Written questions by O'Brien.

How many staff in his Department are recorded as having a (a) mental health condition and (b) physical disability by grade.

Information on the number of people declaring a disability in department for Business and Trade (DBT) are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. The latest published data is accurate as of 31 March 2025 and can be found at Table 29 of the statistical tables at the following web address:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025As of 31 March 2025, a) 61 civil servants had self-reported having a Mental Ill Health condition and b) 102 civil servants had self-reported as having a Physical Disability (Facial Disfigurement, Speech impairment, Hearing Impairment, Manual Dexterity Condition, Mobility Condition or a Visual Impairment) in DBT. Here is the breakdown by grade:A) Self-Reported Mental Ill Health Condition by GradeGrade CountAO/EO7HEO18SEO19G712G6Less than 5All SCSLess than 5Total61*b) Self-Reported Physical Disability by GradeGrade CountAO/EO6HEO25SEO23G733G68All SCS7Total102**As of March 2025, 61.6% of civil servants in DBT self-reported their disability status. Not all individuals who reported a disability provided information on the type or nature of their disability or condition.Information for 31 March 2026 is due for publication in July 2026.

How many employment tribunal claims have been lodged against his Department in for (a) unfair dismissal and (b) claims under the Equality Act 2010 in each of the last five years.

On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July 2023, and information from DIT before this date, and all information shared will be within these parameters.Year / CategoryNo. Employment Tribunal Claims 2025 (a) unfair dismissal1(b) claims under the Equality Act 201042024 (a) unfair dismissal4(b) claims under the Equality Act 201042023 (a) unfair dismissal4(b) claims under the Equality Act 201042022 (a) unfair dismissal0(b) claims under the Equality Act 201012021 (a) unfair dismissal3(b) claims under the Equality Act 20101

How many staff in his Department (a) did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years.

Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability.DBT recoded fewer than five staff members who were recruited into the civil service and did not pass their probation, and were subsequently dismissed, since DBT was created in 2023. Information on staff who had their probationary period extended is not available.

How much his Department has allocated for the (a) advertising and (b) promotion of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, published 23 June 2025 in the (i) 2025-26 and (ii) 2026-27 financial years; and how much and what proportion of this will be spent on advertising in newspapers.

Marketing including paid advertising is necessary to reach a target audience of senior business decision makers, raising awareness of the UK’s new modern industrial strategy and the opportunities it presents for business growth. The Department of Business and Trade declares all advertising and media spend above £25,000 through its monthly transparency reporting process. These figures are published on gov.uk.

How many staff in his Department have job titles that include the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT and (f) race.

In DBT, we do not have any roles in HR or Corporate Services with job titles which include the words ‘equality’, ‘diversity’, ‘inclusion’, ‘gender’, ‘LGBT’ or ‘race’. Within our Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations Group (TPIN), we have 8 roles which include the word ‘gender’ in the job titles – these roles cover FTA chapters rather than a corporate/HR role. Within our Domestic and International Markets and Exports Group (DIME), we have one role which includes the word ‘diversity’ in the job title – this role is an administrative one as of the King’s Award for Enterprise Team.

What steps he is taking to safeguard intellectual property for the UK following the collapse of Reaction Engines.

The Government recognises that the UK’s aerospace and space industry is world-leading. Although the Government cannot comment on individual commercial cases, where appropriate officials will work with companies and administrators to consider how best to retain valuable Intellectual Property in the UK.

If he will increase the fines available through section 38 of the London Local Authorities Act 1990.

Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement and central Government has no current plans for legislation that can be used to amend these fees.