Written questions by Glen.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the level of annual reporting for small companies.

The Department is reviewing non-financial reporting requirements to simplify, streamline and reduce reporting obligations for all companies. These reforms aim to reduce administrative burdens on business, particularly for small companies. The review has already delivered legislation which increased the monetary size thresholds for micro, small, medium and large companies, as well as removing low value and duplicative reporting from the Directors’ and Director’s Remuneration Reports. A consultation on future reforms to modernise corporate reporting will be published in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive on (a) Northern Ireland, (b) UK firms trading with the EU and (c) levels of divestment in the UK defence industry.

Responsibility for assessing the impact of EU legislation ultimately lies with the European Commission, who have published their own impact assessment of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).CSDDD will apply to UK companies generating over €450 million in turnover within the EU. The Government has noted the recent Omnibus proposal updating CSDDD, which was published on 26 February.We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK’s existing measures, alongside the impacts of emerging policy tools, including in the EU, to ensure we can best promote responsible business practices and take action where appropriate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29436 on Manufacturing Industries, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including food and drink manufacturing in the Industrial Strategy.

Growth is the number one mission of the government. The UK's food and drink manufacturing sector plays a significant role in the UK economy, contributing £35.1bn to GVA in 2022. The UK presents many opportunities for investment right across the food and drink supply chain stages of product development. The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review. These Sector Plans will set out the specific sub-sectors of focus, identify key barriers to growth, and describe how government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth for the sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29436 on Manufacturing Industries, whether food and drink manufacturing is a key advanced manufacturing sector.

The Industrial Strategy will focus on the sectors which offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business, including Advanced Manufacturing. The Government will prioritise subsectors within the broad sectors that meet our objectives and where there is evidence that policy can address barriers to growth. The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review. These Sector Plans will set out the specific sub-sectors of focus, identify key barriers to growth, and describe how government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth for the sector.

How his Department intends to define the subsectors within Advanced Manufacturing in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

The Government committed in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper – Invest 2035 to identify subsectors within Advanced Manufacturing that meet our objectives and for which there is evidence that policy can address barriers to growth. This includes consideration of the contribution to Net Zero, regional growth, and economic security and resilience. Input from the Sector roundtable’s and industry feedback from responses to this Green Paper to inform this programme of analysis. The industrial strategy, alongside sector plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year spending review.

What steps he (a) is taking with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to encourage (i) growth and (ii) investment in food and drink manufacturing and (b) plans to take to support food and drink manufacturing through the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

Growth is the number one mission of the government. The UK's agriculture food and drink sector plays a significant role in the UK economy, contributing £146.7bn to GVA. The UK presents many opportunities for investment right across the food and drink supply chain stages of product development. All sectors can shape and will benefit from policy reform through the Industrial Strategy’s cross-cutting policies alongside the broader Growth Mission. This will create the pro-business environment for all businesses to invest and employ, with growth that supports high-quality jobs and ensures that the benefits are shared across people, places, and generations.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of his Department's support for advanced manufacturing within the industrial strategy on food and drink manufacturers.

The Industrial Strategy Green Paper identified eight growth-driving sectors, including advanced manufacturing. All sectors can shape and benefit from policy reform through the Industrial Strategy’s cross-cutting policies alongside the broader Growth Mission. This will create the pro-business environment for all businesses to invest and employ, with growth that supports high-quality jobs and ensures that the benefits are shared across people, places, and generations.The UK’s food and drink sector plays a significant part in the UK economy, with £146.7bn contribution to GVA. The government is engaging with the food and drink industry regularly to explore all avenues for growth.

When he plans to publish the call for evidence on implementing a ban on unpaid internships.

The Make Work Pay plan is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities. It aims to tackle low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security.The government is committed to banning unpaid internships except when they are part of an educational or training course. A call for evidence on this will be published in due course.

Whether (a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) special advisers in his Department have (a) met and (b) corresponded with the Mayor of London's Night Czar on the issue of London's night-time economy since 4 July 2024.

Since the General Election, officials, special advisors, or Ministers, in their ministerial roles have not specifically met or corresponded with the Mayor of London's Night Czar Amy Lame, before she formally left her post on 31 October. We do however have regular contact with the Mayor of London and his staff, as we do with other Mayors across England.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1206 on Political Levy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on trade union members that have not previously opted-in to a political levy but that have also not actively opted-out.

The Employment Rights Bill substantively restores the position on political fund contributions to before the passage of the Trade Union Act 2016. This will mean trade union members will automatically be opted-in to contribute to a political fund, unless they expressly opt-out. We are proposing existing trade union members who did not opt-in to the political fund post 2016 would remain opted-out, and therefore we do next expect there to be any impact on these members.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1206 on Political Levy, whether trade unions will be required to inform members of the right to opt-out (a) on membership forms and (b) in yearly membership renewals.

The Employment Rights Bill restores the position on political funds to before the passage of the Trade Union Act 2016. This will mean that where a trade union has a political fund, any membership form must inform members of their right to opt out of contributing to a fund. There will be no requirement on trade unions to notify members annually of their right to opt out of contributing to a political fund.

If he will list his Department's trade envoys.

We are carefully considering the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme in the context of the new Government’s trade objectives. We will update the house in due course on the programme’s future.

Whether his Department issues guidance on investment from (a) the People's Republic of China and (b) organisations associated with the Chinese Communist Party.

The government does not direct the private sector’s commercial partnerships. Ministers and Officials are in regular contact with leaders across all UK industries and may provide advice and support as appropriate. The UK will attract investment due to its stable business environment and resilient national security framework that safeguards investments as well as the nation’s security. Under the NSI Act, the government has the authority to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions involving foreign investment in sensitive sectors to protect national security, regardless of the origin of the investment.

How many people, other than special advisers, have been appointed to civil service posts in his Department without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.

There are 10 exceptions to fair and open recruitment, details of which can be found within the Civil Service Commission’s published Recruitment Principles. DBT has appointed 6 individuals under these Exceptions since 4th July 2024 with 4 of these being previous Civil Servants who were reappointed.1x AO, 1x SEO and 2x Grade 7 under Exception 5 (Former Civil Servants)1x EO under Exception 2 (support for government employment schemes)1x SCS1 under Exception 4 (Highly Specialist Skills)Role titles could lead to individuals being identified therefore we are not able to provide this information.

What (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to his Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade has made three direct ministerial appointments since 04 July 2024: 1) Professor Sir Steve Smith, reappointed as International Education Champion, for a period of 12 months and 2) Lord Lancaster, reappointed as Defence and Security Advocate for a period of 3 months and 3) Clare Barclay as Chair of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council.Departments do not routinely record and collect the reasons why appointees leave their positions. The reasons why an appointee has left their role is the appointee’s personal information and identifiable and would elicit GDPR considerations.