Written questions by Pochin.

How many businesses entered insolvency in each region of England in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Awaiting answer.

What steps the Government is taking to address the rapid growth in cement imports and the corresponding decline in domestic production.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment has been made of whether public procurement policy adequately supports domestically produced construction materials.

Awaiting answer.

What proportion of cement used in publicly funded infrastructure projects is imported.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the impact of rising cement imports on UK domestic production capacity and employment.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of existing (a) tax, (b) regulatory and (c) carbon-related costs on long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing.

No specific assessment on the impact of existing tax, regulatory or carbon-related costs on long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing has been conducted. However, the Government routinely considers the impact of existing and new polic...

What assessment he has made of the impact of cumulative regulatory and reporting requirements on investment in UK cement manufacturing.

No specific assessment has been made on the impact of cumulative regulatory and reporting requirements on investment in the UK cement industry, however, the Government routinely considers impacts on business when developing new regulations and reporting r...

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of current (a) tax, (b) carbon and (c) regulatory requirements on retention of heavy industry in the UK.

While no specific assessment on the impact of existing tax, regulatory or carbon-related costs on retention of UK heavy industry has been conducted, the Government regularly engages with relevant heavy industry trade associations and businesses to conside...

Why the cement manufacturing sector is not eligible for the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme and whether cement could be included.

I recognise the importance of the cement sector to the UK economy; which will play an essential role in delivering this Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliamentary term. At the last eligibility review for the En...

What assessment his Department has made of trends in cement imports over the last ten years.

The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual businesses to consider issues facing the sector.T...

What steps the Government is taking to reduce the cumulative impact of network charges, policy levies and regulatory costs on industrial electricity bills.

The British Industry Supercharger provides relief on renewable energy levies and network charging costs for eligible energy intensive industrial businesses. On 1 April 2026, the Network Charging Compensation Scheme discount, a component of the British Ind...

What discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses regarding the potential impact of online retail competition on town centre economies.

DBT maintains regular engagement with small business through a range of forums. The Small Business Growth Forum brings together SMEs and representative organisations to develop the department’s strategic approach to supporting small businesses.The departm...

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of small independent barbershops in town centres and high streets.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of trends in the number of small independent barbershops in town centres and high streets.Small independent businesses such as barbershops play a vital role in high streets, supporting local economies, cre...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of tax, regulatory and carbon-related costs on the long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing.

Carbon-related costs deliver long-term investment signals to deliver energy security for UK businesses and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuels. However, we understand that some energy-intensive industries (EII) are facing high industrial electricit...

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of cement imports over the last ten years.

The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement and other foundational industries products. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual cement...

What timetable the Government has set for introducing measures to prevent carbon leakage and unfair competition from overseas cement producers.

To mitigate the risk of carbon leakage, the cement sector will be included in the upcoming UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism when introduced in 2027 to ensure importers face a comparable price to that paid by UK manufacturers. Some cement firms are su...

What assessment his Department has made of the potential regulatory impact of cement and construction product manufacturers on those manufactures profitability.

The Government considers impacts on business when developing new regulations in line with Better Regulation principles. This applies to businesses within the cement and construction product manufacturing industries. While no specific assessment has been m...

What steps he is taking to help reduce the impact of network charges, policy levies and regulatory costs on industrial electricity bills.

From 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs for over 10,000 eligible businesses, reducing costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour. Eligible businesses will be exempt from paying the indirect costs of the Renewables O...

If he will include the cement manufacturing sector in the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.

I recognise the importance of the cement sector to the UK economy; which will play an essential role in delivering this Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliamentary term. The Government intends to review the Ener...