Written questions by Griffith.

How much his Department has spent on advertising the Industrial Strategy in (a) newspapers, (b) other print media, (c) online and (d) in total.

Marketing including paid advertising is necessary to reach a target audience of senior business decision makers, raising awareness of the UK’s new modern industrial strategy and the opportunities it presents for business growth. The Department of Business and Trade declares all advertising and media spend above £25,000 through its monthly transparency reporting process. These figures are published on gov.uk.

When she plans to publish Ministerial transparency data on hospitality in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Transparency data on hospitality received by HM Treasury Ministers can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality

When he plans to respond to correspondence of (a) 2 April, (b) 6 May and (c) 12 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

I replied to the Hon. Member on 6 June 2025. The Department sent a further copy of this reply to the Hon. Member on 10 July 2025.

What comparative assessment he has made of levels of regulation on businesses in (a) the UK and (b) other G20 countries.

The UK is an excellent place to do business, and in 2023 scored in the top 3 G20 countries on regulatory quality according to the World Bank [Regulatory Quality: Percentile Rank | Data]. However, businesses have told us that regulation can be too complex, stifle progress and innovation, with 45% businesses agreeing that regulation was an obstacle to their success in 2022, according to DBT’s Business Perceptions Survey. Our Action Plan for Regulation aims to reduce these burdens for businesses, including by cutting the administrative costs for business by 25% by the end of this Parliament.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with industry representatives on the impact of data protection requirements on SMEs.

Yes, my department has regularly engaged with businesses, trade associations and other interest groups during passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act. Many of the provisions in the Act are designed to simplify the data protection legislation for organisations, while promoting innovation and economic growth, and maintaining high data protection standards.My officials and I will continue to engage with stakeholders in the months ahead as we implement the Act. An impact assessment can be found here.

What steps he is taking to ensure that small businesses have input into Departmental regulatory consultations.

For regulation to be effective, it must be created in partnership with businesses. To support this, the government initiated the Invest 2035 call for evidence from key stakeholders, including small businesses, providing input on where regulation can be reformed across our key growth-driving sectors to help encourage growth and innovation.These responses informed our Modern Industrial Strategy published last month, as well as the Government’s Action Plan for Regulation, published in March. We are continuing to engage with SMEs, via a dedicated forum chaired by Minister Thomas, which will directly inform our forthcoming SME Strategy.

Whether he has had discussions with devolved Administrations on coordinating business regulation to reduce duplication.

To deliver growth across the UK, and support businesses and consumers, UK Government officials have been engaging with officials from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and Northern Ireland Executive, on its Action Plan to overhaul our regulatory system, including the target to reduce the administrative cost of regulation to business by 25% by the end of this Parliament. Whilst the territorial scope relates to reserved matters, the Government is committed to collaborating with the devolved governments, including at Ministerial level using intergovernmental structures where appropriate, to ensure that reforms benefit the maximum number of people around the UK.

Whether he has made an estimate of the time spent by businesses on regulatory paperwork annually.

Determining the cumulative administrative costs of regulation that businesses face has not been done for 15 years. That’s why we are undertaking a baselining exercise to understand the administrative costs of regulation to businesses. This baseline will inform how we implement the target of reducing administrative burdens by 25% by the end of the Parliament, as announced in the March Action Plan for Regulation. We have considered different analytical options and looked to identify the most proportionate methodology to calculate the baseline for costs. We will announce a final baseline in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the fiscal impact of introducing a wealth tax.

The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 64503 on British Steel: Scunthorpe, if he will publish (a) the findings of the independent assessment and (b) a summary of the findings of the independent assessment.

The Government does not intend to publish the findings of the independent assessment as they are commercially sensitive.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of carbon reporting requirements on businesses.

Building on a summary of responses to a Call for Evidence published in November 2024 , DESNZ has commissioned an evaluation of the SECR regulations, which we expect to publish in early 2026. DESNZ is also undertaking an internal review to assess opportunities to streamline carbon reporting requirements to reduce the administrative burden placed on businesses, supporting the Department for Business and Trade’s Non-Financial Reporting (NFR) review and cross-Government Regulation Action Plan.The Government has committed to delivering the foundations of a world-leading sustainable finance framework to drive investment in the green transition and deliver economic growth. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has worked closely with the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury on how best to take forward transition plan and emissions reporting requirements, with recently published consultations on these topics now live.

If she will make an assessment of the potential fiscal impact of introducing an exit tax payable upon persons ending their UK tax residency.

HMRC publishes regular estimates of the direct impacts of illustrative tax changes in its Direct effects of illustrative tax changes publication. However, the Government does not routinely publish costings for hypothetical tax changes outside of this.

What recent steps his Department has taken to reduce cross-border trade processes for small businesses.

There are a number of different Departments and agencies with responsibility for cross-border processes. The Government’s Trade Strategy sets out how HMG will continue to work to support business, including through DBT working with industry on initiatives to improve the uptake of Electronic Trade Documents to reduce paperwork and administrative burdens for small businesses trading across borders

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to parental leave entitlements on small and medium-sized enterprises, as part of the ongoing review.

The Parental Leave and Pay Review launched on 1 July fulfilling our manifesto commitment. It will explore how the system can better support working families while still balancing the needs of businesses.As part of this, the review will consider opportunities to make the process surrounding parental leave simpler for both businesses and parents.The Department has not made an assessment at this stage of any impacts. We will be engaging with groups representing small and medium businesses throughout the review. Any reforms proposed following the conclusion of the review will consider the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Whether the parental leave review will examine options for reducing administrative burdens on employers in managing statutory parental leave and pay.

The Parental Leave and Pay Review launched on 1 July fulfilling our manifesto commitment. It will explore how the system can better support working families while still balancing the needs of businesses.As part of this, the review will consider opportunities to make the process surrounding parental leave simpler for both businesses and parents.The Department has not made an assessment at this stage of any impacts. We will be engaging with groups representing small and medium businesses throughout the review. Any reforms proposed following the conclusion of the review will consider the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.

What private businesses she has consulted on the business rates system.

The Government published a Discussion Paper at Autumn Budget 2024 setting out priority areas for business rates reform. This paper invited industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. The Treasury received over 160 written responses to that Discussion Paper and met with over 250 stakeholders from a range of different sectors. On 17 February, the Government published a ‘forward look’ of the expected timeline for reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024, and how stakeholders should engage with the Government on business rates reform going forwards. In the summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.

Whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the ONS's classification of British Steel as part of the public non-financial corporations subsector.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade meets with the Chancellor regularly on a range of issues, including steel. Following the passing of emergency legislation in the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 on 12 April, the ONS informed my departmental officials that it would undertake a classification assessment of British Steel Limited. British Steel Limited has been classified to the public non-financial corporations subsector. Further information on this decision can be obtained directly from ONS’s website.

What assessment he has made of the lifespan of the blast furnaces at British Steel in Scunthorpe.

British Steel’s remaining blast furnaces were built in 1938 and 1954 respectively and are approaching the end of their operational life.An independent assessment was undertaken in late 2024 to help inform decision-making on their future use.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 June to Question 61021 on Taxation: Domicil, how many P85 forms have been submitted in each month in the last five years.

The table below shows the number of P85 forms submitted to HMRC electronically each month between May 2020 and May 2025. P85 forms are submitted by taxpayers who are not intending to submit a self-assessment tax return. Individuals who file through Self-Assessment (e.g. those with other sources of income such as self-employment or those claiming non-domiciled status) do not need to submit a P85 form. Counts of submitted P85 forms in March 2024 and September 2024 are labelled as [x] due to incomplete data. MonthP85 iFormsMay 20202,900Jun 20202,800Jul 20203,200Aug 20204,100Sep 20205,300Oct 20204,400Nov 20204,600Dec 20204,100Jan 20214,000Feb 20212,800Mar 20213,200Apr 20213,000May 20212,500Jun 20212,300Jul 20212,600Aug 20212,800Sep 20213,300Oct 20213,300Nov 20212,900Dec 20212,400Jan 20223,200Feb 20222,300Mar 20222,500Apr 20222,200May 20222,000Jun 20221,900Jul 20222,200Aug 20222,700Sep 20222,900Oct 20223,000Nov 20222,800Dec 20222,300Jan 20233,700Feb 20232,800Mar 20233,200Apr 20233,100May 20232,900Jun 20232,800Jul 20233,400Aug 20233,400Sep 20233,800Oct 20234,100Nov 20233,700Dec 20233,200Jan 20244,500Feb 20243,400Mar 2024[x]Apr 20244,100May 20243,400Jun 20243,400Jul 20243,900Aug 20244,300Sep 2024[x]Oct 20245,800Nov 20243,400Dec 20245,000Jan 20256,400Feb 20254,900Mar 20255,500Apr 20255,300May 20254,500 Individuals can either use the online system to submit a P85 iForm or fill in a paper form and submit it by post. Postal form data for the last five years is not available. The data provided in the table above contains only customers who have submitted iForms.

What estimate she has made of the number of (a) higher rate and (b) additional rate taxpayers that have left the United Kingdom in the period from 4 July 2024 to 31 May 2025.

Taxpayers are not always required to inform HM Revenue and Customs when they leave the UK. Some taxpayers outside of Self Assessment might file a P85 form after leaving the UK, but only where they are seeking to claim a repayment of income tax. Taxpayers in Self Assessment can indicate that they have become non-resident after leaving the UK, but tax returns for the 2024 to 2025 and the 2025 to 2026 tax years are not due to be received by HMRC until 31 January of 2026 and 2027 respectively.