Written questions by Niblett.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Microsoft's bundling of Copilot into software licensing contracts on (a) competition in the software market and (b) costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department is considering regulatory measures to prevent Meta withdrawing business pages without due process.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to include (a) farmers and (b) food production.

Eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is informed by the Government’s Industrial Strategy and by the recent consultation on scheme eligibility. Decisions on eligibility have been taken to drive economic growth in line with the Industrial Strategy, by targeting manufacturing frontier industries within its growth sectors, as well as manufacturing foundational industries that provide important inputs to them, where electricity costs most directly affect international competitiveness. Farming and food production are therefore not within the scope of the Scheme.

Whether his Department is considering regulatory measures to prevent Meta withdrawing business pages without due process.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential competitive implications of capping prescription fees while major veterinary corporate groups also own large online pharmacies.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of this issue. Competition issues in the veterinary services market are currently being examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA’s initial analysis of a potential cap on prescription fees can be found in its provisional decision report. It is expected to publish its final decision by March.

What steps he is taking to ensure that locksmiths meet (a) legal, (b) professional and (c) security standards.

The UK’s framework for occupational regulation upholds public protection, while ensuring regulatory burdens on industry are proportionate. Although the locksmithing profession is not subject to statutory regulation, several self-regulating trade associations and accreditation schemes exist within the industry and provide training, conduct criminal record checks, and inspect their members. The government keeps the occupational regulation regime under review and continues to monitor any concerns raised by the public or the industry, including those related to locksmithing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 97021, what proportion of his Department's expenditure on Microsoft Software licenses and services was allocated to a) new service implementations and b) renewal or maintenance of existing system; and how this compares to the previous year’s expenditure in each category.

The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. We do not routinely capture or report expenditure on Microsoft software licences and services split between new service implementations and renewal or maintenance of existing systems. A year-on-year comparison is therefore not available.

What discussions he has had with small and medium-sized enterprises on the potential impact of restrictive software licensing practices on their businesses.

Ministers regularly meet with businesses of all sizes. Government is committed to delivering a competitive and prosperous digital economy. That is why we implemented the new digital markets regime on 1 January 2025. The Competition and Markets Authority now has bespoke powers to increase competition in digital markets.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of vertical integration within large veterinary groups, including ownership of pharmacies, laboratories, out-of-hours providers, crematoria and referral centres on market competition and consumer choice.

Responsibility for investigating individual and market-wide competition issues, including vertical integration, falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as the UK’s independent competition authority. The CMA is currently conducting a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that veterinary clients are able to make informed choices in a market where many practices trade under local-sounding names despite corporate ownership.

The CMA is currently conducting a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The final report is expected early next year and will set out the actions the CMA has decided to take. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for decisions relating to its investigations, including on remedies.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on the decision not to (a) require divestments and (b) impose penalties following its investigation into the veterinary sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s market investigation into veterinary services for household pets is on-going. The final report is expected early next year and will set out the actions the CMA has decided to take. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for decisions relating to its investigations, including on remedies.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of veterinary market consolidation by large veterinary groups on client choice, pricing and local competition.

Responsibility for investigating individual and market-wide competition issues, including consolidation, falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as the UK’s independent competition authority. The CMA is currently conducting a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.

How much his Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend.

The Department for Business and Trade has spent £4.8m on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months, December 2024 to November 2025. This represents 5% of the Department's total Digital, Data & Technology spend.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Competition and Markets Authority’s 5.6% budget reduction on (a) investigating and (b) challenging restrictive software licensing practices.

The June Spending Review set out the CMA's budget from 2026/27. The CMA has embarked on an operational transformation programme to ensure it can continue to deliver impactful outcomes, including in digital markets, while operating within its multi-year funding envelope.The CMA's priorities across its work are set out in its Annual Plan 2025/26, which commits to using the new digital markets competition regime flexibly, proportionately and collaboratively to unlock opportunities for growth across the UK tech sector and the wider economy.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of restrictive software licensing practices on (a) efficiency and (b) innovation in businesses.

There are currently no plans to make such an assessment by the Department. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining software licensing practices as part of its market investigation into cloud services. Its final report must be published by 4 August and Government will review the CMA's findings.

Whether his Department is reviewing (a) the legal framework supporting working parents of children with additional and (b) potential reforms to that legal framework to help improve levels of (i) access to flexible working, (ii) protection from discrimination by association and (iii) availability of adapted childcare support.

The Employment Rights Bill will make flexible working the default, including for working parents. Employers will have to accept flexible working requests unless not reasonably feasible and explain their decision if rejecting requests.The Equality Act 2010 protects people from direct discrimination “by association”.The Dedicated Schools Grant funds special educational and alternative provision. Local authorities distribute SEN Inclusion Funding. Disability Access Funding (DAF) is designed to support disabled children's access to entitlements. In 2025-26, DAF funding will increase to £938 per eligible child. The Government is reviewing SEN funding, looking at funding arrangements and considering whether changes are needed.

Pursuant to the Answer on 4 June 2025 to Question 55787 on Government Departments: Software, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on (a) software licencing and (b) the Government's procurement of software.

The Competition and Markets Authority has been awarded enhanced powers by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (“DMCC”) Act 2024 to protect UK consumers and businesses from unfair or harmful practices by the very largest technology firms.The DMCC Act enables the CMA to provide opportunities to encourage the benefits of investment and innovation from the largest digital firms, while ensuring a level playing-field for the many start-ups and scale-ups across the UK tech sector. This should promote greater innovation, more choice and more competitive process across the sector benefiting UK businesses, consumers and government.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new powers for the Competition and Markets Authority in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to tackle restrictive software licensing on (a) consumers, (b) businesses and (c) the wider economy.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has empowered the Competition and Markets Authority to designate firms which exert significant control in respect of digital activities with “Strategic Market Status” (SMS), following an evidence-based assessment.The CMA can carry out investigations to determine the most appropriate remedies for a specific competition concern. Remedies will ensure designated firms treat businesses and consumers fairly, promote more dynamic markets and help new competitors enter the market. The CMA has already exercised its new powers by launching three SMS investigations into large technology firms in January this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on Government software procurement.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has enhanced the powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to promote competition in digital markets for the benefit of businesses and consumers.Government software procurement is negotiated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the new Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect in February of this year. The new rules under the Act increase flexibility, transparency and accountability.

What steps he plans to take to prevent company directors from dissolving indebted businesses and then establishing a similar business without paying former debts.

The Government expects directors to act lawfully and responsibly in respect of the companies they run and that includes ensuring that liabilities and other obligations are discharged before they apply for a company's voluntary dissolution. Those who fail to do so lay themselves open to the risk of personal liability, director disqualification and, potentially, imprisonment. The Government made a commitment in the Autumn Statement 2024 to increase collaboration between HMRC, Companies House, and the Insolvency Service to tackle those using contrived corporate insolvencies and dissolutions to exploit and defraud customers and creditors.