Written questions by Griffith.

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.

With reference to section 180 of the Health and Social Care Act 2022, whether he plans to create a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector, and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach at the earliest opportunity.

With reference to his Department's press notice of 2 September 2023 entitled Consultation launched into unregulated cosmetic procedures, if he will publish the response to the consultation.

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector, and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach at the earliest opportunity.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reducing tool theft.

This government recognises the negative impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living, including small businesses.We are continuing to work with the police-led National Business Crime Centre and industry via the Combined Industries Theft Solutions forum to explore ways to tackle and prevent the theft of tools.Following engagement with the Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group, Thatcham Research agreed to add to their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA), locks and alarms on the back of vans (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van. This is supported by crime prevention advice developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives: Secured by Design - Vans & Tool Theft.A key part of making acquisitive crime less attractive to criminals is making stolen goods harder to sell on. That is why we are working closely with policing and academic leads to examine what more can be done to tackle the disposal markets for stolen goods and reduce the ability to profit from this criminality.The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales on the proportion of incidents that involved tools being stolen in personal theft offences. These estimates are available in Table 3b of Nature of crime: personal and other theft. They provide estimates of theft of tools against individuals, including those who are self-employed but do not cover crimes against commercial premises.

What assessment she has made of the impact of tool theft on (a) tradespeople and (b) small businesses.

This government recognises the negative impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living, including small businesses.We are continuing to work with the police-led National Business Crime Centre and industry via the Combined Industries Theft Solutions forum to explore ways to tackle and prevent the theft of tools.Following engagement with the Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group, Thatcham Research agreed to add to their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA), locks and alarms on the back of vans (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van. This is supported by crime prevention advice developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives: Secured by Design - Vans & Tool Theft.A key part of making acquisitive crime less attractive to criminals is making stolen goods harder to sell on. That is why we are working closely with policing and academic leads to examine what more can be done to tackle the disposal markets for stolen goods and reduce the ability to profit from this criminality.The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales on the proportion of incidents that involved tools being stolen in personal theft offences. These estimates are available in Table 3b of Nature of crime: personal and other theft. They provide estimates of theft of tools against individuals, including those who are self-employed but do not cover crimes against commercial premises.

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 20 January 2025 to Question 23923 on Nissan, if he will provide the schedule for the publication of ministerial transparency data on meetings.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published shortly.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

My Department is not an employer in its own right and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides the Wales Office with employment services and HR policies, such as Paternity Leave. Some staff could qualify for statutory paternity leave on their first day of service because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting its employees in balancing their work and family responsibilities. The FCDO offers paternity leave to all eligible staff, providing them with the flexibility to take time off to support their partners and care for their newborns from the very beginning of their employmentAs with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Ministry of Justice does not offer employees paternity leave from their first day of employment. The Department’s policy on paternity leave aligns with statutory entitlements. To qualify for paternity leave, employees must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks up to the 'qualifying week'. The qualifying week is set out in the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 and is different depending on whether an employee is adopting, is the partner of a birth parent, or is having a child through surrogacy.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Paternity leave is offered from the first working day for employees. Those who have been employed for less than 26 weeks are entitled to one week, and those employed for more than 26 weeks continuously are entitled to two weeks. Those who have worked for another Government Department prior to their arrival at the Department may be eligible for two weeks paternity leave from their first working day.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Northern Ireland Office offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day if the employee has worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before their baby is due.To be eligible for occupational paternity pay, staff must be in paid service at the time the paternity leave starts and have completed at least one year’s paid service in the Civil Service at the expected week of childbirth (EWC).As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Yes, subject to certain eligibility criteria, including having at least 26 weeks’ continuous service ending with the ‘qualifying week’ as set out in the legislation; and continuing to work in the department from the qualifying week until the date the baby is born or is placed for adoption. Some Home Office employees could qualify from their first day of service because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not offer paternity leave to employees as a day one right. To qualify for paternity leave, MOD Civilian staff must have completed 26 weeks of continuous service, extending into the 15th week before the baby is due. In addition, an individual’s average weekly earnings must be at or above the lower earnings limit for National Insurance purposes.