Written questions by Raja.

What steps his Department is taking to protect consumers from rogue builders.

This Government is working to ensure we have a high-quality and professional construction industry, with consumer protection at the heart of this. TrustMark, sponsored by the Department and licenced by the Government, is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home. In addition, the Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced competence requirements for both individuals and businesses working in the built environment.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of UK businesses that have relocated overseas since July 2024; and what information his Department holds on the reasons for those relocations.

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can support businesses moving forward.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that estate agents comply with existing consumer protection law; to help support effective enforcement action against rogue operators who mislead consumers; and to help ensure regulations on responsible businesses are not burdensome.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), protects consumers from unfair trading practices and prohibits traders, including estate agents, from omitting (or providing unclear, untimely or obscure) material information to consumers in any ‘invitation to purchase’.The DMCCA strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.The CMA has published updated guidance on price transparency and unfair commercial practices to help businesses comply.

What his policy is on seeking a UK-Mercosur free trade agreement.

Mercosur countries are important partners for the UK and I am personally committed to strengthening our bilateral trading relationships to remove barriers to trade and help grow UK exports. I recently visited Brazil, where I signed agreements on customs, regulatory reform and export credit and pushed Brazil to complete the Double Taxation Agreement; and Argentina to further UK interests on whisky, financial services and air services. The UK is not currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur. Any decision to seek to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur would be communicated to the House in the usual way.

What steps his Department is taking to protect consumers from fraudulent business practices.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is implementing the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act which strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.The DMCC Act also bans the buying, selling, and publishing of fake reviews, and restates existing prohibitions on misleading consumers in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008).DBT also funds Citizens Advice to provide the consumer service which supports consumers to resolve disputes and assert their rights.

What steps his Department is taking to support businesses that have experienced financial losses in relation to restrictions on trade with Russia.

Our sanctions are designed to minimise impact on the UK and avoid unintended consequences. We have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate, and wind-down periods when some sanctions are introduced. We have also published impact assessments alongside all Russia sanctions legislation.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) targeted tax relief and (b) other financial support measures to support businesses that have had to source materials or services from alternative suppliers at higher costs as a result of restrictions on trade with Russia.

The Department for Business and Trade does not provide financial support in relation to sanctions. Where possible, we have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate, and wind-down periods when some sanctions are introduced. UK businesses can access a wealth of online export support via Great.gov.uk and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes in the regulation of zero hours contracts on average (a) staffing and (b) other costs for SMEs.

The potential impact of the proposed changes through the right to guaranteed hours, the right to advance notice of shifts and the right to payment for short notice shift cancellation, curtailment or movement are set out in the Government’s Impact Assessments. These are published at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.

What steps he is taking to ensure that private hire drivers (a) are not exploited and (b) receive (i) appropriate pay and (ii) equal employment rights.

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure those they engage receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled. Entitlement to employment rights is determined by an individual’s employment status. Private hire drivers can fall under any one of the three statuses: employee, limb (b) worker, or self-employed. We have committed to consult on moving towards a simpler two-part framework that differentiates between workers and the genuinely self-employed. If individuals believe they are not being afforded the rights they are entitled to, they can contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service for free and impartial advice.

What steps his Department is taking to work with local authorities to enforce noise curfews during fireworks.

Existing legislation already controls the sale, availability, and use of fireworks. For example, there is an 11pm curfew in place for the use of fireworks, with later exceptions only for the traditional firework periods. Using fireworks outside the curfew hours is a criminal offence, enforced by the police, and can lead to imprisonment and a substantial fine. Local authorities are also responsible for investigating any noise or nuisance issues brought to their attention under the Environmental Protection Act. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their specific circumstances.

What steps the Government is taking to attract foreign direct investment into the UK’s creative industries.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has dedicated resource within its Creative Industries team in the UK and in key markets across the world, focused on developing and delivering foreign direct investment and promoting the UK creative sector and the investment opportunity for international businesses. DBT works closely with the Office for Investment on major investment projects linked to the creative industries. We provide support through the British Film Commission to grow high-end TV inward investment. We promote the UK as a destination for foreign direct investment through targeted inward delegations to the UK and engagement with potential investors at key international creative industries trade shows working closely with external partners, such as the British Film Commission, the UK Interactive Entertainment Association and Innovate UK. DBT will support the upcoming Investment Summit to promote the opportunity represented by our world class creative sector.

Whether financial support is available for firms looking to invest in the creative industries within the UK.

The Creative Industries Tax Reliefs and Expenditure Credits have been highly effective in attracting investment into the UK creative industries, especially for feature film, high end television (HETV), video games and animation. The British Film Institute reported that inward investment into Film and HETV production in 2023 totalled £3.1 billion, representing 74 per cent of UK production expenditure. The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) are available for those looking to invest in start-up and scale-up creative industries businesses offering tax reliefs to individual investors.