Written questions by Murray.

Whether he plans to review the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to protect consumers from losing access to paid-for digital content when support for (a) devices and (b) platforms is withdrawn.

The department currently has no plans to review the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA).Under the CRA, goods or digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and as described by the seller. A trader can upgrade, fix, enhance and improve the features of, or add new features to, digital content so long as it continues to match any description given by the trader. It must also continue to conform with any pre-contract information as to main characteristics, functionality, and compatibility provided by the trader.

What steps his Department is taking to support the pottery and ceramics sector with industrial energy costs.

The Government is aware of the pressure of high industrial energy costs on the ceramics industry, including the pottery sector. A small number of electricity-intensive ceramics businesses, including in the technical, advanced, and brick sectors, will benefit from the recent uplift to the Network Charging Compensation Scheme. Some advanced and technical ceramics businesses will benefit from future eligibility within the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. Department for Business and Trade officials regularly engage with ceramics businesses and the sector’s main trade association, Ceramics UK, to explore how other ceramics sectors can be supported.

With reference to the Answer of 27 March 2026 to Question 122950 on Small Businesses: Coronavirus, whether he plans to publish a Scotland-specific assessment of the adequacy of financial support available to people in Scotland who lost their businesses during the covid-19 pandemic, including support delivered through UK Government-backed schemes.

Administration of Covid-19 grants was devolved in Scotland. A Scotland-specific report would therefore be a matter for the Scottish Government.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support available to people who lost their businesses during the covid-19 pandemic.

DBT published an evaluation report of the impact of the Covid-19 Business Support Grant Schemes in England and the British Business Bank has published a three year evaluation of the Covid-19 Loan Guarantee Schemes. These can be found at Evaluation of the Local Authority COVID-19 Business Support Grant Schemes and Evaluation of the COVID-19 Loan Guarantee Schemes (Year 3 Report) | British Business Bank

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) postal provision in Scotland, (b) postal provision in Mid Dunbartonshire constituency and (c) Royal Mail delivery services for time-sensitive correspondence, including medical information.

The government does not collect or hold this information. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has a duty to secure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. It monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.

What strategic steps his Department is taking to protect (a) SMEs and (b) other UK exporters from the compounded impact of (i) new tariffs, (ii) customs charges and (iii) administrative burdens in the context of the removal of the US de minimis tariff exemption for small packages; and how this aligns with the Government’s broader (A) trade and (B) industrial policy objectives.

My department is engaging with businesses to monitor impacts on small and medium-sized Businesses (SMEs) from the removal of the US de minimis exemption. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with US counterparts to seek further clarity.We remain fully committed to empowering SMEs to thrive in international markets, through our wide-ranging export support under the Business Growth Service. This aligns with our Trade Strategy objectives to help businesses navigate requirements such as customs and tariffs. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US, whilst other counterparts initially suspended services.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of employment protections for individuals engaged on zero-hour contracts.

The Government does not believe that individuals engaged on zero-hours contracts currently benefit from sufficient employment protections.The Government is addressing this through the Employment Rights Bill, by ensuring that employers have to offer qualifying workers guaranteed hours. The Bill will also require employers to offer shifts with reasonable notice and make cancellation payments if they cancel, move or curtail shifts at short notice.This Government is introducing other landmark reforms in the Employment Rights Bill, including day one protection from unfair dismissal, better protection from sexual harassment and improved Statutory Sick Pay.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the individual opt-out agreement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 on levels of exploitation in low-paid employment.

A review of the impact of the Working Time Regulations on the UK labour market was undertaken by the Coalition Government in 2014. It found a decline since 1998 in the incidence of long-hours working despite the existence of the opt-out, and a general trend towards shorter working hours. It also found that the vast majority of long-hours workers would not have wanted to work fewer than 48 hours per week if it meant less pay, and that long-hours working was generally more prevalent in high income and highly skilled occupations compared to lower income and medium and low-skilled occupations.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the individual opt-out agreement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 on employee protections.

A review of the impact of the Working Time Regulations on the UK labour market was undertaken by the Coalition Government in 2014. It found a decline since 1998 in the incidence of long-hours working despite the existence of the opt-out, and a general trend towards shorter working hours. It also found that the vast majority of long-hours workers would not have wanted to work fewer than 48 hours per week if it meant less pay, and that there appeared to be broad based support for the opt-out amongst UK business, long-hours workers, and the wider public.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the bounce back loan scheme implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of repayment.

The British Business Bank is undertaking a multi-year evaluation of the Covid-19 loan schemes, looking at whether the schemes met their objectives. The Year 2 evaluation report was published in November 2023 and shows that the schemes met their primary objectives of unlocking credit for businesses at scale and speed, reaching just over a quarter of small businesses in the UK. Evaluation evidence to date suggest that the schemes have had a positive impact on business outcomes like survival, turnover and employment.Covid loan guarantee scheme performance data is published on a quarterly basis. As at 30 September 2024, within the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, £6.61 billion had been fully repaid by borrowers and £12.10 billion was being repaid on schedule.

What support the Government provides to (a) individuals and (b) businesses impacted by rogue operators in the building industry.

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets out the standards consumers can expect when a trader supplies goods and services, including building work, and remedies if these rights are breached. Consumers can seek redress through local authority trading standards or the Small Claims Court. Ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry is the best way to protect commercial clients. The Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced competence requirements for both individuals and businesses working in the built environment.