Written questions by Perkins.

What assessment his Department had made of the potential merits of including the metals recycling industry on the list of eligible sectors for the forthcoming British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

The Government recently closed a consultation on eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) where businesses were invited to share their views on the proposed methodology. Decisions on eligibility will now be taken to ensure the scheme is properly geared towards boosting growth in the economy; through attracting investment in Industrial Strategy frontier manufacturing sectors and foundational manufacturing industries that supply key inputs to the Industrial Strategy frontier sectors.The Industrial Strategy frontier and foundational sectors were selected following the Government’s consultation of the Modern Industrial Strategy in the autumn of 2024.

When the UK Steel Council will next meet.

The Steel Council was re-established in 2025 to support the development of the forthcoming steel strategy. The list of members can be found using the following link [ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plan-to-secure-the-long-term-future-of-steelmaking-and-safeguard-steel-communities] and includes the British Metals Recycling Association and UK Steel which represent parts of the steel supply chain.We have committed to revisiting the role and membership of the Council upon publication of the strategy. The date of the next Steel Council meeting is yet to be set, but we continue to engage closely with the sector, including the wider supply chain, on key issues. The Minister for Industry and the Minister for Trade met with steel industry supply chain companies on 10 November 2025 and 19 January 2026.

Whether the UK Steel Council includes representatives from the steel industry supply chain.

The Steel Council was re-established in 2025 to support the development of the forthcoming steel strategy. The list of members can be found using the following link [ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plan-to-secure-the-long-term-future-of-steelmaking-and-safeguard-steel-communities] and includes the British Metals Recycling Association and UK Steel which represent parts of the steel supply chain.We have committed to revisiting the role and membership of the Council upon publication of the strategy. The date of the next Steel Council meeting is yet to be set, but we continue to engage closely with the sector, including the wider supply chain, on key issues. The Minister for Industry and the Minister for Trade met with steel industry supply chain companies on 10 November 2025 and 19 January 2026.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the British Metals Recycling Association’s report entitled Assessing the impact of potential restrictions on UK recycled metals exports, published in August 2025.

The Government acknowledges the UK steel sector's growing need for high-quality scrap supply. We are committed to collaborating with the supply chain to foster sector growth whilst maintaining a fair market for all stakeholders. The British Metals Recycling Association’s August 2025 report provides valuable insights, which we are considering as we progress policy options in this area. We continue to engage with all relevant parties to ensure our approach supports both industry growth and the wider UK economy.

Whether he has made an assessment of whether (a) Elbit Systems UK and (b) Forge Solutions have supplied arms to Israel.

The Government has suspended all export licences for equipment that we assess could be used in military operations in Gaza, with the exception of the special measures that we have taken with regard to the global F-35 programme. We have implemented that suspension and continue to refuse all relevant licence applications on the same basis.The Government recently published extensive information on extant export licences to Israel, available at: Export control licensing management information for Israel - GOV.UK. Specific detail on the assessment of individual companies’ licences is not regularly provided as this is commercially sensitive and provided in confidence by companies acting fully within the law – but all licences granted to UK exporters for Israel are within the scope of our current suspension, and in line with the requirements of our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of increasing parental bereavement leave from two weeks to four weeks.

The entitlement to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay represents a floor, not a ceiling, and the Government strongly encourages employers to go beyond the statutory minimum wherever they are able to. The Government is also committed to taking a holistic look at the parental leave and pay system to consider how it can better support working families via the Parental Leave Review, which launched in July and will run for 18 months. All current parental leave and pay entitlements are in scope of the review, including Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay.