Written questions by Hollinrake.

For how many hours officials in his Department have discussed the Employment Rights Bill with trade unions since 5 July 2024.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

With (a) how many and (b) which businesses he has met to discuss the Employment Rights Bill before its First Reading.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

For how many hours he has discussed the Employment Rights Bill with trade unions since 5 July 2024.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

For how many hours he has discussed the Employment Rights Bill with businesses since 5 July 2024.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

With (a) how many and (b) which trade unions he has met to discuss the Employment Rights Bill before its First Reading.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Second Report of Session 2024-25 of the House of Lords Constitution Committee on Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, HL 24, published on 18 October 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade is grateful for the Select Committee’s observations. The Committee’s concerns about the use of delegated powers in the Bill were also raised by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee in its report of 15 October The Government responded to that report on 28 October and will respond to the Constitution Committee in due course.

For how many hours officials in his Department have discussed the Employment Rights Bill with businesses since 5 July 2024.

Since July, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement around the Employment Rights Bill and broader Plan to Make Work Pay. Such engagement has been underpinned by a strong commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure policy is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. This approach to engagement has received praise from businesses and trade unions alike and will continue throughout and beyond the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Details of Senior Officials’ and Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

How many meetings he has had with representatives of Santander since 5 July 2024.

The Secretary of State has met once with representatives of Santander since 5 July 2024.

How many times he has had a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister since 5 July 2024.

The Secretary of State works closely with all his cabinet colleagues, including the Deputy Prime Minister as part of the normal operation of Government. For example, the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister have jointly met with businesses and trade unions on several occasions.

What discussions (a) Ministers and (b) his officials have had with DP World since 1 October 2024; and whether any incentives have been (i) discussed and (ii) agreed since that date.

Officials from the Department for Business and Trade engaged with DP World in advance of the International Investment Summit, on both the 10th and 13th October, to finalise communications plans surrounding their investment announcement at the Summit. Ministers also engaged with DP World as an attendee of the International Investment Summit. In relation to DP World, no benefits – financial or otherwise – have been offered, discussed, or agreed since the date specified.

With reference to the press notice entitled Flagship Government export initiative to be sponsored by Santander UK, published on 22 October 2024, what the total value is of the three year sponsorship agreement between his Department and Santander.

The Department for Business and Trade was delighted to announce Santander UK’s three-year commitment to sponsor a package of trade related events on 22 October. This involves sponsorship rights at International Trade Week, a series of UK Export Academy webinars, and a number of tradeshows over the period. Specific events may vary over the term of the agreement. Santander UK is investing £750,000 over three years and is also hosting additional events at its own cost.

With reference to the press notice entitled Flagship Government export initiative to be sponsored by Santander UK, published on 22 October 2024, what the terms of the agreement are with Santander.

The Department for Business and Trade was delighted to announce Santander UK’s three-year commitment to sponsor a package of trade related events on 22 October. This involves sponsorship rights at International Trade Week, a series of UK Export Academy webinars, and a number of tradeshows over the period. Specific events may vary over the term of the agreement. Santander UK is investing £750,000 over three years and is also hosting additional events at its own cost.

How many businesses there are per constituency based on new boundaries.

Numbers of VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses in new parliamentary constituencies (2024) broken down by broad industry group, employment and turnover size-bands were published by ONS on 3rd October 2024, at the request of DBT.

On how many days his Principle Private Secretary worked from home in (a) in the last (i) six and (ii) 12 months and (b) since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade does not routinely collect this information.

Whether his Department has had recent discussions with (a) YouTube and (b) Google on the levels of Digital Services Tax.

The Department for Business and Trade supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. To support these outcomes, SoS and DBT representatives regularly meet with a broad spectrum of tech companies representing the global tech eco-system, from SMEs and start-ups to global big tech companies. These discussions cover a range of issues and are often commercially sensitive. Digital Service Tax has not been raised specifically in recent meetings.