Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Griffith this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 240 · Department for Business and Trade
How many public contracts awarded by his Department since 5 July 2024 have required suppliers to recognise trade unions as a condition of contract award.
The Department of Business and Trade uses Government standard contract templates and these do not contain a specific requirement to recognise trade unions as a condition of a contract award.
Whether any staff in his Department have been allocated to negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States.
DBT's Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations (TPIN) Group operates a flexible resourcing model to maximise efficiency across its priorities. The Department has committed to delivering six Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations alongside leading work on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), work on the U.S. and the reset of the UK-EU relationship, and multilateral, implementation and market access work.
Whether he plans to change the number of staff in his Department working on new free trade agreements.
DBT's Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations (TPIN) Group operates a flexible resourcing model to maximise efficiency across its priorities. The Department has committed to delivering six Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations alongside leading work on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), work on the U.S. and the reset of the UK-EU relationship, and multilateral, implementation and market access work.
On what date the Incorporated Companies in the UK statistical release for October to December 2024 will be published.
Companies House aims to release the specific statistics for October to December 2024 by the end of February 2025. Further information about the reason for the delay will accompany the statistics when they are published. Updates on this matter are available on the gov.uk website:Incorporated companies in the UK October to December 2024 - Official statistics announcement - GOV.UK
Pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26598 on Rules of Origin, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the economic impact on the UK of joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin.
The Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade meet regularly to discuss a wide range of pertinent issues, including through relevant Cabinet Committee meetings. At this time we do not currently have plans to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin, and we will not be giving a running commentary on specific discussions taking place. Any decisions will follow a robust and pragmatic consideration of benefits, risks and the national interest.
What discussions he has had with the Public and Commercial Services trade union on the proposed industrial action by workers in his Department.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union members involved in industrial action are employees of G4S and ISS.The Government Property Agency (an executive agency of the Cabinet Office) is the contracting authority for the facilities management services delivered through these contracts. No discussions have taken place between Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the PCS on this issue.
What has been the cost of the UK Trade Envoy programme since its inception; and what was the cost of the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme in each of the last 5 years in which it operated.
As the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoys have just been appointed minimal costs have occurred. Costs of the Prime Minister Trade Envoy programme for the past five years is in the table below.2020/20212021/20222022/20232023/20242024/2025£12,106£106,659£203,642£228,583£27,809
What meetings (a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the new American administration on a potential UK-US trade deal.
The UK looks forward to working with President Trump and his administration to deepen our trading relationship the US. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy.The US Government has clear rules that preclude other governments from formally engaging with members of the US Cabinet before they are officially confirmed by the Senate. We are still waiting for both the nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick and the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, to be confirmed by the Senate.
Whether the Minister for Investment has held meetings with Doug Gurr since 4 July 2024.
Details of ministerial meetings are routinely published on Gov.uk.
Whether (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had discussions with representatives from the European Union on the Pan-Euro-Mediterranian Convention on Rules of Origin.
We welcome the positive, constructive tone from Commissioner Šefčovič last week on this issue. We are resetting the relationship with our European friends to tackle barriers to help drive investment and growth and are open to looking at PEM if that reflects business and partner sentiment, but at this time we do not currently have plans to join.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranian Convention on Rules of Origin.
We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade – within our manifesto red lines – because we take a pragmatic view as to where the national interest lies. We are therefore open to looking at PEM if that reflects business and partner sentiment, but we do not currently have plans to join. Rules of origin is a complex area and there are many factors that influence how businesses experience using these rules, from the paperwork involved to the complexity of their own supply chains.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20204 on Nissan, what his planned timetable is for publishing the updated transparency data on meetings.
The Department for Business and Trade follows the publication schedule set by No. 10
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 10261 on Board of Trade, whether the review into the Board of Trade has concluded; and what his planned timetable is for making a decision on the (a) appointment and (b) future direction of the Board.
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) is currently in the process of appointing new Board of Trade (BoT) advisors. The advisers will be announced when an agreement has been reached, and advisers have been formally appointed.The BoT will continue as a key trade promotion and trade advocacy vehicle for DBT in support of the Government's Trade Strategy, exports and growth agenda. The inaugural meeting of the BoT will take place following the appointment of new advisors.
Who the advisers are to the Board of Trade.
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) is currently in the process of appointing new Board of Trade (BoT) advisors. The advisers will be announced when an agreement has been reached, and advisers have been formally appointed.The BoT will continue as a key trade promotion and trade advocacy vehicle for DBT in support of the Government's Trade Strategy, exports and growth agenda. The inaugural meeting of the BoT will take place following the appointment of new advisors.
Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21472 on Industrial Strategy Council: Public Appointments, if he will provide details of the number of people that were considered for appointment to the Industrial Strategy Council.
Members of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council were selected following the Cabinet Office Guidance on Direct Ministerial Appointments. As per this guidance, Ministers and departmental officials identified a wide range of potential candidates that fit the agreed criteria for the role, from a variety of backgrounds, representing business leaders, policy experts and trade union leaders.
If he will publish the list of attendees of the Indian Business Leaders delegation meeting of 18 December 2024.
The delegation included Bharti Enterprises, Bharat Semi Systems, Biocon Group, Blue Star Limited, Essar Group, Hero Enterprise, Jet Synthesis, Piramal Group, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, TVS Motor Company, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, and UPL Limited.
How many people were considered for appointment to the Industrial Strategy Council.
Appointments to the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council were made through direct ministerial appointment by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Council’s membership includes senior business leaders, poli...
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Fleet Solid Support Ship programme.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has maintained regular communication with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Fleet Solid Support Ship programme. Together, they have worked closely with commercial partners Navantia UK and Harland and W...
Whether he has visited Harland and Wolff in Belfast.
The Secretary of State has not yet had the opportunity to visit the Harland and Wolff Belfast site but looks forward to doing so in the future. However, as the Minister for Industry, I had the privilege of visiting Northern Ireland on 19th December to obs...
Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the potential impact of the Devolution White Paper on support for small b
Ministers from the Department for Business and Trade regularly engage with colleagues from across Government, including from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on support for small businesses. As committed to in the English Devolut...