Written questions by Davies.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provision of data on employee health benefits to SME decision makers on levels of employee ill health.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is working with the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care on the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase, focused on tackling health-related economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces. We are partnering with employers of all sectors and sizes, including SMEs, alongside employee health benefit providers, to test and identify what interventions are most effective in preventing and managing employee ill health. This will include exploring what support SMEs need to make informed decisions about accessing suitable health benefit provision.

What recent progress his Department has made on the Small Business Command Paper.

We launched ‘Backing Your Business – our plan for small and medium-sized enterprises’ on 31 July. It is a long-term strategy focussing on five areas:Fixing the Fundamentals by tackling late payments and cutting regulatory burdensUnlocking Access to FinanceBacking the Everyday Economy by revitalising our high streetsFuture-Proofing SMEs with support for digital adoptionOpening Up Opportunities through export support, public procurement reform, and a new Business Growth ServiceThis strategy, together with the Industrial Strategy, is just the start of our commitment to work hand-in-hand with SMEs to drive growth.

Whether he has had discussions with independent retailers on the development of the New Business Growth Service.

The Department for Business and Trade launched the Business Growth Service (BGS) in July alongside our Plan for Small Business. We will continue iterating the business.gov.uk online offer through continued engagement with SMEs from across all sectors and regions in the UK making BGS the front door to all government business support.The Department engages routinely with retailers of all types, including independent retailers, through key trade associations. The service will regularly review user feedback to ensure it delivers what businesses need to support their growth and productivity. We continue to engage widely with stakeholders, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, on the design and implementation of the service with a series of roundtables and consultation events across the country.

When he plans to introduce the New Business Growth Service.

The Department for Business and Trade launched the Business Growth Service (BGS) in July alongside our Plan for Small Business. We will continue iterating the business.gov.uk online offer through continued engagement with SMEs from across all sectors and regions in the UK making BGS the front door to all government business support.The Department engages routinely with retailers of all types, including independent retailers, through key trade associations. The service will regularly review user feedback to ensure it delivers what businesses need to support their growth and productivity. We continue to engage widely with stakeholders, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, on the design and implementation of the service with a series of roundtables and consultation events across the country.

What steps he is taking to improve the regulatory environment for business.

On 17 March 2025 this Government published the Action Plan for Regulation, outlining reforms to streamline regulation and support growth. As part of this we are cutting regulatory administrative costs to business by 25%, strengthening accountability for regulators and simplifying their duties to ensure the regulatory environment is focusing on growth, investment, and transparency. This will include finding ways to reduce costs for the manufacturing sector, which I know is important to businesses such as New Holland who have been making tractors in my honourable friend for Reading West and Mid Berkshire's constituency for over 60 years.

How many incidents of battery fires on (a) converted and (b) non-converted e-bikes were reported to the Office for Product Safety and Standards in the last 12 months for which data are available.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards received reports of 161 UK e-bike fires in 2023, of which 46% were post-market conversions. Data for 2024 is being complied and will be published in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential risk of e-bike battery fires caused by products manufactured outside the (a) UK and (b) EU.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards leads a programme of activity to tackle the fire risks from unsafe lithium-ion e-bike batteries. All e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries placed on the UK market must be safe and producers are responsible for ensuring their products comply with the law. Last year, the Government published statutory guidelines on lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, setting out the safety mechanisms they must contain.

Whether she has consulted with independent retailers on the development of the new Business Growth service.

My department is working closely with independent retailers and the wider business community on the design of the Business Growth Service. We’ve held roundtables and consultation events across the country, in partnership with local organisations, to hear directly from entrepreneurs and small business owners about the support they need to grow. My department continues to engage regularly with retailers through key trade associations, and feedback will remain central to how the service evolves. Our goal is to build a service shaped by business, for business.

What progress he has made towards publishing the Small Business Command Paper.

The Government will publish its SME Strategy later this year. The Strategy will set out the Government’s ambition to champion entrepreneurship, create an environment for SMEs to thrive and support them in their growth ambition.

When the New Business Growth Service is going to be launched.

The new Business Growth service will simplify the government’s business support ecosystem to ensure businesses get the support they need with local delivery at its heart and all underpinned by an improved online service. This will help deliver the government’s forthcoming Small Business Strategy, complementing the Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Make Work Pay plans as part of a comprehensive approach to our Growth Mission.We expect to launch this service in the summer.

Whether he has consulted with independent retailers on the development of the New Business Growth Service.

The new Business Growth Service will regularly review user feedback to ensure it delivers what businesses need to support their growth and productivity. My department is therefore engaging widely with stakeholders, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, on the design and implementation of the service. This has included a series of roundtables and consultation events across the country and delivered via partners. This process will continue, even after the service launches to continue to refine and improve it.The Department for Business and Trade engages regularly with retailers of all types, including independent retailers, through key trade associations in the Business Growth Service.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent the online sale of carbon monoxide alarms that do not comply with UK trading standards.

All consumer products placed on the UK market must be safe. Businesses that produce or import products have obligations to ensure they are safe before placing them on the market, and relevant British Standards can assist those making carbon monoxide alarms available to comply.The Office for Product Safety and Standards undertakes market surveillance and engages with online marketplaces to remove unsafe products and reduce the risk of non-compliant products being sold online. The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will also give the Government powers to introduce new duties on online marketplaces to increase the safety of products available online.

What discussions he is having with employers on ensuring that frontline workers receive adequate (a) debriefing, (b) peer support spaces, (c) training for team leaders and (d) other appropriate workplace emotional support.

Despite the challenging fiscal environment, the government has committed to the importance of protecting funding on mental health. The Department of Health and Social Care have chosen to prioritise funding to deliver expansions of NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement & Support, demonstrating our commitment to addressing the root cause of mental health issues and providing support for people to contribute to the economy by remaining in or returning to work. Furthermore, the digital service for Employers, Support with employee health and disability – GOV.UK, offers advice on managing health and disability-related needs at work. There is also the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offers practical, independent, and impartial help to employers, employees and their representatives about a wide range of employment relations matters (www.acas.org.uk).

What plans he has to tackle barriers to implementing suicide prevention training in the workplace.

I refer the Hon Members to the answer given by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 24604.

Whether his Department is taking steps to increase green investment in the hospitality industry.

The Department is working with the hospitality sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to help businesses become more environmentally sustainable. This includes producing energy saving guidance for small businesses, helping small operators understand how to reach net zero, and creating a toolkit to improve the sector's biodiversity footprint. We are also working closely with Defra and DESNZ on how to increase green investment in the industry.

What further steps he plans to take to support the hospitality sector in the Colne Valley constituency.

Hospitality businesses, including those in Colne Valley, are at the heart of our communities and vital for economic growth. That is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses from 2026-27 and extending the current relief for 1 year at 40%.The government is also reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products, representing an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year.We will transform the apprenticeship levy into a more flexible growth and skills levy to better support business and boost opportunity.Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.The department also provides support through the Business Support Service and network of Growth Hubs – including the West Yorkshire Business Support Service.