Written questions by Mishra.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of increased stamp prices for businesses on affordability for consumers of those products, such as magazine media.

As an independent business, Royal Mail’s management sets the prices for its services. The government does not have a role in the company’s day-to-day commercial or operational decisions. In setting its prices however, Royal Mail must work within the regulatory framework set by Ofcom, the independent regulator.Affordability is at the heart of Ofcom's regulatory regime, and it continues to monitor the market, including affordability and impacts on both consumers and businesses. Ofcom is conducting a review of pricing and affordability and will consult on any proposals ahead of the expiry of the current control on Second Class letter prices in early 2027.

What his Department is doing to support independent breweries in England.

The Government fully recognises the importance of independent breweries and pubs. We are committed to maintaining a beer and pub sector that is diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities, supporting jobs, investment and growth across towns and villages.We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs, I am currently considering the findings of this review alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next month. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.Additionally, Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports smaller producers by allowing those producing up to 4,500 hectolitres a year to pay reduced duty on products below 8.5% ABV. At Budget 2025, the Government increased the cash discount for small producers, maintaining the value of SPR relative to main duty rates.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage foreign direct investment in the North West region.

The Department actively promotes foreign direct investment into the North West through the Office for Investment, which works closely with regional stakeholders to identify, shape and market regional opportunities. The Government has placed the North West at the centre of its Northern Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy, using large public investments to attract private capital. This includes a multi‑billion‑pound investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (including a new Liverpool – Manchester line via Manchester Airport and Warrington), as well as targeted investments such as the new Digital Campus in Manchester and the National Cryogenics Facility in Cheshire (Liverpool City Region), positioning the North West as a global quantum technologies hub.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to late payment policy on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger businesses; and whether he plans to differentiate between transactions involving SMEs and those conducted solely between larger counterparties when introducing these changes.

On 24 March we published our response to the Late Payments Consultation, outlining legislative measures we will introduce to tackle the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11 billion each year and leads to the closure of 38 businesses every day. In line with the Better Regulation Framework, we published an Impact Assessment that considers how our measures could impact businesses of all different sizes. We have carefully designed measures to tackle late payments whilst supporting UK competitiveness, including allowing an exemption from maximum payment terms for contracts where both parties are large companies.

With reference to the Government’s response to the Future of the Post Office green paper consultation, (a) when the proposed cross‑government working group on the delivery of in‑person government services will be established, (b) how frequently it is expected to meet, (c) which Departments will participate in its work, and (d) whether the Government plans to provide opportunities for external organisations to contribute to the group’s considerations.

I can confirm that the cross-government working group on the delivery of in-person government services has been established with an introductory meeting held late last year. Departments invited included those involved in the delivery of key in-person services, as well as those with a policy interest in how services are provided. The regularity of future meetings and potential involvement of external organisations are yet to be decided.

What steps he is taking to resolve operational issues at Reddish Post Office, SK5 6AF and reopen the branch.

The Post Office is responsible for the day-to-day operation of its network, including decisions related to individual branches. As a result, the Government is unable to provide specific details on the reopening of Reddish post office.The Post Office has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure and will provide updates to customers and stakeholders as soon as further information becomes available. In the meantime, Post Office report that customers can access services at nearby branches, including Broomfield Post Office.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Royal Mail’s efforts to meet its Quality of Service targets in SK Stockport postcode areas.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for monitoring Royal Mail’s performance and ensuring that Royal Mail complies with its legal obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified. In October, Ofcom 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.

If he will have discussions with EP Group on their compliance with agreements made with the Communication Workers Union on reform of the Universal Service Obligation; and whether he has assessed the adequacy of the performance of Royal Mail’s Optimised Delivery Model trials in delivering service improvements.

The government engaged with EP Group and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) throughout the process of Royal Mail’s ownership transition. The Deed of Undertaking we agreed with the new owner includes a commitment from EP Group that they will continue to recognise the unions and abide by the future terms of legally binding agreements they make with them. We will continue to monitor compliance with these undertakings and maintain dialogue with all parties to ensure that agreed protections and principles are upheld. Royal Mail and the CWU agreed to run pilots in selected offices to design, test and review the operation of the proposed delivery model in response to Ofcom’s USO changes. The government does not have a role in the operational decisions of the business.

Whether his Department has (a) made an assessment of the barriers faced by Hong Kong BNO visa holders in transferring professional qualifications into the British labour market and (b) issued guidance to employers on the employment rights of Hong Kong BNO visa holders.

Many British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders have professional qualifications. Recognition of overseas qualifications is determined by independent occupational regulators, many of which accept Hong Kong qualifications.The recognition process can be challenging for BNO visa holders and refugees. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) developed the Regulated Professions Register, which Hongkongers can use to find information on entry requirements and regulators. DBT also published guidance on GOV.UK to support refugees, including those from Hong Kong, navigate the recognition process.BNO visa holders have the right to work in the UK, and employer guidance on right to work checks is available on GOV.UK.

What recent discussions his Department has had with Fujitsu Ltd on its involvement in the Horizon IT system failures; and whether his Department plans to pursue accountability for the company’s involvement in the wrongful prosecution of sub-postmasters.

We welcome Fujitsu’s acknowledgement of their moral obligation to contribute to the cost of the scandal. On 7 March 2025, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Fujitsu’s global CEO agreed to begin talks on Fujitsu’s contribution to the costs of the scandal, prior to the conclusion of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report. The extent of culpability for the scandal of Fujitsu and others – and hence any further accountability measures – will not be clear until all parts of Sir Wyn Williams’ Inquiry report are published.

What discussions his Department has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on updating the designations under the Controlled Land Order to help promote fair competition in the grocery sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority has a general duty to monitor the effectiveness of the Controlled Land Order. This includes regularly assessing whether any grocery retailers meet the criteria for designation that are outlined in the Order. The CMA is in the process of carrying out its latest assessment. Government will continue to work closely with the CMA following its assessment to determine the best way forward.

What steps his Department is taking to enforce compliance among social care providers based (a) in the UK and (b) abroad that fail to pay (i) wages and (ii) pension contributions.

The law is clear: if you are a UK-based worker, you are entitled to rights under UK employment law, regardless of where your employer is based.HMRC enforces the minimum wage on behalf of DBT. It considers all complaints from workers and where it finds underpayment orders employers to pay workers their money back, and a penalty to government. Since the minimum wage was introduced, the Government has overseen the repayment of over £186 million to 1.5 million workers, issued over £100 million in financial penalties and completed over 90,000 investigations.The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has powers to take compliance action against employers who are found not to be paying employer pensions contributions, including, where necessary, through court action. The Pensions Ombudsman will consider complaints from individuals and award compensation when appropriate.The Employment Rights Bill will create the Fair Work Agency to bring together employment rights enforcement. This body will provide better support for employers to comply with the law and will have powers to take tough action against the minority who flout it.The Government has committed to establishing a new Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector, empowering worker representatives and employer representatives to negotiate fair pay and terms and conditions in a regulated and responsible manner.