fixed sum awards and approximately £107 million in top-ups to previously settled claimants. DBT does not hold a constituency-level breakdown of HSS cases.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of (a) high street bank and (b) Crown post office closures on the availability of monetary services in rural communities.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the closure of Crown post offices on rural communities.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.