Written questions by Morello.

Whether his Department discussed the recognition of Indian dental qualifications for work in the UK during negotiations on the UK-India free trade agreement.

We have agreed a Professional Services Annex, which will require UK and India to identify and encourage mutually interested relevant bodies to enter into negotiations on mutual arrangements for recognition of professional qualifications. Regulated professions, which include dentists, pharmacists and medical practitioners in the UK, will be within the scope of the annex. These commitments will not affect the autonomy of UK relevant bodies nor compel them to engage in dialogues where there is no mutual interest.The ability of Indian professionals to supply professional services in the UK will remain subject to the UK's domestic regulatory and immigration systems.

Whether his Department discussed the recruitment of pharmacists qualified in India to work in the UK during negotiations on the UK-India free trade agreement.

We have agreed a Professional Services Annex, which will require UK and India to identify and encourage mutually interested relevant bodies to enter into negotiations on mutual arrangements for recognition of professional qualifications. Regulated professions, which include dentists, pharmacists and medical practitioners in the UK, will be within the scope of the annex. These commitments will not affect the autonomy of UK relevant bodies nor compel them to engage in dialogues where there is no mutual interest.The ability of Indian professionals to supply professional services in the UK will remain subject to the UK's domestic regulatory and immigration systems.

Whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the hospitality industry on the potential impact of increased labour costs on that sector.

I regularly engage with hospitality businesses, and I am aware of the current challenges they face. Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why we are asking employers to contribute more through National Insurance contributions. However, we are raising the threshold at which employers start paying NI to protect the smallest businesses.Also, we are committed to creating a fairer business rates system to alleviate the pressure on hospitality businesses by introducing permanently lower business rates for RHL properties with a rateable value under £500,000.

What steps his Department is taking to help support restaurants in West Dorset constituency.

Hospitality businesses, including those in West Dorset, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and social cohension across the UK.We recently launched a licensing taskforce to reduce red tape and barriers that too often hold businesses back. The Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value less than £500,000. Additionally, we recently announced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects that align with Department of Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council Priorities. I am working with Council Members to maximise the benefits of this funding.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of increases in (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on annual costs to the hospitality sector.

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.We are pleased to deliver a significant increase to the minimum wage, and to take crucial steps towards the creation of a genuine living wage that supports millions of families across the country.The Government will protect the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, more than half of employers see no change or gain overall from this package and employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.The Government published an Impact Assessment for the 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates which includes a breakdown of impact by sector.

What steps his Department is taking to help support hospitality businesses to maintain employment levels in the context of higher labour costs.

Hospitality businesses, including those in West Dorset constituency, are vital to our communities and support economic growth.We’re increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, allowing 865,000 employers to pay no NICs this year. This means employers can hire up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs. Additionally, we aim to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We are also working with the Hospitality Sector Council on issues the sector faces.We recently launched a licensing taskforce to reduce red tape and barriers that too often hold hospitality businesses back. We are expecting recommendations before the Summer recess.

What steps his Department is taking to help support cafes in West Dorset constituency.

Hospitality businesses, including those in West Dorset, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and social cohension across the UK.We recently launched a licensing taskforce to reduce red tape and barriers that too often hold businesses back. The Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value less than £500,000. Additionally, we recently announced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects that align with Department of Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council Priorities. I am working with Council Members to maximise the benefits of this funding.

What steps his Department is taking to help support bars in West Dorset constituency.

Hospitality businesses, including those in West Dorset, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and social cohension across the UK.We recently launched a licensing taskforce to reduce red tape and barriers that too often hold businesses back. The Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value less than £500,000. Additionally, we recently announced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects that align with Department of Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council Priorities. I am working with Council Members to maximise the benefits of this funding.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increased labour costs on employment levels in the hospitality industry in West Dorset constituency.

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why we are asking employers to contribute more.The Government will protect the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, more than half of employers see no change or gain overall from this package and employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.

Whether his Department plans to monitor the potential long-term impact of increased employer National Insurance contributions on employment trends in the hospitality sector.

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth.I chair the Hospitality Sector Council, which meets quarterly in which we discuss issues the sector faces. I also meet regularly with individual businesses to hear about the pressures they are facing.We’re increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, allowing 865,000 employers to pay no NICs this year. This, for example, means employers can hire up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

If she will make an assessment of the legislation enabling domestic firearms companies to sell firearms to Europe.

Exports of firearms are controlled by the Export Control Order 2008 and Regulation (EU) No 258/2012. Only once an export licence has been issued can the export proceed.We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). The SELC provide a thorough risk assessment framework for export licence applications and require us to carefully consider the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. We will not license the export of equipment where to do so would be inconsistent with the SELC.The SELC were announced to Parliament on 8 December 2021 by the then International Trade Secretary. The full written ministerial statement can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-12-08/hcws449.

What assessment his Department has made of the contribution of traditional boat building to the economy in West Dorset constituency.

The Department for Business and Trade recognises the economic value of traditional boat building, particularly in areas like West Dorset. Training in traditional methods can contribute transferable skills for preserving cultural heritage, promoting sustainability and growing businesses. Traditional boat building forms part of the wider leisure marine sector which contributed £1.4 billion in GVA and supported 29,000 jobs in 2019 [1]. The South West region alone generated £4 billion in turnover [2]. We continue to support the sector through events like the Southampton Boat Show and METSTRADE and promote its heritage and skills as vital to the UK’s maritime economy. [1] State of the Maritime Nation, 2022[2] State of the Maritime Nation, 2022

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) financial incentives and (b) support mechanisms to encourage investment in UK-based sustainable aviation fuel production facilities.

DBT works closely with the Department for Transport and industry to capitalise on the opportunity across the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market. It is estimated that by 2050, up to 15,000 jobs and £5bn GVA in the UK could be supported with future low carbon fuel production for the domestic and international markets. Government has already introduced strong incentives to support the SAF industry in the UK including: the SAF Mandate (effective 1 January 2025), the forthcoming Revenue Certainty Mechanism, and the Advanced Fuels Fund, which is extended for a further year with an additional £63m of funding.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure parcel delivery companies are held to account when they have (a) extremely low satisfaction rates and (b) poor reviews.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.Ofcom’s approach to protecting consumers is to include a condition that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.Ofcom is committed to ongoing monitoring of operators’ performance and will consider enforcement action or further regulation to protect consumers.

What steps his Department is taking to support rural business (a) innovation (b) and investment in (i) West Dorset constituency and (ii) similar areas.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) promotes and supports investment opportunities across all of the UK. In Dorset, DBT has a strong relationship with Dorset Council and proactively promotes the county’s sector strengths, particularly in areas suc...

If he will take steps to ensure that trade agreements have a positive impact on the agricultural sector in West Dorset constituency.

We want more trade opportunities for British farmers to grow their businesses, including for the more than 1,000 commercial farm holdings in West Dorset. Our FTAs will help open new long term potential export markets. For example, we are pressing ahead wi...

If he will take steps to help reduce transportation costs for (a) goods and (b) services in rural economies.

Rural areas offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy. DBT works with other departments such as Defra, helping people living and working in rural areas to realise the full potential of rural businesses and communities placing t...

What steps his Department is taking to support small rural businesses in West Dorset constituency to access export markets.

DBT is supporting companies like Baboo Gelato, based just outside Dorchester, to take their first steps into exporting. UK businesses, including those in West Dorset constituency, can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprise...

What steps his Department is taking to help support pubs in West Dorset constituency.

Pubs, including in West Dorset, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK. That’s why it is important for us to act on the challenges that they face, by reforming business rates to level the play...