Written questions by Anderson.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of letters detailing fines delivered by Royal Mail not arriving on time on people receiving those letters.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of non‑compliant vending machines entering the UK on (a) substandard and unverified energy‑efficiency performance at refrigerated vending machines, (b) the use of restricted refrigerant gases and (c) potential safety hazards for machine operators and consumers.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of non-compliant vending machines currently in operation within the UK with respect to (a) (i) substandard or (ii) unverified energy-efficiency

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department holds data on the proportion of Royal Mail (a) letter and (b) parcel deliveries that are not delivered within target times.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) frequency of compliance checks carried out on vending machine operators and suppliers to ensure adherence to UKCA requirements.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate his Department made of the number of non-compliant (a) vending and (b) professional coffee machines entering the United Kingdom.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has considered establishing a central (a) register and (b) database of vending machines and operators to support compliance monitoring with energy efficiency labelling and refrig

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that all vending machine operators and suppliers adhere to current (a) energy-efficiency and (b) refrigerant safety regulations.

Awaiting answer.

What information his Department holds on the number of warehouse workers who cannot speak fluent English.

The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent warehouse and fulfilment jobs listed as not requiring English from being offered.

The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.

Whether his Department has issued guidance on English language requirements for employment within warehouses.

The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of having non-fluent English speakers in warehouse jobs on health and safety.

The government does not collect data on the English language proficiency of private sector employees, which includes warehouse workers.Employers can choose how they recruit for their organisation, but they must follow a fair process.Health and safety law does not require workers to be able to speak English, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers have a duty to provide comprehensible information. This does not have to be in English, but risks, safety measures and emergency procedures must be clearly communicated to all workers.

What steps he is taking to create an attractive business environment for inwards investment in the electronics industry.

The Government is ensuring the UK remains a top destination for foreign investment through policy stability, improving planning and championing competitive sectors. We are creating investable opportunities that drive productivity, highquality jobs and sustainable growth. The 2025 Trade Strategy builds on improvements to the Office for Investment to ensure our trade and international agreements strengthen FDI.The Industrial Strategy supports electronic firms through commitments to supply chains for advanced manufacturing including power electronics, clean energy technologies and digital. Priorities include automotive, batteries, aerospace, space and advanced materials, while semiconductors are identified as a key technology with its own semiconductor programme.

What steps he is taking to support electronic device repair businesses.

The Department offers a range of support offers for SMEs across the UK, including those in the electronic device repair sector as featured in the new Business Growth Service website. These measures are set out in the Small Business Plan released in July 2025; this includes the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in financial support; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets and boosting Digital and AI Adoption among small businesses. In Ashfield, and across Nottinghamshire, businesses can access free, impartial business advice through the government-backed Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Growth Hub.

What steps his Department is taking to promote inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing in the UK.

The Department promotes inward investment in electric appliance manufacturing through targeted support from the Office for Investment and our global investment network. We work closely with devolved administrations and local partners to showcase the UK’s strengths, including world‑class R&D. Investors can access tailored advice, regulatory support, and incentives such as capital allowances and funding for innovation.The enhanced Office for Investment is actively pursuing and managing major investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies, helping to make the UK the best investment destination in the world.

What steps he is taking to promote British made electronic (a) devices and (b) appliances to consumers.

The government is supporting British made electronic devices and appliances by backing domestic manufacturers, promoting innovation, and strengthening product standards. We work closely with industry bodies such as AMDEA (Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances), who lead consumer information campaigns helping shoppers identify high quality UK made products. We also continue to uphold strong safety standards through the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Through this partnership approach, we aim to boost the visibility, competitiveness and consumer confidence in British made electronics and appliances.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of statutory and compliance costs on (a) small and (b) micro businesses.

The Government recognises that too many small businesses have been held back from achieving growth and reaching their full potential in recent years. That is why we published our Plan for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses. The Plan contains over 200 targeted actions which will make a real difference to the day-to-day trading operations of small businesses, supporting them to grow and reduce costs. This includes reducing regulatory admin costs by 25%, tackling late payments, modernising the tax and customs system and launching a new Business Growth Service, all of which will save businesses time and money.

What steps his Department is taking to support small consultancy businesses.

The UK Government has, for the first time, chosen to put Professional and Business Services at the heart of our modern industrial policy, with consultancy as one of its key Frontier Sectors driving future growth.The Department supports small consultancy businesses through a range of measures designed to improve capability, competitiveness and access to opportunities. Smaller consultancies benefit from improved access to government procurement and initiatives that encourage investment in digital, AI and innovation, helping them develop new services and grow sustainably. The government has pledged to cut regulatory administrative costs by 25% - a move designed to unlock growth, boost innovation and reduce burdens on businesses across key sectors.In addition, SMEs can access tailored advice via the Business Growth Service, local Growth Hubs, the Help to Grow: Management scheme, and finance through the British Business Bank, strengthening their leadership, skills and long-term resilience.

If his Department will make an assessment on the adequacy of domestic steel production in the context of global (a) conflict and (b) economic challenges.

As part of the forthcoming Steel Strategy, we have commissioned an analysis of future UK steel demand and domestic production capabilities over the next 25 years. This analysis will form part of the evidence base for the Steel Strategy and will be published soon.Furthermore, the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy and associated Strategic Defence Review committed Government to introducing Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament. This legislation aims to provide the Government with more robust powers to strengthen supply chain resilience, protect critical national infrastructure (including nuclear), and support the rapid mobilisation of defence industry. The role of domestic steel production in the context of a conflict scenario, alongside other parts of the industrial base, will be assessed as this legislation develops.

What steps he is taking to support hair salons.

Small businesses in the hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We’ve introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases.We continue to back employers who take on apprentices, by providing £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19; employers are not required to pay National Insurance Contributions for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year). Additionally, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care, when their employer has fewer than 50 employees.I will continue to engage closely with the sector, including through the Personal Care Roundtables, to ensure the industry’s long-term growth. This includes working with hair and beauty businesses as we bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year.