Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 105 · Department for Business and Trade
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 96697 on Motor Vehicles: China, whether Ministers or officials in his Department have had discussions since 4 July 2024 with UK manufacturers or trade bodies that trade with or sell products in China about engagement with the Trade Remedies Authority.
Ministers and officials regularly engage UK manufacturers and industry bodies on a wide range of trade issues. However, I am not aware of any specific such discussions.
If he will publish a list of the countries from which electric vehicles are currently (a) eligible for a zero per cent import tariff and (b) not eligible for a zero per cent import tariff when entering the United Kingdom market.
Such a list is already available as the list of electric vehicle tariffs by country can be found on the Government’s Online Tariff Tool here (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity), which provides the most up-to-date details on import tariffs for every country.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2025 to WPQ 92058, whether he has had discussions with manufacturers who also sell products in China on reluctance to engage with the Trade Remedies Authority because of the possibility of retaliatory action by that country.
No, neither the Secretary of State nor I have had any such discussions. However, the Government and the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) regularly engage with UK manufacturers to understand their concerns, and they may always submit applications anonymously to the TRA. Trade remedy investigations should be undertaken on the basis of evidence, pursuant to the WTO agreements, and available to all WTO members. My Department will always challenge actions taken outside this framework. The UK and China are deepening its dialogue on trade remedy matters through the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission.
If he will take steps to reduce the rate of pub closures.
The Government recognises the significant pressures facing pubs and we are providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures.We've introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit.The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.We're also investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.
What estimate his Department has made of a) the average energy cost faced by UK steel producers in the most recent year, b) the equivalent cost faced by producers in France and Germany, and c) the potential impact of this cost gap on the competitiveness of UK steelmaking.
The Government is committed to delivering a steel strategy setting out a long-term vision for the UK steel industry articulating what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK and the actions required to get there. UK steel producers that benefit from British Industry Supercharger support and the current Network Charging Compensation scheme paid industrial electricity prices of £93 per MWh in 2025 (a 60% relief). The increase in compensation for network charges from 60% to 90%, which was announced in the Industrial Strategy and will be delivered from 1 April 2026, will reduce electricity prices for steel producers by a further £7 to £10 per MWh approximately. The equivalent cost faced by industrial electricity users in France and Germany is £69/MWh and £60/MWh respectively. Using average electricity intensity factors for electric arc furnace-based steel production, the difference to UK producers equates to approximately £8-£13 per tonne of crude steel.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87864 on Department for Transport: Electric Vehicles, whether he has had discussions with car manufacturers on the potential impact of the entry of electric vehicles from China into the UK market on the cost of new electric and petrol cars.
China plays a significant global role across the automotive sector, and this brings challenges and opportunities for the UK. We closely monitor how changes to trade flows and other issues impact UK manufacturers. While DBT Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, engage regularly with UK car manufacturers on a range of relevant issues, including on the entry of electric vehicles from China into the UK market, decisions on the cost of new vehicles are a commercial matter for individual companies.
What formal consultation his Department has undertaken with (a) UK automotive manufacturers and (b) their UK-based supply-chain firms on the Employment Rights Bill; what representations his Department has received from those businesses; and how the Government has responded to those representations.
The Government is committed to engaging closely with employers throughout the development and implementation of Make Work Pay. Officials meet regularly with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the Employment Rights Bill, as well as other bodies representing automotive manufacturers and suppliers, such as Make UK, the largest representative of UK manufacturers. There is also regular engagement through the Auto Council’s Skills Working Group.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) UK automotive manufacturers and (b) their domestic supply chains; and whether he has estimated the (i) additional annual recurring cost of that Bill and (ii) aggregate additional cost to that sector in each of the first five years after Royal Assent.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) planned capital investment in the UK automotive sector, (b) the economies of areas with substantial automotive manufacturing and (c) that sector’s international competitiveness relative to EU and US automotive labour markets.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on SME firms within UK automotive supply chains; and whether his Department has undertaken any separate modelling of the cost implications for SMEs operating as tier-two and tier-three suppliers.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
Which UK automotive manufacturers and tier-one suppliers Ministers and officials have met to discuss the provisions of the Employment Rights Bill since 1 July 2024; on what dates those meetings took place; and what sector-specific concerns were raised.
The Government is committed to engaging closely with employers throughout the development and implementation of Make Work Pay. Officials meet regularly with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the Employment Rights Bill, as well as other bodies representing automotive manufacturers and suppliers, such as Make UK, the largest representative of UK manufacturers. There is also regular engagement through the Auto Council’s Skills Working Group.
What steps his Department is taking to support UK car manufacturers in developing and commercialising solid-state battery technology.
The Government has made the UK's largest single commitment to battery R&D of £452 million to 2030 in the new Battery Innovation Programme (BIP). This programme builds on the Faraday Battery Challenge to drive cross-sector innovation in emerging and next generation technologies, including Solid-State Batteries. BIP will target technical skills gaps to develop engineers and scientists of the future, connect academic researchers with UK industry, and fund investor partnerships that improve access to investment for innovative battery companies ready to commercialise and scale in the UK.This sits alongside DRIVE35, our long-term £2.5 billion commitment to zero emission vehicle manufacturing which provides capital support and additional R&D funding for strategic vehicle technologies, accelerating their commercial scale-up.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Chinese market dumping of (a) electric vehicles and (b) internal combustion engine vehicles on UK automotive sector.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the UK’s investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including dumping.I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA if they believe they are being injured by dumped goods.While the Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to industries from unfair trading practices, and regularly engages with the automotive sector, I am not aware any application to the TRA at this time.
How much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.
Since 4 July 2024, the Department for Business and Trade and its arm’s length bodies have spent £9,066.00 on the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities.The Department and its arm’s length bodies have not purchased any electric vehicles since 4 July 2024.
What support his Department is providing to UK companies in the (a) events and (b) logistics sectors affected by EU visa and travel restrictions under the Schengen 90/180-day rule.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recognises the challenges UK businesses face in complying with the Schengen 90/180 day rule. I note many of these stem from the botched Brexit deal which he supported. Any changes to the rule are a matter for Member States and the EU. However, DBT publishes guidance for UK nationals travelling to the EU and EFTA countries for business purposes (Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for work - GOV.UK). DBT will continue to listen to concerns raised by businesses affected by these rules, to advocate for UK companies abroad, and to explore mutually beneficial improvements to short-term business mobility between the UK and EU.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK–US trade deal on bioethanol imports on the UK’s sustainable aviation fuel sector.
As part of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK created a preferential duty-free quota for imports of US ethanol of 1.4bn litres per year. The UK already imports a significant amount of ethanol from the US. DBT officials continue to work closely with other government departments to monitor and assess risks across the supply chain. The Government is actively supporting the Sustainable Aviation Fuel sector. We have allocated £63m in this financial year to support SAF producers through the Advanced Fuels Fund and committed further support throughout the Spending Review period.
What recent discussions he has had with the kitchen manufacturing industry on (a) demand, (b) fixed costs and (c) access to (i) investment and (ii) restructuring support.
The department has not held recent specific discussions with the kitchen manufacturing industry regarding demand, fixed costs, or access to investment and restructuring support.However, the department maintains regular engagement with manufacturing sectors across the economy through various forums and stakeholder meetings. This includes addressing broader business concerns such as energy costs, supply chain resilience, and access to finance.The government remains committed to supporting UK manufacturing, including through the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan and the British Business Bank's investment programmes and business support services that are available to all manufacturing sectors.
What estimate he has made of the cost to the civil service of the requirement in the Employment Rights Bill to provide (a) additional facility time to trade unions and (b) facility time for equality representatives.
In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the trade union-related measures within the Employment Rights Bill and these are available here: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62769 on Companies House: Databases, whether Companies House plans to remove entry 08881386 from the register.
Companies House will take appropriate action using the powers available whenever suspicious information is brought to its attention or identified by internal checks.The company in question was dissolved in 2018 and does not form part of the Register of Companies, though its records will remain available for 20 years.Companies House will act to remove inaccurate information relating to the company in question from the public records.
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of new packaging regulations on the cost of producing draught and bottled beer; and whether those impacts were taken into account when setting beer duty rates.
The Government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole.Decisions on tax policy, including beer duty rates, are made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at fiscal events. The Treasury welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.