Written questions by Farron.

What plans he has to support business investment and growth in the industries identified in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy over the next ten years.

Our modern Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential. It is about creating a connected, high-skilled, economically growing country, where opportunity, skills and wealth are spread fairly, and where every person and every business has the chance to flourish. Alongside sector plans containing interventions for each of the growth-driving sectors, we are making it quicker and easier to start and scale a business and making it more profitable to invest in Britain. The Industrial Strategy delivers on the biggest asks from businesses, from expanding access to finance, supporting skills and access to talent, to supporting cheaper energy over the long term.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the Modern Industrial Strategy applies equally to rural areas.

The Industrial Strategy focuses efforts on the city regions and clusters across the UK where the growth-driving sectors are concentrated, including in rural areas. The Strategy introduces targeted measures in rural areas such as enhanced support for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth and Anglesey freeports specialising in Clean Energy Industries and a regional skills pilot to deliver clean power in Aberdeenshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire. Alongside this, all regions and nations across the UK benefit from the Industrial Strategy’s national policy offer, which addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by businesses.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the interests of UK (a) beef and (b) ethanol producers are represented in the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.

On 8 May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the US. The US has committed to further negotiations, and we will continue our extensive engagement with businesses from across the UK throughout these remaining negotiations.For the first time ever, this deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US market. We are engaging extensively with the agricultural and food sector and will put the UK’s national interest first.Senior officials from the Department for Business and Trade have been meeting representatives of the domestic bioethanol industry, and the Secretary of State has met with bioethanol businesses. We are committed to working with the domestic bioethanol industry about their concerns.

How many staff worked for the Grocery Code Adjudicator in (a) 2015, (b) 2020, (c) 2022 and (d) 2024.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and his office is funded via a levy charged on the regulated retailers. Under the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013, the GCA may second staff from any other public bodies. GCA staff numbers, at 31 March each year, as stated in their Annual Reports and Accounts, were:a) 2015/2016 – 5 secondeesb) 2020/2021 – 4 secondeesc) 2022/2023 – 7 secondeesd) 2023/2024 – 8 secondeesAs of 26 February 2025 there are 9 secondees.These reports are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/gca-annual-reports-and-accounts

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the prevention of exploitation of migrant workers by employers that threaten to cancel visas.

The Employment Rights Bill will provide a new baseline of security for all workers, including those working on a visa. These protections include day one protection from unfair dismissal, increasing protection from harassment, strengthening Statutory Sick Pay and ending exploitative zero hours contacts.The new Fair Work Agency will help ensure new minimum standards are being upheld across the country, by increasing awareness and accessibility of workers’ rights by providing a single point of contact, as well as supporting businesses to access clearer rules, information and advice to comply with the law.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the employment rights of migrant workers.

The Employment Rights Bill will provide a new baseline of security for all workers, including those working on a visa. These protections include day one protection from unfair dismissal, increasing protection from harassment, strengthening Statutory Sick Pay and ending exploitative zero hours contacts.The new Fair Work Agency will help ensure new minimum standards are being upheld across the country, by increasing awareness and accessibility of workers’ rights by providing a single point of contact, as well as supporting businesses to access clearer rules, information and advice to comply with the law.