Written questions by Paul.

What data his Department holds on the number of UK firms utilising preferential tariff rates under the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement.

The Department for Business and Trade does not centrally hold any data on the number of UK firms utilising preferential tariff rates under the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement.The Department holds data on the UK’s utilisation of tariff preferences for imports and exports under preferential trade agreements. However, this data only contains value of trade flows using different import regimes and no information related to firms.Between June 2023 and December 2024, 65% of eligible goods imports into Australia from the UK made use of an FTA tariff preference and 77% of eligible goods imports into the UK from Australia made use of FTA tariff preferences.Source: Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee Statement - GOV.UK

What recent assessment he has made of the UK’s ability to conclude mutual recognition agreements for professional qualifications with priority trade partners.

The Government is committed to improving recognition of professional qualifications with key trading partners. The Government is actively encouraging and supporting the UK’s regulators through guidance on recognition arrangements and targeted funding, to work with their overseas counterparts. This has led to mutual recognition agreements in high value sectors, such as for audit qualifications with Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia.

What assessment he has made of the capacity of the UK’s digital trade infrastructure to support increased trade volumes predicted for the next decade.

The Trade Strategy committed the UK to remaining at the forefront of harnessing technology to make the most of the opportunities of digital trade. In addition to negotiating FTA chapters, we are developing the policy infrastructure for digital trade through a programme of digital trade agreements. We are also piloting Digital Trade Corridors with key European markets to improve industry adoption of digital trade processes. The Government is also working with business and international partners to ensure we have the right infrastructure to support trade, exploring further customs digitalisation, and the potential for modernising the way businesses interact with customs.

What steps his Department is taking to support UK participation in the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce.

The WTO Agreement on E Commernce (ECA) is the first global digital trade agreement that will make trade faster, cheaper, fairer, and more secure. The UK is an active and supportive participant of the Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce (JSI). In July 2024, following five years of JSI negotiations, the UK joined the resulting plurilateral WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce (ECA) as a founding Member, alongside 70 other countries. The number of participants to the Agreement has now risen to 72. The UK is working closely with other WTO Members to give legal effect to the ECA as soon as possible.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of delaying the publication of the steel strategy on (a) private sector investment decisions and (b) decarbonisation timelines at the Scunthorpe steelworks.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and delivering a steel strategy. A robust position on trade is a critical element of this strategy, underpinning our approach to defending against unfair practices and global overcapacity. We are prioritising developing robust measures in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June 2026 to protect our domestic sector, making sure there are healthy levels of imports, and engaging with our partners. There is no statutory 30-day consultation period linked to the safeguard’s expiry. We will therefore publish the steel strategy in early 2026, ahead of the expiration of the safeguard.Ministers and officials continue to engage closely with industry, trade unions and the Devolved Governments to ensure the final steel strategy delivers for businesses, steelworkers and the wider UK economy. Throughout development of the strategy we have worked closely with Steel Council members as well as the full supply chain through our consultation and ministerial roundtables. Whilst we envisioned publishing the strategy in 2025, we do not anticipate any adverse impacts on private sector decision-making arising from the revised publication timing. We are determined to get this right and secure a steel sector that is fit for the future.

What his Department's original planned publication date was for the steel strategy; and for what reason the publication of that strategy has been rescheduled to early 2026.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and delivering a steel strategy. A robust position on trade is a critical element of this strategy, underpinning our approach to defending against unfair practices and global overcapacity. We are prioritising developing robust measures in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June 2026 to protect our domestic sector, making sure there are healthy levels of imports, and engaging with our partners. There is no statutory 30-day consultation period linked to the safeguard’s expiry. We will therefore publish the steel strategy in early 2026, ahead of the expiration of the safeguard.Ministers and officials continue to engage closely with industry, trade unions and the Devolved Governments to ensure the final steel strategy delivers for businesses, steelworkers and the wider UK economy. Throughout development of the strategy we have worked closely with Steel Council members as well as the full supply chain through our consultation and ministerial roundtables. Whilst we envisioned publishing the strategy in 2025, we do not anticipate any adverse impacts on private sector decision-making arising from the revised publication timing. We are determined to get this right and secure a steel sector that is fit for the future.

Which external stakeholders (a) have been consulted to date and (b) remain to be consulted prior to the publication of the steel strategy in 2026.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and delivering a steel strategy. A robust position on trade is a critical element of this strategy, underpinning our approach to defending against unfair practices and global overcapacity. We are prioritising developing robust measures in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June 2026 to protect our domestic sector, making sure there are healthy levels of imports, and engaging with our partners. There is no statutory 30-day consultation period linked to the safeguard’s expiry. We will therefore publish the steel strategy in early 2026, ahead of the expiration of the safeguard.Ministers and officials continue to engage closely with industry, trade unions and the Devolved Governments to ensure the final steel strategy delivers for businesses, steelworkers and the wider UK economy. Throughout development of the strategy we have worked closely with Steel Council members as well as the full supply chain through our consultation and ministerial roundtables. Whilst we envisioned publishing the strategy in 2025, we do not anticipate any adverse impacts on private sector decision-making arising from the revised publication timing. We are determined to get this right and secure a steel sector that is fit for the future.

Whether the steel strategy will be published before the statutory 30-day consultation period required for any potential changes to the UK steel trade remedies framework expiring in 2026.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector and delivering a steel strategy. A robust position on trade is a critical element of this strategy, underpinning our approach to defending against unfair practices and global overcapacity. We are prioritising developing robust measures in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June 2026 to protect our domestic sector, making sure there are healthy levels of imports, and engaging with our partners. There is no statutory 30-day consultation period linked to the safeguard’s expiry. We will therefore publish the steel strategy in early 2026, ahead of the expiration of the safeguard.Ministers and officials continue to engage closely with industry, trade unions and the Devolved Governments to ensure the final steel strategy delivers for businesses, steelworkers and the wider UK economy. Throughout development of the strategy we have worked closely with Steel Council members as well as the full supply chain through our consultation and ministerial roundtables. Whilst we envisioned publishing the strategy in 2025, we do not anticipate any adverse impacts on private sector decision-making arising from the revised publication timing. We are determined to get this right and secure a steel sector that is fit for the future.

Whether his Department has collected data on the number of Breathing Space certifications which are subsequently cancelled due to ineligibility.

The Insolvency Service collects data regarding Breathing Space applications in England and Wales; this includes the number of applications subsequently cancelled due to ineligibility. 374,529 Breathing Space applications were registered between 4 May 2021, when the scheme was launched, and 3 December 2025. Of these, 2,292 registrations have been subsequently cancelled due to ineligibility, representing 0.6% of applications. The criteria for ineligibility is taken from the official Breathing Space guidance.

What steps he is taking to support pubs in Reigate constituency.

Pubs, including those in Reigate, 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 for people to work in Pubs.Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.