Written questions by Reynolds.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of consumer protections in the parcel delivery sector, particularly where subcontracting arrangements are in place.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services. The ‘Mail Integrity Objectives’, set out in Ofcom’s Essential Condition 1, seek to minimise the potential for parcels to be subject to loss, theft, damage or interference. Currently this Essential Condition is effectively restricted to Royal Mail’s services delivered under its universal postal service obligation. Ofcom engages regularly with all parcel operators to understand their approach to implementation of, and compliance with, its consumer protection measures.

What steps his Department is taking to promote recognition of UK professional IT qualifications, including CITP status, in trade negotiations with international partners.

Provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ) are an important part of the services chapters in the UK’s international trade agreements, including within the UK-Switzerland RPQ Agreement and our Free Trade Agreements with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Australia, New Zealand and India. DBT works closely with our overseas partners to promote the UK’s world-leading professional qualifications. Under our international arrangements DBT has committed to encourage our independent occupational regulators and professional membership bodies, including the British Computer Society, to consider pursuing RPQ agreements with international partners. DBT supports these bodies to do so.

What assessment has the Government made of the financial impact on UK small and medium-sized enterprises of the adverse effects on competition identified in the Competition and Markets Authority's Cloud Services Market Investigation, specifically regarding egress fees and technical barriers to switching cloud providers.

The Government has not assessed the impacts of the practices detailed in the CMA’s Cloud Service Market Investigation. In the Final Report published on 31 July 2025, the key recommendation was for the CMA Board to prioritise commencing investigations under the digital markets regime to consider designating the two largest providers - Microsoft and AWS - with strategic market status in relation to cloud services.

What methods will be used to reduce staffing levels in export support services; and whether these will include (a) redundancy, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) redeployment to other departments, and (d) non-replacement of retiring staff.

All staff in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) were able to apply for a voluntary exit scheme, before the announcement of workforce reductions. Staff impacted in export support services and in other areas of DBT may be offered redundancy, voluntary redundancy and redeployment opportunities in line with the rest of the department.

Over what time period workforce reductions in export support services will take place.

The Department for Business and Trade’s new export structures in the UK are expected to be in place from 1 April, however the workforce reductions in teams involved in export work across the UK and overseas will be ongoing over the course of 2026.

How much funding has been allocated for redundancy packages related to workforce reductions in export support services.

A programme of transformation for the Department for Business and Trade’s export services is ongoing and will entail workforce changes. It is not yet possible to determine a level of redundancies that might result from that process. Any related funding needs will be addressed within the course of business planning.

How many staff positions in export support services will be reduced in each individual export market as a result of the Department's workforce reduction programme.

As set out in the Trade Strategy our overseas network will increasingly focus on the markets, sectors and opportunities that will drive UK economic growth for the next decade and beyond. We will have fewer export support staff in some markets as we focus more of our resource on attracting high value inward investment and tackling the market access barriers that hold British exporters back. We are working through the specific impact in each market, but directly supporting British exporters will remain the biggest part of what DBT teams do overseas.

Whether he has undertaken consultation with (a) business organisations and (b) export-focused SMEs on workforce reductions in export support services.

We are changing how we deliver export support in line with the Trade Strategy, and in response to the asks of businesses and our stakeholders, to provide a more accessible and easier to navigate offer that utilises technology to deliver more cost-effective and impactful support for SME exporters. For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single place – the Business Growth Service – making government support for SME exporters more accessible and effective. We will focus our resources where they can have the greatest impact, supporting businesses with the highest growth potential and targeting markets with significant economic opportunity. This strategic approach will deliver better value for taxpayers and stronger results for UK exporters. In addition, we expect UKEF to play a more substantial role in supporting SMEs to export.

How much funding his Department has allocated for AI and digital technology to replace staff removed from export support services.

DBT is making use of AI tools to improve our services to business, but we are not replacing staff with AI and digital technology.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of export support service workforce reductions on small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to export.

We are changing how we deliver export support in line with the Trade Strategy, and in response to the asks of businesses and our stakeholders, to provide a more accessible and easier to navigate offer that utilises technology to deliver more cost-effective and impactful support for SME exporters. For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single place – the Business Growth Service – making government support for SME exporters more accessible and effective. We will focus our resources where they can have the greatest impact, supporting businesses with the highest growth potential and targeting markets with significant economic opportunity. This strategic approach will deliver better value for taxpayers and stronger results for UK exporters. In addition, we expect UKEF to play a more substantial role in supporting SMEs to export.

What steps he is taking to ensure continuity of export support services during workforce reductions.

We are changing how we deliver export support in line with the Trade Strategy, and in response to the asks of businesses and our stakeholders, to provide a more accessible and easier to navigate offer that utilises technology to deliver more cost-effective and impactful support for SME exporters. For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single place – the Business Growth Service – making government support for SME exporters more accessible and effective. We will focus our resources where they can have the greatest impact, supporting businesses with the highest growth potential and targeting markets with significant economic opportunity. This strategic approach will deliver better value for taxpayers and stronger results for UK exporters. In addition, we expect UKEF to play a more substantial role in supporting SMEs to export.

What estimate has been made of the total savings to be achieved through workforce reductions in export support services.

The transformation of the department is ongoing and it is not yet possible to determine how many staff might be redeployed or may leave the department. Therefore, it is not yet possible to determine total savings that will be achieved.

Whether his Department has plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 for tackling the cumulative impact of repeated private firework use from a single residential property within the permitted hours over consecutive nights; and if he will publish guidance on provisions to limit the (a) duration and (b) frequency of such use.

Currently, no assessment of the adequacy of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 has been made in relation to repeated private firework use.Existing legislation controls the sale, availability, and use of fireworks. Local Authorities and law enforcement agencies are empowered to take action against offenders when fireworks are not used appropriately. While there are no plans to publish guidance to limit their use further, the Government launched a campaign for this fireworks season which promotes lower noise fireworks alongside considerate use.

How many Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) cases are active against the UK; and what the total value of claims is in those cases.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. The Government is a respondent in two active arbitrations. The UK has a longstanding track record of supporting foreign investment, including through fulfilling its obligations in the international investment agreements to which it is a party and has never faced a successful ISDS claim. The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

What his policy is on including Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions in trade agreements under negotiation; and whether such provisions are being proposed in negotiations with (a) India and (b) the United States.

The UK will draw 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. Negotiations for the UK-India bilateral investment treaty have not yet concluded, and the content of the agreement remains under discussion. As set out in the General Terms for the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK and the US have announced the intention to cooperate on the effective use of investment security measures.

What estimate he has made of the UK's potential financial exposure to Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. The Government is a respondent in two active arbitrations. The UK has a longstanding track record of supporting foreign investment, including through fulfilling its obligations in the international investment agreements to which it is a party and has never faced a successful ISDS claim. The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications of China's restrictions on rare earth exports for trade policy; and what steps he is taking to diversify critical minerals import sources.

We are aware of China's changes to its export controls on rare earth elements. We are concerned about the potential impact of these measures on global supply chains. We are engaging with China’s Bureau of Industry, Security, Import and Export Control to support UK companies applying for licenses and ensure steady supply to UK users.We are taking action with like-minded partners, including in the G7, to diversify supply chains. Our upcoming Critical Minerals Strategy sets our long-term approach for securing critical minerals. It also outlines how this will be achieved by refining our approach to domestic production, the circular economy, the UK’s future demand, international partnerships and responsible and transparent supply chains.

What steps his Department is taking to help support small and medium-sized enterprises to prepare for new market access arising from free trade agreement negotiations with Turkey; and with how many businesses his Department has held discussions on these negotiations.

It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations with Türkiye but we have held two successful rounds of negotiations during which amongst other things both sides committed to a Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) chapter.During our Call for Input we received substantial interest, including over 130 submissions from businesses and over 200 responses in total. We continue to actively engage businesses and stakeholders throughout negotiations.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on (a) manufacturing jobs, (b) consumer prices, (c) business competitiveness and (d) costs to businesses.

In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. The UK was the first country to secure such an agreement that removes tariffs for civil aerospace goods, and we remain the only country to have secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota – saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually. In 2024, the UK aerospace and automotive industries directly accounted for 232,000 jobs.We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal to address specific tariff and non-tariff barriers, increase digital trade, and unlock new commercial opportunities that benefit both nations.The Prime Minister, Business Secretary, Ministers and officials across government have been engaging widely with business organisations and companies across the economy. We will continue our extensive engagement throughout the remaining negotiations.

Whether he plans to provide the Small Business Commissioner with additional powers to help tackle persistent late payment by large firms.

This Government is committed to tackling late payments and supporting small businesses and the self-employed.We launched a consultation in July alongside the Plan for Small Business which closes on the 23rd of October which sets out measures we intend to bring forward in a package of primary legislation. As part the package, the Small Business Commissioner will be given stronger powers to ensure that they are able to tackle the poor payment practices head on. The consultation includes additional measures such as setting maximum payment terms and fining businesses that persistently pay their suppliers late.